Latest Offenders

Description

A sports teacher who had a long-term sexual relationship with an underage student at a 6,000-a-year public school wept in court as he was jailed for 16 months.

Sean Bettinson, 49, befriended the victims parents and manipulated the girl from the age of 12.

What began with kissing moved through various sexual activities, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Sitting behind a screen, the victim described the fear and shame she felt at the time which grew into anger and hate in her adult years.

Bettinson, of New Malden, south west London, sobbed with his head hung as his barrister asked him to be given a suspended sentence.

The former teacher admitted three counts of indecent assault and two counts of abuse of a position of trust.

To save his victim the distress of a trial, two further counts of indecent assault and two counts of abuse of trust will not be proceeded with.

The student, who is now an adult, reported him to the police in October 2016 after confronting him about the relationship and secretly recording the conversation.

I was an outgoing, friendly, happy child with a big smile, she said. I was happy and carefree, I was 12 when he first appeared.

I was just a child when my life involved relentless bombardment. When he was not with me he would text me, he befriended my parents.

I feel so ashamed of what happened to me and that people would find out. It was all consuming, I had trouble facing him.

At the time I didnt realise the seriousness of what was happening and how wrong it was.

As the years went on I was finding it harder and harder, there was so much hurt, hate and anger deep inside.

The victim has experienced several break downs and felt the past eating away at her, the court heard.

The long-lasting specific impact that child trauma was having on me, it takes over everything. Its quite possible that I might not be here at all.

I wonder if I will ever become free from feeling such negative emotions, I wonder if I will ever be able to put this behind me.

I try to understand how he felt at liberty to do this to me.

He knew exactly what he was doing and exactly what impact it would have on me for the rest of my life.

He continued to manipulate me and my family for many years, in order to control me.

He was my teacher, he was supposed to keep me from harm, instead he abused his power.

I will never forget and never forgive him for what he did.

Judge Simon Davis told Bettinson: You took advantage of her, and you abused her physically and sexually, by physically I mean sexually.

You did that over a period of some years as she moved through her GCSE and into her later exams and you formed a relationship with her.

It was a consensual relationship in the general sense of the word.

But its clear to me within that context, from a good deal of what she has told me in her own words and I have read from her statement, that she only came really to understand the greater and wider import and consequences of what she was involved in by you involving her in it as time passed.

Because she has had her mind opened through therapy, as a trigger really better to understand what you did to her.

She doesnt understand why you did it, it gnaws away at her, you, from your reaction in the dock, it seems to me, accept and acknowledge that.

When those feelings developed for a physically attractive 12, 13, 14-year-old, you should have put them aside, as you no doubt did if you felt them for other female pupils.

But you felt them for her. You chose her, you didnt choose in the way that some do, but theres an aspect of that Mr Bettinson, I suspect that you have come to look at that.

I accept that high likelihood is that this will not happen again, I suspect that this will be a wake-up call.

Michael Shaw, prosecuting, said: He accompanied her prior to the relationship on a number of school trips abroad. It was apparent to others that he was giving her additional attention.

The relationship began at GCSE then on to A-level. While she was studying for her A-levels they developed a long term sexual relationship.

This relationship was consensual, no force was used, but of course under 16s cannot consent to a sexual act.

The pair remained in contact and the complainant confronted Bettinson after struggling with the after effects of the relationship.

Bettinson first appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in November 2020 and entered guilty pleas at crown court on 30 March after a trial date had been fixed for 2022.

According to his online profiles Bettinson was a maths and sports teacher, then head of department at a secondary school before becoming manager of the England 7s Rugby team.

Bettinson, of New Malden, admitted three counts of indecent assault and two counts of abuse of position of trust.

Two counts of indecent assault and one count of abuse of trust were left to lie on file.

Description

A serial child rapist forced girls to pose for semi naked pictures during his catalogue of abuse against them.

Sick Stephen Rafferty committed abhorrent acts against three children who were all under 14.

When one girl bit the vile paedophile he punched her and called her "Satan's child", swearing her to silence.

The now 27-year-old was convicted by a jury of 13 sexual offences against the children, including nine counts of rape.

He had previously admitted six counts of sexual assault against the victims.

Judge David Swinnerton, sentencing Rafferty today at Liverpool Crown Court, said with his first victim he began "massaging her" before he touched her inappropriately and began to rape her repeatedly.

He said: "She first felt scared and threatened and didn't say anything."

The judge explained Rafferty had been tried and found not guilty of sexual offences when he was a child.

Judge Swinnerton said: "I mention it because as a result you knew it was very wrong to commit sexual offences."

In a statement his first victim said that she struggled with "feeling ashamed of myself for allowing it to happen and not fighting back".

She said: "I live with it every day. It continued to stay with me long after the abuse stopped.

"He has taken away my sense of self, my sense of security. I feel so violated."

The victim said she had since self harmed and suffered with an eating disorder .

