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Middlesbrough Child Sex Offender Jailed for Six Years

Adam Scott, 52, from Middlesbrough, has been jailed for six years after being caught by two online decoys posing as girls aged 12 and 14.

At Teesside Crown Court, Scott admitted six offences, including attempting to engage a child in sexual communication.

On 26 September 2025, police seized his phone after he sent repeated sexual messages to a 12-year-old profile set up by undercover operatives on the Chatib chatroom, prosecutor Nigel Soppitt told the court.

Over several days he offered to teach the girl sex acts and to “kiss it better” if he hurt her.

Released under investigation, Scott bought a new phone and in February contacted a second decoy posing as a 14-year-old on the same site.

Over more than a week he sent sexual messages and pictures, offering to buy her “takeaways and stuff” in exchange for sex. When he received an indecent photograph he replied: “I like it, I like it a lot.”

Police also found an extreme pornographic image featuring a woman and a dog on his phone.

Scott must comply with a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

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A paedophile who raped and sexually abused a young girl over nearly seven years has been jailed for 19-and-a-half years.

Robert Jepson, 62, abused the victim between December 2015 and October 2022 in St Ives. 

As well as raping her, he carried out numerous other sexual offences against her.

The girl disclosed what had happened in February 2023 after she had a class at school with the topics of consent and appropriate sexual behaviour.

Jepson was arrested as soon as the allegations came to light but denied the charges and blamed the victim for instigating the sexual contact.

However, on Wednesday (13 May), at Cambridge Crown Court, Jepson, of Woodford, near Kettering, was jailed after a jury found him unanimously guilty of rape, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13 and six counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching. 

He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and handed indefinite sexual harm prevention and restraining orders.

DC Leah Meftah, who investigated, said:

“Jepson was a manipulative abuser who committed serious sexual offences over many years.

“He apportioned the blame of these offences on a vulnerable child, and took no responsibility for his actions, describing the victim as manipulative and instigating the offences.

“The victim showed the upmost courage in disclosing her offences, and showed immense bravery throughout the judicial process. The impact of these types of cases on all of the families involved is far reaching but this was a successful prosecution due to the strength of the victim and her family.

"Anyone who experiences sexual abuse can take the next step in reporting it to us - we have special trained officers to deal with your allegation." 

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Declan Marno appeared at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 19 May where he was sentenced to six years imprisonment.

24-year-old Marno, of Peckforton Way, Chester, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.

On Friday 4 April 2025, when Cheshire Police were contacted via 101 by the victim in this case, an 18-year-old woman, who reported that on Friday 28 March she had been orally raped and sexually assaulted by Marno, who had joined her and a group of friends on a night out in Chester city centre.

The victim went on to say that following the night out, the group returned to the address of the victim’s friend, where it was agreed that Marno and the victim would sleep on opposite ends of a sofa overnight.

At some point during in the night, Marno pulled down the victim’s shirt and sexually assaulted her before going on to orally rape her.

The victim passed out during the incident, however, the following morning she challenged the behaviour of Marno, telling him she remembered what he had done.

Marno admitted to the assault and the oral rape and, following the victims’ bravery in contacting Cheshire Police, he was arrested and taken into custody.

However, he gave officers a pre-written statement denying any wrongdoing and refused to answer any questions put to him.

Despite this, he pleaded guilty to the offences at his first appearance in court in February 2026.

Detective Constable Emma Flanagan, of CID Reactive West, said:

"I cannot imagine how traumatising this experience will have been for the victim, a young woman who had enjoyed a night out in the city centre surrounded by people whom she believed she could trust to look out for her.

"Declan Marno abused this trust and acted upon his own selfish desires in the pursuit of sexual gratification, preying on her when she was at her most vulnerable and not once taking her feelings, wishes or consent into consideration.

"Whilst sadly, nothing can be done to turn back the clock on what has happened, I do hope that now Marno has been held accountable for his actions and has been put behind bars for the next six years, the victim can begin the process of healing.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank her for the bravery and strength she has shown throughout this entire investigation. Having to recount what had happened to her will have been an emotionally challenging endeavour, yet it was her evidence that proved vital in us securing this conviction against her attacker and getting her the justice she deserved."

Alongside his custodial prison sentence, Declan Marno has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

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A registered sex offender from near Maidstone has been jailed after claiming that he was only talking to an underage girl to get her banned from a website.

Officers paid an unannounced visit to the home address of Darren Cross on Tuesday 3 February 2026. When they searched his phone, they discovered he had made new online profiles and hadn't disclosed the usernames to Kent Police, which is a failure to comply with his sex offenders register requirements.

