Latest Offenders

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A child rapist released early from prison was found working on a children's amusement ride, a court has heard. Stephen Wilson, 60, had served six years of a nine-year sentence for a string of sexual offences against children when he was released from prison on December 6, 2017. Wilson was made the subject of an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which prohibited him from working with anyone under 16, either in a paid or voluntary capacity, without the explicit permission of police. However, on March 29 this year a detective from Humberside Police spotted Wilson operating Wacky Races, a popular amusement ride on Bridlington's promenade. 'He was physically lifting them out' Phillip Evans, prosecuting at Hull Crown Court, said: "The defendant was the operator of that amusement. In that capacity, he was helping children off the ride. He was physically lifting them out." Wilson later claimed the ride was aimed at older children, but Mr Evans said the officer was quite clear about what he saw. "DC Marsh said they were between three and five years of age," said the prosecutor. Officers waited for a "discreet moment" before moving in to arrest Wilson so as not to cause undue alarm to parents. Wilson, of Winston Court, Bridlington, pleaded guilty, at the first opportunity, to breaching the sexual offences prevention order. He had sexually attacked children before Mr Evans gave the court details of the most relevant of Wilson's 22 previous convictions for 67 offences. On December 7, 2010, at Grimsby Crown Court, Wilson was convicted of one count of rape of a child under 16, two counts of gross indecency with a child, and one count of indecent assault on a child under 16. Dale Brook, for Wilson, said his family had disowned him following those convictions, resulting in an "isolated existence". Since his arrest, Wilson has remained in prison, which has he has found "exceptionally difficult", said Mr Brook. "He has been bullied," said the barrister, before admitting a pre-sentence report was "an almost entirely gloomy document". Mr Brook made clear, however, that Wilson's motivation for working on the ride was purely financial. Wilson needed to earn money to furnish his flat, he said. 'You are anything but trustworthy' The barrister appealed to the Recorder Richard Woolfall to hold back from jailing his client, pointing out his poor mental health and a knee complaint that requires surgery. However, Record Woolfall said Wilson must have known working on a children's ride would put him in breach of the order. "It appears to me you did not tell your employer of your history," he told Wilson, referring to the earlier convictions. "It is right that parents would think anyone operating such a ride would be trustworthy. You are anything but trustworthy. "There is compelling evidence that your risk of sexual harm is unmanageable in the community." Wilson was jailed for two years, of which he must serve around half before he is eligible for release on licence. The sexual harm prevention order continues indefinitely.

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A DISGRACED grammar school teacher who secretly photographed girls at school has been struck off for sexual misconduct. Ashley Bakewell had been employed as a computing teacher at South Wilts Grammar School since January 2012, but on December 16, 2016, a sixth former suspected him of photographing female pupils at the school and reported him to the head teacher. "Numerous images" were found on his phone from earlier that day, but Bakewell admitted he had been taking inappropriate pictures of the girls without their knowledge and storing them on his mobile for about a year. The 33-year-old resigned in February 2017, but a spokesman for the school confirmed he had been immediately suspended in December 2016, and did not return to the school site. Last month his case was heard by a panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), who found that his conduct was "sexually motivated" and barred him from teaching indefinitely. Bakewell admitted he "was particularly attracted to the relevant pupils' long hair". An agreed statement of facts says: "[The pictures] were dated December 16, 2016, which was the date that pupils at the school reported Mr Bakewell's inappropriate conduct. "The images were taken from behind and of female pupils." The day in question had been a non-uniform day, and the pictures were of "pupils in various academic years". South Wilts educates girls between ages 11 and 18. The report said: "[Bakewell] breached the trust and confidence placed in him through his position as a teacher by, without their knowledge, taking images of children, repeatedly, over a long period of time." It added: "This case has sexual misconduct at its core, and therefore the panel is of the view that prohibition [from teaching] is both proportionate and appropriate." But Bakewell can apply to have his prohibition order overturned in five years, with the panel ruling that no harm had been caused to the girls who had been photographed, and that the photos "although inappropriate were not indecent". It comes after art teacher Debbie Evans was banned from teaching for life for having a two-year affair with a sixth form pupil in 2015. A statement from South Wilts said a "serious safeguarding matter" was reported by students in December 2016, and that staff "immediately followed the school's safeguarding procedures". It said investigations were undertaken by various agencies including the police and Wiltshire Safeguarding Children Board. It continued: "This is an unusual and rare event, but the school acted promptly when notified of the matter and our policies were effective and robust enough to respond according to regulatory guidance. "As ever, the school ensures that the safety and wellbeing of our students is its highest priority." Wiltshire Police confirmed an investigation had been undertaken, but "no criminal offences were established".

