Latest Offenders

Description

A former winner of the BBC Young Composer of the Year has been convicted of taking images of women from social media and uploading them to pornographic websites.

Alex Woolf, 26, downloaded clothed images of 15 women and added them to Reddit, asking people to paste their faces onto porn actresses' bodies.

He then posted these pictures on adult sites.

Woolf has been given a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.

At Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday, Woolf, of Cox's End in Over, Cambridgeshire, admitted 15 charges of sending messages that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing nature over a public electronic communications network.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said none of the original images were pornographic or indecent and all of the women were acquaintances of Woolf.

Woolf won the prestigious BBC Young Composer of the Year title in 2012.

One of his victims learned of the posts in January when an anonymous email warned her that her picture was on Reddit, the CPS said.

She received another email in March stating her picture was on a pornographic website and that Woolf was behind it.

The victim found other pictures and recognised one of the other women, who helped her track down and notify the others.

'Morally repugnant'

Woolf was ordered to undertake a 40-day rehabilitation programme, to do 40 sessions with a sex offender programme and 180 hours of unpaid work.

He must pay each of his victims £100 in compensation, as well as £85 in court costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

Woolf was ordered to delete all of the victims' images from his devices and was given an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with the women.

Varinder Hayre, district crown prosecutor at the CPS, said: "Woolf's behaviour is severely depraved and reprehensible... and has had a drastic impact on his victims.

"We will always look to prosecute the sexual exploitation of victims and this prosecution is a clear message that this morally repugnant action will not be tolerated."

Description

A hidden camera pervert who filmed people on the toilet at Creamfields was caught after a woman spotted his phone peeping over her cubicle door in a pub.

Andrew Smith also filmed teenage girls getting changed at a theatre as well as up schoolgirls' skirts.

However the 39-year-old of Pickerings Close, Runcorn, was caught after a woman using a pub toilet spotted his hand holding a phone above her and she ran out and kicked in his cubicle door to confront him.

Smith fled but was stopped by door staff and then arrested.

Police uncovered a shocking collection of secretly-filmed videos of adults and young girls stored on Smiths digital devices.

Smith was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, having pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism in relation to his adult victims, and one count each to possessing and making Category C indecent images of children - the latter two counts relating to the same eight covertly-captured clips of girls backstage at Haltons flagship culture venue The Brindley Theatre and upskirt videos of schoolgirls.

Jayne Morris, prosecuting, told how Smith provided a basis of plea in which he admitted obtaining sexual gratification from secretly filming people, mainly adult females and female children, then saving these images and viewing them.

She said Smith was arrested after two female customers in the toilets at The Bank Chambers pub, also known as Chambers, in Runcorn looked up at 4am one night in 2018 and spotted a hand holding a mobile phone over the side of the toilet cubicle, while one of them was using the toilet.

She ran out of the stall and kicked open the neighbouring cubicle door, where she caught Smith - who was stood on the toilet seat with his mobile telephone in his hand.

Smith fled but door staff stopped him and police were called and arrested him.

A search at the scene and his home address resulted in devices including a mini-camera in his wallet which he had with him, a Toshiba camera, a laptop, and a Samsung phone being examined.

This revealed 20 video clips of adults being filmed without their knowledge: 16 of which featured men and women using the toilets at Creamfields - where Smith was working and had set up a covert camera; three from The Bank Chambers; and one from The Brindley theatre.

Officers from Cheshire police also discovered four video clips of teenage girls getting changed backstage at Haltons flagship culture venue The Brindley Theatre, where he had worked his way up in lighting and production and managed to get a roof box on the side of the stage where he could take these images - that is in relation to the children in various states of undress", and four upskirt clips of schoolgirls.

Smith further divulged that he used a camera hidden in a duffle bag that was positioned when he was outside the school so he could film up schoolgirls' skirts.

His younger victims were aged 13 to 16 years.

All of the footage, except the final clip in The Bank Chambers when he was caught in the act, had been recorded covertly via secret cameras and without his victims knowledge.