Judge Swinnerton said: "A substantial part of the effect on her and the difficulties she has had was due to you.

"The impact on her life has been devastating."

The judge ruled that Rafferty's monstrous actions had caused "serious psychological harm" to all of his victims.

With his other two victims the court heard he used "grooming behaviour" and "would play games" which then became sexual abuse and rape.

Judge Swinnerton, referring to his second victim, said: "You started touching her and told her she couldn't tell anyone."

Sick Rafferty told the girl it was "all your fault" and would regularly abuse her.

She said: "Sometimes I asked him to stop at first but he wouldn't and there was no use."

As well as raping the child he would force her to perform sex acts on him sometimes three or four times a week and would take his phone out and "take pictures of her body" while she wore a top and no bottoms.

Judge Swinnerton said when his third victim was interviewed by police she was "unable to speak" but wrote down "Stephen forced me to have sex with him".

As Rafferty raped the third girl she bit his penis and he "punched her, telling her she was Satan's child" and told her to "never tell anybody else", claiming it was "natural".

The vile paedophile told the girl "the world would be better without me" and said she was to blame for his sick crimes.

As a child the girl was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and said: "I struggled to copy and used to self harm."

Rafferty's third victim, in a personal statement, also said she had tried to take her own life on two separate occasions and has been diagnosed with PTSD.

She said: "It felt like my world was crashing around me."

The victim said: "It is so scary to know people have the audacity to try and ruin people's lives for their own joy."

The judge said he accepted Rafferty, of Russell Road, Mossley Hill, has mental health difficulties including Autism Spectrum Disorder, OCD and "possibly Asperger's" and had a "very tough time as a child".

Judge Swinnerton said: "You have accepted limited responsibility."

The judge explained that when asked in a probation interview if he was a risk to children Rafferty replied: "In an ideal world I would want to say no but I can't say that."

The court heard his grandparents described him as having "qualities of generosity" and having "shown a work ethic".

As he sentenced Rafferty, Judge Swinnerton said: "You have committed extremely serious offences which have had a devastating effect on three young women."

Martine Snowdon prosecuted the case on the behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Jenny Tallentire, defending, said there was "hope" Rafferty "could be rehabilitated" having "made some extremely frank admissions to the probation officer".

She explained he had experienced a "difficult upbringing", adding "it is not an excuse, there are many others who have had a difficult upbringing".

Rafferty admitted six counts sexual assault against a child and was convicted following a trial on January 11 of two counts of assault by penetration of a child, nine counts of rape of a child and two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child.

Judge Swinnerton said Rafferty was a "dangerous" offender and jailed him for 20 years, with an extended five years on licence.

This type of sentence means he will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars.

Rafferty will then only be released before the end of his sentence if a parole board considers he is no longer a risk.

He was also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and must sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Description

A man who sexually assaulted a woman in woodland in Slough has been jailed.

Sorin Anitei attacked his victim, a woman in her forties, in woodland near to Slough Road on January 9.

She suffered serious bruising and a broken nose in the assault.

Anitei was arrested on 12 January and charged the following day.

The 46-year-old, of no fixed abode, admitted one count each of sexual assault by touching and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday to one year and nine months in prison.

Anitei was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Thames Valley Police investigating officer, Detective Constable Thomas Harman, based at Slough police station, said: "Sorin Anitei sexually assaulted and badly injured a vulnerable woman in a secluded location.

"I believe the serious nature of this offence is reflected in the sentence, which will also help prevent him from further offending.

"I would also like to thank the members of public that stopped to help the victim."

Description

A NHS computer expert downloaded sick indecent images of children a second time during "extraordinary" delays in his case when police lost evidence.

Ross Morton was arrested as long ago as 2014 for having the illegal material but his case went off into the long grass when "exhibits went missing".

The evidence was later found by Northumbria Police but by that time Morton had gone on to offend again in the same way.

Now, after a further three year delay - and seven years after his initial arrest - he has finally been brought to justice.

However a judge hit out at the "extraordinary amount of time" it had taken the authorities to prosecute him.

Newcastle Crown Court heard it was in December 2014 that police went to his then-home in Sunderland and found hundreds of indecent photographs and movies on his mobile phone, featuring children as young as four.

He had also used search terms indicating he was seeking out such material.

He was released under investigation and then interviewed again in 2016 and asked about disturbing chats police found on the Kik platform, including reference to film of a six-year-old engaged in sexual activity.

Andrew Findlay, prosecuting, said Morton told police it was just role-playing and he faces no charges in relation to that activity.

He was released under investigation again and nothing happened until police went to his home in Longbenton, North Tyneside, in July 2018.

His equipment was seized and hundreds more indecent images were found, including some of the most serious kind and featuring children as young as four and five.

Mr Findlay said: "He was interviewed again and admitted accessing indecent images through the dark web as a result of the previous police investigation.

"He said he had not known the dark web existed until that point and said he was searching out of curiosity.

