Latest Offenders

Description

A paedophile from Letchworth has been jailed for more than two years after pleading guilty to multiple sex offences.

Brian Melabiankis, formerly of Marmet Avenue in the town, was sentenced to 29 months in prison at St Albans Crown Court on Monday.

The court heard how the 25-year-old had committed a number of child sex abuse offences, including making and distributing indecent images of children, between October and December of 2017.

At court, he pleaded guilty to a total of 19 different charges seven counts of distribution of indecent images, nine counts of making indecent images, two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Melabiankis name was also added to the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Description

A female prison officer is facing jail after sending sex pictures of herself to teenage male inmates at a young offenders institution.

Jordan Trainor, 25, also engaged in 'sexual touching' of a teen at Wetherby Young Offender Institution and was involved in "improper relationships" with two prisoners.

She further admitted bringing in packages for the youngsters and failing to report they were in possession of mobile phones.

Trainor, who's from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to one offence of misconduct in a public office when she appeared before Leeds Crown Court on Friday.

The circumstances surrounding the offending are not yet fully clear, however, it is known the "improper relationships" were with two inmates under the age of 18.

Trainor passed messages between the pair, delivered four packages to one inmate and engaged in sexual touching with one on "approximately three occasions", the court heard.

The offending took place at Wetherby Young Offender Institution on or before 23 December last year.

Trainor's barrister, Jade Edwards, said a psychiatric report had been ordered and asked for the sentencing to be adjourned for four weeks.

The judge said: "You have pleaded guilty to what I am sure you understand is a very serious offence.

"It is a breach of trust and it is a very serious matter.

"I am going to order a pre-sentence report so the judge who sentences you has a full understanding of your background and any difficulties you may face.

"You must understand that a custodial sentence is almost inevitable in a case such as this.

"There is no point in giving to you false hope."

Description

A BOURNEMOUTH man who groomed a 14-year-old girl into having sexual activity made her feel "vulnerable and afraid". Matthew Joseph Keets, aged 23 and of Bennett Road, Bournemouth, began messaging the schoolgirl over social media platform Snapchat in the summer of 2019. As reported, Keets admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of sexual communication with a child, one count of possession of indecent moving image and four counts of possession of an indecent image. This came after months of offending, which included Keets and the victim engaging in consensual sexual activity at the defendants home in October last year. The girl was reported missing in November last year and was found by family members at Keetss address. He was arrested and admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the victim but claimed he did not know she was underage. He was released on bail with conditions not to contact the victim but, following reports Keets was breaching those conditions, officers attended his address in February and found him in company with the victim. Keets was arrested again and an examination of his mobile phone revealed a number of messages illustrating the defendants grooming behaviour toward the victim as well as indecent images of her. Prosecutor Tom Wright told Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, October 29, that some of the messages between Keets and the girl presented a subtext of "fantasies of domination" on the defendant's part. Keets's most recent sexual activity with the child was after he had been arrested on three occasions for his interaction with the girl and released under investigation by police. A victim impact statement read by Mr Wright said Keets initially told the girl he was 17 when they were exchanging messages. He was in fact 22 at the time. When they met in person he revealed his real age before the sexual activity began, the court heard. "I was vulnerable and he took advantage of it," the statement said. It added: "I feel like he has taken away part of my teenage years when I should have been having fun with my own friends." The girl said she felt pressured by Keets to comply with his sexual demands and this left her feeling "vulnerable and afraid". The defendant would give the victim free cannabis and food. Mitigating Kevin Kill said Keets, who has Asperger syndrome, had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to the string of offences. "He is a relatively young man with some very complex issues and he needs help with it," said Mr Hill. Judge Stephen Climie told Keets that he should be under no illusions over the fact that his actions had a "very serious affect" on the victim. "She will struggle with it (Keet's offences) and that is your fault and your responsibility", the judge added. The defendant was warned that if he commits any offences of a similar nature involving children in the future, it is likely the courts will find him to be dangerous. Keets was issued with a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order, which both last for 10 years.

Description

A PERVERT pensioner has been jailed for 31 months for sexually abusing a young girl. David Magee, 65, of no fixed address, was locked up at Bradford Crown Court for three counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13 and a single charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Magee was sentenced on a video link to Leeds Prison where he was being held on remand. After the case, an NSPCC spokesman said: Magees actions are truly reprehensible - displaying callous disregard for a young victim who will need significant support to recover. The NSPCC urges anyone who has experienced sexual abuse to speak out and seek support. You will be listened to and this case proves that predators like Magee can be brought to justice.