Smith gave no comment answers during his two initial interviews with the police but made full admissions on February 26 this year

He pleaded guilty to voyeurism and one count each to possessing and making indecent images of children relating to the same eight videos at the first opportunity.

Andrew McInnes, defending, said his client had shown genuine remorse, admitted he had a problem and had sought help via his general practitioner and The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which is a charity that works to divert men from looking at indecent images of children.

He said: The pre-sentence report notes the defendant has taken significant steps to deal with what he knows is a significant issue.

He added Smith had not offended since 2018, and had a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Mr McInnes urged the judge to consider a suspended sentence, arguing Smith had no previous convictions and clearly had a good work ethic, although Miss Morris noted that Smiths sex offender management officer has been caused some concern upon discovered Smith had recently been working at Wetherspoon in Warrington.

She added he no longer works there.

Judge Simon Berkson, presiding, refused Smith bail when the court adjourned for lunch until the afternoon, when he jailed Smith for two years in prison, comprising consecutive sentences of eight and 16 months, to be served immediately.

He said Smith was ashamed of what you have done and show clear remorse but that appropriate punishment can only be achieved by a period of immediate imprisonment.

During his summing-up, Judge Berkson said: Your arrest led to a search.

In your house, police discovered computer equipment and other equipment including a digital camera which was to reveal the terrible secret you had been hiding - you enjoyed taking and watching these videos.

In count one, some were from the Creamfields festival at Daresbury outside Warrington where you had set up a camera in the toilets.

As well as the invasion of privacy of those using these toilets, you were employed at Creamfields and you were in breach of trust.

Nobody knew you were filming in these toilets.

At the end of the festival you took away this equipment and would view whatever you had taken for your own pleasure.

One you have was from the changing room at The Brindley Theatre in Runcorn where you worked in a technical capacity.

You had set up a camera - again a gross breach of privacy, a gross breach of trust.

He added: You filmed teenage girls dressing and undressing at the theatre Ive referred to.

Their parents would drop them off for a (type of) competition or the like.

They assumed they would be safe at a theatre where they would no doubt be sitting in the stalls to watch their children perform.

You had taken secret video, which you took home for your own pleasure.

They werent safe, they were being filmed by you so you could watch them at a later date.

The judge also imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order with Smith to sign the sex offenders register for the same length of time.

A destruction order was made for any devices implicated in the case.

Smith looked to the public gallery with tears in his eyes and smiled to relatives as he was led down to the cells.

Description

A paedophile who considered himself 'untouchable' has finally been jailed more than 50 years after he began preying on young boys.

Terrence Ryan, now 77, sexually assaulted a young boy in the early 1960s and would go on to abuse three more children until the late 2000s.

The pensioner, from Warrington, came to the attention of police after one of his victims bravely came forward to Northumbria Police, sparking an investigation by the forces safeguarding unit.

Ryan, from the Woolston area of the town, was arrested and denied the allegations.

But he later pleaded guilty to 14 counts of historical child sexual abuse, including sexual touching, engaging in sexual activity with a child, inciting sexual activity with a child and oral rape.

Last Friday, Ryan, of Austral Avenue, Warrington, was jailed for 14 years and eight months at Newcastle Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant Andrea Burns said of the case: "This man thought he was untouchable and continued to abuse young boys for more than 50 years.

My heart goes out to the brave victims who have suffered in silence for so long, and I hope the conviction of Ryan gives them all a sense of solace and closure.

This also sends a really strong message that it is never too late to report sexual abuse to police.

Some of these offences were committed in the early 1960s, yet we have still been able to seek justice for the victims.

No-one deserves to suffer the way these victims have so please, if you have been a victim of abuse, speak out.

We are here to help.

