Search the database
clearly and quickly

Description

AN immature offender who made racially-aggravated threats about a support worker in accommodation where he was living, admitted speaking before he thinks, a court heard. The offensive remarks proved costly for Wayne Fenwick after he was convicted of racially aggravated harassment and witness intimidation following a recent trial before magistrates. Durham Crown Court heard it put the 22-year-old defendant in breach of a suspended prison sentence for the second time, having been told by a judge that all bets would be off, if he committed a further offence. On his return to the court for sentence, Fenwick was told by Judge Ray Singh he had reached the end of the line after all the chances he had been given to keep out of trouble. The judge imposed a total 16-month prison sentence on Fenwick. Kate Barnes, prosecuting, said his latest offences took place on April 20, the day after his release from police custody following other allegations against him. Miss Barnes said police were informed that he had threatened a staff member at the accommodation he was living at that time, while in drink. Officers were shown to the room, where Fenwick made a racially aggravated remark about the staff member, who was originally from West Africa. He threatened to stab the man, telling police he knew where he lived, and then made abusive remarks to the officers who had come to arrest him. Miss Barnes said when interviewed later, Fenwick made mostly no comment replies, but did tell officers: I dont think before I speak. The support worker about whom the threats were made told police he did not feel immediately at risk as he did not believe Fenwick did know where he lived. Miss Barnes said Fenwick, most recently of Hutton Terrace, Willington, has six convictions for 15 offences on his record. She said they include sex offences relating to an underage girl and two assaults on an emergency worker, for which he received a total 16-month sentence, suspended for two years, in May last year. Christopher Bevan, for Fenwick, told the court: He realises the chances of not receiving a custodial sentence today are immensely thin. He tells me, and my assessment of him will bear this out, that hes deeply immature and he accepts what he said and did was deeply unpleasant and offensive. He further adds that he didnt mean to cause any physical harm but at the time he thought he was acting big and hard. Mr Bevan said an updated probation offender managers report described him as, not dangerous in the sense of intending harm, but capable of risky behaviour. Jailing him, Judge Singh told Fenwick: Im afraid you have now come to the end of the line as to the court allowing you further opportunities to show you can behave yourself. You committed these further offences knowing what the ramifications would be. You appear to have no respect for authority or fellow human beings. The 16-month sentence imposed includes ten months from the suspended sentence, with six months added for the latest offences.

Description

A former football coach who groomed a boy with a promise of trials at professional clubs has been jailed for another ten years over child sexual abuse. Kevan Tudor was already serving a nine-year sentence for sex offences.

The 61-year-old, who had lived in Birmingham, was previously found guilty of arranging or facilitating child prostitution and two counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child in May 2016. He was one of ten men jailed for their part in the historical exploitation and abuse of two teenage boys in 2002 to 2003 and 2009 to 2010.

After seeing a newspaper article about Tudors conviction, another individual came forward to West Midlands Police in 2017. He reported being abused by Tudor when he was just 12 in the early 1980s.

After suffering mentally since his abuse, he did not feel strong enough to support an investigation and the case was filed. However, in 2019 he felt stronger and, having spent his life plagued by doubt that anyone would believe him, he approached police again.

The force's investigation stalled during the covid pandemic as prison visits were not allowed in the lockdown and officers were unable to interview Tudor. Also many people police needed to speak to for evidence gathering were elderly and also isolating.

But the breakthrough came from an original handwritten football club statistic book from 1980 to 1986 with all teams, matches, goals and coach records meticulously kept by the-then team manager of the club where Tudor coached.

From this police traced many of the team, now men in their 50s, secured witness accounts and identified further people who had suffered abuse. Police followed the trail of Tudors career into private coaching and found another survivor, with no knowledge of the others, who he had abused from the age of ten.

Investigating officer Det Con Lisa Monahan said: Tudor groomed the boy and his family into believing he could be a famous goalkeeper, with promises of football scouts and trials at top-flight clubs.

Those dreams were used to secure complete freedom of access to the young boy with coaching sessions many times a week, where he was made to perform sexual acts on Tudor until he was 14.

Now in his 50s, he emotively describes the time, as a teenager, when he realised that he was not good enough at football to be professional and never was.

Tudor, previously from Birmingham, was charged with 15 counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16 years of age and two counts of gross indecency against a boy under 14 years of age, against five victims, police said.

He admitted the charges at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, July 8. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison - reduced by five years due to an early guilty plea.

Ms Monahan added: These men were abused by Tudor as boys trying to follow their dreams of being footballers. They were threatened into silence with being dropped from the teams they played for. Tudor was in a position of trust and so cruelly abused his power over boys at such a vulnerable age.

The torment from this does not end when the physical abuse stops and I hope that these men can take some comfort from the knowledge that they are believed.

Description

A convicted rapist who carried out a sickening attack in a graveyard has been rapped by a court over a 6,000 drugs stash.

