Latest Offenders

Description

A child sex offender who recently moved from Salisbury to Ryde has today (Thursday) been convicted of further sex offences. William Clark, 45 of Pell Lane, Ryde was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment at Salisbury Crown Court after pleading guilty to 7 offences of making indecent photographs and movies of a child, 1 offence of possessing 936 indecent images and movies of children and 1 offence of possessing 10 prohibited images of children. He had also pleaded guilty to 4 offences of voyeurism and supplying false information to a charity. Clark set up a charity for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in Salisbury back in 2009, but failed to tell the Charity Commission about his previous offences, which included the incident assault of a 9-year-old boy. The child sex offender has now been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a Sex Offender Notice for a period of 10 years. Following the sentence, Simon Jones, Senior Crown Advocate for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: As a convicted sex offender, William Clark knew of the obvious concerns about him working with children but this did not stop him establishing and running a charity whose focus was to help people within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, which included a section of young people. In doing so, he deliberatly omitted to disclose his previous child sexual offence convictions. Whilst running the charity he downloaded and possessed a large quantity of indecent images of children. He also commited offences of voyeurism, which included covertly filming innocent members of the public in extreme circumstances of privacy. We hope that with this conviction, the young adults victims in this case will now be able to move on with their lives.

Description

A 29-year-old man from Reading has been jailed for nine years after being found guilty of a string of sexual offences against a 12-year-old girl in Egham.

James Tough, from Landrake Crescent, was convicted on Wednesday, September 30 of a total of five charges between March and October 2013.

These included causing / inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity – no penetration, making an indecent photograph of a child under 13, sexual assault by penetration and two sexual assaults by touching.

Tough has also been given a sexual harm order and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

"Predatory sexual offender"

Detective Inspector Paddy Mayers from the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, who led the investigation, said: "James Tough is a predatory sexual offender who groomed and assaulted a 12-year-old girl over a lengthy period of time.

"The victim first reported the offences in October 2013 and has shown extreme courage in coming forward and helping to ensure that he was brought to justice.

"Tough committed these offences after gaining the trust of the victim’s mother and took full advantage of that trust for his own gratification."

Description

A man who raped a 13-year-old girl, who he befriended in an internet chat room she had joined because she was being bullied at school, had his jail sentence doubled after an appeal. Lawrence Fernandes, 35, formerly from Southampton, was handed a six-year sentence for two counts of rape and two indecency offences relating to events in 2003. But three judges at the Court of Appeal in London agreed with Solicitor General Robert Buckland that the term given out by Exeter Crown Court in August was "unduly lenient" and extended it to 12 years. The judges heard how Fernandes, who was in his 20s at the time, had given the girl numerous gifts, including underwear, money, and a teddy bear with a voice recording of him telling her he loved her. Mr Buckland told the appeal judges that the victim met Fernandes though an online chat room she had joined because she was "being bullied at school and felt lonely". She made a complaint to police in 2013 after watching a television programme about rape, the court heard. When interviewed, Fernandes denied there had been any sexual activity and claimed the girl told him she was 16. Speaking after the hearing, Mr Buckland said: Lawrence Fernandes groomed his victim online and when they arranged to meet, he forcibly raped her. He showered her with gifts and money, tricking her into thinking they were in a relationship, but she was a child and was vulnerable. I asked the Court of Appeal to look again at his six-year sentence as his behaviour had a significant impact on his child victim and I hope that today has offered her a degree of comfort knowing that her attacker's sentence is now 12 years. Solicitor General, Robert Buckland

Description

A PAEDOPHILE who offered to 'share' his own unborn baby with other perverts has walked free from court today despite distributing 'revolting' images of young children being abused.

At the time that Nathan Green, 25, was caught by police, his partner was expecting their child and because of what he said to other paedophiles on line his baby was taken into foster care at birth.

Green, formerly of Cross Close in Cirencester, but now of Broad Street in Bromsgrove, admitted distributing and possessing illegal images of children at the worst level, A, as well as in the B and C categories.

