Latest Offenders

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A grime artist who was serving 24 years in jail for imprisoning and repeatedly raping four women has had his sentence increased by six years.

Solo 45, whose real name is Andy Anokye, was found guilty of 21 rapes, five counts of false imprisonment, two counts of assault by penetration and two of actual bodily harm at Bristol Crown Court last July.

However, following a hearing the Court of Appeal have ruled that his initial sentence was "unduly lenient", and he will now spend 30 years in jail for the 30 charges which took place over a two-year period.

He also was also handed a five years additional licence to reflect the seriousness of his crimes.

Speaking after the ruling which was made by three senior judges, Solicitor General Michael Ellis QC called Anokye's offences "truly shocking".

Mr Ellis said the court's decision to increase the sentence recognised "the severity of the abuse [Anokye] inflicted upon his victims and the danger he poses to the public".

Calls for Anokye to be given a life sentence were rejected.

During his trial, the jury heard that the musician derived sexual pleasure from torturing women by waterboarding, interrogating, assaulting and raping them.

The court heard that Anokye forced one woman to lie in a bath of freezing cold water, held a shotgun to the head of another, held a cloth covered in bleach to women's faces, and forced a mobile phone down a woman's throat.

Graphic footage filmed by Anokye on his mobile phone showing him abusing multiple women was also shown to the jury as evidence.

The 33-year-old had claimed it was consensual role play, or a game he played called "catch me, rape me". He said he had told the women that he would "terrorise" them.

Anokye, who is from London but had a harbourside apartment in Bristol, told the court during evidence that he had dacryphilia - sexual arousal from tears and sobbing.

Anokye was part of grime collective Boy Better Know signed to record label Island Records, and had collaborated with the likes of Stormzy, JME and Wiley.

When passing his original sentence last summer, judge William Hart, told Anokye he had "no sexual boundaries or empathy for those concerned".

He said the rapper - who had a background of gang associations and criminal violence - "become addicted" to the "perverted pleasure" he gained from abusing his victims and that none of his fellow musicians knew about his "dark side".

He said Anokye's conviction had deprived him of a "flourishing career", but he had only himself to blame.

Avon and Somerset Police first began investigating him in 2017, after a woman reported being raped by him.

Following the discovery of the video footage on Anokye's phone, three further woman came forward to police.

A fifth woman also gave evidence against him, but her allegation could not be prosecuted as it happened abroad.

Anokye will only be released from prison after serving at least 20 years of his 30-year jail term behind bars and when the Parole Board is satisfied he no longer poses a danger to the public.

Speaking after the ruling, the Crown Prosecution Service's Jill Macnamara said she welcomed the increased sentence and hoped it would give victims of rape and sexual assault confidence in police powers to investigate, charge and prosecute cases reported to them.

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A sex pest has been jailed for the terrifying stalking of his neighbour which culminated in him masturbating in front of her whilst wearing a pair of goggles.

Clifford Morgan, 33, frequently stared at his petrified neighbour, sometimes doing so wearing Star Wars or Halloween masks.

Morgan, of Penzance, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence having pleaded guilty to stalking.

Prosecuting the case, Tom Bradnock, described how Morgan and the victim in the case had been living next door, on and off, for 10 years.

By 2019 the victim was living with her partner and four children and at that stage hadnt had any problems with Morgan, just finding him a little odd.

The two properties were separated by a chain link fence between their gardens but by May 2019 there began a concerning sequence of events.

Mr Bradnock said: Mr Morgan began to stare at her either openly, through an open back door or on occasions from behind towels hanging on the washing line.

This culminated in an incident when the victim was in her garden at 9:15pm and saw the defendant staring at her. She went inside to get away but returned to the garden to fetch her dog.

Mr Morgan was holding his door open and then stepped forward staring at her and mouthed the words either f*ck me, lick me or rape me. She cant be 100% sure which but was scared and insulted so went inside and read the police.

The victim then went inside and called the police. The matter was investigated but not taken further due to a lack of evidence.

The victim and her partner then erected a six foot fence between the properties so they couldnt see Morgan and things quietened down for several months.

However, in January 2020 the victim on various occasions saw Morgan in his garden either staring or walking around holding tools such as knives, pliers or hammers.

Mr Bradnock added: On January 30 the victim was walking to the shop with her youngest son. This took her past Mr Morgans front window and as she approached his net curtains moved back. He put his face to the window and seemed to be screaming and frothing at the mouth, deranged.

On the following day she and her partner left their house and the defendant was stood on his front doorstep staring.

She dropped her partner to work and returned and got out the car with her two-year-old son.

