Latest Offenders

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AN EASTLEIGH man has been jailed for five years after he attempted to meet a person he thought was a child. Simon Patrick Westwood exchanged messages, often of a highly sexual nature, with children over a nine-month period, a court heard. The 46-year-old from Eastleigh also made arrangements and travelled to an agreed location to meet with who he believed was a child. The child was not real. Westwood admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and arranging and or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence. The offences took place between January 2021 and October 2021. He was jailed for five years at Southampton Crown Court on Monday. Westwood was also ordered sign onto the sex offenders register as well as being made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Angela Smith-Jones said: In a day and age where social media is so prevalent in young peoples lives, and the ease in which messages can be sent by people unknown to them, it is incredibly important that we, as the police, are in a position to investigate if we believe that criminal offences have taken place during these exchanges. During this investigation, we have worked closely with the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU) in order to develop evidence against an individual who had every intention of meeting who they believed to be a child in order to commit sexual offences against them. We want to continue to protect any vulnerable people, including young children, against possible sexual exploitation and I hope that this conviction shows the lengths that we will go to investigate any such claims. DC Smith-Jones added she hopes this sentence will alert others to the "dangers of the digital world" and encourage victims of child sexual abuse to come forward. Detective Inspector James Oxley, of the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: By working in collaboration with Hampshire Constabulary, officers were able to carry out a thorough investigation, demonstrating the lengths we continue to go to disrupt sexual exploitation and keep children safe from harm.

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A registered sex offender has been jailed after police found indecent images of children on his tablet.

James Bainbridge, 26, of Hartslock Drive, Bexley, was sentenced to three years imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday, January 27.

He pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order, one count of distributing an indecent image of a child and one count of making an indecent image of a child.

Bainbridge was previously given a two-year suspended prison sentence in October 2020 after he attempted to meet a teenage girl he had been speaking to online.

As part of the sentence, he was also given an order which restricted his use of technology and stopped him from having unsupervised access to children.

On July 6, 2021, officers from a specialist unit responsible for monitoring registered sex offenders in Bexley were made aware of suspicious activity on a tablet belonging to Bainbridge.

They visited his home and found evidence that Bainbridge had breached his sexual harm prevention order. He was arrested and the device was seized.

A forensic examination revealed Bainbridge had used the tablet to view indecent images of children as young as 10.

Police Constable Jemma Morgan, from the Mets South East Jigsaw Unit, said: Bainbridge was being closely monitored by officers due to previous offending and it was through this monitoring that this offending came to light.

This type of crime is completely unacceptable and we take strong action when we receive reports of this nature, to protect children and young people from harm.

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Police have praised the bravery of two victims after the man who raped them was jailed. Jakub Bondalski was convicted of a number of sex offences after his victims came forward to report what had happened. This first victim told officers she had been raped by him in late 2019 and an investigation was launched. During this time, a further victim also came forward to report she had been subjected to multiple rapes, naming Bondalski as the offender. When questioned, the 20 year-old denied all allegations put to him, but was charged with a string of sexual offences. Bondalski, of Roslin Park, Bedlington, stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court in November last year where a jury found him guilty of five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. Last Tuesday (January 18) he was handed a nine-year sentence at the same court. And lead investigators, Detective Constable Nick Heywood and Detective Constable Laura O'Neil, have praised the bravery of the victims who spoke out against him. Det Con Heywood said: "Jakub Bondalski is a vile predator and it is thanks to the immense bravery of the victims that he is now behind bars. He has shown no remorse throughout this case. "I not only hope this gives the victims a sense of justice but also hope it encourages others who have been subjected to such offences to speak out. "I'd urge you to report it to police it's never too late. We will listen, we will support you and we are committed to bringing offenders to justice." Bondalski will also have to sign the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.

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Predatory paedophile Harley Palmer, 27, targeted the young boys and molested them when they were alone.

He would buy his terrified victims gifts in order to buy their silence.

He was described at Taunton Crown Court as a dangerous and 'manipulative' abuser with a sexual interest in young boys.

His victims, aged nine and 13, were initially too scared to tell anyone what had happened and feared they would not be believed.

When the offences did come to light earlier this year Palmer initially denied doing anything wrong and described himself as a 'cuddly person' who would just tickle the children. But police found naked images of a child on his phone and he pleaded guilty to four offences.