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A married father-of-one was snared by 'paedophile hunters' after attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl - while his daughter and wife were in a hospital just minutes away.

Brian Turnbull was confronted by members of the online vigilante group Dark Justice, after travelling from Cumbria to Newcastle to meet the underage girl.

Turnbull and his wife had made the 80-mile drive with their daughter for an appointment at the skin graft clinic at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

But as the women waited in the hospital he went to the nearby Exhibition Park to meet the underage girl for 'kissing and cuddling'.

The 60-year-old, who described his wife as 'the worst luck', had been chatting to the fake girl on the dating app Whatsapp - telling her she was gorgeous and sending explicit pictures of himself.

He also told the decoy girl his wife was 'a pain in the a**e.

'Winging n wining all the time.' (SIC) But after being accosted by Dark Justice, he told them he 'wouldn't have classed his behaviour as sexual grooming' and said that it was 'just a laugh'.

He was arrested and admitted inciting a child in sexual activity.

A member of Dark Justice said: 'This was a weird case in total. He was coming to Newcastle with his wife and daughter so she could go to the skin graft clinic at the RVI.

'While she was in there he wanted to meet this child. It baffles your mind, the lengths these people will go to to groom children.

'He was arrested within 10 minutes of the mother and daughter going for their treatment.

'I think afterwards they went back to Cumbria and just left him here.

'He said that he was getting a divorce and that his wife would leave him after this.

'He is one of the older ones we have caught.'

At Carlisle Crown Court, Turnbull, of Aspatria, Wigton, was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete a 30 day rehabilitation requirement and must sign the sex offenders register for seven years

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A man who was jailed for sexual offences against a young girl has been imprisoned again after he was found to be in contact with single mother with young daughters. Stephen Agate, 37, unemployed, of Wordsworth Road, Worthing, was sentenced to three years prison at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday, April 24, having previously pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) severely restricting any unsupervised or agreed access to young children, and to breaching a lifelong requirement to notify his address to police as a Registered Sex Offender. Police found that Agate was associating in Worthing with a single mother who had young daughters within four months of being released from prison on supervision licence. He had previously been sentenced to four years imprisonment in July 2015 after pleading guilty to causing an eight-year old girl known to him to engage in sexual activity. He was then living in Burgess Hill and visited the girl's home nearby in the town, where he knew the family and committed sexual offences against her on several occasions when he contrived to be alone with her. When he was sentenced in In July 2015 he was also given the SHPO to last indefinitely, was made a Registered Sex Offender for life. PC Matt Andrews of the West Sussex VISOR (Violent and Sexual Offender) Unit, said: "Agate was released from prison on licence in July last year and stayed a Probation-approved address in Worthing. "In November he met the mother locally and struck up a relationship with her, resulting in his starting to stay at her address. "But his unexplained absence from his approved address was noticed and swiftly followed up and our enquiries led us to where he was staying within a few days. "He was immediately arrested and returned to prison as well as being charged with these extra offences. "The mother had no idea of his criminal history which involved preying on a young girl he had befriended in very similar circumstances. "This investigation, in which we worked with the National Probation Service, shows how action is taken to supervise sexual offenders in the community and to safeguard the public, especiallly vulnerable adults and children."

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Predatory paedophile Kaylem Lewis has been jailed after he groomed a 12-year-old girl while sending her constant messages.

The 21-year-old had exchanged numbers with the girl whose age he knew and started sending her innocuous texts.

But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the content soon became sexual, and Lewis told the victim he loved her and they would make love soon.

The defendant, of Bellingham Grove, Hanley, was found out after the girl told a friend, who reported it at school.