Description

A PERVERT who described himself as a nice paedo in messages to young girls, continued attempting to contact children even after he was caught by paedophile hunters. But his second attempt ended in further arrest as the 12-year-old girl he thought he was grooming was really a decoy police officer. Bolton Crown Court heard how, on October 26, 2019 paedophile hunter Kirsti Trott, posing as 13-year-old Missi was contacted by Nathan Kennedy on via the childrens section of the website Chat-Avenue. Kennedy, aged 34, did not hide his intentions, giving himself the user name UK Predator. Rachel White, prosecuting, said: The conversation immediately became sexualised and he asked if she had ever been with an older man. Conversations continued on WhatsApp with him using sexualised language, sending photographs of his private parts, inviting her to meet in a hotel, wanting to know where she lived so he could book a train ticket and even offering to obtain the morning after pill for her. He also acknowledged what he was doing was grooming and that he could go to prison because his activities were unlawful, said Miss White. Missi introduced Kennedy to a fictitious 13-year-old cousin, called Sophie. He asked if he could fool around with all three of them, said Miss White. Kennedy also contacted Sophie via WhatsApp, discussing sex and offering to buy her clothes and shoes. Pretending to be someone called Marcus, Kennedy contacted Missi again. The conversations were mostly short-lived and mostly concentrated on checking that Missi had not told anyone about her chats with Nathan, said Miss White. He asked about Missis mother and asked whether he could drive to her address to have sex with her and her mother. On December 6, 2019, paedophile hunters from the Keep Kids Safe organisation visited Kennedy at his then home in Wythenshawe and confronted him after phoning and making arrangements for the delivery of a fictitious parcel. They filmed the encounter, live streaming it on Facebook.

Description

A SPIRITUAL healer who had a "sincere belief" in his abilities has been jailed for more than two years after inappropriately touching women he claimed he was helping.

Derek Thurlbeck, of The Pastures, High Wycombe, went to the homes of four separate women and touched their genitals over their clothes while carrying out his practices.

Described by a 'master manipulator', he told one woman she was 'cursed' in a bid to convince her to get healed.

A court heard how Thurlbeck, 63, sexually assaulted the four women at their Slough homes over two years between 2017 and 2019.

The High Wycombe man offered spiritual healing to these women free of charge but when he carried out his practice he touched them in ways which were "inappropriate" and "unprofessional", Her Honour Judge Real said.

He used the "rhetoric of spirituality" to justify his actions, the Judge added.

Thurlbeck "did not have an elaborate plan", Judge Real continued, but did "take advantage" of the "vulnerable" women.

Reading Crown Court heard how Thurlbeck approached one woman on the basis that she had a curse, and that "something terrible" would happen to her if she did not receive his healing.

The woman, whose identity we are not revealing, had a statement read out in court by prosecutor Walton Hornsby.

She said: "The incident has affected me emotionally. It has left me with flashbacks.

"I feel he has invaded a space in my own home.

"Since the incident I have lost trust in anyone I don't know, I have stopped going out and I want it all to end soon so I can get on with my life.

"If I see a small car like the one he used to drive I get scared he has returned.

"This went on for two whole years and I'm still living with the consequences of this.

"He is very dangerous; he is very clever and a master manipulator."

Edward Butler, defending, said: "This is not a case where the defendant was entirely motivated by a sexual appetite.

"This was somebody who had a genuine and sincere belief in his ability and his calling to try to help people.

"It is something he has lived with his entire life. There were momentary lapses during his dealings in which he succumbed to temptation.

"For the most part, the defendant was sincerely motivated towards these defendants.

"All of this can not be explained away by some great charade."

Mr Butler said since his arrest in March 2019, the defendant had undertaken "two-and-a-half years of abstinence" as he had not provided healings to anyone else.

Sentencing, Judge Real told Thurlbeck: "They [the women] would not have agreed to your sessions if they knew there was a sexual motivation behind it.

"All of this gives me cause for concern for your future risk.

"You don't seem to have very much insight into the problematic nature of what you did."

Judge Real sentenced Thurlbeck to two years and six months in prison after he was convicted of five counts of sexual assault by a jury following a week-long trial earlier this year.

He will serve half of this before being released on licence.

The 63-year-old was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Thurlbeck was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday, August 16.

Description

A SCOTS Scoutmaster who had a secret 10-month sexual relationship with a schoolgirl has avoided a jail sentence.

Paedophile Lewis Ala Findlay, who led a troop in the Scouts, was 23 years old at the time and his victim was just 15.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that the girl, who had known Findlay since she was 12, had initially thought his interest in her was "one of support".