Leslie Ryder was previously locked up in 2005 after dragging a teenage student teacher off the street and raping her in the grounds of St Michael in the Hamlet Church in Dingle. He was hauled back before Liverpool Crown Court today, Wednesday, after he was caught harvesting cannabis by police for a third time in six years.

The court heard that plain clothes officers were on patrol on Windfield Green in Garston shortly after 10.15am on January 18 last year when they encountered the 41-year-old, who "smelled strongly of cannabis". Ryder was stopped and searched, during which a wrap of cocaine and a quantity of the class B drug was found upon him.

He was also in possession of a phone which displayed a message reading "are you bagging it now?". The addict had replied: "No, tomorrow."

This led to a raid on his home on the same street, during which cannabis was discovered in a shoe box, a gift bag, a plastic tub and two boxes. A set of scales was also recovered inside.

The stash weighed a total of 414.37g and came with an estimated street value of up to 6,215. Ryder had bypassed an electricity meter in setting up the grow.

After his arrest, he "maintained that he didn't sell drugs" and claimed the text had been from his cousin in relation to a drill. The defendant added he had grown the cannabis for his own personal use, having been "heavily reliant on it since the age of 12".

But Ryder has now "stopped using entirely". No grow was located inside the flat, but the substances found equated to a yield of around seven plants.

He has 14 previous convictions for 34 offences dating back to 1996, including two for production of cannabis in April 2015 and May 2021. Most seriously, he was locked up for seven years in the mid-2000s after being convicted of rape.

The 19-year-old victim was walking home late at night when she was attacked by Ryder, who was described as a "petty thief who lay in wait for a woman to pass by". He threatened the woman with a knife and told her: "Don't scream, just walk with me."

His own heavily pregnant girlfriend was at home just weeks away from giving birth to his child at the time of the incident, and he fled to her apartment afterwards. But he was ensnared after DNA evidence linked him to the appalling crime.

Then aged 24, the sex offender was jailed for only four years and four months originally. But this was later extended by the Court of Appeal after the sentence was deemed to have been "unduly lenient".

Presiding over the appeal, Lord Justice Gage said: "This was a very serious offence of rape occurring in an attack late at night. Ryder threatened the woman with a knife and subjected her to conduct that the trial judge described as sexual indignities."

She ultimately quit her university course as a result as she was too upset to sit her exams.

Ryder, now of Strathmore Road in Tuebrook, has spent the past month in custody and appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool. He admitted production of cannabis, possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine and was handed a two-year community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days.

Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: "This is now your third time before the courts for producing cannabis. You admitted growing cannabis in order to manage the problem you had at the time.

"It is accepted that you were producing cannabis for your own benefit. I know you were heavily addicted and you have now stopped using despite your heavy addiction.

"You have stable accommodation which you will likely lose if you were to receive a custodial sentence. You now wish to live a life which is not involved in criminal offences.

"You have the support of your family, who are keen to see you rehabilitated. You are very lucky to have their support, given all you have put them through. I encourage you to continue with this motivation and continue making positive progress."

Ryder must also serve a six-month drug treatment programme and pay a victim surcharge. Forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia was ordered.

