Latest Offenders

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Following sentencing last week, Benjamin Cheyne will face 11 years in prison, after he was found guilty of two counts of assault by penetration, and two counts of sexual assault against the minor.

On October 7, at Salisbury Crown Court, Judge Barnett described the actions that took place between February 2019 and May 2020 as "an extremely serious offence".

"Your selfish, totally unthinkable conduct, on the last two occasions while she was sleeping, caused unthinkable damage to her," he said.

In a statement from the victim's mother, it was revealed that as a result of the assaults, the young girl has "deteriorating self esteem and confidence".

"The impact is immediate and will affect her for the rest of her life," she told the court.

It was heard that the now 11-year-old finds her own home triggering and suffers from night terrors, with a lack in sleep affecting her learning.

She worries about trusting people and making relationships, fearing Cheyne, a father-of-two himself, will come and take her away.

Judge Barnett added that what happened has had "far reaching consequences" on the victim's "happiness, development, relationships with others and schooling", causing "enormous trauma".

The court heard that Cheyne, aged 32, did not agree with the jury's guilty verdict following the trial, but respected it, and he plans to move away from the area as soon as his sentence is over.

Following his 11-year sentence, Cheyne, of Pilgrims Way, will be under licence for a year, and a sexual harm prevention order and restraining order will be in place indefinitely.

Detective Sergeant Eileen Speck of the Child Abuse Unit, Basingstoke, said: "I would like to thank DC Jenks for her hard work in investigating this complex case and in supporting this family. This is a really positive result at Crown Court.

"Working in the Child Abuse Unit provides immense rewards for our detectives and police constables in protecting children against all levels of abuse. The dedication and passion they have to their role, allows children to have a brighter future and achieve the goals they so rightly deserve in life."

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A paedophile groomed and sexually abused a teenage girl after giving her a burner phone to keep the relationship secret from her family.

Andrew Opie, now 31, was 28 when he had sex with the then 14-year-old girl.

Opie, of Pool but previously of Falmouth, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to two sexual activity with a child charges. Proceedings in the case had been significantly delayed after Opie repeatedly told the court he might have Covid, causing adjournments.

Prosecuting the case, Heather Hope described how in late 2018 the victim met Opie through a mutual friend. She believed they were in a relationship together and to ensure the relationship was not discovered Opie gave her a phone specifically for communication between them.

She had never had sex before but following a short period of grooming Opie had sex with her and did so again on another occasion.

Due to concerns over Opies involvement with young girls, police served a number of abduction notices, one of which was handed to the victims family after Opie and the victim were spotted in a park together.

They had also noticed her underwear hadnt been in for a wash and that she had received a Valentines Day card from Opie and it was then they spoke with her and she revealed what had happened.

Opie at first denied the relationship with the girl and then tried to blame someone else.

Representing Opie, Deni Matthews said: Although delayed he did enter a guilty plea and now accepts responsibility. The penny has finally dropped. He has a job in prison and wants to take the Horizons course to address his offending.

Sentencing Opie, Judge Simon Carr said: At aged 28 you formed a relationship with a 14-year-old girl. You met through friends and it is clear you groomed her saying she was special and you wanted a relationship.

You knew from the beginning what you were doing was wrong and provided her with a burner phone. The relationship became sexual relatively quickly.

Her family became concerned and what allowed her to break free was that her parents were told youd been served with an eighth abduction order, such was the concern about you and young girls.

Judge Carr said Opie presents a likely lifelong threat to children.

He was given an extended sentence of 10 years - six years custodial and four years extended licence. He was put on the sex offenders register for life and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

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Roland Kuru, aged 24, was arrested at Rotherham railway station after he had been communicating online with paedophile hunter groups pretending to be children and had arranged to meet one of them. Kuru, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to incite a girl aged over 13 to engage in sexual activity, one count of attempting to incite a girl aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and to one count of attempting to meet a girl aged under 16 following grooming. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years of custody and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life, as well as made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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Detectives have praised the 'bravery' of a woman whose evidence helped to jail a rapist for 17 years.

Mihai Savescu is this month starting a 17-year jail term after being convicted of multiple counts of rape.

The 34-year-old, of Chaplin Road, Longton, was convicted following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Now Staffordshire Police have welcomed the sentence handed down to the rapist.