But in November, 2018, at his home in Bo'ness, West Lothian, while his girlfriend was abroad and his mother was also away leaving them alone in the house together, the Scout leader made advances as they sat on his bed watching a film - telling her "just let it happen".

Prosecutor Alex Kirk said the girl was hesitant and uncomfortable, but agreed to sex "as she didn't want it to be awkward".

The following month he had full sex with her again, this time in his car parked in a layby, and the situation developed to the point where the girl thought they were "seeing each other".

The court heard they had sex "a couple of times a month" in Findlay's car parked in laybys on back roads in Stirlingshire and West Lothian.

In early 2019 the girl confided in another adult about what had been going on, and he encouraged her to report the matter.

After she refused, he reported the matter himself and Findlay was afterwards suspended by the Scouting Association.

However the girl denied everything when interviewed by police and social workers.

After a break of a couple of weeks the incidents resumed, but around the end of August Findlay started buying the girl lingerie and sending her pictures of it.

The court heard that on one occasion she dressed up in lingerie, which she had not wanted to do but when she said "no" Findlay asked her repeatedly and she eventually agreed.

Mrs Kirk said: "This incident made her realise how much older the accused was."

She ended the relationship and blocked Findlay on Snapchat, but he continued to contact her using texts and Facebook Messenger, which "alarmed" her.

One "lengthy" message concluded with "a list of 50 things he stated he loved about her".

Mrs Kirk said that by then the girl was "stressed and didn't know what to do".

In November 2019, scout leaders were "made aware" of the messaging and concluded that a sexual relationship was going on.

Police were again called in, and in February last year Findlay was charged.

Now 24, Amazon worker Findlay, of Bo'ness, pleaded guilty to stalking the girl and having unlawful sexual intercourse.

Advocate Niall McCluskey, defending, said Findlay had "craved" the girl.

He said: "He describes how he fell for the complainer, and he accepts he should not have acted on his attraction to her."

"He fully acknowledges that as the adult he ought to have know better, and regrets that he didn't act appropriately when he realised he was developing cravings for her."

He said Findlay was due to become a father in October, following "a longstanding relationship with his partner".

He produced a reference from a youth leader, stating that since 2015 Findlay "had begun volunteering on major national projects" and was "steadfast and true".

Mr McCluskey said: "I understand he was involved in a project called Heart and Soul, which involved the National Youth Assembly, linked to the Church of Scotland."

Sheriff Simon Collins QC sentenced Findlay to 300 hours of unpaid work, placed him under social work supervision and on the sex offenders' register for three years, ordered him to take part in the Scottish Government's "Moving Forward, Making Changes" programme for sex offenders if directed, and banned him from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16.

He said the offences had been "an abuse" of Findlay's "position of relative seniority" in the Scout Association.

Sheriff Collins said: "Although unlawful because of your respective ages it is not suggested the complainer did not consent to the sexual activity. I have seriously considered whether the public interest requires that you be given a prison sentence."

"With some hesitation, I am satisfied that it does not, and that there is a proper community-based alternative."

Findlay, who had arrived at court with a bag packed for jail, refused to comment to a reporter as he walked free from the building.

A spokesman for the Scouts said: "The Scout Association is aware of recent court proceedings involving Lewis Findlay

"The Scout Safeguarding Team worked in conjunction with statutory agencies to share relevant information and Findlay was suspended from his role with the Movement in December 2019 when concerns about his behaviour came to light.

"We can confirm that he will never volunteer with us again.

"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 and other parties to share relevant information to ensure the safeguarding of young people in Scouting.

"We require everyone at Scouts to work to a strict code outlined in the 'Young People First' Code of Practice."

Description

A PORT paedophile who inflicted horrific sexual abuse on a 12-year-old girl has been hammered with the maximum prison sentence open to a sheriff despite social workers wanting him kept in the community. Edward Tily, 61, has been locked up for five years and placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely by lawman Andrew McIntyre, who branded his repeated crimes against the vulnerable victim as 'abhorrent'.