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A QUIZMASTER who admitted making hundreds of indecent images of children and having an interest in young boys, has escaped jail.

Judge James Burbridge said he was “satisfied” Marc Knowles case was one for which he did not need to hand out an immediate custodial sentence, and the 36-year-old would benefit from a sexual offences rehabilitation programme.

Knowles, who had been a quizmaster at pubs around Worcester including the New Inn in Ombersley Road and The Talbot in Barbourne, entered his pleas for the first time at the start of the Worcester Crown Court hearing on Wednesday.

He pleaded guilty to making 56 indecent images of children at category A (the most serious category) between February 18 and December 20, 2017.

Knowles also admitted making 215 indecent images at category B between the same dates and 572 indecent photographs of a child at category C between November 1 and December 20, 2017.

He also admitted having on December 20, 2017, a further seven prohibited images of children.

The case had taken three years to get to sentencing, and was also adjourned in January so a psychiatrist could be instructed to assess whether the defendant was fit to plead.

Prosecuting, Simon Phillips said an investigation was launched after 46 illegal images were uploaded to Dropbox, that led the firm to report them to the police.

After the IP address was traced it led them to the Knowles' family computer, at their home in Saunders Street, Worcester.

"The email address was in due course linked to this defendant," Mr Phillips said.

"A search was carried out (in December 2017). When officers arrived, Mr Knowles told the police they did not need to speak to his parents, it was him they needed to speak to.

"To his credit (in interview) he admitted he had uploaded 46 images and there were maybe more."

Mr Phillips said Knowles had also encouraged boys to share images on another site.

The prosecutor said the images found were across three devices including a phone and a computer.

"Stills and movies containing indecent images were found on all three," the prosecutor said.

"He said he had an interest in young boys and had had that interest for about a year.

"He told the police he knew the ages of the boys, and therefore knew it was wrong."

He added that the sentencing guidelines for the most serious offence was a starting point of a year custody, up to three years.

Elizabeth Power, defending, highlighted that Knowles had been candid and honest, and had told the author of a report he had sought gratification from viewing the images.

But she said Knowles suffered from Aspergers syndrome so did not think of the real victims, pointed out Knowles had no previous convictions and had not committed any further offence in the three years since being charged.

Sentencing him Judge Burbridge said:

"You were a man of good character but you had a secret - for about three years you were downloading images of children.

"Behind every child in every picture there is a real victim, and because there appears to be a market for these disgusting images, it leads more children to become victims."

Judge Burbridge said he could draw on Knowles' good character, his conduct with police, and he had not sought to meet a child.

He handed Knowles an 18 month community order, which includes the condition he must complete the accredited sex offences programme and 40 rehabilitation activity days, and gave him a two month curfew.

He was also given a sexual harm prevention order, and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years.

Description

A former deputy headteacher of a primary school watched sickening indecent images of children on the dark web while his wife and child were at home.

Paedophile Richard Swinnerton admitted he had a sexual attraction towards children and would watch the vile abuse material on a weekly basis.

The 31-year-old was caught on May 15 after police executed a warrant at Swinnertons Coulby Newham home.

Following his arrest, he immediately resigned from his job at St Clares Catholic Primary School in Acklam, Middlesbrough .

His offences were not related to his employment at the school.

Swinnerton appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday to be sentenced for three counts of possession of indecent images.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said that when officers went to Swinnertons home, he made a significant statement to them, and admitted straight away, saying; Its me, Ive been looking at indecent images.

He then pointed to a laptop on a nearby sofa which was recovered and examined.

On the initial examination, police found six videos containing indecent images, all of which were category A - the most severe.

The court heard that one sickening video was a full 36 minutes long and involved a child between the age of six to eight.

Another five-minute long video was found which depicted the abuse of a child who was aged between two and three.

A more in-depth examination of Swinnertons laptop was later carried out where a total of 95 indecent images were discovered.

A total of 87 were in category A - 11 of which were moving images.

Seven images were in category B and one was in category C.

Mr Dryden said that when Swinnerton was interviewed, he made full admissions and said he had been accessing indecent images for around two years.

He said he would view the disgusting material when his wife and child were upstairs.

He said he viewed the material for sexual gratification on a weekly basis for about half-an-hour.