"He said he wanted to be more informed about what he was being investigated for and said it made him physically sick and not aroused."

Morton, 28, of Station Road, Gosforth, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children and possessing an extreme pornographic image and was sentenced to 18 months suspended for two years with 150 hours unpaid work. He must also do a sex offenders treatment course and will be subject to sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Recorder Jamie Hill QC told him: "The fact is children who are photographed or filmed are essentially being abused.

"The creation of those images is fuelled by the market of people who want to view them."

The judge added: "I'm struggling to understand how this has taken so long to get to court. You have been waiting for this day of sentence for seven years. That's an extraordinary length of time.

"I'm told the explanation is at some stage the police had lost the exhibits then re-found them.

"That seven year delay is tempered somewhat by the fact that three years ago the police found some more images which does you no credit, of course.

"Again there has been a three year delay since that point which is an extraordinary amount of time."

Recorder Hill said he would suspend the sentence as probation assessed him as a low risk of reoffending and capable of living a constructive life.

Stuart Graham, defending, said: "Through his actions, he has thrown everything away.

"He had a good job. That was suspended and he is in no doubt he will be sacked. He was an IT support expert for the NHS.

"If the police had done things right in 2014 he probably would not have offended again.

"It's seven years he has had this hanging over him. It all went quiet for two years from 2014 to 2016. He contacted the police several times trying to get hold of particular officers with no reply coming back. I don't know if it was embarrassment on the police's behalf for losing the exhibits.

"Then it was not for another two or three years that everything was back before the court again."

Mr Graham said Morton was "appalled" and felt "revulsion" at the images and he had been "exceedingly tearful", especially at the prospect of having to tell his family what he had done.

He added that Morton had been doing charity work and trying to make up for what he had done "including staying in the NHS in these difficult times".

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “We are committed to bringing cases to court in a timely manner and working with our criminal justice partners to help ensure this happens.

“We recognise that on this occasion there has been a delay. We are, however, pleased that justice has been carried out.

“We will ensure any learning points from this case are taken forward.”

Description

A dangerous sexual predator has been jailed for raping five women - spiking the drinks of some of his victims before carrying out the attacks.

Hotel chef Tom Wade-Allison, 25, committed a campaign of sexual violence, stupefying women by adding an unknown substance to their drinks before assaulting them.

He was found guilty at Exeter Crown Court last month of 14 offences against five young woman aged between 17 and 20.

They recalled feeling they had lost control of their bodies during the assaults. They would drift in and out of consciousness, waking to the sight of Wade-Allison having sex with them, unable to fight him off.

Some recalled being in a daze, telling him to stop but he ignored their pleas.

One said she felt like she was "trapped in my own body".

He was described in court as a man with no apparent understanding of the seriousness of his crimes and an ongoing danger to women.

Judge Timothy Rose told Wade-Allison: "It was a campaign of rape and other offences enacted over a 20 month period of offending against victims in similar circumstances.

"These were circumstances you either developed yourself or manipulated to obtain the outcome in question or at least repeatedly take advantage of."

Wade-Allison, of Martock, was jailed for 24 years.

The assaults came to light after one of the victims told police he had raped her while she was unable to consent. Her memory of the incident was vague because Wade-Allison had spiked her drink, she thought. Her report caused other victims to come forward and reveal similar experiences.

Judge Rose said it was difficult to be sure how many of the victims had been drugged before being raped. He said he could be certain that two of them had been and a third almost certainly.

He said: "You plied their drinks with a substance, whatever it may have been, intending to affect their self-control as a way of facilitating your sexual acts upon them, utterly against their will and against their knowledge."

The defendant's crimes had features in common, said the judge, such as the victims having had a lot to drink and it being clear they did not consent, though not all of the victims were drugged.

Most of the crimes took place in Somerset but he also offended in Honiton.

Each of the victims provided a personal impact statement to the court outlining the devastating effect on their lives.

One said Wade-Allison was an 'absolute parasite in my life'.

"My life will never be the same again because of him. My life seems permanently dark and troubled," she said, coming to court to testify against him had forced her to dig up memories she had tried to bury.

Judge Rose said Wade-Allison appeared to believe he would not be caught.

"You were not deterred at any stage. You were emboldened by the apparent conclusion you were just getting away with it."

He added: "On any assessment of the evidence and circumstances I'm given to wonder whether you had some kind of deficiency of personal understanding of the nature and extent and seriousness of the crimes you were committing.

"You have expressed no remorse, acceptance, no insight into the offences you committed. On all the evidence I've heard, you remain a danger to women. There is a profound misogynistic element to your offending and predatory sexual attention.

"There is no thought or feeling towards the victims. No concern to the pain, physical and psychological of the offending. You present a significant risk of causing significant harm."

Wade-Allison denied nine charges of rape, four sexual assaults, and one attempted rape.