Palmer was jailed five years and three months with an extra extended licence period of four years imposed due to the danger he poses to children.

The parents of one of the victims said in a statement they were 'devastated' by what he had done and he had destroyed their son's childhood.

The teenage victim said he still had nightmares.

Mr Harry Ahuja, defending, said Palmer was immature for his age, anxious, confused about his sexuality and sorry.

Palmer, of Friarn Avenue, Bridgwater, pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual activity with a child under 13 and two charges relating to the indecent pictures.

He was put on the sex offender register for life

Recorder Philip Mott QC told the defendant: "What took place was classic grooming behaviour by you.

"You are described as a manipulative person and a high risk of causing serious harm to pre-pubescent boys."

Palmer must serve two-thirds of his five years and three months sentence in jail before he can be considered for release by the parole board.

Recorder Mott said: "It is quite clear from the victim personal statements that there has been a serious psychological effect on the children.

He added: "It is very important to say to the two victims you are not to blame for anything that happened. It was not your fault.

"To your parents this is perhaps your worst nightmare and what your children need now is calmness, and above all love. For you to be strong and not to allow fear and anger to turn into a prison for your children."

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A Suffolk man who sexually abused a young girl has been jailed for 10 years.

Ross Smith, 33, of Banham Road, Beccles, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court for sentence on Monday having previously been convicted of three offences.

Smith had denied three counts of causing or inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity but was found guilty by a jury at trial.

The offending took place between 2018 and 2019.

The court heard that Smith had no previous similar convictions.

At the sentencing hearing, the victim's mother described Smith's offending as "despicable" and outlined the impact it had had on her daughter and their family in a statement read by prosecutor Andrew Thompson.

Judge Emma Peters jailed Smith for 10 years, with an extended licence period of five years.

Smith must serve at least two thirds of the 10-year sentence in custody before he will be eligible for parole.

The judge also ordered Smith to sign the sex offenders' register for life, and imposed a indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

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A man who raped a woman while she slept has been jailed for 12 years.

Bahman Razvani, 31, met her in Leicester city centre in the early hours of 25 July. Despite her being heavily intoxicated at the time, he took her to an address in Glebe Street where he had sex with her while she was unconscious.

She awoke the following morning to find him touching her inappropriately. She immediately got her clothes and left the address to make a report to police. She told officers she believed she had been raped.

Subsequent CCTV enquiries identified Razvani formerly of Glebe Street taking her to his address. He was arrested by police and claimed that she had consented to having sex with him.

But, at Leicester Crown Court on 9 December, he pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.

At the same court yesterday (Monday 24 January) he was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

Razvani was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Detective Constable Kristina Page-Brown was the investigating officer. She said: Despite claiming in interview that he had consensual sex with her, he pleaded guilty to two serious sexual offences at court he knew what hed done. His behaviour was predatory and he took advantage of her after she had been on a night out.

This was a traumatic incident for his victim and I am pleased she didnt have to relive the ordeal in front of a jury. I hope yesterdays result can provide a degree of closure and allow her to move on with her life.

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A 72-year-old man has been sent to prison for three years and six months after he breached the conditions of his sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements.

Peter Butt, previously of Northampton, was convicted in May 2021 of possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

As part of his sentence, he was handed a sexual harm prevention order, meaning he has to notify police of any new electronic devices and accounts.

However, when DC Sophie Duffree from Northamptonshire Polices MOSOVO (Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders) Team visited him in December 2021, alongside his probation officer, she found three phones and a laptop that he had not declared.

He had also created a new Twitter account, which again he had failed to notify police of, alongside two other names used online.

He was subsequently arrested for the breaches and charged.

At Northampton Crown Court last week (January 21) he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, in addition to the previously suspended 24 month sentence.

Following the sentencing, DC Duffree said: Registered sex offenders like Peter Butt are very closely monitored by our team and we take a zero-tolerance approach to breaches such as these there is absolutely no room for second chances or pleading ignorance.

"Breaches of a sexual harm prevention order are serious, and Im pleased that that has been recognised here with a custodial sentence.

"The facts of this case have shown Peter Butt to be a manipulative and deceitful individual who has shown a complete disregard for the orders placed upon him. I hope he takes this time in custody to reflect on his actions.

"In cases like these we will look to immediately arrest and charge these offenders, thereby protecting the public.