Detective Constable Diane Sproston, from the forces rape and serious sexual offences unit, said: Savescu was predatory and manipulative.

Id like to commend the victim who bravely came forward and reported these appalling crimes. She has shown incredible bravery and cooperation throughout the court process.

I hope the sentence provides some form of closure and comfort knowing Savescu will be behind bars for a long time.

Romanian Savescu will be deported once he has served his prison sentence. He will remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for the rest of his life and is barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults.

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A dangerous sex offender who fled to America to evade justice has been jailed for more than six years.

Prolific Wayne Wilson appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday, October 8, where he was sentenced for sexually abusing a child.

The court heard how Wilson, who was already the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) following convictions for voyeurism and indecent images, fled the country in 2018 despite being under investigation in relation to a report of sexual abuse.

Detectives from Northumbria Police's Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) immediately began trying to trace Wilson with the help of international law enforcement.

Enquiries later revealed he had fled to Dublin, then onto the United States.

Determined officers continued to work closely with Homeland Security and a range of American authorities, tracking him down in Kansas.

Wilson was finally detained in April 2021 and returned to the UK in June where officers charged him with three counts of sexual touching on a child under 13 and remanded him into custody.

The 38-year-old, of no fixed abode, admitted all charges and on Friday and appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he was jailed for six years and two months.

Speaking after the sentencing, the officer in charge of the case, Detective Constable Elizabeth Biggins from POLIT said: "The fact that Wilson will spend a considerable time behind bars is welcome news to me and shows we will not sit back when seeking justice for victims.

"This man is a prolific paedophile who spent years on the run trying to avoid being brought to justice for a series of despicable offences.

"I hope this goes to show the lengths we are prepared to go to in order to protect children and bring offenders to justice. I want to thank our partners from Homeland Security in the USA for their support with this investigation as well as the wider POLIT team, who never gave up."

Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Ord, who leads POLIT, praised the hard work and determination of her team, and the lengths they went to in order to trace Wilson.

She added: "This was a complex investigation which spanned two continents, multiple time zones and jurisdictions.

"Despite the obvious challenges, Det Con Biggins refused to give up and worked regularly with law enforcement in the USA to make sure no stone was left unturned.

"I am so proud of her achievements in making sure a dangerous and brazen sex offender was brought back to the UK to be held accountable for the vile crimes he committed."

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Pervert Paul Lovatt exposed himself to a female cyclist as she rode home from work.

Lovatt was driving a car when he pulled alongside the victim, with the passenger side window down, and performed a sex act while asking her for directions.

Horrified, she shouted at him. And as he drove away, she repeated his registration number to herself as she called police, to make sure she remembered it.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Lovatt then returned to the scene and tried to apologise to the woman.

The 40-year-old has now been handed a community order and made subject to the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register for the next five years, after he admitted the 'disturbing offence'.

Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: "At around 5.20pm, the victim was cycling home from work. While in Hanley, she became aware of a vehicle behind her.

"She said she noticed it because it was driving on the other side of the road as if trying to overtake her, but was going really slowly.

"She got off her bike to get out of his way. As she did so, he pulled alongside her. The front passenger side window was down.

"He said, 'Excuse me, love, can you tell me where' - then he hesitated - 'King Street is?'

"She noticed his penis was exposed."

The court heard Lovatt was performing a sex act. The victim shouted at him, 'Oh my God, you are a disgusting pervert'. He drove away.

Ms Thompson said: "The victim had her phone out to call the police. She was chanting his registration number so she didn't forget.

"She then saw his vehicle come back and saw the defendant again. He said, 'I'm sorry love, sorry about that'. He kept saying it then drove away.

"The defendant has not been in trouble for 20 years. Nevertheless, this is a disturbing offence."

Lovatt was later arrested and interviewed. He said he had found the victim attractive and he had done 'a stupid thing'.

The victim of the offence said in a statement: "This incident has made me feel angry. I feel violated. I was just trying to go home. I then have a disgusting person showing me their genitals.

"I'm concerned he would do it to someone else, someone who was not as vocal as me."

Lovatt, of Richard Dawson Drive, Bucknall, pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent exposure. The incident took place on August 26.

Peter Howland, mitigating, said: "There were some difficulties in his then-relationship. He had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. He is receiving medication and counselling for that.