Prosecutor Sati Ruck said: The exchange of numbers led to them contacting each other by text message. The defendant purchased 10 credit for her phone and he was constantly texting her.

On one occasion he saw he and tried to touch her bottom. On another occasion they went for a walk and he told her he wanted to be with her when she was older, that she was beautiful and he loved her.

He told her not to say anything to anyone because he would get into trouble because of her age. He also invited her to his house on one occasion, but she said no.

The court heard the messages were sent during a two-week period in January and February. The victim confided in her friend, who told a school welfare officer. The police were then called in and Lewis was arrested.

His mobile phone and the victims were examined and revealed the text messages between them.

Miss Ruck said: References were made to him splitting up with his girlfriend to be with her.

He said she was too young to be doing anything but he would not stop her if she wanted to. He also said they would make love soon.

He then asked her to delete the text messages to avoid being detected.

Lewis went on to plead guilty to causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard he had one previous conviction, for assault.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Lewis had struggled to explain his actions. Mr Muldoon said: He has failed to adequately explain his behaviour to himself. His relationship was going through a sour patch at the time.

He is ashamed, he is disgusted and he is remorseful for his offending behaviour.

Judge David Fletcher sentenced Lewis to 27 months in prison. He said: There is no doubt you knew what her age was, and from almost the outset you knew what you were doing was wrong. This was clear grooming behaviour.

A 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which restricts Lewiss future contact with children, was also imposed.

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Mark Birtles picked up his victim, who was then aged under 18, one evening in April last year and drove to a remote area before raping her.

The 20-year-old, of Laburnum Road, Mexborough, was arrested that month after the girl went to hospital and reported what had happened.

Birtles was found guilty of rape following a three-day trial at Sheffield Crown Court, which ended on Friday, and was jailed for six years.

He was given an additional one year prison sentence for breaching a suspended sentence for harassment, though this will run concurrently with the other sentence.

Detective Constable Cheryl McCorkell, who led the investigation, said: "Birtles had offered the victim a lift one evening last April before he stopped in a remote area near Bolton-upon-Dearne and raped her.

"She has shown immense courage in coming forward and reporting what happened and was forced to endure the trial after Birtles continued to deny his guilt, despite the substantial evidence gathered against him.

"I'd like to thank and praise the girl for showing such strength and bravery as she gave evidence during the trial. The conviction is a testament to that and I hope that knowing Birtles is behind bars for the next six years goes some way in helping her to move forward with her life."

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A rapist who manipulated a girl into having sex with him by pretending to be a ghost has been jailed for 26 years. Liam Clarke knew she was terrified of evil spirits and used that to exploit her, Exeter Crown Court heard. Clarke, 35, of Crediton, Devon, was convicted of four rapes, three assaults by penetration, sexual activity with a child, and eight counts of indecency or indecent assault. Judge David Evans said: "Your offending across the years was monstrous." More stories from Devon The court heard how Clarke's victim was petrified of the occult following a bad experience during an Ouija board game. He made strange noises at night which left the 15-year-old girl terrified and pushed notes under her bedroom door claiming to be from the ghost. Pretending to be the spirit, he then made threats to the teenager and told her the only way of getting rid of the demon was by having sex with him. Sentencing Clarke, Judge Evans said: "She said she did not want to have sex with you but you threatened her repeatedly. "You made deliberate use of her deep fear of ghosts and spirits." Hide and seek The offences took place between 1997 to 2016 in Torquay, Crediton and in Hampshire. Clarke was arrested in July last year and found guilty at trial in March. He also repeatedly abused two young girls in Southampton by putting coins in his underwear and getting them to play hide and seek. Clarke was put on the sex offenders' register for life and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his future contact with girls.