Description

A convicted sex offender grabbed a 17-year-old from behind and slashed his throat on a bus in a brutal attack. The boy's horrified 16-year-old girlfriend tried to stop Hamid Akhonzada as he 'held his head back and drew a bladed article described as a steak knife across the throat', a court heard. Akhonzada was described as having a 'major psychotic disorder' and said he 'heard the voices in his head telling him to stab somebody'. The 26-year-old launched the horrific attack on a bus in Runcorn on May 8 last year, the Liverpool Echo reports. Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting at Chester Crown Court on Friday (July 8), said Akhonzada was sitting behind the young couple when he grabbed the teenager by the hair and pulled out the weapon. The boy tried to fight back as Akhonzada attacked him. The defendant punched him three or four times as they struggled in the baggage hold before fleeing when the bus stopped. Police officers arrived to find the boy holding a face mask to his neck as it soaked up the blood. Mr Roberts said the teenager received glue and butterfly stitches to treat six or seven 'scratches' to his neck, described as 'cuts' by Judge Michael Leeming. He had also suffered a defence wound to his little finger, cuts to the eye area, sore ribs and a grazed knee. The 16-year-old girl was also slightly injured. Afghan refugee Akhonzada was arrested on May 14 in Croydon, London, where he had previously lived until being moved by officials to Runcorn. Three days later, he beat a prison guard unconscious at HMP Altcourse. Akhonzada called for attention from the prison guard, Michael Bennett, drawing him to his cell before punching him. Akhonzada pursued him around the pool tables in the open part of the wing, punching him again and knocking him out cold for two minutes. CCTV shown to the court showed part of the attack and the inmate then retreat to his cell upon the arrival of a female prison officer who locked him inside. Mr Bennett described his ordeal as an 'explosion of blood' followed by 'everything being a blur'. The prison officer suffered 'bumps and bruises' in the assault, which had the lasting effect of exacerbating his existing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The earlier attack on the bus also had a lasting impact on the 17-year-old, who said he suffered sleeplessness, 'flashbacks and night terrors', nervousness going out, aversion to using buses, and reduced socialising. After being confirmed as fit to plead, Akhonzada admitted Section 18 wounding with intent, having a bladed article in public, and assaulting an emergency worker. Mr Roberts said Akhonzada had 10 previous convictions for 23 offences including two for common assault and assaulting a constable in 2016, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 2017, and common assault and sexual assault in 2018 leading to a prison sentence. Judge Leeming read details of a pre-sentence report in which Akhonzada had told a probation officer that 'he left the house with a knife because he wanted to stab somebody' but also that 'it was only on the bus that he heard the voices in his head telling him to stab somebody'. Kevin Slack, defending, said Akhonzada was diagnosed with schizophrenia after he arrived in the UK having fled Afghanistan aged 16 after a series of traumas. These included his father being murdered, witnessing someone being killed as a child, and the death of his brother in police custody after his brother was detained by a 'corrupt' police chief for having a relationship with his daughter. The court heard this led the rogue officer to arrest Akhonzada on 'trumped up terrorism charges' before locking him up and beating him for two months, before demanding that Akhonzada marry his daughter who had been left 'physically and mentally impaired' due to a punishment beating from her father for having extra-marital sex. Mr Slack said an immigration tribunal found 'credible evidence' the police chief had violently assaulted his own daughter. After arriving in Croydon, Akhonzada was soon sectioned under the Mental Health Act and placed on medication with mental health support. Following his violent turn in 2016-17 the Home Office launched efforts to deport him, also drawing on his later offences in a bid to eject him from the country, but an immigration tribunal granted him leave to remain because he wouldnt receive the necessary mental health services in his homeland and would face 'grave danger'. An official decision was taken to move Akhonzada to Runcorn, but medical care for his 'major psychotic disorder' did not continue with the move north. Mr Slack said: The defendant had been relocated to the Runcorn area. Im instructed that was as part of an official relocation rather than any desire or choice of the defendant himself, but what is clear is that following the relocation the defendant was not picked up by mental health services in this area. Mr Slack said nor was there any recommendation for continued medication when he was released from a 2019 prison sentence, which he described as a 'mistake' that wont be 'made again'. An updated psychiatric report said he was now responding well to medication, and Mr Slack said Akhonzada had said he didnt think the boy he slashed on the bus was real, adding that having seen the videos he wished to apologise to him and to the prison officer. Judge Leeming acknowledged the seriousness of his condition but countered that convicted sex offender Akhonzada had sought to 'self-medicate' with cannabis and spice instead of seeking help. He said the knifeman had a 'compulsion' for violence as he jailed him for four years, with four years on extended licence due to dangerousness. Akhonzada, , of Liskeard Close, Brookvale, Runcorn, will have to serve 32 months behind bars before being considered for parole. The judge said the knife-wielding attacker had been staring at his victim and friend at the Palacefields bus stop before boarding and the girl had smiled at him 'to break the ice' but this did not deter him, and the attack took place a couple of minutes later during the journey. During his sentencing remarks, Judge Leeming noted Akhonzadas traumatic childhood and mental illness - which included feeling 'special' and 'close to God', but recounted how Akhonzada grabbed his teenage victims hair, pulled his head back and started 'hacking at his neck and throat with the knife' in keeping with a longer term pattern of violence. He said: Your record for violence and sexual assault is a statutory aggravating factor. Theres an established pattern here of violent and aggressive behaviour. The timing and location in the attacks are both relevant, in the first instance on public transport in the presence of other members of the public. The footage clearly shows how shocked the other passengers were on the bus, and it took place in a confined space at the back of the bus. Recalling the assault on the prison officer he said: He was unconscious for about two minutes. Its important that you should understand that Michael Bennett was simply doing his job, an already difficult job made more difficult by your behaviour. He was simply responding to your call to make sure your needs were attended to. He sustained bumps and bruises to his face and cuts to the inside of his mouth. Akhonzada, who was assisted by a Farsi interpreter for the hearing, must also pay a statutory surcharge.