The court was told that Swinnerton was employed as a primary school teacher at the time of the offences and was also an active member in his local church.

He had been a primary school teacher for the past eight years but resigned as soon as he was arrested.

Swinnerton, who had no previous convictions, admitted to police that he had a sexual attraction to children and had done so since he was a child.

In mitigation, John Nixon, defending Swinnerton, said he was a primary school deputy headmaster and that he was an intelligent, hard-working man who is well-educated.

He said that Swinnerton was very successful in his occupation.

Mr Nixon told the court that there was no suggestion whatsoever that there was any impropriety in his workplace and that he viewed the school children as pupils who were in his care.

His private life was quite separate from his public responsibilities, he said.

He added that it is a tragic fall from grace for him and that his life and reputation are in tatters and was required to split from his wife and child.

Mr Nixon said that he had chosen to be quite honest about the issues he has.

Before sentencing, Judge Deborah Sherwin said that there was no suggestion that Swinnerton crossed the boundaries with pupils at the school he taught at.

She sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.

He must also undertake 35 rehabilitation activity days as well as a 27 day sex offender programme.

He must sign the sex offender register and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order - both will last 10 years.

A St Clares school spokesperson said: This has been an upsetting matter for parents, carers, staff and the wider St Clares community.

We are grateful for the support we have received from them and we continue to assure them that the wellbeing and safety of children of St Clares remains our priority at all times.

It is also important to reiterate that this former employees offences were not in connection with his employment at the school.

Description

A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison today (Friday 27 April) following a three week trial at Southampton Crown Court last month.

The jury found Abdi Mohammed, 21, of Tennyson Road guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman on August 19 in 2016 at an address in St Marys after meeting her outside Oceana nightclub.

The woman was on a night out at Oceana nightclub with her friends when she became separated from them. Outside the club Mohammed took advantage of the woman, finding her alone and vulnerable, and put her in a car and drove her to an address in Derby Road where he raped her.

After her ordeal, the woman bravely fled the address on foot and alerted security staff at Royal South Hants Hospital on Brintons Terrace.

Detectives investigating the rape arrested Mohammed a week later and charged him in July 2017. He was identified through CCTV analysis and forensic evidence.

Today, Mohammed has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Detective Inspector Toby Elcock said: This was a complex and protracted case of the rape of a young woman on a night out in Southampton.

I firstly want to commend the bravery of the young woman and thank her for the dedication she has given to the case that has allowed us to bring this offender to justice today. We would not have been able to achieve this result without her support.

Mohammed preyed upon this young woman who found herself outside a nightclub, separated from friends, alone and vulnerable. He coerced her to go with him, convinced her that he had her best interests at heart by helping her get home, but instead took her to an address where he raped her.

Hampshire Constabulary is dedicated to getting justice for victims and ensuring Southampton is a safe place to enjoy nights out. Remember to look out for each other, avoid walking alone and plan how you are going to get home with friends.

I hope this sentence today goes someway to giving the woman closure and reassures her, and the communities in Hampshire, that justice has been served."

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X Factor star Danny Tetley - who rocketed to fame on the 2018 series as a semi-finalist - had his 17-year sentence reduced X Factor semi-finalist Danny Tetley had his sentence for sexually exploiting several teenage boys slashed. Famously the star was catapulted into the limelight on the 2018 series of The X Factor where he came in sixth place as a semi-finalist. The disgraced singer, 39, was jailed for nine years in January as part of a 17-year extended sentence. Upon leaving prison, Danny was facing eight years of being closely monitored on license. However, following a successful appeal this sentence has now been reduced to just five years. The Criminal Appeal Office said: "The full court allowed the appeal and the sentence is now an extended sentence of 14 years, comprising a custodial term of nine years and an extended period of license of five years." At the time of sentencing, judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told the court the singer's celebrity status was "now gone, tarnished and destroyed". According to the Telegraph & Argus, the judge told him: "Nobody doubts a significant sentence of imprisonment is required. "The reality is our society is deeply interested in celebrity, it does no harm. Pure entertainment of highest order including X Factor, upon which you featured in some capacity. You exploited the status it gave you. You abused that status to satisfy your perverted sexual needs, by your actions "Those in the public eye dont have licence to abuse. Those in public eye have deep responsibility and many exercise magnificently." The X Factor contestant pleaded guilty to paying five teen boys for X-rated snaps. Danny sent thousands of texts and WhatsApp messages between October 2018 and August 2019. NSPCC slammed the shamed star for using his TV appearances and promises of money to carry out abuse. An NSPCC spokesman said: "Tetleys use of his TV appearances and promises of money in the thousands of messages he sent these boys, are an example of the depraved lengths that predators will go to in their pursuit of victims. This kind of abuse can have a profound and long-lasting impact, and this case underlines why it is so vital that social media companies are forced to make safeguarding our children their top priority. We continue to call on the Government to introduce new legislation that enforces a formal Duty of Care to keep young people safe online. As part of the NSPCCs Wild West Web campaign, we are calling on people to email their MP urging them to back a new Bill that paves the way for a proper independent watchdog to regulate online harms against children.