She noticed Mr Morgan in his doorway, wearing goggles. When he saw she noticed him he exposed his erect penis and masturbated whilst staring straight at her.

That evening the victim again noticed Morgan staring at her through a gap in the fence, this time wearing a Star Wars or Halloween mask.

When police attended Morgans property they found a baseball bat, a hammer, knives, a number of masks, goggles and a balaclava.

A victim impact statement summarised to the court described how the victim felt violated, anxious and that Morgans behaviour made her skin crawl. She has since had to move house.

In mitigation, the court was told that Morgan, who has previous for sexual offending, is a paranoid schizophrenic who poses no threat when medicated. His offending was attributed to his decline in mental health.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Linford said: The victim in this case was terrified in her own home and scared to leave in case she encountered you.

Your behaviour caused her extreme anxiety. She was terrified to the extent that she had to leave.

This was an extremely serious pattern of offending over a period of time.

You suffer from paranoid schizophrenia and when you take medication are able to operate in a reasonable way in the community. The most appropriate way to deal with you is by a hospital order.

Morgan will now be transferred from prison to hospital to be treated.

A 25-year restraining order protecting the victim and her partner was also put in place.

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A "callous" and "self-entitled" sexual predator who raped two teenagers was jailed for 18 years today (January 15) at Luton Crown Court.

Barry Brice, 24, of no fixed address was found unanimously guilty by a jury of three women and nine men of four counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and two counts of false imprisonment.

He was also served with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and an indefinite restraining order not to contact his victims.

The predator used a fake Facebook profile of a 17-year-old boy to chat and arrange to meet young girls.

On October 28, 2019, he arranged to meet a 16-year-old girl and they spent the day together before he drove her to a field.

Price then raped the victim in his car, after making her put her mobile phone into ‘airplane mode’.

Price then drove the victim to a property in Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire, where he continued his predatory attack and subjected her to a further rape and sexual assault.

He then took her to a nearby railway station, callously telling her “good luck getting home”.

On 7 November, 2019, Price met a 15-year-old girl, who again believed he was the 17-year-old boy she had chatted to on Facebook. He took her to the same property in Gamlingay, where he also put her phone on ‘airplane mode’ and subjected her to a sexual assault and rape.

When she tried to leave, he threatened her and destroyed her mobile phone.

Recorder James Wood QC described Price as callous and of showing no remorse or empathy. Mr Wood added that he had no doubt Price planned the rapes, showing a self-entitlement to sexually abuse his victims.

Praising the two young girls for their courage in coming forward, he told Price: “The memory of what you did to them will live with them forever.”

Detective Sergeant Clare Gilbert, of Bedfordshire Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team, who led this investigation, said: “I am satisfied to see that Price will now be incarcerated for such a significant time after committing these heinous sexual offences, by deliberately hiding his true identity on social media for the purpose of gaining access to young girls.

"The fact that Price has been jailed for this length of time reflects the severity of his offending and the trauma and anguish he inflicted on his victims.

"Seeing this length of sentence handed down drives us to do the work we do, and will continue to do, every single day to protect the public."

She added: “It wasn’t easy for the girls to report what he did to them, and I want to thank them again for their strength in coming forward, which has been truly inspirational. Hopefully seeing Price locked up will allow them to begin their journeys to recovery.

“Anyone who commits rape or sexual offences must expect to face the considerable consequences of their actions."

Detective Inspector Michelle Lack added: “Our specially trained officers work closely with highly skilled, specialist and empathetic partners to ensure anyone who has experienced rape or sexual assault can get the right help they need.

“If something has happened to you, please let us know. We will believe you and we will do all we can to support you, and investigate so that perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Victims of rape and sexual assault can receive support and guidance from Bedfordshire Police and its partner agencies, including the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), as well as support through the criminal investigation process.

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Muhib Uddin attacked and raped a 19-year-old woman in an alleyway off of Clarendon Road in Southsea at around 10pm on Saturday, August 29, 2020. The victim did not know her attacker.

The 31-year-old, of Newcomen Road, was jailed for six years at Portsmouth Crown Court on Wednesday (January 13) after pleading guilty to rape when he appeared at the same court in November.

In a statement, senior investigating officer, detective inspector Emma Crute commended the victim for her bravery in coming forward and reporting what had happened.

She said: "We are pleased that the victim has found justice now that Uddin is behind bars.

"I hope the outcome of this case reassures members of the public that we take allegations of this type of offence extremely seriously, and will do everything in our power to bring offenders before the courts.