Description

Sex offender was convicted in his absence and is believed to be in hiding in Turkey A child rapist fled the country before being convicted of historic sexual offence at his trial and remains at large. Martin Gill, from St Helens, is believed to be in hiding in Turkey after jetting off three days before he was due to be tried for his sickening crimes at Liverpool Crown Court. The now 36-year-old committed his campaign of sexual abuse in the early noughties, when he himself was a youth. He indecently assaulted his victim when she was aged as young as 10 and performed sex acts on her. Gill then raped the younger girl when she was roughly 13. A statement read out to the court on her behalf described how she "didn't want to live anymore" as a result of his actions and had attempted to take her own life. The statement added: "I have nightmares which take me back to being a young, vulnerable child." Gill's escape from the UK came after an earlier trial was postponed when he tested positive for Covid-19. Defending, Colin Witcher said: "The defence has made enquiries of Mr Gill, and there has been no response or engagement. "Given his absence, there is very little I can say in positive mitigation on his behalf. He has not engaged with the process." Gill, of Waring Avenue, admitted six counts of sexual assault but was found guilty of a further four of the same charge plus two of rape by a jury. He was sentenced to eight years in prison in his absence today, Tuesday. Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: "The defendant abused his victim from a very early age, gradually escalating his activity. It was sustained abuse. "He threatened her not to tell anyone, and those threats were clearly successful. The victim buried memories of the abuse until recently when she resurfaced feelings of fear, isolation and pain. "There is clear and enduring serious emotional and psychological trauma." Gill will also be required to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Description

Sam Picone, 24, from Caerphilly, worked with vulnerable students at a high school and volunteered at a club for gymnasts aged between six and 14.

He had been watching indecent images involving children aged between four and 14 as well as extreme pornography showing sex between adults and animals.

Georgina Buckley, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: This case relates to images found on the defendants telephone.

A search warrant was executed at his parents address on February 16 and the police were told he had moved out of the address and was likely on his way to work.

The defendant was working as a teaching assistant in a comprehensive school in the Cardiff area and it is understood that his role involved working directly with vulnerable children.

The police caught up with him at school and when confronted with the allegations he told them he had seen indecent images online on his mobile phone but had not saved them.

He then handed his mobile phone to the police and gave them access.

Miss Buckley added: Following his arrest he told the police about a section within the Snapchat app labelled For My Eyes Only.

It is relevant that within this section was a number of images that appeared to relate to the gymnastics club of which the defendant volunteered.

None of these images were indecent but were considered by the police as inappropriate It is understood the defendant volunteered at a local gymnastic club in his spare time and the children who attend there are aged between six and 14 years of age.

Picone pleaded guilty to making 13 category A images, the most serious kind, three category B and four category C images.

Both the school and club were not named at Cardiff Crown Court.

Picone also admitted possession of an extreme pornographic image.

The court was told that the defendant, represented by Ben Waters, had no previous convictions.

Judge Niclas Parry told Picone: What you need to understand, and Im sure that you do, is that everything you were viewing was actually happening to these children and these dreadful and disgraceful things happen because people are viewing them.

He added: There is significant mitigation. First of all youve pleaded guilty immediately.

Secondly, youve never been in trouble before.

Thirdly, youve lost everything your job, the career that youve trained for and the voluntary work that youve trained for.

Picone, of Maes Y Drudwen, Caerphilly, was sentenced to a three-year community order.

The defendant was made the subject of a 30-day rehabilitation activity order and he must complete the Horizon sex offender programme and carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

He will have to register as a sex offender for the next five years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

Description

A sex offender paid the price for breaching a court order when he failed to inform police he owned an iPad computer, a court heard.

Samuel Kettell was made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) when he received a 16-month suspended prison sentence for downloading and distributing indecent images of children, at Durham Crown Court on March 29.

Under the terms of the ten-year order he had to notify police of any device capable of accessing the internet and make it available for inspection of its internet history.

When police went to his home address on a monitoring visit on June 7 he handed the officers an iPhone but denied having any other device.

Caroline McGurk, prosecuting, told the court that a search of his home led to the recovery of the iPad, which he had not declared having on previous police monitoring visits, on April 5 and May 18.

Kettell claimed he thought it was lost and had spent weeks searching for it, to no avail.

Miss McGurk said it had been used to access the internet, but any material obtained had been deleted, which was also a breach of the SHPO.

Kettell claimed he had used it to access music on YouTube and an adult pornography site.

A probation report prepared for the court stated that Kettells perceived risk of further similar offending is considered high, but manageable within the community.

Kate Barnes, for Kettell said the terms of the community element of the order imposed when her client was sentenced in late March had not, had time to bite.

She said Kettell has had problems over his engagement with mental health services, but she urged Judge Ray Singh to allow him time to improve his response to the orders passed as part of the suspended sentence, in March.

The 22-year-old defendant, of Hale Rise, Peterlee, admitted breaching the SHPO.

Judge Singh said at the time he came before the court earlier this year it was thought there was work which the Probation Service could do to help the defendant address his offending.

It was thought you were a person who could abide by a court order and comply.

You took that conscious decision to ignore the terms of the SHPO that was considered necessary to prevent the risk of harm, particularly to young children.

You failed to disclose there was an iPad you had and, you had been deleting the internet history.