Mr Nigel Wraith, in mitigation, said he still did not accept his guilt. He was 20 and 21 at the time of the offending and has no previous convictions.

"He will no doubt find the lengthy sentence a very difficult experience," said Mr Wraith.

Wade-Allison will serve two-thirds of his 24-year sentence in jail. He will serve the remaining eight on license and subject to recall should he breach the conditions.

At the conclusion of the sentencing, Judge Rose paid tribute to the victims for coming forward.

He said: "I want to take a minute to commend all of the victims who came forward for their bravery, the way they were prepared to report the offences in question and enable this trial and result to be reached.

"It is commonly known a number of victims of sexual offences do not report for various and understandable reasons and it takes a great deal of bravery, commitment and suffering to do so.

"So I am very grateful to all who came forward to enable this to take place and I commended the police officer in the case."

Description

A SEX OFFENDER sparked a manhunt by driving around Hampshire towns exposing himself to women.

Vivendra Ashafi Lal left his victims shaking, crying and hysterical, a court heard.

Prosecution barrister, Mark Gadsden told how the 42-year-old would drive around Eastleigh, Chandler's Ford and Fair Oak in his Toyota.

He would then pull up to ask his victims the "whereabouts of McDonald's".

The father of two of the High Street, Eastleigh, "would then proceed to fondle or masturbate" himself, Mr Gadsden added.

All of Lal's victims were women and aged between 54 and 83-years-old.

His youngest - and who had learning difficulties - was reduced to tears after he approached her in Chandler's Ford.

Another victim told how when she realised Lal's trousers were down and he was "totally exposed" she "immediately screamed and walked away quickly".

She said the ordeal "left her shaking and hysterical".

During a final incident, he touched himself in front of a woman gardening at her home in Fair Oak.

Lal drove off but realised the road was a dead-end and tried to cover up his registration plate.

When he drove back out a witness was able to take a photo and report him to police.

Officers launched a hunt to track him down and when he was finally arrested and interviewed, he gave no comment.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court he was charged with five counts of indecent exposure.

He previously pleaded guilty to the offences which happened between September and October in 2019.

Defending, Laura Deuxberry said: "The fact is he hasn't offended in the last year and seven months. Your honour, you will have already heard more than once he is of previous good character."

She added that Lal was ashamed of what happened and extremely remorseful.

Miss Deuxberry added that he "wants to get help to understand why it happened".

She argued for the judge to suspend any custodial sentence.

During sentencing, Judge Peter Henry deemed the "extremely unpleasant" offences so serious that they crossed the custody threshold.

He said: "You are an untreated sex offender. Rehabilitation is a possibility, and the public is best protected by you understanding why you committed these offences."

He jailed him for nine months, suspended for two years.

Lal must register as a sex offender for ten years, complete 31 sessions of an accredited programme, 120 hours of unpaid work and ten rehabilitation days.

Description

A Snodland man who used mobile phone apps in attempts to groom a child for sex has been jailed.

Reece Cano, 29, repeatedly sought indecent images of a child he believed was only 12 years old and then arranged to meet her in order to carry out abuse, a court heard.

Between September 19 and October 11, Cano accessed dating and instant messaging apps to contact another user who posted as a juvenile.

Despite her sending several replies stating she was only 12, he used the online exchanges to try to entice her into sexual activity and to send him illegal images.

Cano’s messages contained a series of explicit demands and included suggestions of meeting in a hotel.

During October, he made preparations to meet the child at "a quiet location" in the Snodland area, where he planned to abuse her.

But unbeknown to him, the 'child' was actually a police officer and he was arrested after a search warrant was executed at his home on October 11.

The search led to the discovery of a mobile phone in an airing cupboard, which provided evidence of the online conversations.

Cano was charged with two counts of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and with arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

He was further charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order (which had been imposed in 2019 following previous and unrelated convictions for sex offences), and failure to comply with notification requirements.

Cano pleaded guilty to all charges when he appeared before Maidstone Crown Court.

He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, with an extended licence period of a further four years.

Cano was categorised by the court as "dangerous" and will be required to serve at least two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for parole.

He was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Kent Police Investigator Natalie Armstrong, of the West Kent Offender Management Unit said: "Reece Cano made persistent and repeated efforts to contact a child for the purposes of his own gratification.

"He has displayed a clear desire and determination to sexually abuse a child and the graphic detail he included in his messages was hugely concerning.

"This case should act as a reminder to parents of children who have mobile phones and tablets to speak to them and help them understand the precautions they should take when using the internet, or the many instant messaging services that are available.

Description

A couple have been jailed for sexually abusing three young girls after a judge at Chester Crown Court said they had ruined their victims lives.

Judge Steven Everett described John Blake, 61, of Pine Grove in Chester, as an sexual monster with deviant sexual desires, who preyed on three young children. On 16 April 2021, he jailed him for 26 years for 17 counts of sexual abuse.