Description

A doctor who was caught by so-called paedophile hunters posing as a 14-year-old boy has been erased from the medical register. Joshua Peake discussed sexual matters with the fictitious boy after meeting him online, and sent photos and videos. The group then tracked down the doctor, who worked for a hospital in Derby. When police searched his house they found indecent images of children on his laptops, along with images of people performing sex acts on animals. A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) panel has now determined that his fitness to practise is impaired because of his convictions. "The tribunal is mindful that doctors occupy a position of privilege and trust," the determination of impairment said. "The tribunal considered that a finding of impairment is required in this case on grounds of public protection, to promote and maintain confidence in the medical profession and to promote and to maintain proper professional standards and conduct for members of the profession." Peake, who is 32, qualified as a doctor in 2014 at the University of Nottingham and worked at the Royal Derby Hospital. The General Medical Council (GMC) said he was on their specialist register for trauma and orthopaedics. He was caught by an activist group called TFN UK, which located him, detained him on 15 September 2019 and then called police. Peake was arrested and later admitted possessing indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornographic images, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity. He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 9 September 2020, where he was given a three-year community order including 80 hours of unpaid work. A five-year sexual harm prevention order was also made. An MPTS hearing was then held on 11 August, in which the GMC submitted that his fitness to practise was impaired. Peake was absent from the hearing. David Birrell, on behalf of the GMC, submitted that his behaviour could not be regarded as an "isolated" incident because there were 13 indecent images of children and another 26 extreme pornographic images depicting sexual activity with animals. He also reminded the tribunal that Peake's conversations with "Luke", the fictitious 14-year-old boy, went on for about a month.

Description

A sexual predator begged for forgiveness after his victim told him: "You are a danger to society and deserve to be in cells."

Paul Dutton, 61, sexually abused a teenage boy, leaving the vulnerable child "a broken person" with anxiety and depression.

He hung his head in shame when faced by the brave victim in court, sitting with his devastated mum in the area normally reserved for a jury.

After crying his way through the boy's heartbreaking victim statement, the pervert had the gall to say he was "sorry" as he was sent down.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Dutton, of Cotswold Grove, St Helens, befriended the boy by offering him advice and support.

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, said one day they talked about masturbation and Dutton told his victim it was normal, before the boy later asked if they could do it together, which Dutton agreed to, after initially saying no.

The court heard they also performed a sex act on each other and afterwards spoke of their regret and said it would never happen again, but it did, after which they again spoke of regretting it.

Mr Scholz said on another occasion Dutton showed the boy a sexual position and they both performed a sex act on each other. On a further occasion Dutton put his penis between the boys buttocks.

The abuse stopped after Dutton suggested they didn't see each other so they would stop thinking about each other.

It only came to light when the boy confided in a young friend about what had happened, who contacted the police.

Mr Scholz said the boy's mum believed Dutton had "destroyed" her son's childhood by "taking advantage of him".

Dutton, gave two no comment interviews to police, but later admitted three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and three counts of sexual activity with a child.

Mr Scholz read out a victim personal statement written by the boy, who told his abuser: "It's such a serious crime what you have done to me."

The boy said his mental health deteriorated and said: "I'm just a broken person. Every day is darkness. I can't express to everyone in this room how I feel. You have destroyed my life."

He said Dutton hadn't had the "guts" to tell anyone what happened, adding: "You are just a coward."

The boy said: "All I can see is darkness. No matter how much therapy I have, it doesn't go away. I'm still in this state of mind."

The victim described how he would sit thinking about "dying" and suffered depression and anxiety.

Dutton cried in the dock as the statement concluded with the boy saying: "I want you to know every day has been grey and dark for me.

"There is not a day that goes by when I don't have messed up thoughts."

He added: "You are a danger to society and deserve to be in cells."

Paul Wood, defending, accepted the abuse amounted to a "course of conduct" but said it was over a "relatively modest period of time".

He said: "There appears to be a measure of it voluntarily stopping between the parties."

Mr Wood said letters and references showed Dutton was of previous "positive good character", with no criminal record, and described as "caring" and "nervous".

He said Dutton had an "isolated life", was "sexually inexperienced" and suffered abuse as a child himself, which had led to self-harm and depression.