Description

A convicted sex offender who  breached the terms of his sex offenders' prevention order and was found in possession of drugs is now back behind bars.

Justin Lawal, 38, was reported to Nottinghamshire Police by social services on January 16 after they became concerned teenage girls were attending a previous address where he lived.

Officers attended the property and spoke to occupants, which included two girls under the age of 16.

Lawal was subsequently arrested by officers and had his mobile phone seized.

In a further incident, police officers stopped Lawal in March this year and found an amount of MDMA and cannabis in the driver’s footwell. He was arrested for possession of drugs.

He was again found in company of young females under the age of 16.

Lawal, now of Manor Crescent, in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, pleaded guilty to two instances of breaching his sex offenders' prevention order which he was given in relation to previous convictions for offences against young girls.

His condition was not to communicate with any young person under the age of 16.

In a separate incident, he also pleaded guilty to being in possession of class A and B drugs.

At a Nottingham Crown Court hearing, he was sentenced to a total of 18 months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Steve Dalby, of Nottinghamshire Police's management of sexual and violent offender unit, said:

“He is clearly a dangerous individual and I feel the sentence imposed by the judge reflects this.

“He groomed a number of vulnerable children. He knew full well that he was breaking the law.

"I also hope this sentence gives encouragement to any other survivors of abuse that they can come forward and we will investigate and seek justice for them.

"Nottinghamshire Police takes reports of such matters very seriously and will investigate them, working with the Crown Prosecution Service, to put a robust case to the courts.

"Reporting of such matters should not be deterred by time delays or the community standing of those responsible.”

Description

A paedophile downloaded child rape videos on a laptop he shared with his mum.

Michael Pegg amassed a sickening collection, which featured more than 5,000 indecent images of children.

The 44-year-old transferred the files to a hard drive so his mum wouldn't find out, then viewed them on his TV.

When he was caught by police, the pervert blamed his behaviour on using "a lot of cannabis and ecstasy".

But he walked free from court after a judge said he now recognised he had a problem and was "open to help to put it right".

Liverpool Crown Court heard officers raided Pegg and his mum's home in Hall Street, Southport, on July 4 last year.

Fiona McNeill, prosecuting, said police told Pegg they were acting on intelligence that his internet address had been used to download indecent images and asked if he knew anything about this, before he was cautioned and arrested.

A search was carried out and electrical items seized, including a laptop from one room and a hard drive from another.

Ms McNeill said: "When police took the hard drive the defendant said 'that's got my naughty stuff on'."

The court heard Pegg was taken to hospital before he was interviewed due to concerns about his mental health.

Police experts found eight Category A - the most serious category - still images and videos of children being raped on his devices, including one showing a girl aged between six and eight.

Devastating consequences of watching child sex abuse online

There were 214 Category B, 5,309 Category C, and in total 5,531 indecent images of children.

When interviewed, Pegg accepted making the comment to the police and said he downloaded the files on torrent sites.

Ms McNeill said he admitted downloading the files over four to five years and said he would then delete them "because he knew it was wrong".

Pegg said he saved some files on his hard drive and would then connect this to his TV to view them.

Ms McNeill said he conceded there were "quite a lot" of indecent images of children of different ages.

She said: "He said he didn't know how he became interested in this material and said he felt disgusted in himself.

"He said he made sure the images were transferred so his mum didn't see them on the laptop, which she also used as well."

Ms McNeill added: "He said at the time of downloading the images he was using a lot of cannabis and ecstasy.

"He denied having any sexual interest in children any longer, but accepted at the time he did."

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A former scout leader has been locked up for sex assault on two six-year-old girls at camps he helped to run.

Paedophile Oliver Cooper attacked the youngsters while working as a Beaver Scout leader more than two years ago.