They also found he had deleted his internet history and had attempted to sexually communicate with a child.

The 42 year old was arrested. During his custody interview, he tried to defend his actions by saying he was trying to find underage children on the site to report to the moderator so they would be banned.

However, officers had evidence that Cross sent multiple messages of a sexual nature to who he believed was a 13 year old girl.

Cross, from Ditton, was charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, two counts of failing to comply with the sex offenders register requirements and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Thursday 14 May 2026 at Maidstone Crown Court to two years' imprisonment.

Investigating officer PC Charlotte Wilson said:

'Cross is a manipulative individual who tried to cover up his crimes by deleting his search history and creating profiles under fake names.

'Not only that, but he came up with far-fetched lies and acted as though he was protecting children online, when in fact he was the one they needed protecting from.

'Although he didn't actually harm anyone, his intentions were clear and I'm glad to see him behind bars.

'It shows that we will monitor and manage sex offenders to ensure they comply with their conditions. If they don’t, we will make sure they are prosecuted.'

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A 75-year-old man has been sentenced after committing 21 indecent assaults on two girls more than twenty years ago.

Jeffrey Barrington, of Borley Crescent in Elmswell, pleaded guilty to the charges and appeared before Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 15 May for sentencing.

In respect of one victim Barrington was convicted of nine offences, receiving a sentence of seven years’ imprisonment for the lead offence (with concurrent prison terms for the remainder of the offences).

This sentence will run consecutively to the one handed down for his crimes committed against the second victim, for which he was given five years’ imprisonment for the lead offence (again with concurrent terms for the remainder of the offences).

In total, he was handed a custodial sentence of 12 years reduced to eight years’ imprisonment for his early guilty plea.

The cumulative total of the concurrent sentences he received was 43 years.  

Barrington was also handed an extended sentence of a further year on licence.

Extended sentences are handed to those who are convicted of serious violent or sexual offences, where an additional period of post-release supervision is required to protect the public.

DC Nick Parkinson-Hill, who was the officer in charge of the case, said:

“Jeffrey Barrington is a sexual predator who preyed on children and took advantage of situations to sexually abuse his victims. He has shown no remorse for his actions.

“I am grateful that he spared his victims further pain by admitting his crimes, rather than forcing them to relive their experiences during a trial.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victims for their courage in coming forward to ensure that Barrington is behind bars, where he belongs.

“This case demonstrates that the passage of time has not been a barrier to justice.”

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A detective has praised a victim for their bravery and courage after a rapist was sentenced to 14 years with four years on extended licence. 

An investigation was launched after a woman reported to police that she had been raped multiple times in 2023.

Kgothatso Ntuli was arrested and charged with multiple offences which he denied when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court. However following a trial, the jury found him guilty of numerous offences including six rapes.

The 29-year-old appeared the same court on Monday 30th March where he was jailed. The judge also imposed a life-long restraining order and Ntuli will be on the Sex Offender’s Register for life.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Adam Highfield said:

“I’d like to thank the victim who showed tremendous courage and determination to disclose what had happened to police. I hope the victim and her family can find some comfort knowing Ntuli is now in prison and is no longer able to harm anyone else.

“I’d like to remind anyone affected by this case that you can report sexual offences to police whenever you feel ready. You will be listened to, you will be believed and you will be supported through every step of the investigation and the criminal justice process.”

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A man from Swansea has been given a 25-year jail sentence after he was found guilty of the historic rape of two girls under the age of 16.

57-year-old David Lake, from Llansamlet, carried out repeated attacks on the two girls, who are now adults.

In April, Lake was found guilty of one count of rape of a female under 16, four counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 years, one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 years of age, and one count of attempt to indecently assault a girl under the age of 16.

He has today been sentenced to 25 years in prison. He will be on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Constable Sioned Davies said:

“It took an unbelievable amount of strength and courage for David Lake’s victims to confide to someone else about the crimes he carried out upon them, especially with so many years having passed in-between.

“This was a long and complex investigation which has finally resulted in David Lake being brought to justice, and the severity of his offending is reflected in the size of his sentence.

“David Lake’s attacks on the victims were only stopped when he went to jail for a separate matter. With this sentence, we hope that his offending has now been stopped for good.”

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A 44-year-old man from Eastbourne has been jailed following his conviction for rape and sexual offences involving a teenage girl.

Jamie Vile was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Monday (18 May) after being convicted of six offences relating to the rape of, and sexual activity with, a female child.

He was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment and made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The offences were committed between 2023 and 2025 when the victim was aged between 13 and 15 years old.

The offending first came to light in August 2025 and Vile was arrested on 10 August, 2025. He was charged on 12 August, 2025, and appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court the same day where he was remanded in custody.