Mr Wood said: "He is properly categorised as being a nervous individual who lacks confidence."

The lawyer added that Dutton had found the criminal proceedings so stressful that he had suffered a stroke.

The boy's mum started sobbing as Judge Mark Brown passed sentence.

The judge said there was a "very significant disparity" in age between Dutton and the "somewhat lonely and isolated" boy he befriended.

He said: "You took advantage of that friendship by sexually abusing him."

The judge said after the abuse, the teen spoke of how they both regretted what had happened.

But he told Dutton: "You were regretting what had taken place, but it didn't stop you."

Judge Brown said the victim described how Dutton destroyed his childhood and said: "You took advantage of him. You must have appreciated he was a lonely and somewhat vulnerable individual."

The judge jailed Dutton for three years and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely. He also imposed a 10-year restraining order to protect the victim.

Dutton said "see ya" to a woman sitting in the public gallery, who waved back at him as he was escorted away by a dock officer, then turned to the boy and his family.

He said: "I'm sorry. I know we will never talk... I'm sorry."

Description

Tommaso Rasetti sent sexual messages to a teenage girl using an online application called Kik.

The 42-year-old even told her how he had set up a group called Southampton Cross Dressing.

Rasetti, of Harwood Close, Totton, was actually speaking to a police officer rather than a real teen.

Prosecution barrister, Richard Cherrill, said that when the defendant was arrested and interviewed he initially denied "he had been chatting with a child".

However, when officers examined his electronic devices they found a total of 51 indecent images.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, Rasetti was charged with attempting to communicate with a child under the age of 16 for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, intentionally attempting to cause or incite a girl to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images of a child and distributing indecent images of a child.

He pleaded guilty to the offences which happened in the summer of 2019 at an earlier court hearing.

Defending, Ellie Fargin, stressed her client would benefit from intervention.

She said: "He of course accepts this was a child and it was wrong."

Ms Fargin argued the offences were relatively short-lived and there was turbulence in Rasetti's life at the time.

The court heard that he has since withdrawn from the Nursing and Midwifery Council and found a new job.

His barrister urged the judge to suspend any custodial sentence saying there was a prospect of rehabilitation.

Judge Peter Henry jailed him for six months, suspended for two years.

Rasetti must complete 31 sessions on an accredited sex offender programme, ten rehabilitation activity days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He will have to register as a sex offender for seven years and will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A paedophile booked a hotel room in Derbyshire to meet a seven-year-old girl for sex.

Derby Crown Court heard how Dean O'Neil also bought make-up and clothes as gifts for the youngster after agreeing to pay her father 200 and a Burger King meal to abuse her.

But she was really an undercover police officer posing as her dad.

And when the officer went to the defendant's address to arrest him two days before the arranged meet, O'Neil tried to flee out of the back door.

But he was caught and the gifts he had bought were found at his home.

Jailing him for three years, Recorder Balraj Bhattia said: "What you did was with some enthusiasm.

"You discussed when, where and how much you would pay to sexually abuse what you thought would be a seven-year-old girl.

"You booked a Travelodge in Swanwick, you discussed exactly what could and could not be done (to her).

"You went on to explain that you were sexually aroused and how much you were looking forward to this particular encounter.

"You purchased a number of items that were gifts.

"This was grooming."

Mark Achurch, prosecuting, said the undercover officer posed as the seven-year-old's father and began communicating with O'Neil over the social media app Kik.

He said in a chat room the pair discussed a price and location where the defendant could sexually abuse the young girl.

Mr Achurch said it was 200 and a Burger King meal for the girl and so O'Neil booked the Travelodge in Swanwick for April 1, this year.

He said: "The defendant told the father he had bought make up, pyjamas and clothing for the daughter and admitted he looked at child porn.

"On March 30 the officer went to his address and the defendant tried to escape out of the back door but was caught.

"A search of the property discovered the items he had bought as gifts for the girl."

O'Neil, of Casson Street, Ironville, pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a girl aged under 13 following sexual grooming.

He has 16 previous convictions for 33 offences but nothing of a similar nature.