Judge Michael Harington sentenced him at Gloucester Crown Court to a two-year jail term suspended for 18 months.

He also ordered him to undergo a community sex offender group programme and a 30-day rehabilitation activity programme.

Green, who was working in a shop in the Duke of Gloucester army barracks in South Cerney at the time of his offending, was placed on the sex offender register for 10 years. A sexual harm prevention order was also made against him.

Prosecutor James Bromige said police arrested Green at his place of work on March 6 this year as a result of intelligence about him sharing paedophile images online.

He called himself 'Crazer49' and in his profile information he wrote 'Young Incest Fun. Have child on the way. Will share."

Mr Bromige said police found 41 still images and two videos at category A on Green's computer hard drive, 62 images and two videos at category B and 202 stills and two videos at category C.

Interviewed twice by police, Green declined to comment.

Mr Bromige said that on chatlogs involving other paedophiles Green was asking about, and being asked for, images of very young children.

He asked one user 'Do you like child?' and another 'Are you into young children?'

"His own child has been born since this and has gone into foster care," Mr Bromige said.

"The defendant has made no offer to assist the police in any further enquiries to find any of the children involved, where the images came from and the identities of the other users. He is of previous good character."

Jonathan Lewis, defending, handed the court references from Green's parents and partner. He said Green 'enjoys their support notwithstanding his offending."

Since being charged, Green had been open and honest about his perversions and was already partway through a sex offender course, Mr Lewis said.

His partner and his father have also been taking courses to learn how to help him with his problems, he added.

"The root of his offending was his sense of isolation and loneliness and his indulgence in this online community," he said.

Judge Harington told Green the images he had been collecting and distributing were 'revolting.'

"The real seriousness of offences such as this is that actual children have to undergo or be involved in performing these revolting acts in order for the stills and videos to be made," he said.

"A prison sentence is inevitable in this case but I am prepared to suspend it."

Description

Reportedly in Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 A MAN has been jailed for seven years for historic sexual offences against a child. Paul Lancaster (Paul Lawrence), 38, of Parkfields, Sible Hedingham, committed the crimes in Colchester between 2006 and 2009. The victim was a girl who was between the ages of ten and 13 at the time of the offences. Lancaster was charged with three counts of sexual touching of a child under 13, one count of sexual assault by penetration and four counts of sexual assault by touching a female between the ages of 13 and 15. He denied the charges but was found guilty after a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. Dc Jenna Daltrey, from the Child Abuse Investigation Team based in Colchester, said: I have worked on this case for the last 15 months and throughout this time the victim has acted with dignity, courage and honesty. I am extremely proud of the way the victim conducted herself throughout the trial. Paul Lancaster has shown no remorse or empathy towards the victim and he has now been found guilty of all 8 counts charged. He will be on the sex offenders register for life and a sexual harm prevention order has been granted by the judge. Justice has been done.

Description

Update: Loveday now calls himself ‘Holly Stanley’

A pervert has been sentenced after he was found guilty of a string of sexual offences which involved children
Steven Loveday, appeared at Leeds Crown Court where he was found guilty of: 

• One count of voyeurism
• One count of possession of indecent images of children
• One count of prohibited images of children
• One count of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence

The court was told that Loveday was caught with images of children which were described as being in the worse category of indecency showing the rape or sexual torture of youngsters.

The judge sentenced Loveday to a total of fours years imprisonment

Description

A MAN who carried out a sustained sexual assault on a heavily pregnant woman was today (Monday September 28) jailed for nine years.

Calvin John Chapman was made aware, during the ordeal, that his victim was in pain, but he continued with the attack, even seeking to blame the helpless woman.

Durham Crown Court heard that the victim was fearful of reporting the incident, and it was only the following day, when she told a friend, that she was urged to inform the police.

Chapman was subsequently arrested on suspicion of committing a series of sexual offences, all said to have been committed during the course of the incident.

He denied all the allegations and underwent a trial, at the court, in June.