"He apologised straight away to his victim. He accepts he returned to speak to her, but his sole reason was to apologise.

"He has given up his part-time employment because of this offence."

Magistrates told Lovatt they had considered sending him to prison, but had decided to impose a community sentence. Chairperson of the bench, Helen Paterson, said: "This was clearly a serious matter. You were remorseful, at the time and afterwards, although your remorse at the time may have caused more distress.

"I'm not sure there can be compensation in monetary terms for the distress of your victim, but we are going to order you to pay it."

Lovatt was handed a 24-month community order, with a 56-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 200 hours' unpaid work. He must pay 400 compensation to the victim, plus 280 in court costs and charges.

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A rapist who repeatedly attacked a victim he met at a nightclub then plied with drink has been jailed.

Kieran Champion, 28, of Canterbury, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court last month.

The predator has now been jailed for six years at the same court today for the sustained terror he subjected her to.

Devious Champion lured the woman from a Margate venue to a property in Canterbury, leaving her isolated and lost.

After plying her with whisky and coke, he raped and sexually assaulted his terrified victim.

When she desperately cried out for him to stop, Champion made lurid and derisory remarks.

She was able to escape when a police officer appeared outside the crime scene by chance, jurors heard.

Champion was arrested the same day and gave a no comment police interview.

Forensic evidence undermined Champion's claims he had not raped the woman and he was charged with rape and a sexual assault.

Later, a jury saw through his lies and convicted him unanimously.

The rapist, supported by his mother and friends in the public gallery, slumped and wept in the dock after the verdict was delivered.

Sharmila Salvi, defending, told the court Champion suffered anxiety and depression at the time of his arrest.

He is off work with severe anxiety and depression, she said at an earlier hearing.

He reported having anxiety and depression and the time of arrest.

He was meant to start therapy before he was convicted and he had been off sick, she added today.

Champion preyed on the girl in 2018 as she searched for a safe place to stay, tricking her into thinking he was being kind.

When they were alone she rejected Champions advances, he then sexually assaulted, raped and goaded her, prosecutor Dominic Connolly told jurors.

The Judge, Recorder Stuart Trimmer QC, told Champion: Custody must be the result - custody must be the result.

She was looking for a safe place to spend the night, she didnt know your address or the area, she was drinking and had little avenue of escape.

Now, Champion of Merchants Way will face six years in prison, a life-time of notification requirements and 10-year restraining order.

Mitigating, Ms Salvi said Champion had "worked all his life", supported his unwell mother and planned starting a business studies course.

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A pervert sexually touched two underage girls and chatted to several more on social media - despite being warned by his own mother.

Tom Fletcher, aged 21, has been jailed for seven years for having full sex with a 14-year-old and groping a 15-year-old.

He contacted and groomed the girls over Snapchat and Instagram, persuading them to swap explicit pictures with him.

The younger girl ran away from home in her pyjamas to spend the night with him, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

The two girls he met have since been struggling to sleep and one has sought counselling.

Fletcher also contacted a string of girls over social media, paying compliments and asking for pictures. The youngest was just 11.

He carried on contacting underage girls even after he was warned off by his mother and a friend, the court heard.

Judge Anna Richardson told Fletcher that he contacted his first victim, the 15-year-old, on average three times a day.

She said of the second complainant: "You threatened self-harm, which was an attempt to emotionally manipulate her.

"Both girls have suffered the same sort of consequences of your behaviour. They speak of fear and anxiety."

The judge ruled that Fletcher posed a "significant risk of serious harm to the public".

Fletcher, of Bayswater Road, Stonehouse, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child, one of sexual communication with a child and one of inciting a child to watch a sexual act.

Peter Coombe, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Fletcher befriended the first girl in October last year through a group chat on Instagram.

He said the defendant paid her compliments, even though she told him she was 15.

Mr Coombe added that they also talked and messaged on their mobile phones.

The barrister said that she sent him explicit photographs at his request.

Mr Coombe added that she agreed to meet him and on the second occasion he touched her chest over her clothing in the street.

The court heard that the girl became upset when she realised that Fletcher was messaging even younger girls, aged 11 and 12, over Facebook. She told her mother and the police were called.

The barrister said that Fletcher's own mother and a friend separately saw the messages and warned him off sending more.