"This has understandably been a traumatic time for the victim who has been supported by specialist officers at every stage of our investigation. I would like to commend her for her bravery and courage in coming forward and reporting what happened. I hope that today's sentence will give her some closure and help her to begin moving forward in her life."

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Portsmouth chief inspector Robert Mitchell, of Hampshire Constabulary, added: "The officers involved in this case have worked extremely hard to bring the investigation to the point we have reached today. I would like to thank them for their dedication to securing this outcome for the victim.

"Stranger assaults of this nature are rare, and I hope the community feels reassured that when we receive these sorts of allegations, we will take them seriously and do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.

"We work very hard in Portsmouth to tackle sexual offences in partnership with organisations that support survivors. We want you to have the confidence to come forward and talk to us if something has happened to you, or somebody you know."

Police have encouraged anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101, and speak with an officer in confidence.

We encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to contact us on 101 and speak with an officer in confidence. To find out more about the support available to victims of sexual offences, follow the link here.

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A paedophile has been caught for a third time with indecent images, a court has heard.

When police searched his house they also found a "doll-sized sex doll" which the defendant said he used while watching pornography.

David Richard Mansel William Lee Smith was handed a suspended sentence on his last court appearance but sending him down for his new offending a judge said there was "no prospect" of rehabilitation in his case.

Swansea Crown Court heard police went to Smith's home in Port Talbot in October last year home following information received from a so-called paedophile hunter group.

Dean Pulling, prosecuting, said the defendant was arrested on allegations of child grooming and was told to hand over his internet-enabled devices. He gave officers a phone, laptop, and PlayStation games console.

A subsequent search of the property showed the 26-year-old was using a bedroom for the production of cannabis and had installed a growing tent, a drying tent, lamps, filters, and a hydroponic feeding system. Five living plants and another three which had been harvested were recovered. The barrister characterised it as a "relatively small" set-up but one which showed "a degree of knowledge".

The court heard the police also found a "doll-sized sex doll" at the property.

Mr Pulling said the following day an officer returned to the defendant's home to dismantle the cannabis tents and equipment and while he was in the bedroom heard a phone ringing. Following the ringtone he went to the window in the room and found another phone, which Smith had not disclosed, had been put on the far end of the external window sill.

An examination of the phone showed two films of child abuse hidden in a folder. One, more than six minutes long, showed a toddler aged between two and four being raped.

In his subsequent interview Smith said he had learned how to grow cannabis by watching videos online and had spent around 1,000 on the equipment and another 60 on seeds. He said he used the crop to make cannabis cakes which he used to treat his "low mood" and his "lack of focus". The defendant told officers he used the sex doll while watching online pornography.

Smith, of Vivian Park Drive, Sandfields, Port Talbot, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an indecent image and one count of producing cannabis when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.

The court heard that in 2017 he was sentenced to 15 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to complete a rehabilitation course after police twice found indecent images on his phone once in 2016 and then again in 2017 while being investigated for the first matter. Officers also found he had taken part in Skype video chats with other people where they had discussed the sexual abuse of children.

Robert Chudleigh, for Smith, said the defendant accepted a custodial sentence was inevitable and said the mitigation he was putting before the court would go only to length. He said the defendant had ongoing issues with anxiety and depression and "does not do much socially" but wants to rehabilitate himself and to "better himself".

Judge Paul Thomas QC said it was concerning that Smith had now been found in possession of indecent material on three separate occasions. He said that given the defendant's offending history he had come to conclusion that there was "no prospect of rehabilitation" in his case and that a sentence of immediate custody was necessary.

Giving the defendant credit for his guilty pleas a quarter for the indecent images charges and a third for the cannabis charge the judge sentenced him to a total of nine months in prison. Smith will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

The defendant will be on the sex offenders register for the next 10 years and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order to control his access to the internet for the same length of time.

Sending the defendant down, Judge Thomas warned him: "If you come back before a court again for a similar kind of offending you will be going to prison for a very long time. Do you understand?"

The court heard that though Smith was charged with a grooming offence following the involvement of the paedophile hunter group in October last year the matter was later discontinued.

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Derek Winston Seekings, 66, of Southern Way in Farnborough, retired from the force in 2005 and was charged with the offences in July 2019.

On Wednesday (January 13), Judge Stephen Mooney passed sentence for one count of rape, half of which is to be served behind bars; Seekings can then be released on licence where he will be liable to recall.

Judge Mooney issued the predator with a nine-year prison sentence for the other count of rape, which will run concurrently to the first. Seekings will also be on the sex offenders register for life.

Both attacks took place between 1994 and 2000 in Surrey against a woman who cannot be named for legal reasons.