Following the week-long hearing a jury found him guilty of two counts of rape, but cleared him of three other sexual offences, all stemming from the same incident.

Twenty-five-year-old Chapman, of Kirkfield Gardens, in Catchgate, near Stanley, was also convicted of dangerous driving, arising from an earlier incident in nearby Dipton.

The court was told that it was his first offence of a sexual nature, but he has a previous conviction for an incident of violence on a woman.

Recorder Jamie Hill, who presided over the trial, adjourned sentence to allow reports to be drawn up on Chapman by the Probation Service and a psychiatrist.

Having read those reports, he told todays sentencing hearing that the author of the probation report classed the defendant as a medium risk of committing further sexual harm, while the psychiatrist who examined Chapman, believed he just fell short of being suitable to qualify in the dangerousness category of offenders.

A victim statement read to the court by the victim, from behind a screen in the witness box, outlined the psychological harm she has suffered as a result of the attack, despite having tried to, put on a brave face, in the light of the incident.

Joe Hedworth, mitigating for Hill, questioned the extent of the psychological harm, and also the suggestion it was a prolonged incident, citing the jurys not guilty verdicts on three of the charges.

Passing sentence, Recorder Hill said in his mind it was a sustained attack.

Chapman was made subject of both registration as a sexual offender and a restraining order, forbidding him trying to make future contact with the victim, both indefinitely.

Following the hearing, the officer in the case, Detective Constable Kirsty Malone said: I would like to commend the victim for having the strength and courage to provide evidence."

*Help and support is available through www.sorrysnotenough.co.uk, or by contacting the confidential Harbour service, on (03000) 202525.

Alternatively, victims who feel unable to contact police, can still seek help by contacting The Meadows Sexual Assault Referral Centre, on 0191-301 8554, which provides a comprehensive service to residents of County Durham and Darlington who have been raped or sexually assaulted.

Their services are available to both sexes.

Description

Derek Packham has been sentenced to a total of 13 and a half years, eight and a half of which will be in prison, for a string of serious sex offences. Packham, 50, of Chippenham, pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault, nine counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of inciting a child to commit sexual activity of making indecent images of children and one count of having indecent images on his phone. He was sentenced yesterday to eight and a half years in prison and a further five years on extended licence at Swindon Crown Court. Packham pleaded guilty at the same court on July 9, 2015, and all the offences in the case took place at the original home address of the defendant in Corsham. Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Julia Dickson, from Wiltshire Police, said: Wiltshire Police welcome todays sentencing as it reflects the seriousness of these offences and the impact they have on the children involved. Derek Packham preyed on his young victims; he became their friend, he groomed them by purchasing them gifts and providing alcohol, he gained the childrens trust. His actions have had a huge impact on these children - local agencies will be working hard to give his victims as much support as possible while they come to terms with what he did to them. Wiltshire Police would like to thank each of the victims for their bravery in coming forward and recounting what is obviously a very distressing and traumatic time in their lives. We are also not ruling out the possibility that there are more victims out there if that is you or someone you know then please come forward. "You will be dealt with sensitively by one of our specially trained officers and I can assure you that any information you give will be treated in the utmost confidence and will be followed up. "We are determined to catch anyone who carries out such crimes. Blair Keltie, Child Sexual Exploitation Manager at Wiltshire Council, also welcomed the sentence and praised local schools for their support of the victims. She said: We work with our partners to do everything we can to stop and prevent CSE, and this case gives a clear message that this will not be tolerated in Wiltshire. I would also like to give great credit to the local schools who have supported their children through what has been an extremely distressing time."