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A PROLIFIC paedophile who was snared by vigilantes who posed as children has been jailed for over nine years. Mark Baber, 43, was duped by paedophile hunters after attempting to engage in sexual activity with what he thought were children via online chat rooms before he was brought to justice, Portsmouth Crown Court heard. The conviction comes after it was widely reported earlier this month that evidence gained from paedophile hunters was used to charge suspects in England and Wales on at least 150 occasions last year. Babers predatory attempts in December last year were exposed after he sent crude messages and sexually graphic pictures as he looked to secure encounters with children using his dark high speed grooming tactics. The defendant was then tracked to his Fareham home address where he was nowhere to be found before he was finally hunted down and discovered at his work. Police arrested him the following day. (Baber) was talking to three women posing as children in chat rooms where he made a number of sexual suggestions and sent crude photos of himself before the team found him, prosecutor Timothy Compton said. Baber also downloaded over 20 disturbing images of children aged between two and 14 years of age. When police turned up at his address they found he had deleted his internet history - something he was prohibited from doing under the terms of an order from his previous term of imprisonment for similar offences. The court also heard how Baber befriended a lady with his ulterior motives laid bare when he started texting her daughter. On one occasion, the predator sent the girl a message saying he would get her a sex toy with a bean bag cushion. He also capitalised on an opportunity to spend time alone with the child when the mum fell asleep further putting him in breach of his conditions with him not allowed to be by himself with a child. The mums horror was compounded when she searched Baber on the internet and found out he was a paedophile. The court heard how the child offender had 26 previous convictions and was sentenced to 48 months prison in 2013 for similar offences after downloading a string of vile child images and attempted to incite children into sexual activity. In defence, Daniel Reilly, said Baber was released in October 2017 before finding himself homeless and abandoned by his family who wanted nothing more to do with him which had resulted in him losing out on a significant amount of family inheritance. (Baber) knew he did wrong and wanted to stop, Mr Reilly said. The defence solicitor then told the court of the paedophiles remorse. Im totally ashamed of what I did. I want to make sure this is never repeated, Baber said. Baber, of Riverside Avenue, Warrington, admitted attempting to incite children into sexual activity, deleting his internet history, distributing images of children and for breaching his sexual offences order. After sentencing Baber to nine years and three months in prison, judge Robert Hill said: You did your best to incite sex with children. The only difference was that you were being set up.

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A hairdresser who deliberately tried to infect 10 men with HIV has been jailed for at least 12 years.

Daryll Rowe became the first man in the country to be found guilty of intentionally setting out to spread the virus after meeting the men on gay dating app Grindr.

Branded "grotesque" and a "sociopath" by his victims, the 27-year-old was convicted in November of 10 charges - five of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and five of attempting to do so.

Rowe, wearing a grey suit and open-collared white shirt, showed no emotion as he was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 12 years at Brighton Crown Court on Wednesday.

Judge Christine Henson QC, sentencing, referred to his crimes as a "determined hateful campaign of sly violence".

"You are the first individual to be sentenced for Section 18 offences in the context of infecting others with HIV," she said.

"With the full knowledge of the risk you posed to others and the legal implications of engaging in risky sexual practices, you embarked on a deliberate campaign to infect other men with the HIV virus.

"Unfortunately for five of the men you met, your campaign was successful."

The judge continued: "They describe living with a life sentence as a result of your cruel and senseless acts.

"Many of those men were young men in their 20s at the time they had the misfortune to meet you."

She told Rowe he poses a significant risk to the public, adding: "You will potentially remain a danger to others for the rest of your life."

After being diagnosed in April 2015 in his home city of Edinburgh, Rowe met men on gay dating app Grindr and had sex with eight of them in Brighton, East Sussex, between October that year and February 2016, before fleeing to the North East where he went on the run from police, targeting two more victims.

His six-week trial heard he embarked on a cynical and deliberate campaign to infect men with HIV, refusing treatment and ignoring advice from doctors.

He insisted on having unprotected sex with men, claiming he was "clean". When they refused, he tampered with condoms, tricking them into thinking he was practising safe sex.

Afterwards he would become aggressive and taunt them over text, telling one: "I have HIV. Lol. Whoops!"

Rowe repeatedly lied to authorities and would use aliases with his victims.

He told jurors he believed he had been cured of the virus by the time he moved to Brighton, having adopted the practice of drinking his own urine as a treatment, supplemented with natural remedies, including oregano, coconut and olive leaf oils.

He sat in the dock, showing no emotion during his sentencing hearing as prosecutor Caroline Carberry QC read out statements from nine of his 10 victims, which she said showed the "devastating consequences" of Rowe's actions.

Many told how they had considered suicide having suffered physical and psychological damage, needing to take daily medication.