One of the attacks took place during the officer's meal break while he was on duty, with the other taking place off duty. He was found guilty of his crimes on Friday (January 8) following a four-day trial.

Surrey Police has revealed that Seekings, who retired as a sergeant after 32 years' service, was originally charged with seven offences of rape but his indictment was subsequently amended to two counts.

Speaking at Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Jennifer Gray read aloud a statement from the victim. The court heard how Seekings' not guilty plea caused her "panic attacks" and "many dark moments".

Reading the statement on behalf of the victim, Ms Gray said: "Every contact regarding the trial heightened my anxiety. At times I thought I was suffering a cardiac event and thought I would not be able to continue."

Court had previously heard Ms Gray explain how Seekings committed one of the offences while on duty. She said: "She made it very clear to him she didn't want to have sex with him, he carried on regardless and he raped her."

Following this, Seekings returned to work. The jury was also told the disgraced ex-sergeant was suspended from duty for a number of months and demoted to PC in the late 1990s following a car accident which led to a driving conviction.

Passing sentence, Judge Mooney said he would be treating the defendant's role in the police force as an aggravating factor and said his actions were a breach of the public's trust in him.

In his final remarks, Judge Mooney also noted the victim has suffered "severe psychological harm" as a result of the attacks.

Seekings was still in the dock when the sentence was delivered, before he was led down to the cells below.

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A "predatory" child sex offender who abused a victim for more than six years has finally been brought to justice and jailed.

Raymond Hollis, 79, was sentenced on Tuesday (January 12) to 16 years behind bars after he pleaded guilty to 12 counts of historical child sex offences dating back to the 1970s.

Guildford Crown Court has confirmed the offences took place in Surrey, Hampshire and London.

The victim, from Westbury in Wiltshire, was abused between the ages of five to 11 and kept it to themselves for 45 years before finding the strength to contact the police in 2019.

Hollis was tracked down and arrested on April 8, 2019. Following an investigation, he was charged on Christmas Eve of 2019 with six counts of indecent assault on a child under 13, and six counts of gross indecency with a child under 13 between 1973 and 1979.

He pleaded guilty to 11 of the 12 counts on November 30 last year, having already pleaded guilty to the other count at an earlier hearing.

Investigating officer detective constable Mike Powell, from the Sexual Offences Investigation Team, said: "The victim has shown remarkable courage and bravery in coming forward and reporting this offence to police.

"As a result of their actions, a dangerous and predatory sexual offender will be prevented from committing further similar crimes against others.

"This conviction sends a clear message to anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual abuse that we will do all we can to investigate each case fully and seek to prosecute those responsible.

"Likewise I hope that this sentence sends a clear message to the perpetrators of these offences that no matter how much time has passed, serious sexual assaults will not be tolerated by Surrey Police and we will do everything within our power to hold them accountable for their actions and bring them to justice."

Commenting after the sentencing, an NSPCC spokesperson said: "Thanks to the bravery shown by this survivor of child sexual abuse, Hollis is now facing justice for his terrible actions.

"We want those who have endured these offences to know they will be listened to when they speak out, regardless of how many years have passed since their ordeals took place, or who the abuser is.

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THE driver of the bin lorry which crushed and killed a Worcester pensioner in the Shambles was jailed for raping a child in a disturbing case heard a year ago.

Nathan Beauchamp, then aged 41, was jailed for 12 years in January last year in a case which shocked readers in Worcester. The paedophile was found guilty of raping the boy three times between January 21, 2018 and January 20, 2019.

He was also found guilty of having sexual activity with a second boy aged nine and 10 between the same dates.

However, he was acquitted of a further charge of raping a child under 13 in a hot tub. Beauchamp, of Elsdon, Kempsey, near Worcester, was the driver of the lorry which killed Sylvia Russell, aged 69, in September 2014. He was cleared of causing her death by careless or inconsiderate driving in 2016.

Beauchamp had denied all the sexual offences, which allegedly took place in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, but a jury found him guilty of four of them after a four-day trial at Gloucester Crown Court.

Prosecutor Anna Midgley told the jury that Beauchamp occasionally took care of the boys after school and his role "developed from being a child minder to being a mentor.

The boys liked being looked after by Beauchamp as he had a hot tub in the back garden.

But over time it is alleged that he took the elder boy into the bedroom and raped him.

The 12-year-old later told the police that it occasionally happened in the bathroom and once in the hot tub.

And on another occasion in the hot tub he is alleged to have sexually assaulted a younger boy aged between nine and ten.

The court heard that the authorities became involved when the older boy got upset at school in June this year and told a teacher that he had been raped by Beauchamp.