Description

A MAN who groomed school girls online using a fake profile to masquerade as a teenager is now behind bars. Kevin Whittaker, of Ajax Avenue, Orford, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Chester Crown Court on Thursday. The court heard how the 32-year-old used the social networking site Facebook to target vulnerable girls aged between 13 and 15 years. He created a fake Facebook profile and pretended to be a 19-year-old keeping his true identity a secret from his victims. One of the victims parents discovered the inappropriate messages between Whittaker and the victim and alerted police. Officers carried out an extensive investigation into the allegation and were able to identify Whittaker as the suspect in the case. Two further victims were also identified during the course of the enquiries. Whittaker was arrested and later convicted of causing a child under 13 to watch a sexual act, causing a female to engage in sexual activity without consent and causing a child under 13 to watch a sexual act. Chief Inspector Pete Shaw welcomed the sentencing of Whittaker and vowed to continue to target those who prey on the vulnerable and bring them to justice. He said: Cheshire Police will continue to investigate reports of abuse and carry out operations to tackle those who seek to take advantage of young and vulnerable children, working together with the local authority and other agencies to keep children safe. Whittaker is a predator - he actively approached his victims online and was very direct with his intentions. "It is shocking for any parent to find their children have been targeted in such a way and Im sure the families affected will be relieved to find he has been imprisoned.

Description

A teenager has avoided a prison sentence after he was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting his 10-year-old step-sister.

In 2015, Ben King of Portsmouth appeared at court and was found guilty of raping a child aged under 13 and sexual assault of child aged under 13

The court was told that the rape took place in 2010 when King was a teenager

King was sentenced to:

- Two year youth rehabilitation order with supervision requirements.

- King was classed as a category 1 registered sex offender and level 2 risk management.

Description

Leslie Short, labelled 'an entrenched and committed paedophile', has been jailed for 12 years for sexual assault and indecent image offences A twisted pervert who sexually abused two young girls had videos of one of the victims on his computer, among more than 12,000 indecent images. Paedophile Leslie Short left his victims traumatised for life by grooming and molesting them in separate attacks spanning a decade. During one of the assaults, one of the girls tried to run away but he grabbed her by the ankles to try to stop her. When one of the victims told her mother what had happened, police were called and Short was arrested. On computer equipment found at his house, there were a total of 12,351 indecent images of children. Among them was footage he had taken of one of the abuse victims and images of other children he copied from someones computer while fixing it. When confronted by police, Short said: I cant explain all this. Sick mind I suppose. Now the 59-year-old, never in trouble before, has been locked up for 12 years at Newcastle Crown Court. Judge Robin Mairs told him: You used the guise of being a caring adult to immerse yourself in the lives of young children then abused them. This spanned at least a decade and it is clear you are an entrenched and committed paedophile. Short, of Campion Gardens, Gateshead, carried out the attacks on the first girl when she was aged six or seven. Robert Spragg, prosecuting, said the sexual assaults had had a lasting impact on her. He said: It has particularly affected her school life and her ability to trust people. She ended up with severe depression, her relationship with her mother suffered and her ability to form relationships with other people suffered. She says she doesnt think she will ever get over what he did to her and feels she will be mentally scarred for life. The second victim has also been badly affected by Shorts actions, the court heard. Mr Spragg said: She became clingy and anxious about going to other peoples houses for the night and has had bad dreams as a result of what happened to her. When Short was arrested, police searched his home and found the indecent images and movies. Among the footage was video he had taken of one of the abuse victims, although not of the abuse. He had also copied images of other children from a computer he was fixing for someone. Short pleaded guilty to five child sex offences seven offences of making indecent images of children. As well as the 12 year prison sentence he must sign the sex offender register for life, was barred from working with children and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order. Jamie Adams, defending, said: He is not making excuses for it and he accepts totally the wrongfulness of what he has done. He has been, for much of his life, a hard working man. He is now a sad heap of a human being with nothing to look forward to. He acknowledges the damage his behaviour has done to the young people we have heard about.

Description

A gang of paedophiles that included a 33-year-old Somerset manhave been branded "beyond human instinct and evil" by a judge.

The men preyed on the families of youngsters to gain access to them and, in one case, groomed a mother and father before their baby was born.

The men raped babies, toddlers and pre-school children and streamed the abuse over the internet to other sex abusers across the world.