Cooper, a former soldier in the Household Cavalry for four years, was arrested after a child told police he had touched her inapropriately.

Images and videos of children getting undressed in private were later found on his phone and laptop.

Now the 27-year-old, formerly of Hopton, Stafford, has been jailed after being guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a girl aged six, sexual assault on another girl also aged six, one count of taking indecent photographs of a child and 13 counts of voyeurism.

He was sentenced to six years in prison at Lewes Crown Court.

Jailing Cooper and imposing a lifetime ban on working with children and vulnerable people, Judge Stephen Mooney described the former student's crimes as a 'colossal breach of trust'.

Judge Mooney also noted Cooper's lack of remorse.

Detectives from the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigation Unit probed Cooper after a child two years ago bravely came forward to say she had been sexually touched by the scout leader.

He was arrested and indecent images and videos of children getting undressed in private were found on his phone and laptop.

During the course of the investigation, a further child came forward to say she had also been sexually assaulted.

Detective Constable Rees Hopcraft, from Sussex Police, said: "The young girls involved showed tremendous bravery throughout the investigation and were supported by specially trained officers.

"Despite the overwhelming evidence, Cooper continued to protest his innocence and thus forced the victims to give evidence, which was done via a video link to the court.

"In sentencing, Judge Stephen Mooney commented on Cooper's lack of remorse and the 'colossal breach of trust' involved.

"Prior to his scouting role he was a law student at Sussex University, and a soldier in the Household Cavalry where he served for four years in the UK."

Police said the Scouts Association had given full-co-operation, and that parents of all children who were in the scouting group have been kept informed. There is no current safeguarding risk to any child.

Cooper will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to last until further court notice severely restricting his access to children, and was disqualified from working with children and vulnerable people for life.

Commenting on the case, an NSPCC spokesman said: "By committing these horrific crimes, Cooper betrayed the trust placed in him by the children he was supposed to protect, as well as their parents and guardians.

"It will have taken great bravery for one of the girls to tell police what Cooper had done, but her actions have helped bring this appalling abuser to justice.

"It is vital that his victims are now receiving all the help and support they need to move on from his awful offences."

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A MAN who indecently exposed himself in a public park while watching a yoga class was told to carry out a rehabilitation activity when he appeared before magistrates.

Howard Beck (55), of Rushington Avenue, Totton, pleaded guilty to committing a sexual act in a public place on 13th July.

The Southampton court heard Beck was sitting on a bench at a local park at 6pm, watching the yoga class taking place in a gym when he exposed himself and began masturbating.

A six-month alcohol treatment order was included in a 12-month community order the Southampton Bench handed to the defendant last Thursday. It also required him to serve 20 reasoning and rehabilitation days.

In addition to the order, Beck was fined 50 and told to pay 85 in court costs along with a 95 surcharge to fund victim support services.

Description

A PUB CHEF who caught with indecent images of children has been jailed. Louis Joe Kalizewski has a previous conviction for raping a minor. The 23-year-old has admitted he has a sexual interest in children", a court heard. When police raided his home on July 12 last year they found him in bed. Kalizewski, of Sullivan Road Southampton, presented his electronic device on request. Upon examination, officers found indecent images which included one category A, three category B and four category C images. Prosecution barrister, Edward Warren told how during a police interview that day Kalizewski claimed he had no idea how the images came to be on his computer. Appearing before Southampton Crown Court on Monday he faced three counts of possessing indecent photographs of children with the offences taking place between April 15, 2018, and July 12 last year. He had previously pleaded guilty. Mr Warren told the court how Kalizewski was convicted at a youth court in 2015 for raping a boy under the age of 13. Defending, Tom Horder said his client still is relatively young and was caught with a small number of images which he did not attempt to hide. Mr Horder added, Kalizewski hopes that he can get some help. Judge Peter Henry slammed the images as particularly unpleasant. He jailed him for eight months and gave him a ten-year sexual harm prevention order. Kalizewski is subject to a ten-year notification requirement.

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A voyeur who hacked into home security cameras to spy on unsuspecting homeowners also used a hidden camera to film families in Butlins, Swindon Crown Court heard.

Sentencing John Wood, 42, to two years imprisonment suspended for two years, Judge Peter Crabtree labelled the mans crimes a systematic campaign of voyeurism over a period of six years.