If the use of that ipad was for itunes and legitimate pornography you would have been cautioned, but there can only be one reason you put the use of that computer to, and that would be for illegitimate use.

Judge Singh said Kettell had paid mere lip service to the court order and he activated eight months of the suspended sentence, adding four months for the breach, making a total 12-month prison sentence.

He also made a deprivation order for the offending iPad.

Description

A HAMPSHIRE sex offender who molested a teenager during camping trips has been spared an immediate jail term. Former Boys' Brigade leader and charity founder David Wall was handed a suspended prison sentence because he had already served time for similar offences. Wall was jailed for seven years at Plymouth Crown Court in 2017 after being convicted of indecently assaulting four boys between 1981 and 2001. The married father-of-two later established the Hampshire-based Christian charity Acts 4 Sharing. Southampton Crown Court heard that the incidents involving the teenager took place between 2005 and 2007. Peter Asteris, prosecuting, said the first offence occurred in the New Forest, where Wall touched his victim's back and bottom. The teenager tried to fend him off but the defendant had his arm around his neck and tightened his grip. Describing the second offence Mr Asteris said Wall caressed the teenager's leg and bottom. In a statement that was read to the court, the victim said he lacked confidence and suffered low esteem as a result of the defendant's actions. He added: "I feel I have completely lost my early adult life. "I find it impossible to form close, loving and intimate relationships. I have lost careers because of depression." Mr Asteris said the victim went to police after reading a newspaper account of Wall's 2017 trial. Appearing at Southampton Crown Court last month Wall denied two counts of sexual assault but was convicted and the case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports. Thomas Horder, mitigating, said his client had already served a "significant" custodial sentence for similar offences. Describing the 2005-2007 offences Judge Peter Henry said the victim was sexually assaulted on two separate occasions. He told the defendant: "They were over his clothing but nevertheless the boy found it extremely distressing. "You pleaded not guilty and he had to go through a trial, giving evidence as well as being cross-examined." Judge Henry said he had taken the defendant's age, health and behaviour in prison into account but added: "Had you not served a previous sentence I would have sent you immediately to custody." Wall, 58, of Ash Grove, Ringwood, was handed a nine-month sentence, suspended for two years, and was told to pay 2,500 costs.

Description

A paedophile son who was outed as a sex offender after brutally attacking his mum with her own walking stick has a shocking history of beating her black and blue.

John Skelton was this week brought to justice for attempting to groom what he believed were two 13-year-old girls. He was in fact being ensnared in a paedophile hunter sting.

And The ECHO can now reveal the extent of the 46-year-old's criminal history. His record extends to 36 convictions for 65 offences, which "on the main" have been for episodes of violence and were committed as long ago as the late 1980s.

These include counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 1999 and 2006, the latter of which he received an extended prison sentence for. Then, in 2011, Skelton received another extended sentence for wounding after breaking his mother Hazel's jaw.

His rap sheet also includes convictions for battery, drunk and disorderly behaviour and flouting court orders. Matters escalated further in September 2019 after he was banned from Ms Skelton's Wirral home for "threatening to snap her back" during an assault.

But he breached this restraining order and even moved out of a bail hostel and into the address in Rock Ferry in early 2020, telling her that the Probation Service had allowed it. Skelton's behaviour deteriorated again, and he "lost his temper" during a row in the early hours of May 15 that year.

He attacked the 66-year-old after she refused to buy him alcohol, subjecting the pensioner to a "sustained and repeated" assault. She was lying defenceless in bed when she was battered using the walking aid, which was broken in half and left covered in blood as a result.

Ms Skelton suffered a "large and deep laceration" to her head, fractures to her rib, finger and arm and bruising to the face. Despite this, her son would not allow her to call 999 and she had to wait until he had fallen asleep before sneaking out of the house and seeking refuge with a neighbour.

She was left with a permanent scar from the attack. Skelton later admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and breaching a restraining order and was handed 10 years behind bars with an extended licence period of four years in December 2020.

But he appeared in court again on Friday after a phone seized from him upon arrest was analysed and revealed lewd chats with teenage girls on Facebook. Skelton - of no fixed address, but previously from Kensington - sent the decoy profiles pictures of his penis, encouraged them to perform sex acts upon themselves and asked for indecent images of the pair.

The pervert also asked one to be his girlfriend and talked about meeting up for sex. He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting sexual communications with a child and two of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and was handed a further two-and-a-half years behind bars, to be served consecutively to his current jail term.

Description

Anthony Moores sent disgusting photos of himself to the child and told her he was ‘horny’ – but it was in fact an undercover police officer.

The 33-year-old committed the crime while on police bail for no less than 17 child sex offences, failing to heed warnings after admitting the disgusting offences but before being sentenced.

After seeing his current jail sentence extended, he was told that he was clearly dangerous, and that an extended sentence was needed to safely protect the public.