Blake cannot be considered for parole until he has served at least half of his sentence and must also serve a further two years on extended licence after he has been released.

Judge Everett described his partner, Emmalene Jones, 31, of Crabwell Place in Chester, as truly despicable as he jailed her for two years for two counts of causing a child to take part in a sexual act.

Judge Everett said that although she was under the influence of Blake, that she did her best to encourage the children to take part in the sexual acts.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) successfully applied to the court for restraining orders to prevent both Blake and Jones from ever contacting the victims or their families again.

Both of the defendants have also been placed on the Sexual Offenders Register, Blake for life and Jones for 10 years. Both are barred from ever working with children.

The CPS said that the abuse happened in the Chester and Saltney Ferry areas between 2008 and 2015, when their victims were aged between nine and fifteen. The CPS secured guilty verdicts against both Blake and Jones after a ten-day trial at Chester Crown Court in November 2020.

The victims attended court to read out moving Victim Personal Statements about the impact that the abuse had on them. They all spoke of the long-lasting effects on their relationships and ability to cope. One said that, by saying nothing about the abuse, she had felt that she was keeping her own family safe.

One of the victims said: I know now that for the rest of my life I will never be able to trust males the same and I will always judge them. My mind is broken and the scars run deep and this will forever haunt me and unfortunately the damage is done.All I can try and do now is move on and allow myself to try and live a long and happy life.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Amber Quinn, a specialist lawyer with CPS Mersey-Cheshires Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit said: This has been a complex and disturbing case.

There was a lot of extra material in this case that the CPS was required to disclose to the defence and this took a significant amount of time to process. The evidence was also disturbing and shocking at times.

The impact of these crimes is long lasting and the courage and determination of the victims has been remarkable, despite the difficulties that coming forward and speaking about the abuse has caused them.

This determination was shown in their request to attend the sentencing hearing in person to read out their Victim Personal Statements themselves, while John Blake and Emmalene Jones looked on.

This is the work of the CPSs RASSO unit and demonstrates the crucial role both we and the police play in bringing the perpetrators of this dreadful type of offending to justice. The passage of time will not hinder our determination to prosecute.

Description

A man caught with sick images of children as young as one 'can't explain' why he had them, a court heard.

Such images 'revolt' and sicken' Christopher Nolan, his barrister said.

But Nolan, 26, was found to have downloaded 63 indecent images, with more than 20 being of the most serious category.

Nolan, from Wythenshawe, admitted he'd 'brought shame' on himself and his family.

He had 'time on his hands' and had been drinking as well as using cocaine and cannabis, Manchester Crown Court heard.

"There is some issue as to what motivated the defendant," his barrister Richard Vardon said.

"I cannot explain satisfactorily how these offences occurred, nor perhaps can the defendant.

"All I can point to is there is nothing in his history which suggests he has a predilection as far as children are concerned."

Mr Vardon said there 'may be other reasons which are not sexual which perhaps explain his motivation'.

Nolan, who has previous convictions including for domestic violence, denies that he had any interest in 'child pornography' and said it 'revolts and sickens him'.

Police went to his home after receiving information that he had been accessing indecent images.

A Samsung phone was seized after a warrant was executed, on March 24 last year.

Officers found 22 category A images, the most serious type, as well as 13 category B and 28 category C images.

"The majority of the images related to five to 10-year-old children, however the ages of the children ranged from between one and 12-years-old," prosecutor Neil Fryman said.

He said 'virtually all' of the images had been deleted, except one.

Nolan made no comment to all questions during his police interview, except confirming a mobile phone number was his.

Mr Vardon said Nolan's actions were at the 'lower end of offences of this nature', while saying the defendant recognised it is 'not a victimless crime'.

He pleaded guilty at first opportunity and no longer drinks, uses drugs or goes on the internet, the barrister said.

Sentencing, Judge Hilary Manley told Nolan: "You rightly described to me in your letter you have submitted to me, that you have brought shame on yourself, your friends and your family for the offences you have committed.

"Such images are of victims of sexual abuse.

"You have observed and watched children who are being sexually abused.

"There can be no excuse ever for viewing and accessing such images."

The judge said she could avoid sending Nolan to prison, given he has a prospect of rehabilitation and because of his remorse.

He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete the Horizon programme.

Nolan, of Farden Drive, must sign the sex offender's register for ten years.

He admitted three counts of making indecent images of children.

Description

A Stamford man who downloaded indecent images of children has escaped an immediate jail sentence at Lincoln Crown Court.

Tyler Curtis downloaded hundreds of images including one of a baby being raped which he then stored in a cloud system.

Abigail Hill, prosecuting, said that police received information which led to officers raiding his then home in Dickens Drive, Stamford and his work place.

A total of 320 indecent images of children were found on three different devices together with 26 prohibited images of children.

Mrs Hill said: The images were downloaded over an eight year period between May 5, 2012 and March 17, 2020.