His barrister, Gareth Gimson, asked the court if his client could address the court himself and read out an apology letter.

After Recorder Bhattia agreed to the request the defendant, on a link from HMP Nottingham, said: "Can I just say I feel deeply ashamed at myself for writing those disgusting messages.

"It is not like me to act this way, I was brought up better.

"I have brought shame on myself and my family and I will not commit a crime like this ever again."

Mr Gimson said his client, diagnosed as schizophrenic, suffered physically at the hands of his "violent bully" of a father growing up.

He said: "He presents, in some ways, rather childlike and he is mystified at how he ended up doing what he did.

"He said he was on that site and found himself getting deeper and deeper and deeper in that exchange.

"He bought the presents, he booked the hotel and he is mystified as to why he did it."

As well as the prison term, Recorder Bhattia handed O'Neil a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

He will also be on the sex offender register for the rest of his life.

Description

A paedophile who groomed and sent explicit images and texts to someone posing as an underage girl has been sentenced.

Mohammed Younis, from Derby, began messaging who he thought was a 14-year-old girl in March, but he was actually contacting a self-styled paedophile hunter who modified their own profile picture to appear much younger.

Younis was arrested by police after being reported by the social media vigilante, and police proved his identity after comparing his Facebook cover photo - a picture of his HMP Nottingham ID card - with his records.

His barrister said that he clearly needed help.

37-year-old Younis offered to “teach” and “train” the pretend teenager how to become “good at sex” while saying that “it would be OK if nobody knows” and encouraging her not to tell her mother, according to prosecutors.

He also groomed the young girl by offering to buy her jewellery and chocolates.

Mark Achurch, prosecuting, told Derby Crown Court on Wednesday, August 11, how Younis said to the ‘girl’ that he wanted to marry her, have a baby with her and create a pornographic film with her.

The court also heard how the defendant committed the offences while on licence after being released from prison following a previous conviction for unrelated offences.

He is also awaiting trial for exposing himself to a prison officer while in custody in Nottingham.

He was sentenced to four years in prison after earlier pleading guilty to three counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of attempting to cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity.

Recorder Balraj Bhattia said: “You genuinely believed that you were liaising with a girl that you knew was 14 years of age.

“The nature of the conversations that you had with her were explicit and I have no doubt that you believed or intended to carry out these assertions made by you.

“You encouraged her, or incited her, to perform oral sex on you, to have sexual intercourse with you, telling her that although it may be painful to start off with she would get used to it.

“I take the view that this is a serious example of that type of offending.”

Steven Gosnell, defending Younis, admitted that “there is clearly grooming here” and that the defendant “says this part of his life was chaotic to say the least”.

“He does not excuse what he did in any way,” Mr Gosnell said.

“He is clearly someone that wants help, he is clearly someone who needs help.”

Description

A 26-year-old man from Mitcham has been jailed for 20 years for kidnapping and raping a school girl in Colliers Wood last year.

Kadian Nelson had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges, which also included making a threat to kill, at Kingston Crown Court.

Part of Nelson’s sentence related to a separate domestic-related assault which took place on 11 October and for which he was previously convicted.

The kidnapping at rape took place at around 7am on Tuesday, 3 November 2020. The police were called after a member of the public saw Nelson grab the 13-year-old girl in North Place.

He had crept up on her from behind as she walked to school before forcing her into an alleyway in a housing estate, where he then attacked her.

The ordeal was interrupted by a member of the public, who went to check what had happened. Nelson claimed the victim was his sister and tried to walk away with her, but the woman continued to follow and filmed Nelson and the victim on her mobile phone.

Nelson then fled the scene, leaving the victim cloaked in his jacket, which he had draped over her.

When the police arrived Nelson was no longer in the area but a video showing him approaching and grabbing the girl was circulated on social media prompting vigilante groups, who recognised Nelson to search for him at his home address and those of his relatives.

The police issued an appeal for Nelson to hand himself in and a Section 60 Order was authorised as officers appealed for calm and for the public to refrain from trying to take the law into their own hands.