Rowe's first victim told how he had considered taking his own life after he was diagnosed with HIV in January 2016.

He said: "Darryl has destroyed my life. I would rather he had murdered me than left me to live my life like this."

One said he thought he was going to die when he found out he had the virus, while another told of the "shattering effect" it had on him and his family, believing "it was a life-long sentence, which would eventually kill me off" because of the stigma surrounding the disease.

"While for some cases of GBH it might be possible for victims to put the acts behind them, unfortunately this will never be the case for me," said a different victim, who requires daily medication.

"There is a virus inside me which will give me a horrible and painful death unless I take pills for the rest of my life."

The court heard a psychiatric report found Rowe's crimes were carried out with a "significant degree of rage, control, sadism and violence".

"This defendant is the first individual in the UK who falls to be sentenced for Section 18 offences in the context of the intentional infection of others with the HIV virus," said the prosecutor.

"This was a deliberate campaign to infect multiple men with a serious life-threatening and life-changing disease such that it falls outside the sentences envisaged by the (sentencing) guidelines."

Felicity Gerry QC highlighted comparable cases from around the world, urging the judge to pass a sentence that would not add to the "social stigma" of HIV, but inform the public the virus is not what it was in the 90s.

"He was a vulnerable young man in a community where the disclosure of one's HIV status remains unusual, in the context of how he was meeting people," she said.

"This is not a terminal illness. Those who live with HIV have good and high life expectancies."

She added: "There really is a need for therapy and not incarceration."

Sussex Police came under fire over claims they put gay men in danger when they released Rowe on bail, after which he continued his campaign.

Northumbria Police have been accused of wrongfully arresting and detaining one of his unsuspecting victims as he came to terms with his boyfriend's crimes.

Rowe's final victim blamed police for putting him at risk and said more could have been done sooner to stop Rowe's offending.

It was 18 days after his arrest that Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council urged gay men to get tested for HIV if they had been sexually involved with "a man in his 20s with a Scottish accent".

Police appealed for anyone with information or potential victims to come forward but refused to publish his name and photo.

He was later identified by a newspaper, prompting widespread media reports.

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Hon Chung even attacked two of victims at his girlfriend's home and raped one with the help of a schoolboy.

A twisted pervert plied runaway children with alcohol and cocaine before raping them in his car and even at his girlfriend’s home.

Hon Chung, 29, of Gardenside Street, Everton, befriended then groomed and exploited three vulnerable girls, aged 14 and 15.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he made one child drink a whole bottle of vodka, before a boy held her down, so he could rape her.

Chung, then 27, was found guilty after a trial of two counts of rape and three counts of sexual activity with a child.

The boy, then 16 and now 17, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of one count of rape.

Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, said Chung targeted victims who had run away from home or foster carers.

The first victim, aged 15, described him as “someone who was always there for her”.

He bought her two bottles of wine, which she drank before giving him oral sex in his car, at his request.

She and the second girl, 14, went back to Chung’s girlfriend’s home, where the boy gave the 15-year-old cocaine.

Ms Snowdon said: “She described falling about everywhere and smashing a pot because she was so drunk.”

Chung stripped and then raped the victim, despite the fact she was crying throughout.

He later asked the second girl to give him oral sex in the same bedroom.

The next victim was another 14-year-old girl, who Chung called “proper gorgeous” and pressured into oral sex.

He gave her and another girl money and let them stay in his car overnight, then struck again the following evening.

Chung made her drink a bottle of vodka and gave her cocaine, before he and the boy said they wanted to “do stuff”.

The court heard she was “extremely drunk” and her “vision blurred”, but she managed to refuse.

Ms Snowdon said: “She said ‘I’m 14 and you’re 27’. His response was ‘so?’”

Chung raped the protesting and sobbing girl, while the boy grabbed her hands to stop her moving.

Ms Snowdon said: “It was only when she said she was going to be sick that he stopped to let her get out of the car.”

Chung threw her out of the car and threatened to kill her if she told anyone, before later driving her to Belle Vale.

The victim was hysterical and threw herself in front of a passing car, but the female driver knew Chung and rang him to collect her.

His DNA was later recovered from the victim’s knickers and she had a large number of small injuries.