But Mr Coombe said that the defendant befriended a 14-year-old girl in January this year over Snapchat.

He added that Fletcher again asked her for explicit pictures and sent her three videos of himself performing an indecent act.

Mr Coombe said he persuaded her to run away from home wearing her pyjamas in February. He added she spent the night at his house and they had full sex.

The court heard that the girl switched off her mobile phone and her parents reported her missing.

He said that both the girls, whose anonymity is protected by law, had since had trouble sleeping.

Reading from statements, he said that one had sought counselling.

He said of the girl who spent the night with him: "She describes feeling fear and anxiety since it happened and has been worried that she would bump into him.

"She has had nightmares about what happened. The lack of sleep has affected her moods. She has felt a lot more uncomfortable if anyone touches her, with physical contact such as a cuddle."

Fletcher was branded a "dangerous prat" by a judge at the same court in October 2019.

Then aged 18, he admitted driving a moped dangerously past McDonald's and around the pedestrianised area of the city centre.

Fletcher was later handed a suspended prison sentence by driving despite the ban he was handed that day.

Ali Rafati, for Fletcher, said his client had been seen by both a psychologist and a psychiatrist.

He said that his mitigation was not to minimise the seriousness of the offences but to try and provide balance about the defendant.

Mr Rafati added: "He is someone who operates at a lower level and perhaps has a limited intellect. He is certainly immature.

"He is more aligned to the younger people he was contacting rather than those of his own age."

The barrister said that he had struggled to form relationships with women in his own age group.

Mr Rafati said: "Due for his want for a connection and a relationship, he found it easier to speak to younger girls."

He added that he had done will in prison since being remanded into custody in February.

Mr Rafati said: "He has been the subject of bullying and harassment while in prison. It is his intention to work with all agencies to try and prevent this sort of behaviour in the future."

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A MAN has been sentenced to two years in prison after he sexually assaulted a four-year-old girl while she was playing in a Southampton park.

Giovanni Sagaria, from Southampton, assaulted the girl in August while she was playing in the play park at Houndwell Park, Southampton.

The child was completely unknown to the 33-year-old and the brave victim was able to tell her family what had happened straight away.

He pleaded guilty to sexual assault in September 2021 and was sentenced to two years imprisonment on Friday.

Samantha Wright, CPS Wessex Senior Crown Prosecutor, said: "The child in this case was completely unknown to Sagaria. She told her family what had happened straightaway which meant that police were able to identify the perpetrator very quickly.

"The strength of the evidence meant that he had no choice but to plead guilty.

"The CPS, working in collaboration with Hampshire Constabulary, was able to deliver swift justice to ensure Sagaria received the appropriate punishment for his crime.

"We would like to thank the brave victim and her family for reporting this case to the police and for supporting the prosecution case."

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A barrister who was prepared to travel across the country to sexually abuse what he believed to be teenage girls he met online has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail.

Guy Sims, aged 53, had been founded guilty of three counts of arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence by unanimous jury following a trial at Oxford Crown Court.

During September 2017, Sims talked online to two people who he believed were 13-year-old schoolgirls using social media platforms Mylol and Kik.

During this investigation, the victims were not real.

Posing as an 18-year-old and calling himself 'markbatx' and 'markviva', he made arrangements to meet one of the girls and travelled to Portsmouth with the intention of engaging in sexual activity her.

When he arrived, he was arrested by officers who found he had cider and a condom on his person, along with camouflage leaf netting in his car.

He had also made arrangements to meet another of the girls either on his way home or on the way to Portsmouth on the same day for sexual activity.

While under investigation, he engaged in conversation of a sexual nature with the third person he believed to be a 13-year-old school girl in 2019.

Now calling himself 'Yo Sarami' and 'Danny.dan,' he made arrangements to meet her in Oxford for sexual activity to take place.

Sims, from Bedford, was charged in connection with the offences in 2019.

The court heard Sims will be barred from working as a barrister.

The sentencing follows an investigation by specialist officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) spanning four years.

Detective Chief Inspector Philip Attwood, of SEROCU, said: "This is the conclusion of a case in which Sims engaged in conversation of a sexual nature and arranged to meet up with those who he believed to be three teenage girls with the intention of carrying out child sexual abuse.

"Sims, worked as a civil barrister, and should have recognised the consequences of this offending.