Nelson was arrested at around 8pm the same day after a member of the public saw him in Robinson Road SW17 - just over a mile from where the initial attack took place.

After the incident, Nelson travelled to a hotel in Baker Street, where he had booked a room. He then visited various shops around London before going back to the hotel to drop items off and then returning to the area.

Overwhelming evidence compiled by the South West investigatory team, including forensics, witnesses and CCTV, left Nelson with no choice but to plead guilty.

The family of the victim said, "We would like to thank the members of the public whose actions of outstanding courage and bravery saved our daughter."

Detective Inspector Simon Sherlock said:

"What Nelson did that day was utterly sickening. The young victim was going about her day as usual on her way to school when Nelson approached and subjected her to a terrifying ordeal. His actions were calculated, evil and depraved.

"Thankfully the incident was spotted by a member of the public who called 999, and Nelson was then confronted by another woman who was steadfast and resolute as she followed him. She knew something was wrong and trusted her instinct, going out of her way in going to the victim's aid. I would like to acknowledge the incredible support she gave to the victim, and to our investigation.

"Most importantly, I would like to give my profoundest thanks and praise to the victim who has been incredibly courageous and brave throughout the course of our investigation. We will ensure she and her family continue to receive the support they need following this harrowing incident.”

Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave, from the Met Police, added:

“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the member of the public who intervened and provided support to the victim and our officers during their investigation into this appalling attack.

“Rape and other serious sexual offences are devastating crimes that can have a lasting impact on victims, their families and communities. I would urge anyone who has been a victim to please report it. We will do all we can to investigate so that perpetrators are brought to justice and the victims receive the appropriate support.

“We have specially trained officers who work closely with highly skilled, specialist and emphatic partners to ensure that anyone who has experienced rape, or sexual assault, can have the access they need.”

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A man who was caught on camera sexually assaulting a patient at a care facility in Cheshire has been jailed. Benjamin Poole appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 12 August where he was sentenced to six years in prison. The 21-year-old, from Crewe, had earlier pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault and two counts of wilfully neglecting an individual. Poole was employed as a care worker at the specialist centre where he was responsible for looking after a number of patients. In the summer of 2020 one of his patients, a woman in her 20s who suffered from severe seizures, started to notice that things were happening to her whilst she was having the seizures. Worried about what was happening, in November 2020 the woman decided to purchase an alarm clock which had a built-in covert camera. Within days of installing the camera the woman recorded footage of Poole sexually assaulting her while she was suffering a seizure. The incident was immediately reported to staff at the facility who contacted police. Poole was later arrested and subsequently charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of wilfully neglecting an individual. Following the sentencing Detective Constable Amelia Stevens, said: As a carer, Poole held a position of trust and he was there to provide the patients with the care and support they needed during their time of need. Poole totally abused this position, and instead of caring for the patient he used it as an opportunity to fulfil his own sexual gratification. He wrongly believed that the victim would have no recollection of what he had done, but thankfully as a result of her courage and bravery, he is now facing the consequences of his actions. While the victim will never be able to forget what happened to her, I hope that the sentence handed to Poole will help to provide some closure. I also hope that the bravery shown by the victim in this case gives other victims of sexual assault the courage to come forward and report what happened to them. In addition to his prison sentence, Poole has also handed and indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

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A man has been jailed for over 20 years for sexually abusing children in Doncaster in the 1980s and 90s Stephen John Head, aged 56, formerly of Baird Crescent, Leven, in Fife, Scotland, appeared before a judge at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday (August 11), to be sentenced after he admitted 26 charges of sexual offences involving children at an earlier hearing on Monday August 2. Head was sentenced to 20 years and 12 weeks in prison. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Head assaulted the three children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in Doncaster in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer Alexandra Storey, said: All three of the victims in this case were incredibly brave to come forward and report the horrific abuse they suffered at the hands of Stephen Head. I know that the original Investigating Officer Alison Shields is grateful to all of them for the support they have given during the lengthy investigation. We hope that the significant custodial sentence handed down to Head yesterday will provide his victims with some comfort as they continue on their journey of recovery. I also hope this result will give other victims of historic sexual abuse the confidence to talk to us.