Members travelled hundreds of miles to carry out sickening attacks together or used internet streaming to provide real-time encouragement and directions to those abusing victims.

The seven - aged between 31 and 51 and including three convicted sex offenders - were convicted of 29 child sex abuse offences, including conspiracy to rape and the multiple rape of a child aged under 13.

They are John Denham, 50, from Wiltshire, Matthew Stansfield, 35, from Hampshire, Adam Toms, 33, from Somerset, Christopher Knight, 35, from Manchester, Robin Hollyson, 31, from Bedfordshire, David Harsley, 51, from Yorkshire, and Matthew Lisk, 33, from Sussex.

Passing sentence at Bristol Crown Court, Judge Julian Lambert said: "In the worst nightmare, from the very deepest recesses of the mind, at the darkest hour of the night, few can have imagined the terrifying depravity which you men admit.

"What you contemplated and what you did involved the most horrific abuse of a baby and very young children.

"Your thoughts and deeds are beyond human instinct and reason, and are evil beyond rational understanding.

"You men indulged yourselves in some of the most depraved and grossly deviant behaviour imaginable. The depth to which you sank is astounding and highly shocking to all decent people.

"What you did is contrary to all nature and humanity and you each appear to have a chilling tendency to centre the world on yourselves and your depraved desires without regard for the innocent and vulnerable.

"Your conduct is of deep concern to the public and people are outraged at what you have done. What you did provokes tears in many and makes others feel physically sick.

"Given the strength of public feeling I consider that retribution has a very large part to play in the sentencing exercise. This is no case for treatment and rehabilitation outside prison."

The judge continued: "You each made choices. Those choices have proved catastrophic for you personally but that is of slight concern when compared with the devastating impact of your actions on the victims and their families.

"The material you viewed and the urges you excited in each other were matters of choice for you. You sought out the darkest materials on the internet and met in cyberspace to discuss your perverted sexual desires.

"You then planned the most shockingly sordid exploitation of the very young for sexual purposes. Targeting innocent children in that way is utterly abhorrent and is bound to receive condign punishment.

"The degraded and deplorable state into which you have rendered yourselves is pitiful but there is no room for mercy here.

"All sympathy and compassion must be extended to the victims of crime and their families, and not you."

Hollyson received a 24-year prison sentence plus an extension of eight years on licence while Toms was jailed for 12 years plus an extension of four years on licence.

Knight was jailed for 18 years plus an extension of six years on licence and Stansfield received a 10-year prison sentence plus an extension of four years on licence.

Denham was jailed for eight years plus an extension of four years on licence.

Lisk was jailed for four years plus an extension of three years on licence and Harsley was jailed for two years They were all placed on the sex offenders' register for life, except for Harsley whose length is still to be determined by the judge.

Online chat logs revealed the gang, who lived across the UK, would offer advice on using "date rape" drugs or over-the-counter medication to drowse children and babies.

Known victims of the men include one baby, aged between three and seven months at the time of the abuse, a four-year-old boy and a boy aged between four and five.

In July 2013, Harsley performed a sexual act near a four-year-old boy, while Denham and Lisk watched through a video link to a hotel room at Heathrow Airport.

Hollyson claimed to have repeatedly raped a baby from the age of three months and filmed himself doing so between December 2013 and January 2014. Later that month, Hollyson, Knight and Denham planned to meet to sexually abuse the boy but could not do so as Hollyson was in hospital.

Hollyson, Knight and Stansfield met in February 2014 though it is not clear what happened.

In May 2014, Hollyson, Stansfield and Toms met up to rape and sexually assault the baby, with the incident filmed and shared.

A video from July 2014 shows Hollyson abusing the baby, while logs reveal Hollyson and Stansfield conspired to rape him in July and August 2014.

Hollyson was arrested in September 2014, ending the baby's abuse. Investigators uncovered images of the baby being abused.

In April 2014, Toms administered drugs to a four-year-old boy to allow him and Knight to abuse him. Photographs of this were shared online. The attacks were carefully planned, with defendants driving hundreds of miles to commit their crimes.