Moores admitted attempted sexual communications with a child and attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity and appeared before Manchester Crown Square Crown Court to be sentenced.

Rachel Shenton, prosecuting, explained how the defendant had previously been sentenced in August 2021 to four years in prison with an extended licence period of a further four years.

This was for 17 offences including causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images of a child, attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child committed in September 2020-.

 The court heard how he encouraged a ’vulnerable’ 11-year-old girl in residential care to send videos of herself performing sexual acts, while also engaging in sex chats with 12 other girls who he believed to be between the ages of 12 and 15, but were in fact decoys created by members of a paedophile hunter group.

The offences for which he was sentenced for in this latest hearing were committed in January last year – while on bail after being convicted of the former offences, but before being jailed for them.

He was arrested while a prisoner at HM Prison Forest Bank in Salford in November 2021, following analysis of devices seized after police visited his home on Buttermarket Street in Warrington town centre on March 23 earlier that year.

This came after he was caught having sexualised chats via online dating site MeetMe with a profile he believed belonged to Billy, a 13-year-old girl from Ipswich, but which was in fact controlled by an undercover police officer.

The profile he was chatting with had a photo of a 13-year-old girl, and on January 29 last year, the officer received a private message from the defendant’s profile, which was in his own name.

Chat messages included ‘what are you looking for’, to which the officer replied: “Some fun, but I am young.”

Moores told the officer that he was ‘horny’, and when he was told by the ‘girl’ that she was 13, he replied that he was 31.

Messages continued on WhatsApp, where the defendant told the ‘girl’ that she was ‘so cute’ and asked what ‘stuff’ she had done with her last boyfriend. 

 He asked for video chats and whether she would like to see him perform a sex act on himself, before sending a photo of such activity.

The defendant asked for a photo of her breasts, made references about her genitalia, asked if she liked the photos he sent and asked if she wanted to be his girlfriend, as well as a discussion about meeting up.

He asked her to perform sex acts on herself and himself and told her that he loved her before the messages ended on February 14.

When he was interviewed in prison, he answered no comment to most questions.

Michael Johnson, defending, spoke of how Moores’ learning disability ‘contributed to his offending in having a bearing on his conduct’.

He said that his client ‘craves intimacy’, but shields behind social media platforms due to ‘esteem issues’, and he asked for any sentence to run concurrent his current one – meaning no extra time behind bars.

Before sentencing, judge Hilary Manley said: “You engaged in sexual communications with an undercover police officer – she said she was 13 and you did not care.

“There was a significant difference in your age and what you believed her age to be.

“You failed to respond to warnings after already being caught, had pleaded guilty and was awaiting sentence, and you did it again.”

“Because you have been convicted of a specific offence, I have to consider dangerousness, and whether you present a significant risk of serious harm by committing other offences – I am satisfied that you do present that risk,” she went on to say. 

 “When I sentenced you in August last year, I took the view that you were dangerous, and this view has only been reinforced by what I now know.”

Moores, whose address in court was simply listed at HMP Altcourse, was jailed for 22 months with an extended licence period of a year.

This will run consecutive to the four-year sentence imposed in August last year, and once he has served two thirds of the total custodial term, the parole board will determine if he can be released and serve the five-year extended licence period.

He must also sign the sex offender register for life and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely. 

Description

Michael James Green, 80, previously of Neville Avenue in Hove, denied 12 counts of buggery and indecent assaults when he appeared at Chichester Crown Court but was convicted on July 7 after a nine-day trial.

The offences against four boys took place between 1973 and 1993 and came to light when the victims saw publicity about his previous offending and contacted police. At the time of the abuse, all of the boys were aged between 13 and 16 years of age.

Green, who was also a friend and mentor of Sarah Payne's killer Roy Whiting, met two of the boys when he worked as an insurance salesman in Brighton.

One of the boys thought of Green as a family friend but was abused in his own home.

Green gained access to the second boy through coaching an ice hockey team in Brighton, who he took him to Devil’s Dyke where he abused him. He also abused him at Green’s home address.

He forced both boys to perform sex acts and raped one of them.

Green went on to be a sports coach at a boarding school in West Sussex, where he abused the other two boys, grooming and assaulting them.

He was sentenced to 17 and a half years imprisonment by the court earlier today.

Detective Constable Nikki Thiim of the Sussex Police Complex Abuse Unit, who investigated the latest allegations, said: “We have huge admiration for the courage the four latest victims have shown throughout the investigation and this trial.

“Their resilience to help see justice fully done, and the giving of their evidence at the trial has been remarkable.

“Green always denied these allegations, which forced them to relive their experiences in court, which has been extremely difficult and upsetting for them.

“It is clear that for many years, Green has actively involved himself in families, befriending them, encouraging them to let him involve their sons in sport, giving him access to young and often vulnerable boys, who he has systematically abused.”