Chung has previous convictions for battery and possessing cocaine and cannabis, but the boy did not have a criminal record.

John Cooper, QC, defending Chung, said his current partner and a past girlfriend said he had never been a threat to them.

Paul Lewis, defending the teen, said he comforted his victim, held her hair back so she could be sick and offered her water.

He said Chung was the “primary protagonist” and the boy, who felt “moral repugnance”, had previously suffered a family bereavement.

Judge Norman Wright said Chung knew his young victims were vulnerable, but gained their trust to abuse them.

He said the first girl attempted suicide, adding: “You have cast a very dark shadow over any future relationships that she might have.”

Judge Wright said he plied the third girl with vodka, cocaine and cannabis “to make her compliant” then raped her.

He said: “You made threats to petrol bomb her house or kill her if she told the police what happened.”

Judge Wright said the boy didn’t try to stop Chung “or even turn a blind eye” but helped him, while high on cocaine.

He said Chung wanted “to express power and control over his victims”, adding: “Your behaviour is manipulative and predatory.”

The judge said Chung was “dangerous” and jailed him for 20 years, with an extended six years on licence, as he shook his head.

He will serve at least two thirds of the sentence behind bars and only be released if a parole board deems he is no longer a risk.

The boy burst into tears as he was locked up for seven years, while supporters of both rapists cried in the public gallery.

The pair were told to sign on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

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A man was found with a vile collection of more than 3,000 indecent images of children when police searched his Northumberland home.

Christopher Cooper had the photos and movies, some of which were of the most serious category A kind, on a computer and mobile phone at his house in Stocksfield.

A court heard that specialist officers from Northumbria Police searched the 52-year-olds address after concerns were raised that he was downloading the sick pictures on August 9 last year.

Numerous electrical devices were seized and interrogated and a total of 3,349 child abuse images and videos were discovered, prosecutors said.

Cooper, of Branch End Terrace, Stocksfield, appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates Court to plead guilty to four counts of making indecent images of children.

Laura Croft, prosecuting, said officers who searched Coopers address seized a number of electrical devices, including memory cards, a computer tower and a mobile phone.

The seized items were then interrogated by police, Miss Croft told magistrates.

When examined, the mobile phone revealed 10 category C images and, on the computer, there was over 3,000 indecent images of children of all categories.

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One boy was abused up to 100 times

A scout leader who preyed on young boys at various camps has been jailed for 11 years.

The sex offender abused the victims, as young as eight, at their homes and scout clubs across Essex.

Anthony Allen (Antony Allen), 27, of Plaistow, Newham, was sentenced for six offences of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, and six offences of sexual activity with a child under 15.

The charges relate to eight children from the 25th Newham East Scout Group, that Allen had volunteered at for ten years, until he was suspended last year pending the investigation.

The offences took place against victims, all boys aged between eight and 16, who were abused at varying times over a four-year period between January 2013 and September 2017. They occurred at different locations, including home addresses and scout camps in Essex, Kent and Wales.

During the period of abuse, Allen worked as a teaching assistant for a year and then a learning mentor at a primary school.

The investigation was first triggered when one of his victims, realising that his younger brother was due to move up from cubs to Allen's scout group and would also be at risk, told his mother he had to get him out of scouts in a bid to protect him.

His mother initially viewed this comment as a joke, but after her elder son repeated allegations to other relatives she got the police involved.

The first formal complaint led to other victims coming forward and contacting police.

The investigation

Allen also enlisted as a volunteer in the Army Reserves and was deployed in Estonia for training with his unit, 7 Rifles G Company, who are based in West Ham, when the allegations first surfaced.

When police identified Allen he was abroad with his army unit and he was flown back to England for questioning.

He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in mid-September 2017, interviewed and then released on bail.

He then temporarily disappeared after leaving 'suicide notes' at several of his victims' houses.

Allen's computer was seized from his home address and he was arrested over offences relating to making and possessing images and videos.

During the trial the prosecution outlined examples of Allen grooming different boys, firstly by initiating text message conversations which would begin as banter, which would then progress to inappropriate chat focusing on male physique, and progress again to explicitly sexual language.