The National Crime Agency uncovered the abuse last September after Toms contacted police to admit he had abused a child. Mr Davies said the impact on the victims and their families was "profound and long lasting".

One of the victim's families added: "We would like to thank police, the National Crime Agency and all the other law enforcement agencies involved for their support and handling of what has been a very traumatic and distressing experience for us.

"No family ever wants to find that their child has been the victim of abuse, nor would they ever knowingly put their child at risk.

"As a family we now need to mend - seeing the perpetrators being brought to justice is the first step."

Description

A Luton man who was part of a paedophile ring convicted of more than 30 child sexual abuse offences has been jailed for 32 years.

Robin Hollyson, 30, had pleaded guilty to three counts of raping a child under 13, three counts of conspiracy to rape a child under 13, sexual assault of a child under 13 and possessing indecent images of children.

He was one of seven jailed for a total of 107 years at Bristol Crown Court today.

The investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) alongside Bedfordshire Police, Wiltshire Police and Avon & Somerset Police was launched in September and the network of offenders began to be identified.

Bedfordshire Police had already arrested Hollyson after being alerted to a possible offence before the NCA contacted the force with information about his involvement in the wider ring.

The court heard the men shared indecent images and videos of children being abused, communicating via social networking forums.

Evidence showed that the groups victims were mainly babies and infants, with at least one victim given stupefying drugs to enable offenders to carry out sexual abuse.

The men were convicted of offences including the rape of a child under the age of 13, conspiracy to rape a child under the age of 13, sexual assault on a child under 13, sexual activity with a child under the age of 13, administering a substance with intent, making and possessing indecent images of children (IIOC) and breaching a Sex Offender Prevention Order (SOPO).

The victims identified so far were under the age of five at the time the offences were committed.

Detective Inspector Jerry Waite form Bedfordshire Police said: The sentences passed today show just how seriously the courts and law enforcement agencies consider the evil actions of these men.

Hollyson and these men went to great lengths in order to carry out their depraved acts.

Befriending and grooming a family in order to target their child is truly sickening and clearly shows their level of determination to identify and exploit a victim.

The family of Hollysons victim said: We would like to thank Bedfordshire Police, the National Crime Agency and all the other law enforcement agencies involved for their support and handling of what has been a very traumatic and distressing experience for us.

No family ever wants to find that their child has been the victim of abuse, nor would they ever knowingly put their child at risk.

As a family we now need to mend - seeing the perpetrators being brought to justice is the first step.

The NCAs continuing investigation has resulted in the arrest of an additional 28 people so far, three have been charged with child sexual abuse image offences.

Nine children have been safeguarded, bringing the total number of children safeguarded to 33.

Of those arrested, seven were in positions of trust four teachers, two charity/fundraiser workers and one was employed by a local authority. In addition, two people received cautions for extreme pornography offences.