"He demonstrated that he was prepared to go to great lengths and travel across the country to Portsmouth, to Guildford and to Oxford, to engage in depraved sexual activity with children. He repeatedly engaged with the profiles of those he believed to be teenage girls online, and the threat he posed would have continued had it not been for the continued and dedicated efforts of those working for SEROCU.

"Law enforcement operates across the internet and we are committed to ensuring those who use this means of communicating with those they believe to be children to arrange sexual abuse are brought before the courts to face justice."

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A paedophile from Welwyn has been jailed for six years after pleading guilty to historic child sex offences.

David Suter, 74, of Glebe Road, appeared before St Albans Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child.

The court heard the abuse took place in the Welwyn area between 2004 and 2008, with Suter offering money to the victim in exchange for her carrying out sexual acts.

“The victim – who is now aged in her 30s – was vulnerable due to her difficult upbringing, and the abuse she suffered at Suter’s hands caused her mental wellbeing to suffer,” said Det Con Liz McGrath, from Hertfordshire Historic Child Abuse Investigation Unit.

“It wasn’t until 2019 that she felt able to disclose to police the details of what had happened to her. Suter was subsequently arrested and in January 2021, he was charged.

“The victim has shown incredible bravery and determination throughout the investigation and judicial process, which has been distressing for her. I hope she can find some peace and begin to move forward with her life now she has seen Suter have to answer to what he did.”

Suter must now abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years, and he will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

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A Perth railway worker who danced topless for a paedophile hunter posing as a schoolgirl has been banned from playparks.

A sheriff told disgraced James Kettles he cannot even download a phone app or buy a Smart TV, without first getting permission from a supervising officer.

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A disgraced East Yorkshire businessman with 'underlying perverted thoughts' who groped a young girl after giving her whisky her has been jailed.

Adam Plant, director of East Riding Horse Boxes Ltd and producer of upmarket motor homes, sent highly sexualised messages to the girl and groped her after giving her a glass of whisky.

He then later tried to cover his tracks, deleted screenshots of incriminating messages on her phone and tried to convince the girl's mother to drop the complaint.

Plant, 42, of Skirlaugh Road, Old Ellerby, denied the three charges of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16, engaging in sexual communication with a child and perverting the course of justice.

He was convicted by a jury of eight men and four women at Hull Crown Court after a trial in August this year.

During Plant's sentencing at Hull Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Richard Thompson read sections from the victim impact statement in which the girl said: “I probably won’t see boys and men in the same way I used to.

“When I am old enough and when I’m doing older stuff I think it just won’t be the same because of what he did.

“I still get scared whenever I go somewhere that I think I might see him.”

The young victim and her family were said to have faced significant difficulties and strains as a result of Plant’s predatory acts and she said: “Sometimes I just think it is all my fault.”

The court also heard a statement from the victim’s mother who, wracked by feelings of guilt, had attempted to commit suicide shortly after being informed of her daughter’s ordeal.

The statement said: “I took an overdose of pills, I was found on the Humber Bridge, I don’t know what I might have done.

“I couldn’t cope, I was heartbroken, I didn’t know how I was ever going to overcome this.

“I now live with the guilt every day that I nearly took my own life too. I had six months off work, I couldn’t even look after myself never mind other people.

“The hurt and anger is something that we are all still coming to terms with.”

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A sexual deviant who propositioned a 13-year-old boy online was caught out as the child was actually an under-cover officer.

Mathew Cowley already had a conviction for sexually abusing a school boy and was banned from communicating with under 16-year-olds but it did not deter him.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that while a five year Sexual Harm Prevention Order was hanging over him Cowley got in touch via a chat room with someone he thought was a 13-year-old boy on August 5 this year.

He said he was 29 years old and then in conversation said he was 34 and asked if the boy thought he was too old for him and told him what he liked to do sexually.

Cowley told him, I dont mind first timers as long as its a secret, said Chris Hopkins, prosecuting.

The officer again told him that he was 13 and went to school and Cowley replied, So you are a virgin, thats better.

The next day Cowley again initiated an online conversation with him and told him he lived in Kensington and gave him his mobile number and the chat moved to WhatsApp.

He described the boy as fit as f**k and said he fancied him.