Vile denied the offences, and the case proceeded to trial at Lewes Crown Court on 4 February, 2026. Following a trial lasting almost four weeks before HHJ Van Der Zwart, the jury returned guilty verdicts on six of the 11 charges on 24 February, 2026. These included three counts of sexual activity with a child, one alternative count of sexual activity with a child, one count of causing / inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of rape.

He was found not guilty of three counts of rape, one alternative count of sexual activity with a child, and one offence of sexual activity with a child relating to a second victim.

Vile appeared before the court on Monday, 18 May to be sentenced.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Constable Tania Snashall from the Sussex Police Iris Team said:

“It is down to the bravery of the victim in this case speaking out that the offending of this man came to light.

“The fact he chose to deny the offences throughout the investigation and subjected the victim, as well as witnesses, to giving evidence in court speaks volumes of his inability to accept responsibility for what he had done.

“No sentence can ever reflect the seriousness of the offending where the defendant took advantage of the young female who trusted and looked up to him.

“I hope the victim and her family can now begin the process of rebuilding their lives and moving forward from this.”

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Carlisle child sex offender jailed for hiding phones and social media accounts

A CHILD sex offender from Carlisle who concealed phones and social media accounts from police has blamed his latest offending on “isolation” caused by his past crimes.

Allan Smith, 38, of Hawick Street, was placed on the Sex Offender Register in 2017 after grooming a 15-year-old girl online and sexually abusing her.

He was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court for six new breaches: three of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and three of Sex Offender Register rules.

Prosecutor Adam Quine told the court Smith failed to notify police of five social media accounts he was using, concealed two mobile phones, did not disclose usernames for online accounts, failed to declare several bank cards, and did not reveal he had stayed at a property in Penrith where a child was living.

The breaches followed Smith’s original 2017 offences, when, aged 27, he contacted the 15-year-old girl via Facebook, accepted her friend request, and sent messages requesting photographs of her in underwear and without, before asking for sex. In 2024 he was also prosecuted for exposure after being seen performing a sex act in a neighbour’s front garden.

When questioned by police, Smith falsely claimed he did not use the internet and had no social media accounts.

Defence barrister Marion Weir said Smith was “at a loss” to explain his behaviour but cited the impact of his registered-offender status. 

“His accommodation has been set on fire, his doors glued, and his windows broken,” she said. “He seems to revert back to his old behaviour almost like a comfort blanket.

“He has lost his grandparents this has led to a feeling of isolation and a lack of emotional support. He recognises that if he continues on this path, it will become a revolving door at HMP Durham.”

Weir added that Smith planned to move to another part of Cumbria where his past was less well known and “knows he has to change his behaviour.” She confirmed there were no underlying sexual offences linked to the breaches.

Judge Michael Fanning described the 2017 case as grooming a 15-year-old girl followed by a serious contact sexual offence, and noted the more recent offence of sending a female a picture of his genitals to cause alarm and distress.

The judge accepted the child at the Penrith property was a boy and had not been at risk.

Smith was jailed for two years, plus a further eight weeks for the activation of a suspended sentence. He previously lived at Stonegarth, Carlisle.

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Sexual Abuse Survivor Speaks Out Against 'Golden Boy' Restaurant Manager Jailed for Child Rape

A sexual abuse survivor has described years of ordeal at the hands of Richard Tung, a respected restaurant manager dubbed the “golden boy” of his local community.

Tung, 42, of Penisa’r Waun, Gwynedd, ran Fu’s Restaurant in Caernarfon, Wales. He was jailed for 12 years last month after a jury convicted him of seven sexual offences against a boy, including two counts of raping a child under 13. He was also found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of indecent assault.

Tung is no longer connected to the restaurant and the offences were not linked to his work there.

The victim, now in his 20s and granted lifelong anonymity, told NorthWalesLive he was groomed by a man everyone trusted.

“He would play games, he would let me use his mobile phone, everyone thought he was a lovely guy. They thought he could do no wrong so he was trusted,” the survivor said.

“I did not know it was wrong – until it suddenly came to me that ‘this is not normal’. I tried to fight him off but he was bigger than me, stronger than me.”

He added: “He was a ‘golden boy’, everyone loved him, it would be my word against his.”

The victim said he clearly remembers confronting his abuser: “I told him ‘this is the last time you are doing this to me’ and it was the last time.”

For a decade he blamed himself. “From 14 to 24 I blamed myself. I thought it was my fault, it damaged me so much – anxiety, PTSD, depression, struggling to sleep. I was in and out of counselling therapy.”