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A teacher who raped and sexually abused his younger brother when they were children has been jailed for eight and a half years. Graham Daly (37) was a big brother who should have protected his younger brother, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor said. Instead, Daly abused his brother Thomas over a four-year period from when the boy was 10 years old. Daly, of Clonree, Newport, Co Tipperary, was found guilty by a jury of seven counts of raping and sexually abusing his brother on dates between January 1998 and December 2002 following a Central Criminal Court trial last December. Most of the abuse took place in the family home in Co Limerick, the trial heard. Daly does not accept the verdict of the jury and continues to maintain his innocence, the court heard. His younger brother waived his right to anonymity, meaning Daly can be named. Sentencing him on Monday, Ms Justice O'Connor noted Daly denied the charges vociferously at all times and raised a number of motives as to why his brother would accuse him of sexual abuse. Daly suggested his brother was lying because he was jealous of his achievements and that the younger man wanted to destroy his older brother's life because Daly disclosed to his parents that his younger brother is gay, the court heard. The men's parents have sided with Daly against their younger son. Ms Justice O'Connor paid tribute to Thomas Daly, who she said conducted himself in a dignified manner throughout the trial process. She noted the abuse has had a devastating impact on his life and on his family life. Sentence Handing down an eight-and-a-half year sentence, Ms Justice O'Connor said that had Daly been an adult at the time of the offending, she would have imposed a longer sentence. However, she noted she had to treat Daly as a juvenile because the abuse of his brother ended around the time he turned 18. She backdated the sentence to when he went into custody last month. In a victim impact statement which he read out in court last week, Thomas Daly described how his parents initially supported him when he confided in his father about the abuse in 2015. Mr Daly said he had kept the abuse a secret for 18 years and it was such a relief to share the burden. His father accompanied him when he went to garda early in 2016. However, he said it soon emerged that his parents were only prepared to support him if he kept the abuse among ourselves. Why should I stay silent? he said, adding: I was happy for everyone to know, but said this proved detrimental to his family life. (My parents) blamed me, took the side of my brother and I was forced out of the family home. Mr Daly said he used to have sympathy for his parents, but not any more. I was telling the truth and I have proved it, he said. It's easier for them to believe that I'm a liar than believe their oldest son is a paedophile rapist. He paid tribute to his partner, whom he met a year after he disclosed the abuse and who has supported him throughout the entire process. He added he has constant nightmares and has struggled with depression, insomnia, PTSD and suicidal thoughts. There's no happy ending for me, he said, adding that no matter what sentence his brother receives, it will change nothing for him. I lost 18 years of my life, he said. It's no longer justice I seek - It is vindication. The parents were in court for the sentencing hearing, sitting apart from their younger son, holding hands. The court heard the case was listed for trial five or six times before it was eventually heard at Croke Park late last year. Sergeant Paul Crowley told Patrick McGrath SC, prosecuting, that the abuse began when Daly started inappropriately touching his younger brother, then aged 10. The abuse then progressed to rape, the court heard, and ended when the older brother left home. The older brother holds a degree and a masters and has had a successful career in teaching, the court heard. He has no previous convictions. Mr McGrath told the court Daly should be treated as a juvenile as the offending occurred up until the time he turned 18. Colman Cody SC, defending, said his client is adamant he is innocent and he does not accept the verdicts of the jury. He said he has a history of mental health issues and was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder and would find prison particularly difficult. Mr Cody said that while there has been stress, trauma and division in the family, they are also close-knit and supportive. Mr Cody urged Ms Justice O'Connor to hand down a proportionate sentence, bearing in mind his client was a juvenile at the time.

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A 'depraved' 34-year-old man from Felixstowe has been jailed for arranging to meet a 14-year-old for sex.

Aaron Morrison, of High Street, was jailed for 35 months at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday, January 24, after he pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

It centred on communication he had with a person purporting to be 14 years old in December 2020 via a mobile phone and saw Morrison make several attempts to meet them to have sex.

Morrison was first arrested in December 2020 following police investigations into his mobile phone.

It was established that he was sending sexual messages to a 14-year-old.

Morrison attended different locations in Essex to meet the victim to carry out the intended act, say police.

In June last year Morrison was subsequently charged with two offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He later pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a sexual offence, which happened at the start of December 2020.