The officer asked if he could trust him with his secrets and he replied, No-one will ever know what we do and it is totally secret.

He was arrested three days later and made admissions in interview.

The court heard that the 37-year-old defendant was jailed for three years in September 2016 for penetrative sexual activity with a 14-year-old boy he met via Skype.

After grooming him they met at a train station and then went to a cemetery where sexual activity took place.

The Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) was made but the court was told that it had now expired and the charge he had now admitted did not allow for a new one to be made by the judge.

Mr Hopkins said that the police would have to apply to the magistrates court for a new order to be made.

Jailing Cowley, of Shiel Road, Kensington, for two and a half years Judge David Aubrey, QC, said, In my judgement you are a sexual deviant and in my judgement you are a paedophile and attracted to under-age boys. And regretfully you have not learnt your lesson since the sentence of three years imprisonment imposed in September 2016.

He said that he did not lose sight of issues in his life, adding, It may well be that you are a sad and lonely man.

The judge ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and said, The police I have no doubt will be instigating an application for a Sexual Harm PreventionOrder in the lower court designed to protect others from you.

In my judgement they need such protection and hopefully it will seek to deter you albeit regretfully the order now expired did not achieve such ideals by deterring you.

Anthony ODonohoe, defending, said that Cowley had pleaded guilty to the offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and breaching a SHPO.

He suffers from anxiety and depression and I get the impression he is an isolated individual. He was living in rented accommodation with a rat infestation problem in Shiel Road and has no communication with is family or friends.

He feels he would be benefit from having a settled adult relationship which would perhaps put him more on the straight and narrow.

Mr ODonohoe said that a pre-sentence report says that Cowley presents a high risk of sexual offending but the defendant hopes to engage with any help and courses available to him in prison.

He is not an unintelligent man and understands if there is further offending of this nature or breaches of orders that he will bring upon his own shoulders ever lengthening custodial sentences.

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A former police officer from Kent has been sentenced after he admitted viewing child abuse material online.

Thomas Blant, 38, was arrested in January 2020 after NCA investigators identified that a website hosting child sexual abuse material had been accessed via TOR (The Onion Router) from his house in Wye, Ashford.

Following a search of his address officers seized a number of digital devices, including his phone and laptop, which were forensically analysed.

TOR, the tool which offers anonymous online browsing and access to the dark web, had been downloaded on the laptop, as well as a computer cleaning app, which can be used to remove traces of illegal activity.

17 indecent images of children (IIOC), made up of categories A and C, were recovered from Blant's laptop, despite his attempts to delete them.

A further four indecent images of children were also recovered from one of Blant's old mobile phones.

He was released on bail and further arrested in February 2020 following analysis of his devices.

Blant was working as a constable for Kent Police at the time of his offending. He was suspended from duty upon his initial arrest and has since been dismissed from the force.

On 22 July 2021 he pleaded guilty to two counts of making IIOC at Folkestone Magistrates Court.

Today [06/10/2021] at Maidstone Crown Court he was handed a 12 month jail term suspended for two years, a five year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Martin Ludlow from the National Crime Agency said: "Blant's offending is an outrageous misuse of trust.

"His role as a police officer was to protect the public. Instead, he sought out images of child abuse for his own sexual gratification. Offenders who view such material online only encourage those willing to sexually abuse children in the real world.

"Combatting this threat remains one of the highest priorities for the NCA. We are committed to targeting the most dangerous offenders and those who, like Blant, go to great lengths to hide their activity, believing they can operate with impunity online.

"As this investigation shows, there is nowhere to hide. We will use all of the tools at our disposal to identify those who pose a sexual threat to children and ensure they are brought to justice."

Detective Chief Superintendent Jon Armory, Kent Police's Head of Professional Standards, said: "It is abhorrent that Blant has committed these offences, particularly while working as a police officer.

"His actions helped fuel the demand for children to be exploited which is a complete betrayal of his duty to protect the vulnerable.

"Blant was suspended from our force as soon as the allegations were first received and we fully supported our colleagues in the National Crime Agency with their criminal investigation. As soon as he admitted the offences in court, we progressed with special case proceedings which led to his dismissal on 17 August.

"The vast majority of our officers and staff do an outstanding job serving the public in line with the highest standards of professionalism and conduct, and we expect no less from them. Those who fall short will face scrutiny."