One tactic the predator used was to ask victims to send him photos of them exercising their bodies as evidence for their progress towards a so-called 'fitness' badge.

He took advantage of the close physical proximity fostered by seasonal scout camping trips. He would surprise victims in the toilets or persuade them into his tent under the false shield of seeking support while the young boys were away from home, but they were then trapped by Allen into unwanted physical intimacy.

He abused his victims 'hundreds of times'

One boy, who was first assaulted by Allen at the age of 10, estimated sexual touching had occurred on 60 to 100 occasions.

Allen also used the technique where he would insinuate himself into the wider family by befriending parents and children to win their trust. Parents consistently told police how helpful and supportive he was, assisting with errands and taking the children out for day trips, leading officers to note they had been equally groomed.

One one occasion Allen assaulted a 13-year-old victim in his own bedroom while the boy's mother and younger sibling were downstairs in the garden.

Another victim came forward to police and said Allen was looked up to as a role model by members of the group and several, including himself, viewed him as a second father.

One victim called him 'dad' as he was taken out ad about by Allen just as a parent would.

Another boy was so embarrassed at the memory of the explicitly sexual suggestions that Allen had made to him that he was unable to say them out loud and had to write them on a note he handed to officers.

Victim's mother said: "Allen scarred him mentally for life"

A mother of one of the younger victims spoke after court, she said: "Im really hurt by what Antony has done as he has taken what can never be replaced. His actions have impacted on our day to day lives as he didnt just abuse him physically but has scarred him mentally for life.

"He has left us shocked to the core and we will never trust anyone again. He had a group of children that was full of life and working towards bettering themselves and their community but took this opportunity to gain trust then abuse it.

"My heart goes out to the families of all the victims that have been taken in and had their trust abused.

"I cant thank the police enough for all they have done to get this conviction - they have been amazing to me and to the child victims."

PC Bruce Upson, Met Officer who led the investigation, praised the bravery of the young boys who helped bring Allen to account.

Upson, from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, said: "These children have shown great courage throughout the investigation. Their actions in finding the strength to come forward and report the matter has prevented other potential offences occurring.

"Allen was a predatory offender who used his well-established position as a scout leader to gain access to children and commit sexual offences against them whilst along the way earning the respect and trust of families.

"If there is anyone else out there who believes they or someone they are close to may also have been a victim of Allen, I would urge them to contact us a soon as possible on our dedicated NSPCC hotline number of 0800 048 0278 quoting Operation Stanhope.

The Charges

Allen first appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on October 4, 2017, where he was remanded to attended the Old Baily on November 1, 2017.

He appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, April 13 and sentenced for a total of 11 years for 12 sexual offences involving minors, as well as, making 30 Category C images of children he know, possession of three category A images, 28 Category B images and 611 Categeory C images. These also included one Category A video, and ten Category B videos.

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A RAPIST was snared after his victim secretly recorded him confessing to the crime. Gary Rawlings attacked the 17 year-old girl at a flat in Glasgow's Thornliebank in late 2016. She did not disclose her ordeal to anyone but months later captured the 18 year-old on her mobile phone admitting what he had done. This included Rawlings claiming he did not think the victim was serious when she told him to stop. Rawlings has now been locked up for three years after he pled guilty to rape at the High Court in Glasgow. Judge Norman Ritchie QC told him: Your belated admission (of guilt) spared her having to give evidence. He added what happened to the girl has had long lasting consequences for her. It emerged Rawlings has already been hit with a lifelong Non-Harassment Order not to approach the teenager following separate court proceedings. The rape occurred after the pair were together at a flat in Glasgow's Thornliebank. The court heard they went on to initially have consensual sex. But, after a few moments, the girl told Rawlings: Can we stop? I don't want to do this anymore. Prosecutor Bill McVicar went on to state: He continued to have sex with her as she repeatedly told him she did not want to. She tried to move her body about the bed to stop it happening. However, Rawlings still carried on for around 10 minutes. The victim then said: I told you to stop. I did not want to do it. Rawlings replied: I'm sorry. Mr McVicar said the girl was left upset. She did not tell anyone at the time as she was worried no one would believe her. It was last April when the victim and a friend were in Glasgow city centre that they then bumped into Rawlings. He made a comment to her, but she ignored him and tried to walk away. But, the court heard the girl then decided to record Rawlings on her phone without his knowledge. He then went on to admit to the sex attack. Mr McVicar said: He made admissions of having raped her and these were recorded on the mobile phone. He indicated what happened had been a mistake and that he did not think she was being serious when she told him to stop. He had been aware that she was upset when she was leaving the flat. The victim went to police after further unwanted contact by Rawlings. She stated she had been raped and handed over the phone with the recording. Rawlings was later quizzed by police, but made no comment.