Detective Constable James Lait said: Although the victim and Morrison never met, the sentence handed down reflects the depraved nature of Morrison.

"I hope the outcome of this case reassures members of the public that we take such allegations of online predatory behaviour on the young and vulnerable extremely seriously and work to safeguard victims as quickly as possible.

"We will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice.

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A "despicable" rapist who forced his victim to go through her ordeal again in court was handed a lengthy jail sentence.

Lee Cunliffe, 37, appeared before Liverpool Crown Court to be sentenced on charges including three counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and false imprisonment.

After denying the charges, Cunliffe was found guilty following a trial on Wednesday, November 10.

Now Cunliffe, of St Helens, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison, plus five on extended licence.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Yoseph Al-Ramadhan said: We share the victims relief and satisfaction that Cunliffe has been dealt with by the courts.

While no sentence can repair the pain and suffering Cunliffe has caused to his victim, I hope that he will reflect on his despicable actions while behind bars.

By denying the offences, he has put his victim through the additional pain of being forced to relive her ordeal through his trial and it is pleasing to know he has been jailed for a long time.

I would like to pay tribute to the strength and bravery shown by the victim in coming forward to provide evidence against Cunliffe so that justice could be served.

"To be a victim of such offences, and then go through the additional stress of a court case, is extremely tough and she will continue to be supported by specially trained officers."

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Sex offender Haydn Pinney has been jailed after he was snared by paedophile hunters.

The 35-year-old contacted two decoy 13-year-old girls online before the conversation turned sexual.

He sent a picture and a video of himself performing a sex act and asked the 'girl' to do the same.

But he was arrested when he went to meet one of them and found her to be a decoy.

Now Pinney - who is already serving a 63-month sentence for sexually assaulting a girl - has been jailed for a further three years and eight months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Martin Liddiard said the defendant was snared by paedophile hunters after he contacted two decoys online over a two-week period in late January and early February 2019.

Mr Liddiard said: "He was told straight away he was talking to a 13-year-old.

"The defendant discussed kissing and sexual activity. He told the decoy to perform a sex act.

"He arranged to meet the decoy and was arrested on February 4, 2019 when he travelled to meet her."

The second decoy was another fake profile of a 13-year-old girl.

Mr Liddiard said the conversation was again initially harmless until the defendant told the decoy he wanted to be in bed with her. He also sent a sexual picture of himself.

Pinney, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two offences of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child; attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming; attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity; and two charges of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

The court heard Pinney was jailed for 63 months at Taunton Crown Court in August 2019 for sexually assaulting a female under 13 and two charges of sexual activity with a female under 16.

Jason Holt, mitigating, said: "These were attempts. There have been contact offences previously. He is an isolated loner."

Judge David Fletcher said: "This offending took place over a period of about two weeks.

"You contacted two girls who you believed were 13 years of age. You were in your early thirties."

Pinney was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) until further order and remains on the sex offenders' register for life.

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A Sheffield man who indecently assaulted a young girl over a number of years starting from when she was just four years old has been found guilty following a trial.

Norman Copeland, 53, of no fixed abode, subjected his victim to a series of sickening attacks over a period of six years.

Yesterday (20 January), Copeland was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, and two counts of gross indecency with a girl under 14, by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court.

T/Detective Sergeant Susannah Taylor, from Sheffield's Protecting Vulnerable People team, said: "Copeland's vile abuse began when this victim was just a little girl of four years old, and carried on for a six-year period between 1990 and 1996.

"I would like to praise the victim for her tremendous bravery in coming forward and telling us what happened to her all those years ago. Her courage has resulted in a sex offender finally facing the consequences of his despicable actions."

T/DS Taylor added: "While nothing can heal the mental scars caused by this ordeal, I do hope that today's result brings some closure and will allow the victim, who is now a grown woman, an opportunity to begin moving forward with the rest of her life.

"I also hope that this result demonstrates our determination to secure justice for victims of sexual offences, even many years later. If you have been suffering in silence following historic sexual abuse, please report it to us. We will listen and we will work incredibly hard to take action and seek the justice you deserve."

Copeland will be sentenced on 22 February 2022.

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A former engineer from Brixham has been jailed for the horrific sexual abuse of a child.

David McVicker, 60, subjected the girl to multiple assaults, Exeter Crown Court was told.

He denied six allegations against a child under 13, but was convicted by a jury on all counts earlier this month.