The teacher immediately informed the relevant bodies and Beauchamp was arrested. The prosecutor added that the abuse has had a psychological effect on the older boy and there are signs he is becoming sexually deviant.

Sophie Murray, defending, said that prior to offences Beauchamp had a happy family life.

Judge Michael Cullum said to Beauchamp: You have been convicted of some of the most serious offences it is possible to commit - the rape of a young child.

The lad was clearly fond of you and your wife by the way he enjoyed coming to your house and being around your family.

You were entrusted with a degree of responsibility of parenting by being something of a father figure to him, until you abused him.

You are openly bi-sexual and looked at pornographic sites and concentrated on looking for young males. However, you did not look for images of children.

You created the scenario to act out your fantasies when no one else was around and rape him. As weve heard you did this repeatedly.

You repeatedly took the older boy into the bedroom for punishment and subjected him to anal sex.

You took the opportunity to build on the trust between you to groom this boy, even though you may not have gone looking for it.

There is no real evidence of physical harm to the older boy, but a 12-year-old who has been raped and having to go through the humiliating process of telling his school, his mother, grandmother, the police, a jury and a judge, he is bound to suffer psychological harm.

Luckily he was brave enough to tell all those people and there is a question of your abuse having altered his sexual compass.

This is why the sentence is very harsh.

Judge Cullum jailed Beauchamp for 12 years and made him subject to an extended sentence by ordering an additional year on parole licence after his release.

The judge ordered that he sign the sex offenders register for life and imposed a sexual harm prevention order, also for life.

Beauchamp was found not guilty of causing the death of Mrs Russell at Hereford Crown Court after a five day trial.

He was living in Churchill Grove, Tewkesbury, at the time and was driving a Smiths Waste Management refuse truck.

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An Akela at a scout group was rumbled for sexual assault - after a child in the group put their hand down their mum's trousers.

When the mum asked her child not to do it they asked: "Why, that's what Akela does to me?"

It transpired Stephen Boulton, a respected member of the Scouting Association for decades, had been advised about inappropriate touching.

But, after that, on two occasions he put his hand down the trousers of two children and touched their bare backsides.

Boulton, 72, of Brislington, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault of a child aged under-13.

Judge Euan Ambrose jailed him for 28 months.

He told Boulton: "You had previously been warned about your behaviour regarding a different child. Your actions had a significant impact on each child. Only immediate imprisonment constitutes appropriate punishment."

Boulton was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop his re-offending.

He was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Anjali Gohil, prosecuting via video link, told Bristol Crown Court the first complainant disclosed what Boulton had done and their parents contacted police.

Boulton was arrested, interviewed and initially denied wrongdoing.

Police then discovered Boulton received "words of advice" from the Scouts' safeguarding team after a previous incident, but did not face charges.

And it emerged another youngster disclosed Boulton put his hand down their trousers, touched their bottom and said: "You like that, don't you?"

When Boulton was interviewed again he made a prepared statement in which he denied any sexual intent.

The father of the first complainant made a statement in which he said the abuse had impacted on the child and their family, and Boulton had breached their trust.

But he ended his statement by saying: "We are incredibly proud of our wonderful, brave [child]."

The mother of the second complainant stated: "I feel disturbed, upset and sickened.

"It feels horrible someone has abused [my child].

"I actually want to attack the man; I wouldn't do this."

The mum said she regretted that did not have the strength to go to police before they came to her.

The complainant wrote a note in which they said: "I hope to get justice so I can forget about it.

"I don't want more children to go through what I have."

Emma Martin, defending, said her client acknowledged the hurt of his wrongful actions and was remorseful.

She said: "If he could turn the clock back and undo the hurt he would do in an instant."

She added that Boulton was involved in the Scouting Association for very many decades and very many people spoke highly of him.

A Scouting Association spokesman said: "The safety of all our members is our number one priority. It is at the heart of our decision-making.

"We carry out stringent vetting of all adults who work with young people and work together with statutory agencies to share relevant information to ensure the safeguarding of young people.

"Bolton was suspended from Scouting as soon as we were aware of the allegations made against him and we cooperated fully with the police during their investigations.

"We are aware of a concern raised about Bolton's behaviour prior to this case.

"We reported these concerns to the relevant authorities when they occurred.

"Following the advice of the statutory authorities we investigated these concerns and required Boulton undergo further safeguarding training.

"Bolton's betrayed the trust put in him by young people and parents and there is no place for him in the Scout Movement.

"It is right that Boulton has been sentenced for his crimes.

"Boulton was permanently excluded from Scouting and will never volunteer with us again. We will learn from this experience and redouble our efforts to keep young people safe."