Description

Pervert Simon Hulme has been jailed after he was snared by a paedophile hunter months after he was released from prison for similar offences.

The 35-year-old was locked up for 30 months in January 2016 for three offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and arranging the commission of a child sex offence.

But within months of his release he was again making contact with what he believed was a child online.

However, he was actually chatting with a woman who set up a fake profile on social media site Kick.

Using the name of Shelly she told the defendant she was aged 13. He told her he was aged 35 and sent her videos of him performing a sex act on himself.

He asked for pictures of her and for her to go live on the site so he could see what she looked like.

His requests became aggressive and the woman discontinued the chats and reported the defendant to a group called Protecting the Innocent.

The group confronted the defendant at Bucknall Park and he was arrested by police.

Now Hulme has been jailed for two years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Peter McCartney said the defendant initiated conversation with 'Shelly' on the Kick site in December.

He said: "He told her he was 35 and sent her videos of himself performing a sex act on himself. He asked her for pictures of her and requested she went live on the site so he could see what she looked like. He wanted to get her back to his house. The requests for sending a video became aggressive. He demanded she viewed videos of him.

"He said he wanted sex. She made it clear she was only 13. She discontinued the chats and contacted the Protecting the Innocent group.

"He was eventually confronted in Bucknall Park and was arrested by the police."

Hulme, of Rosedawn Close West, Hanley, pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order; attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child; and attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child between December 1 and January 5.

Samina Rashid, mitigating, said the defendant accepts sending the messages.

She added: "On his release from the last sentence he was told he would start a programme very soon. That did not materialise until the first week in January and he had only had one session before he was arrested."

Judge David Fletcher told Hulme: "The behaviour you entered into very shortly after your release was very similar to the behaviour you had been sentenced for in 2016.

"The really worrying aspect is you knew very well the girl you were talking to was 13-years-old. Nevertheless, you continued to encourage her to do the sorts of things which she indicated she was not very keen on doing."

He added: "This is a very serious set of circumstances committed by a man who has extremely similar previous convictions who seems to have learnt little or nothing from his previous incarceration."

Hulme was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and was made the subject of a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

Paedophile Mark Jones has been jailed after he asked a schoolgirl if she wanted to earn 10 - before carrying out a sickening sex attack on her.

The 53-year-old undressed the girl, touched her chest and then sexually assaulted her.

The matter came to the attention of the police and the defendant was arrested.

He told officers he had touched the girl's private area and said the incident lasted for between 10 and 20 minutes.

Now Jones has been jailed for 32 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Brian McKenna said: "He asked her if she wanted to earn a tenner. She said she did. He undressed her. He touched her private area and touched her breasts."

The defendant told police he did not know why he had done it and said he was very sorry.

Jones, of Broadfield Road, Goldenhill, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child.

Anis Ali, mitigating, said it was an 'unfortunate and inappropriate' incident which the defendant regrets.

Mr Ali said: "There is no evidence of any physical injury being occasioned.

"It is something he has to live with, the stigma which comes with such a conviction. He is embarrassed and ashamed."

Jailing Jones, Judge David Fletcher said it was a 'one-off incident'.

He said: "You offered your victim 10 to enable you to do what is accepted by you with her.

"She was a child. You were a man of over 50.

"You accept the incident went on for 10 to 20 minutes. The facts of this case are decidedly unattractive. The evidence clearly demonstrates by the offering of some money there was a degree of grooming involved.

"You clearly decided on this occasion to take a massive risk. Today is the day when you have to pay the price for that."

The judge placed Jones on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and made him the subject of an indefinite restraining order preventing him having any contact with his victim.