When the defendant was interviewed he admitted he had been storing images in his Google Drive account. He said he hadnt realised they were illegal.

He denied any sexual interest in children. He said he uploaded the images to a cloud system so that his wife didnt see them.

Curtis, 34, now of Milner Court, Wharf Road, Stamford, admitted three charges of making indecent images of children and one charge of possessing prohibited images of children. He asked for a further matter of making indecent images of children to be taken into consideration.

Steven Gosnell, in mitigation, said Curtis had no previous convictions and is working.

He has engaged in counselling. That is something that he has paid for privately.

Mr Gosnell said that as a result of the offences Curtis has separated from his wife.

He has been through a great deal of pain but he accepts it is because of his actions that he is in this position.

Mr Gosnell said Curtis was focussing on rehabilitation and has faced up to his issues as well as now admitting he is sexually attracted to girls.

Curtis was given a 14 month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with a 35 day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was ordered to complete a sexual offending treatment programme and has to pay 425 prosecution costs.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and given a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A CONVICTED paedophile from Worcester who was caught by an online group of hunters has been ensnared again just two months after he was sentenced.

Online paedophile hunters from a group called Innocent Voices confronted Ian Pursall in a video streamed on Facebook and viewed more than 50,000 times.

Pursall had already been convicted of attempted sexual communication with a child in February after being caught by a different group of online hunters form a group known as "Leave Our Kids Alone"

In the video, released on April 24, Pursall can be seen being held by the arms by two of the group as a third, a woman, announces why they are there.

They accuse him of communicating with a child decoy, which is an adult pretending to be a child in an online chatroom.

Pursall initially tries to deny the allegations, but the hunters call for the police and the 40-minute long video ends with them saying the police are on their way to arrest him.

A West Mercia Police spokesman confirmed they had arrested a man in Worcester on that day. They said: "A 38-year-old man from Worcestershire was arrested on April 24 on suspicion of breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

"He has been released on bail while we investigate the online incident which took place on 24 April.

Pursall is already a convicted paedophile, having been sentenced in February for the same offence.

In that case, he had been confronted by a group called "Leave Our Kids Alone".

He was convicted at Worcester Magistrates Court on February 25 where he was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

In addition, he was made subject to a seven year sexual harm prevention order.

Under this order, he was banned from:

Using any device capable of accessing the internet or storing images unless it has the capacity to retain and display internet usage history, that this function is enabled at all times, and that this function is enabled at all times.

He also must not delete any of his internet history and be able to show it to police when requested.

He was also banned from changing any of his passwords and had to submit all electronic devices for police Visor management, should they request it.

In a post on the Innocent Voices Facebook page, the group said: "Ian from Worcester, stung by us on April 24, 2021 and arrested for breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

"Ian was previously sentenced in February 2021 for sexual communication with a child.

"We also handed fresh new evidence in regarding further sexual communication with a child and he also sent sexual images and videos of himself and badgered her for indecent images.

"He also wanted to meet the child for sex. Well done to LOKA (Leave Our Kids Alone) for the previous conviction, let's hope he gets an actual prison sentence now if not at least he's been exposed."

In the video, the hunters ask Pursall why he used a false name (Michael Cade) when speaking to children online.

In response, he tried to claim the name was a nickname.

Description

A PAEDOPHILE has been locked up after being caught with more than 1,000 indecent images of children.

Dominic Osborne Robinson was caught with more than 1,000 images of children being abused.

Police raided the 34-year-old's home after getting a tip-off he had been uploading indecent images and talking about abusing youngsters online.

Officers seized three phones, a laptop and a tablet and a number of cameras.

They contained a mix of category A, B and C images as well as sexualised communications with children.

He was arrested the same day at his workplace in Portsmouth on January 28, 2019.

Appearing at Portsmouth Crown Court on Tuesday he was charged with three counts of making indecent photographs of children, two counts of attempting sexual communication with a child and one count of encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence believing it would be committed.

He previously pleaded guilty.

Robinson, of Midway Road, Colchester, was jailed for 20 months in prison after being found in possession of indecent images of children.

He must register as a sex offender for ten years and will also be given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.

DC Stephen Hill of Hampshire Constabulary's Internet Child Abuse Team said "Behind every indecent image of a child is a vulnerable victim and these crimes are among the most appalling that we investigate.

"Robinson is a habitual collector of indecent images that include category A, the most serious kind, for his own sexual gratification.

"He was found to not only have been in possession of such images but also actively sought to communicate with children.

"Tackling online viewing of indecent images and safeguarding children online is a priority for police and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice."

Description

A former Torquay hotel handyman has been jailed for a series of sex offences against children dating back four decades.

Maurice Button, 69, disappeared half way through his trial at Exeter Crown Court for offences against two girls who were aged just eight and 12 at the time.

But the paedophile gave himself up over the weekend and was found guilty by a jury.