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A MAN who held a fake gun to a woman’s head and raped her during a massage appointment in Christchurch has been jailed for 18 years.

Neil Glover (47) attacked the victim – a woman in her 50s who cannot be named for legal reasons – while she gave him a massage, Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

The defendant, of no fixed abode, contacted the woman and had a massage from her on 10th February last year, during which he forcibly touched her inappropriately. She stopped Glover and he immediately apologised.

After Glover made further apologies he was given another massage appointment two days later. But when the victim had her back to him, Glover pulled out what she believed to be a gun and held it to her head. He forced her to perform a sex act on him and raped her, the court was told.

The victim reported the matter to police the following day and Glover was arrested at an address in Bournemouth. During a search of the premises officers found five imitation firearms, including a replica pistol which matched the description given by the victim.

When interviewed by officers Glover claimed the sexual activity had been consensual but made no comment to questions around the use of the firearm.

He subsequently denied four charges: two of rape, having a firearm with intent to commit an offence and assault by penetration. The jury found him guilty after a trial.

Glover will be subject to an extended licence period of a further seven years and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

DC Tom Bancroft, of Bournemouth CID, said: “She [the victim] suffered a horrific ordeal at the hands of this defendant that he then compounded by continuing to deny his offending and taking the matter to trial.

“I would like to praise the victim for the strength she has shown throughout – from coming forward initially, through to supporting the investigation and giving evidence for the trial.

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The 51-year-old, formerly of Netherhall, Leicester, was this week found guilty by a jury of three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Leicestershire Police has today released a photograph of the paedophile.

The abuse came to light when the child was having a conversation with her mother, who reported it to the police.

McLeavey denied the offences, but the jury convicted him unanimously.

He was jailed for eight years at Leicester Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday June 8).

The judge placed McLeavey on the sex offenders register for life, and made him the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

A 10-year restraining order also prohibits him from having any contact with the prosecution witnesses who gave evidence, including the victim.

After the case, Detective Sergeant Lisa Wood said: "McLeavey thought he could get away with this horrendous offending on a vulnerable young girl.

"But thanks to the bravery of the victim and the report being made to police, we were able to carry out a full investigation leading to McLeavey being brought to court, convicted and receiving a significant sentence.

"For the victim and her family this will never go away, but I hope that this conviction does help in some small way as they continue to move forward in their lives."

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A schoolgirl believed she would die when she was dragged into woodlands and sexually assaulted in an "unimaginable" ordeal.

Dean Lockley, 30, targeted the teenager as she walked home from school along the Loop Line in Aintree, near Orrell Park, at around 4pm.

The dad-of-one tied and gagged his victim - using her school uniform - stripped her naked and molested her, then had the audacity to claim he was "sorry".

The cowardly beast today said he was too ashamed to attend his sentencing, because he didn't want to listen to his horrific crimes laid bare.

He was meant to face justice yesterday but refused to leave his cell, after he was ordered to be produced at Liverpool Crown Court.

That meant his victim - in court with her mum - had to wait until today, when Lockley insisted on being sentenced in his absence.

Nicola Daley, defending, said: "He was too ashamed to listen to what he had done again."

Addressing him in his absence, Judge David Aubrey, QC, said: "You subjected a girl to the most unimaginable and terrifying ordeal.

"You gagged her with her own socks, you put her own shorts around her mouth, you tied both her hands with her bobble behind her back. She thought she might die: this girl, alone, frightened, scared...

"What was she thinking at the time? I quote her own words. 'I was thinking I'm going to die. I was just accepting the fact I was going to die'."

Gareth Roberts, prosecuting, said Lockley was from the Aintree area, where his victim was walking home along the abandoned railway track, close to Helsby Road, on September 21 last year.

She was with friends, but they separated and she continued on her own, before putting AirPods in her ears, to talk to pals and listen to music, because she was "scared".

The court heard this was because she wondered whether the previous week she had been followed, which she had discussed with friends at the time, although she couldn't be sure whether that was by Lockley.

Mr Roberts said as the child approached a bridge, during "a particularly lonely" stretch of the track, she became aware of a man behind her.

Lockley grabbed her, put a hand over her mouth and another around her neck, then pulled her by the hair into bushes near swampland and a disused brickworks.

Her belongings fell out of her school bag, she cut herself on branches and her shoes came off, before he pinned her down on a pillow in the clearing and shoved one of her socks in her mouth.

Mr Roberts said: "He told her that if she screamed he would kill her. He then threw her school bag into some bushes."

The court heard he sexually assaulted the girl, then told her to perform a sex act on him, and when she didn't understand what he meant, forced her to do it.