Green was already serving time in prison, having been sentenced to nine years in September 2018 after being convicted of 17 indecent assaults between 1980 and 1994 against seven boys aged between 12 and 16, in addition to another nine-year sentence imposed in 2014 for four counts of sexual offences against four young boys.

Description

A child rapist who groomed a girl with sweets and cigarettes has been jailed for 14 years.

Brian Morton, from Halewood, turned his victim against her own family in order to manipulate her for his sick sexual urges - even telling her that her parents did not love her. More than a decade later, the now 61-year-old attempted to groom another 14-year-old - although he was spared prison when he was caught out.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Friday, that he began grooming his first victim when she was 11. Morton also bought her mobile phone top-ups and took her for ride in his car, where he would sexually assault her.

The pervert would watch her while she bathed and "offer to clean her". Then, when she was aged 15, he raped her while she was sleeping in the spare bedroom of his home.

His actions had a "severe psychological impact" on the girl, who turned to drug abuse in order to "self medicate" and "block out what happened to her". In 2018, Morton was convicted of engaging in sexual communications with a child after sending a string of sexually charged messages to another teen the previous year - grooming her "in similar terms to all those years ago".

He again asked her to go out for drives in his car, while one text message he sent read "night night sexy bum". The paedophile received a community order after she reported what had happened to her, admitting the offence but "denying a sexual interest in children".

Defending, Trevor Parry-Jones told the court that his client had attempted to take his own life five years ago. He said: "He maintains his innocence.

"This is obviously a serious case, and it is a sensitive case. This defendant will receive a lengthy custodial sentence, and he accepts that.

"He will spend a considerable period of his remaining life in custody. By the time he is released from this sentence, he is going to be approaching the age of 70."

Morton, of Torrington Drive, was found guilty of two counts of rape after a trial. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was also handed an indefinite restraining order and a lifelong notification requirement.

Judge Gary Woodhall described the "devastating impact" his crimes had had. He added: "You offered her treats she wasn't getting at home, you bought her sweets and cigarettes, took her for rides in your car and bought credit for her mobile phone.

"You suggested her family did not love her. You told her you loved her, and that she was pretty. You told her you wished you could be with her. You would even wear aftershave is if to impress.

"It's clear she was being groomed for some time prior to these rapes. You behaved as this was a normal, loving relationship when it was anything but. You knew she was someone who could not consent. She simply froze, and had to pretend it was not happening.

"She lived with the knowledge of what happened to her with feeling of self-loathing. She tried to block out what you did to her for years. She struggled to cope with the consequence of your offending. She has resorted to the use of drugs to self-medicate for her poor mental health and to escape.

"She is still struggling to process what happened."

Referring to Morton's conviction in 2017, Judge Woodhall said: "This is almost identical offending to the way you offended so many years previously. This demonstrates an established pattern of sexual interest in young girls and a willingness to act on those urges."

Morton was also handed a restraining order, preventing him from contacting the victim and her family. Detective constable Lucy Emmet, who led Merseyside Police's investigation, said: "Thanks to the determination and bravery of Mortons victim, he will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars for his actions.

"I would like to take this opportunity to praise Mortons victim for her compelling statements when reporting his crimes and the strength they have shown throughout the whole of this investigation. While no sentence will repair the damage that Mortons abuse has caused, I hope that by seeing him sent to prison for such a considerable period of time will give his victim some sort of closure and allow them to move on with their lives knowing he cannot harm anyone else.

"We are committed to protecting victims of sexual offences and anyone who reports an incident to us will be safeguarded and supported throughout the investigation. Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity should come forward and speak to us.

"We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice. Time is no barrier to reporting offences, and I would urge anyone who has been victim of a sexual offence at any time to come forward and we will do everything we can to help and support them."