During his sentencing one of his victims fought back tears when describing the devastating effect his abuse had on her. She said after years of trying to lock away her experiences in the back of her mind she had found the courage to speak out. 

She told Button: "I tried to forget over the years. I boxed you up and put you to the back of my head and threw away the key." She added: "I will go today knowing I fought my demons and won with the support of family, friends and the police."

Button was found guilty of seven offences and was jailed for 13 years by Judge David Evans. He must also serve a further year on extended licence.

The trial was told six of the offences were committed against the older of the two girls.

Button groomed the child over a two-week period, showering her with praise and telling her how special she was. He repeatedly indecently assaulted and had unlawful sexual intercourse with a child under 13.

The abuser gained his victims' trust with his outgoing and 'fun' personality. In reality he was a predatory paedophile.

In her statement to the court the victim said: "Your type think you have done no wrong. You singled me out then you started to fulfil your sick desires, to sexually abuse me and rape me. You ruined my path of life."

She said for many years she was still too traumatised to think about what had happened in her past.

She considered suicide as the final throw of the dice to rid herself of the memories. But since coming forward with the truth everyone in her family was proud of her for the courage she had displayed bringing Button to justice.

"You are the one who has brought shame and disgust," she told him. "Your picture will be in the local paper showing the sick and perverted paedophile you are."

Button's other victim said she had also fought to supress in her mind what had happened to her. Aged just eight, Button had committed an act of gross indecency.

The defendant has a number of previous convictions. In 1995 he was jailed for six months for indecently assaulting a child.

Ms Virginia Cornwall, defending, said since then Button had not offended and had been happily married for 20 years. She said he now suffered with diabetes and prison would be difficult.

Button, of Dandelion Close, Newton Abbot, told police the offences never happened.

On Wednesday of last week he was due to give evidence in his trial but instead left the court at lunchtime, changed his clothes and drove away. Police issued an appeal for the missing man saying he had last been seen getting off a bus in Sidmouth High Street at around 2.45pm.

Despite some delays the trial continued in his absence and he gave himself up over the weekend.

"Perhaps that was always due to happen given you had little to eat and nowhere to go," said Judge Evans.

He added: "You were avoiding overwhelming evidence against you in this trial. It was a deliberate attempt to evade or delay justice." He sentenced Button to six months for absconding. That sentence must be served before the 13 years can begin.

The judge said: "The truth was you are a paedophile and you had a sexual interest in young girls. You used your position as an adult with a reputation for being gregarious and friendly and fun as the means by which to trick the first victim when she was just eight years old."

He said that offence happened when the defendant was 28. He then went on to commit the even more serious offences against the older child.

"You were doubtless reasonably confident that neither girl would feel able to raise the alarm given their ages."

He said the consequences of Button's offending had 'cascaded down the years' and left a deep trauma for the victims.

The court was told the sentences available to the court in 2021 would be more severe than they were under 1980 laws. Judge Evans said he had to take that into consideration when reaching the total sentence.

Button must serve at least half of his 13 years in prison. He will then be considered by the parole board for release. Once the 13-year term is complete he will be subject to a further year on licence.

Description

A dangerous paedophile used Snapchat to groom a young teenage boy before abusing him.

John Smith, previously a junior football coach, was jailed in 2019 for using Snapchat to send pictures of his penis to boys.

But the sick 24-year-old was back in Liverpool Crown Court after using the app again to target a child before grooming and abusing him.

After discovering what had happened to her son, the child's mother said: "I feel like I don't know my own son at all anymore."

A Liverpool judge branded Smith's "unwanted and predatory instincts" as "dangerous" to young boys.

Peter Killen, prosecuting, explained that Smith first began speaking with the boy on a different app before he suggested they move onto Snapchat.

Mr Killen said that once on Snapchat they exchanged numbers and would FaceTime each other.

In the messages Smith said he thought the child was "17 or 18" but when the boy told him he was a young teen he went on to groom him.

Mr Killen said: "The conversations began normally, they exchanged information about one another."

Smith then began to ask the boy to "meet up for a kiss" and they later did meet near to Smith's workplace along with the boy's sister, and when she walked ahead of them Smith said: "Your sister has walked off now should we kiss?"

Mr Killen said the boy didn't reply as he was "embarrassed" but added that they did kiss.

He explained that once they left Smith "snapped him 'thanks for the kiss'".

The pair met up again on another occasion when they kissed again and as he touched the boy's genital area Smith said "kiss me if you want me to stop".

It was only when the victim's sister called him that the sexual abuse was brought to a halt, with the boy telling Smith he had to go home.

Smith had also asked the boy to send pictures of his genitals and sent the boy a video of him performing a sex act on himself.

Mr Killen explained the boy discovered Smith was also contacting his friend, while believing they were in a relationship.

When the boy's family then found out about the abuse the child told Smith they knew - and the paedophile then blocked him on social media.

In a victim personal statement the boy's mother said her son "hadn't been sleeping properly" and said he was in "overall bad health" and "very much not himself".