Description

Depraved Christopher Knight, 35, was part of vile grooming gang branded 'beyond human instinct and evil' who have been jailed for a total of 107 years A gang of paedophiles who raped babies, toddlers and pre-school children and streamed the abuse over the internet to other sex abusers across the world have been branded 'beyond human instinct and evil' by a judge. The men preyed on the families of youngsters to gain access to them and, in one case, groomed a mother and father before their baby was born. Members travelled hundreds of miles to carry out sickening attacks together or used internet streaming to provide real-time encouragement and directions to those abusing victims. The seven - aged between 31 and 51 and including three convicted sex offenders - were convicted of 29 child sex abuse offences, including conspiracy to rape and the multiple rape of a child aged under 13. They are John Denham, 50, from Wiltshire, Matthew Stansfield, 35, from Hampshire, Adam Toms, 33, from Somerset, Christopher Knight, 35, from Manchester, Robin Hollyson, 31, from Bedfordshire, David Harsley, 51, from Yorkshire, and Matthew Lisk, 33, from Sussex. Passing sentence at Bristol Crown Court, Judge Julian Lambert said: In the worst nightmare, from the very deepest recesses of the mind, at the darkest hour of the night, few can have imagined the terrifying depravity which you men admit. What you contemplated and what you did involved the most horrific abuse of a baby and very young children. Your thoughts and deeds are beyond human instinct and reason, and are evil beyond rational understanding. You men indulged yourselves in some of the most depraved and grossly deviant behaviour imaginable. The depth to which you sank is astounding and highly shocking to all decent people. What you did is contrary to all nature and humanity and you each appear to have a chilling tendency to centre the world on yourselves and your depraved desires without regard for the innocent and vulnerable. Your conduct is of deep concern to the public and people are outraged at what you have done. What you did provokes tears in many and makes others feel physically sick. Given the strength of public feeling I consider that retribution has a very large part to play in the sentencing exercise. This is no case for treatment and rehabilitation outside prison. The judge continued: You each made choices. Those choices have proved catastrophic for you personally but that is of slight concern when compared with the devastating impact of your actions on the victims and their families. The material you viewed and the urges you excited in each other were matters of choice for you. You sought out the darkest materials on the internet and met in cyberspace to discuss your perverted sexual desires. You then planned the most shockingly sordid exploitation of the very young for sexual purposes. Targeting innocent children in that way is utterly abhorrent and is bound to receive condign punishment. The degraded and deplorable state into which you have rendered yourselves is pitiful but there is no room for mercy here. All sympathy and compassion must be extended to the victims of crime and their families, and not you. Hollyson received a 24-year prison sentence plus an extension of eight years on licence while Toms was jailed for 12 years plus an extension of four years on licence. Knight was jailed for 18 years plus an extension of six years on licence and Stansfield received a 10-year prison sentence plus an extension of four years on licence. Denham was jailed for eight years plus an extension of four years on licence. Lisk was jailed for four years plus an extension of three years on licence and Harsley was jailed for two years They were all placed on the sex offenders register for life, except for Harsley whose length is still to be determined by the judge.

Description

A HAMPSHIRE man who was part of a gang of paedophiles who raped and abused babies, toddlers and children in attacks that were streamed over the internet is facing a lengthy prison sentence.

Matthew Stanfield, 35, was part of a ring who preyed on the families of the youngsters they targeted, in one case grooming a mother and father before their baby was born.

Members would often travel long distances to carry out sickening attacks together, or watch the abuse over the internet if only one had access to a victim.

Chilling online chat revealed that members of the gang, who lived across the UK, would offer advice to others on how to drug young victims.

Today, the seven men - aged between 31 and 51 and including three previously convicted sex offenders - will appear before Bristol Crown Court to be sentenced.

The hearing, before Judge Julian Lambert, is expected to take two days, with the men expected to receive their sentences tomorrow.

Together, they have been convicted of 30 child sex abuse offences, including conspiracy to rape and the rape of a child under the age of 13.

The other members of the gang are:

John Denham, formally known as Benjamin Harrop, 50, from Wiltshire

Matthew Stansfield, 35, from Hampshire - a convicted sex offender

Adam Toms, 33, from Somerset

Christopher Knight, 35, from Manchester

Robin Hollyson, previously known as Robin Fallick, 31, from Bedfordshire - a convicted sex offender

David Harsley, 51, from East Yorkshire - a convicted sex offender

Matthew Lisk, 33, from East Sussex

The National Crime Agency launched its investigation, codenamed Operation Voicer, last September after Toms contacted police and admitted he had abused a child.

Their inquiries led to the unmasking of the ring operating across the UK, which had links to other paedophiles across the world.

In the weeks that followed, the other six members were arrested and a further two victims were identified.

Another 21 children have been the subject of ''safeguarding'' measures in relation to the investigation.

The NCA has worked closely with the Avon and Somerset, Bedfordshire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Humberside, Wiltshire and Sussex police forces, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service and nine local authorities.

Police combed the suspects' electronic communications and established that contact between them began on adult online sex forums, which are publicly accessible and legal to use.