Prosecutor Russell Pyne told the court Wood had been snared by the south west regional organised crime squads cyber unit during a joint investigation with the FBI into super-hacker Colton Grubbs, whose software LuminosityLink allowed users to secretly activate cameras and microphones to secretly record people in their own homes.

Detectives discovered that dad-of-one Wood had bought the software in July 2015, although there was no evidence he had used it.

But when officers analysed Woods computers they found a huge cache of secret video recordings hed made between 2011 and 2016.

He had also hacked into peoples private webcams and other camera-enabled devices to secretly watching them in their own homes. A programme, Blue Iris, more commonly used to organise CCTV feeds, had been used so he could monitor different illicitly-accessed cameras. There were 1,400 video files saved in a file named Blue Iris Videos, the majority of which showed people having sex at home. Videos linked to 45 different IP addresses had been uncovered.

One of his victims, a London man whose home security camera was accessed by Wood, said in an impact statement: It made me feel vulnerable and violated that the sanctity of our home has been accessed.

Wood also had almost 300 videos that he had shot himself. He used a camera to film women from windows in his home, devices hidden in his house and at a holiday cottage and took a hidden camera to Butlins, Bognor Regis, in November 2012, to film women in changing rooms.

One of his victims, who had been filmed using the toilet in Woods own home, said in a victim statement that she was absolutely shocked and disgusted that hed deliberately made recordings of me behind closed doors.

Another woman said: The truth is its frustrating to think there are people out there that do things like this.

The 77 videos shot over five days at Butlins showed over 167 victims - including children, although no indecent material was found on Wood's computer. None of the victims had been identified by police.

Wood, formerly of Station Road, Minety, pleaded guilty at the magistrates court to six counts of voyeurism and two charges under the Computer Misuse Act.

John Wood leaves Swindon Crown Court on Tuesday

Nicholas Wragg, defending, said his client had been diagnosed with various mental disorders including autism, hoarding disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. He was receiving therapy. He was married with a daughter with learning difficulties, had the support of his family and was the main breadwinner in the house.

Wood, who was of previous good character, had fully admitted his offending when he was interviewed by the police in 2018. He had stayed out of trouble in the three years since he was arrested.

Mr Wragg told the court: The defendants understanding of the harm he has done to others has not been done on an emotional level, because he lacks that capacity. It has been on a purely intellectual level that he had come to learn of that impact on others. That is so difficult for people who have that ability to understand and appreciate it.

The quantity and nature of the offending is serious but the defendant has recognised that and used his time well. It is of course a work in progress, but he has shown commitment and after all this time there is a reasonable prospect of rehabilitation.

He said some of the people whose cameras Wood hacked had been selling sex shows to voyeurs although the lawyer admitted his client had hacked into the video streams and was watching without the performers permission.

Judge Crabtree acknowledged Wood had mental health difficulties, but challenged claims he had not been sexually motivated. He noted the man had targeted attractive women, saying the fact he had concealed cameras and denied wrongdoing when confronted by one of his victims pointed to him knowing that what he was doing was wrong.

Under the terms of his suspended sentence order, Wood must complete the Horizon sex offender rehabilitation programme, 30 rehabilitation activity days and 100 hours or unpaid work.

He must abide by a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and sign onto the sex offenders register for 10 years.

The judge warned Wood about breaching the terms of his suspended sentence, telling him he would be jailed. "My starting point will be to say I got it wrong and Mr Wood doesn't want to be rehabilitated."

Description

A teaching assistant who had sex with a 15-year-old girl has been jailed.

Richard Perrin, 50, of Canon Frome in Ledbury, Herefordshire also sent naked photographs of himself to the victim before his arrest in June, Worcester Crown Court heard.

He previously admitted six counts of sexual activity with a child committed over a five-month period during the national coronavirus lockdown.

On Friday, he was told he would serve 32 months in prison.

Prosecutor Tom Walkling told the court Perrin was arrested after a male relative saw incriminating messages on his phone.

The court also heard police had found notes written by the victim, hidden underneath the driver's seat in Perrin's car.

Julia Needham, for Perrin, said, prior to the offence, he had been "a constructive, useful and beneficial member of society".

The court was told Perrin's wife was divorcing him and he had "lost everything", including his career.

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Passing sentence, Recorder Sandeep Kainth said: "What you have done is deprive a young girl of her childhood.

"I sincerely hope you have learnt a salutary lesson from what can only be described as absolute and complete stupidity by you."

Perrin was also required to register as a sex offender for life and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.