The mum said: "I feel like I don't know my own son at all any more. This is very upsetting."

She also said she didn't want to stay in the area and feels "her son isn't safe".

Smith was convicted after a trial in March 2019 for sexual communication with three boys, for which he was jailed for 18 months and ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which he breached by committing the new offences.

Peter White, defending, explained Smith "accepted the Crown's case in its entirety".

He explained Smith "describes a very quiet, stable, happy childhood" with a "good education" and a "good history of employment".

Mr White said: "He has a very supportive family who are completely at a loss to understand, or able to make any sense about his offending behaviour."

He said Smith has "some issues regarding his own sexual orientation" adding it "in no way justifies this type of offending".

Mr White said Smith "genuinely is remorseful" and is "at a loss to explain his offending behaviour".

Smith, formerly of School Way, Speke, admitted four counts of sexual activity with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual communication with a child and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, said: "You subjected another victim, another young boy, to your unwanted and predatory instincts."

Referring to the victim's interview the judge said: "He has nothing to blame himself for and neither does his mother."

The judge said: "You had [the victim] exactly where you wanted him and all of this for your own sexual gratification with a young boy."

The judge said Smith posed a "significant risk of causing serious harm" adding "it's clear you possess little or no insight into the damage your activity has caused".

Recorder Unsworth said Smith was a "dangerous" offender and jailed him for four years and six months, with an extended three years on licence.

This type of sentence means he will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars.

Smith will then only be released before the end of his four-year sentence if a parole board considers he is no longer a risk.

Description

A top maths teacher groomed and sexually exploited a vulnerable schoolgirl during a sickening campaign of manipulation.

Richard Chipchase once locked his victim in a storeroom when she refused to hug him and tried to win her over with cigarettes, McDonald's meals and car rides.

It was during one of those lifts that he sexually assaulted her.

Chipchase abused his position to target the girl while he was head of maths at Woodchurch High.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he initially singled the pupil out for preferential treatment, allowing her to get away with not doing homework and offering her access to his treat-filled storeroom.

Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, said: He let her listen to music in the classroom, caught her smoking but didnt report her and started to buy her cigarettes.

"He would compliment her on her looks, telling her that she was pretty and would hug her at any given opportunity."

After concerns were raised about his behaviour towards the girl he passed her his mobile number while she sat a mock exam - sparking text conversations that would take place every day.

From this point he started to buy alcohol and cigarettes for her and giving her lifts.

He left her terrified when he once refused to let her leave his store room without hugging him, with Miss Mottram telling the court: He was saying to her that he wouldnt let her out until she gave him a hug.

"The space was only small and she recalls feeling really scared. When he eventually did unlock the door another maths teacher was stood outside. The defendant told her that the girl was just calming down.

After this incident she reports that her view of her relationship with Mr Chipchase changed. She began to feel that it was wrong.

On another occasion he placed his hand up her skirt and assaulted her while giving her a lift. He simply laughed at her when she pushed it away.

Miss Mottram added: From then on that he became more tactile with her, hugging her more, stroking her arm and back, kissing the top of her head.

"These acts were always out of the view of the other students and teachers in his classroom or in the store cupboard... Throughout the time at the school the defendant would write her letters, give her books and DVDs.

"He once gave her a book which he had written inside the cover 'I hope you enjoy this, love R' with a kiss. He bought her bits of jewellery and other small trinkets.

In an impact statement the victim told how his behaviour had an impact on her mental health and affected her relationship with her parents.

It also affected her maths grades although she has since been able to catch up.

The court heard she felt no one understood her and that the grooming had an ongoing effect on her.

Chipchase's campaign came to end when concerns were raised about inappropriate behaviour by him towards another schoolgirl.

This sparked an investigation by the Independent Safeguarding Authority and Chipchase was dismissed from the school and his teaching licence revoked.

The police were told but the victim did not tell them about the abuse in his car and they left matters to the school to deal with, Miss Mottram said.

Last year the victim contacted Wirral Council and Chipchase, now 55 and of Welford Avenue in Prenton, was interviewed by police during which he denied behaving inappropriately.

He was today jailed for 27 months after he pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual activity with a child.

Steven Swift, defending, said after his client's behaviour came to light he proffered his resignation but it was not accepted and he was instead dismissed and his teaching licence revoked.

Mr Swift said Chipchase has since rebuilt his life with a new career and has a partner and son and no other convictions.

The initial investigation into his actions led to the loss of his home and bankruptcy, he said, adding: It took him 18 months to really start his life afresh. He is held in high regard and has built his life anew. He has expressed remorse and regret, he said.

Judge Gary Woodhall told Chipchase: You abused and manipulated your position of trust in order to groom and then exploit this vulnerable young girl over a number of years for your own sexual gratification... You targeted her because you identified her as vulnerable.

He ordered Chipchase to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years.