Mr Roberts said: "He then stopped, told her to get dressed and said he was sorry and that he wasn't usually like that. She, being a terrified teenage girl, told him that it was 'okay'.

"He told her if she screamed or told anyone he would kill her."

Lockley told her to wait for 20 minutes, then ran off.

The girl got dressed and ran home, but her mum and dad were at work, so she went to a neighbour's house and disclosed what happened.

Police were called and the girl was examined by doctors, who found numerous abrasions and other injuries, along with Lockley's DNA on her neck and underwear. His DNA was also recovered from the scene.

When arrested and interviewed, he denied responsibility, but accepted being in the area and claimed he previously had sex in that spot with women.

However, the girl picked him out in an identity parade and Lockley, of no fixed address, admitted false imprisonment, sexual assault and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The girl is now scared to go out on her own or walk home from school and suffers from anxiety and panic attacks.

She said: "I sometimes wake up panicking, wondering if I'm going to be grabbed, then realise I'm safe at home."

The girl added: "He saw the school uniform. I'm scared he might come to school looking for me."

Lockley has no previous convictions for sexual offences, but a record including robberies and assault.

Ms Daley said he suffered from schizophrenia, but had not been taking antipsychotic medication.

She said this was "because he was not dealing with the adoption of his daughter and the breakdown of a previous relationship well".

Ms Daley said: "He considered at that stage to potentially take his own life."

She said her client, who been living in a nearby hostel but also sleeping in the park, claimed not to remember the attack.

Ms Daley added that he had an unstable upbringing, in an "abusive family", when he was abused.

Judge Aubrey said Lockley was "lurking in the area" before he "pounced" on his victim and dragged her to the secluded spot, where he told her to lie on a pillow.

He said: "I'm satisfied that you had planned this grave act."

The judge said after the attack, Lockley asked whether the girl was okay and told her he was sorry.

He said: "Those in my judgement were hollow words."

Judge Aubrey said the victim statement showed the girl's "fortitude" and "courage".

He said: "It can be described as an understatement because I have no doubt that your victim is trying to be brave and trying to repress that which occurred. I have no doubt that it will live with her for the rest of her life."

The judge said despite Lockley's mental health issues, he didn't accept that he couldn't recall what he did.

He said: "You seek to hide behind the mask, behind the enormity of that which you did."

Judge Aubrey said Lockley was a "dangerous" offender and jailed him for 12 years, with an extended five years on licence.

This means he will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term - eight years - behind bars.

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

Lockley must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A CONVICTED paedophile has been jailed after he kept his sordid past secret from a new partner. In 2010 Bernard Brookes was jailed for six years for having sex with a girl aged under 13 and made subject to a sexual offences prevention order for the rest of his life. He was supervised in the community, but Bolton Crown Court heard how he lied to his sex offender manager, claiming he was single. In reality he had started a relationship with a woman who had children and failed to inform her about his background for months. Amanda Johnson, prosecuting, told the court how, under the terms of the sexual offences prevention order, 48-year-old Brookes is banned from approaching or communicating with children and prohibited from allowing children into his home. In March last year, when visited by his offender manager, he said he was single and did not want a relationship. But in September 2020 it came to the attention of social services and then police that the defendant has been conducting a relationship with a woman who had children, said Miss Johnson. The woman told police that she had been involved with Brookes for just over a year but had ended it when she discovered his past. She said she had never been told of that by him during the course of the relationship, said Miss Johnson. The court heard that the woman had occasionally visited Brookes flat with the children and he had visited her home, sometimes staying overnight, but he had never been alone with the youngsters. She said that when she ended the relationship, the defendant said that he hadnt disclosed his past to her because he was ashamed of it, said Miss Johnson. She has described feeling betrayed and deceived by him. Brookes claimed he had very little to do with, or interest in, the children but police found a calendar in his flat where he has circled the school holidays and the childrens birthdays. When arrested, Brookes lied and claimed he had not been in a relationship with the woman and had only visited her when the children were not there. Brookes, of Rishton Lane, Bolton, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his sexual offences prevention order but Kate Roxburgh, defending, stressed: There is no suggestion that these breaches were, in any way, a precursor to a sexual offence on children. Jailing him for 12 months Judge Graeme Smith told Brookes, who is categorised as posing a high risk of harm to children, that he had had contact with children when he should not have had. And he added that the offending was made worse because their mother was unaware of his previous convictions and the ban on being with children. You can understand why she feels upset, betrayed and deceived as a result, said Judge Smith. You tried to hide the relationship from your offender manager. The judge added that breaching the order had been persistent as it had occurred over a long period of time. However, it was not one which involved any actual harm or any threat of harm to the children concerned, he said.