The paedophile returned to court on Friday [January 21] and was jailed for 10 years.

Judge Timothy Rose said: "You did it, you kept doing it and you abused the victim on repeated occasions."

The trial was told police became involved after the young victim told her mother what had happened.

In a victim statement, the mother said the child had been left with emotional trauma as a result.

Ms Heather Hope, mitigating, said McVicker had worked hard all his life and never expected to be going to prison at his age.

"It is his first time in custody and it has been difficult," she said about his time on remand.

Judge Rose ordered McVicker be put on the sex offenders register and be made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

"You have committed serious offences of an extremely serious character," the judge told McVicker."The sentence has to reflect that."

McVicker must serve two thirds of his sentence before release.

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A rugby club treasurer has been jailed for sexually assaulting a woman after giving her a lift home from a party.

Accountant and Torrington Rugby Club treasurer Robert North, 45, molested the woman as she slept in the back of his car.

She woke to find him with his hands up her dress.

North stood trial at Exeter Crown Court in November and was convicted by a jury of assault by penetration. He returned to court on Friday (January 21) and was put away for four-and-a-half years.

Judge Anna Richardson said: "You took the opportunity to callously seek sexual gratification as she was lying on the back seat of the car."

After the sentence, police praised the bravery of the victim for coming forward and showing patience through the long court process.

The case dated back to 2020.

The trial heard North offered the woman a lift home and she fell asleep on the way.

The defendant, of Linden Close, said he was just trying to help the unresponsive woman from the back seat of the car.

Mr Richard Crabb, defending, says he still denies doing anything wrong.

He said North was a man of previous good character whose marriage had broken down shortly before the incident.

The offence had been 'opportunistic' rather than pre-planned, he added.

The victim said in a statement that she still suffers nightmares about the assault and ongoing trauma.

She said: "I am angry about what happened to me. I want him to know what he has done and I want to know why he did it."

Judge Richardson said: "Her trauma continues. She was particularly vulnerable as she was asleep."

After the case Detective Constable Cartwright of Barnstaple CID said: "Todays outcome could not have been possible without the bravery and courage of the victim for staying with us throughout the long court process.

"I hope that this may help other survivors of sexual assault by giving them the confidence to come forward and report such crimes to the police."

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Charles Goodwin was found guilty of raping two students and sexually assaulting another A man was convicted today of raping two students and sexually assaulting another. Charles Goodwin, a mixed martial arts fighter, was told by a judge to expect a lengthy period of imprisonment. The 21-year-old business management student was found guilty of three charges of raping one student in Manchester, and of assaulting her by penetration. He was also found guilty of one charge of raping a student in Liverpool. The jury also convicted him of two offences of sexually assaulting a third student in Liverpool but cleared him of a sexual assault on a fourth student, also in Liverpool. The attack on the first victim involved him holding her down by the throat and he was found guilty of attempting to choke her and assaulting her. The court heard he had told her she deserved to be treated like a princess and picked her and carried her - before going on to violently attack her in her own home. He had faced three charges of rape against the second victim - to whom he had said he was a sex god when she complained he had hurt her - but was cleared of two of those charges. Goodwin, of Hilbre Street, Liverpool city centre but formerly of Salford, showed no reaction when the jury returned their unanimous verdicts after just over six hours deliberations. But his father and grandfather, who stood in the public gallery as the verdicts were returned, afterwards shouted Shame on this court, disgusting." Goodwins granddad shouted, A young mans life has been totally scotched and ruined. How can you believe someones lies to the court? It is really no way to deal with these offences. During his 13 day trial Liverpool Crown Court heard how he had been on police bail after the first attack but went on to commit the other attacks. Judge Garrett Byrne told Goodwin, I am going to order a pre-sentence report to be prepared by probation to include the extent to which you present a danger to women and the outcome of that may affect sentence. Please prepare yourself for a lengthy period of imprisonment, he added. He further remanded him in custody to await sentence in March. The offences of which he was convicted took place between January 15 and September 30, 2020. Matthew Curtis, prosecuting, had told the jury, The prosecution say the defendant did not care whether the complainants consented or not. In short, he got what he wanted with no care for them or the immediate consequences of his actions. Goodwin, who had a girlfriend at the time, admitted having sexual activity with all four women but maintained they had all consented and denied all 12 charges.