Description

Alan Rothwell, of Heaton, kidnapped, robbed and tried to rape a woman in her 60s out enjoying a walk in a North Tyneside country park, but was jailed for less than nine years It was an attack that sent waves of shock and fear across Tyneside. When a woman walking alone in a the tranquil Rising Sun Country park was attacked by a sex predator in broad daylight an urgent manhunt was launched. Thanks to the 63-year-old victim's bravery police were able to identify and arrest evil Alan Rothwell within days. Rothwell, of Mowbray Street, Heaton, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to attempted rape, kidnap, robbery and two counts of sexual assault at Newcastle Crown Court. But today as he was sentenced for the March attack serial criminal Rothwell was locked up for just eight years and nine months, with an extended licence period of a further six years. The sentence has sparked anger among sex attack victims who believe Rothwell should be kept off the streets for longer. Wendy Forrester who was raped by evil double rapist Eric McKenna as she walked home, almost 40 years ago, said the victim will be living with the trauma of the attack long after Rothwell is freed. The 60-year-old, who has waived her legal right to anonymity, said: "It is a short sentence, but it's also average. It hard enough to report and go to court without them getting a short sentence. Things need to change, there should be a minimum of 15 years. "It's not something that you get over. She's going to have that fresh in her mind for the next 10 years and he will be walking the streets." The victim had been enjoying a pleasant walk in the Rising Sun County Park, in Wallsend when she was attacked from behind by evil Rothwell. The sex predator grabbed her so tightly she couldn't breathe before forcing her to the ground, pushing her hood over her head and forcefully trying to rape her. The woman, 63, bravely tried to fight off career criminal Rothwell, who has 152 previous convictions and was wearing blue clinical gloves to carry out the attack. She helped to snare him by scratching him, meaning she had his DNA under her fingertips. Judge Robert Spragg described the attack as "appalling" as he jailed Rothwell. However, rape victim Gemma Redhead, from Newcastle, said the sentence sends out the wrong message to both victims and perpetrators of sex offences. The 41-year-old said: "It's not a particularly positive message for other and future victims and also other perpetrators. That may seem like a reasonable sentence, but in reality you are looking at them serving half that. Then you are looking at four years for such a horrific crime. "It feels like a slap on the wrist to the offender and a slap in the face for the victim." Gemma, who has also waived her right to anonymity, suffered years of abuse at the hands of her violent partner, who went on to rape her at knifepoint in their home, in Cowgate, Newcastle. In 2011 Philip Kirby was jailed for eight years with a five-year extended licence, for his attack on Gemma. He was released after serving only four years, but was back in Newcastle Crown Court in 2015, having rung Gemma in breach of a restraining order. Kirby was then returned to prison and told he will not be released from prison until the end of his licence in 2023. Gemma fears short sentences like the one handed to Rothwell could put victims off reporting sex attacks, but she is urging women to continue coming forward "The the whole situation, the ongoing court case, then finding out the sentence is all very traumatic," she said. "Some victims might think; 'was it worth putting myself through that?' "But I would still like to push the message that it is worth it. You are taking back a little bit of strength and control from what's happened to you and you are also protecting other potential victims from these awful people. "

Description

A pervert has been jailed after turning up to meet what he believed was going to be a 15-year-old prostitute for sex.

Joseph Smith responded to an online advertisement which stated there was an 18-year-old woman selling sexual services in his area. When the 37-year-old called the number provided, he was told that the girl selling sex was in fact only 15-years-old. But he still decided to go and meet the teen in an area of Durham. However, what Smith didn't know, was that the advertisement was false, and had been set up by undercover police.

Smith, of Bracken Field Road, Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Thursday, via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sexual offence. He pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, said as part of an undercover police operation aiming to catch paedophiles, an advert on a selling website was set up that purported to be an 18-year-old woman selling sexual services whereby contact was to be made via a phone number. He said: "On April 25 the defendant called the number twice. He then sent a text message asking what time she started work."

Mr Burns said that contact was then made over the phone and that Smith called himself "Craig". During the conversation, Smith was told that the girl selling sex, was in fact only 15-years-old. Mr Burns said: "The defendant asked if any girls were over 16 and he was told no." But Smith was undeterred, and arranged to meet the 15-year-old decoy shortly before 11pm in an area of Framwellgate Moor. As soon as he arrived, he was greeted by police officers and arrested.

Mr Burns said that when arrested, Smith was found with 980, which he said was to pay for his Manchester United season ticket. He also told officers that he "wouldn't have done it" and "didn't care about kids". During interview he gave no reply.

The court heard that Smith had 16 previous convictions, including for offences of voyeurism which dated back to 2005. The court was told that one offence related to him looking under the cubicles at a swimming baths, and another involved him looking into windows and watching women undress.

Ian West, defending, asked for full credit for his guilty pleas, which were given at the first opportunity. He added that Smith has learning difficulties and ADHD, saying: "He is a man who has his own problems and limitations. He needs to have a moral compass."

Sentencing Smith, Recorder Jamie Hill QC said it was an "unusual and exceptional case", before jailing him for two years. Smith was made subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and will also be on the sex offender's register for two years.

Description

A man who raped a woman in a town centre street has been jailed for 18 years.

Mario Sztojka, 26, attacked his victim on Lower Viaduct Street in Huddersfield in the early hours of 26 May, 2021.

He was identified as a suspect days after the attack and a major operation to track him down led to his arrest in December.

Police described him as a "dangerous and predatory sex offender" who "did everything he could to evade justice".

Sztojka, of Meltham Road, Huddersfield, was found guilty of two counts of rape following a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

He was given an 18-year jail sentence and must serve at least 12 years in prison.

Det Ch Insp Marc Bowes, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "He did everything he could to evade justice for the serious sexual assault he inflicted on his victim and was caught following persistent, methodical police work which allowed us to eventually hunt him down.

"Despite strong evidence against him, he chose to put his victim through the ordeal of a trial and this has been reflected in the sentence imposed on him."