Description

Sex offender who is banned from all multi-storey car parks jailed for breaching court order A sex offender who is banned from going into any multi-storey car park has been jailed after being seen entering one with a can of petrol, a court has heard. Jonathan Michael Jones has a lifelong ban from entering any covered car park after sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy who was waiting for his mum in one. When a witness who knew the defendant saw him walking into a Swansea city centre multi-storey he called the police saying he thought Jones was going to sniff the petrol he was carrying in a container. Swansea Crown Court heard that in 2005 Jones was jailed for 42 months and made the subject of an indefinite sexual offences protection order after he abused a young boy. Helen Randall, prosecuting, said on that occasion the defendant had approached a 12-year-old boy who was waiting for his mother in a multi-storey car park and pushed him into a lift where he put his hands down the youngster's trousers and kissed him. As well as being sent to prison Jones was made the subject of a sexual offences protection order with a number of conditions including one prohibiting him entering any covered car park and one banning him from seeking contact with or associating with males under the age of 18. The court heard Jones came to the attention of police in May 2019 following allegations he had sexually assaulted a teenager. No action was ultimately taken but Jones admitted he had been in the company of a 17-year-old boy and a number of other men at his home address on the day in question and they had all been drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis. The 36-year-old came to the attention of police in Swansea again on November 24 of the same year when a man who knew him saw him entering the multi-storey car park that links The Strand and High Street railway station while carrying a can of petrol. The witness believing Jones had gone to sniff the petrol called 999. When arrested Jones told officers he used the car park as a shortcut to get to his nephew's house. Jones, of Woodford Road, Blaenymaes, Swansea, admitted two counts of breaching a sexual offences protection order. The court heard he has 14 previous convictions for 26 offences including the sexual assault on the 12-year-old boy. David Singh, for Jones, said the defendant claimed he was taking the can of petrol to his brother whose car had run out of fuel. He added that his client had been diagnosed with mild learning difficulties. Judge Paul Thomas QC described the breaches of the order as "flagrant" and said Jones had done things he knew he was not allowed to do. Giving the defendant credit for his guilty pleas the judge sentenced him to a total of 12 months in prison comprising 10 months for the contact with the teenager and two months for entering the car park. The defendant will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

Description

A pervert hacked into nearly 600 Snapchat accounts to force women and girls into sending him "intimate images" by threatening to expose existing photos to their friends and family.

Akash Sondhi, 27, targeted 573 girls and women aged between 16 and 25 between 2015 and 2020.

His victims were from from across the UK, including seven on Merseyside, as well as other countries including Australia, Hong Kong, and Romania.

After hacking into their accounts, Sondhi threatened to expose existing images to his victim's friends and family he found in their contacts list unless they sent him more "intimate photos".

His address in Hedingham Road, Chafford Hundred was raided by officers from Essex Police's Cyber Crime Unit on March 19 last year after several victims reported him.

A number of his victims have since been identified but others have still not been traced.

Sondhi admitted a total of 65 offences at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday, January 5 including hacking, blackmail, and voyeurism.

Sondhi was sentenced to 11 years in prison, a five year Serious Crime Prevention Order, and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Detective Sergeant Ian Collins, from the Essex Police Cyber Crime Unit said: This is an excellent result for the 573 victims in this case and the Essex Cyber Team.

The sentence Akash Sondhi has received today reflects how much distress he caused to his victims.

He targeted with no remorse purporting to be a friend on social media after hacking accounts, then once he got access to their intimate pictures he would attempt to blackmail them around disclosure of the images to friends and family demanding more images and videos of his own choice putting the victims through an ordeal causing extreme distress and embarrassment.

Since his remand and now this sentence we have manged to stop this vile offender form targeting more victims.

This is a wakeup call for anyone committing this type of crime we will catch you and bring you to justice, and you can go to prison for the distress caused to the victims.

I urge anyone using social media not to store intimate images of themselves to secure and protect your data and make sure you dont become a victim.

Dont share passwords even if you think its a trusted friend that asks you for them it might not be, its chat in a text

DS Collins added: We have received assistance from forces across the country in supporting victims and gathering information and I want to say particular thank you to Avon and Somerset Police, West Mercia Police, North Yorkshire Police, Merseyside Police and Police Scotland.

I also want to pay tribute to the professionalism, dedication, and tenacity of Detective Constable Arran Holmes whose commitment to this case has ensured Sondhi will be behind bars for a significant amount of time and unable to target anyone else.