He first disclosed the abuse at 19 to an ex-boyfriend, then to his sister at 21. “She believed me, she was there for me but I did not want to go to the police,” he said. In his mid-20s he told his current partner and the rest of his family. He reported the crimes to police in 2022.

Tung denied everything at trial but was convicted earlier this year. “He denied everything, but I remembered everything,” the survivor said.

Through extensive therapy the man no longer blames himself. “It is not my fault and knowing that has healed me. Now there is justice – I finally know he has not got away with it.

“My other motivation was to protect others. I needed to say something because no-one suspected he could do this. If I did nothing he could do it to others.”

In his victim personal statement read at Nottingham Crown Court, he described the lasting impact:

“My life has been significantly impacted because of the abuse. I’m still very vigilant because I’m scared of potential danger. It’s so tiring because I’m scanning people all the time to see if I’m safe.

“I don’t like being alone. I’m scared of being left at home at night and I run from room to room because I’m scared someone is going to hurt me. My anxiety is still present and I overthink things a lot.”

Of the trial itself he said: “Having to reopen everything and relive memories was uncomfortable. I hate seeing his face as it makes my skin crawl, but in court I made sure I looked at him.

“The whole trial was so emotionally draining and stressful. The worst week of my life. Waiting for the verdict was so much because I wanted someone to validate my abuse – I wasn’t crazy.”

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A rapist has received a nine-year prison sentence and given a restraining order to protect the woman he attacked.

Bibak Singh, aged 37 of Stonebridge Park, Bristol, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 8 May. He must serve a minimum of two-thirds of his sentence in prison before he can be eligible for parole.

He was found guilty of rape and controlling and coercive behaviour during a six-day trial at the same court in March.

The jury heard how Singh raped and emotionally manipulated the woman.

In a personal statement prepared for the court, she said:

“I feel as if I am living a life sentence because of what was done to me.

“What he has done to me has permanently changed who I am and how I live my life.

“By going through the police investigation and court, I hope I have shown how strong and resilient I can be after being put down and mistreated. I hope this shows others in my situation that you can be believed and that behaviour like this is not acceptable in any situation.”

Alongside the jail sentence, Singh was added to the Sex Offender’s Register and a restraining order granted for Singh not to have any contact with the victim.

Officer in the case, DS Matthew Beavis, said:

“The victim has shown remarkable strength and resilience throughout both the investigation and the court process.

“She has made clear her hope that others will feel empowered to come forward and stand up to those who seek to control and repress them.

“This was a deeply disturbing offence. Singh’s actions were calculated and sustained, and the victim has been left to live with the longterm effects of his manipulation, violence and control.

“This case underlines the importance of empowering victims, and I hope it gives others the confidence to speak out and seek justice.”

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A man has been jailed for sex offences including outraging public decency on a Warrington to Widnes bus.

James Taylor, 24, from Penny Lane, Liverpool appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on 15 May to be sentenced after pleading guilty to three counts of outraging public decency, two counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child, three counts of making indecent images of children, and one count of possession of indecent images.

He was sentenced to 27 months in prison.

Taylor came to police attention following an investigation into reports that a man had been masturbating in full view of two teenage boys in Widnes on 8 May 2024. The suspect was seen to get off the 110 bus and a CCTV trawl identified the suspect, but not his identity.

A witness appeal and then a CCTV appeal were issued to the media and posted on social media to find the identity of the suspect. Taylor commented on his own CCTV media appeal to say he’d not seen anyone acting suspiciously on the bus which he regularly gets on.

He was subsequently identified through the partial logo on his work’s fleece, and his identity confirmed, leading to his arrest on 29 May 2025. He had his phones seized on which officers discovered he had been filming himself in public masturbating and describing his crimes to an unidentified man in messages as ‘risky w**ks’.

He also told the man he’d been caught in the act a few times, including by children, and asked if that could get him in trouble.

Officers discovered numerous videos of him masturbating in unknown public areas and at his workplace in Warrington. Three videos showed him on a bus: two on 17 April 2019, one on 14 June 2019, and one on 28 June 2019.

They also discovered an indecent image of child, and he was further arrested for this on 18 December 2024.

More digital devices were seized including two phones, a laptop and memory cards.  They were interrogated resulting in the discovery of 36 indecent images dated from between 17 February 2019 and 19 December 2024. There were four category A images, 11 category B images and 21 category C images.

DC Phil Jackson said:

“Taylor asked the unidentified man in his messages if he could get into trouble if he’d been seen carrying out a sexual act, especially in front of children. I think he has his answer now – all 27 months of it.

“Everyone should be able to get on a bus or go about their business without having to risk the ordeal of having to witness his perverted behaviour. Our investigation led to us uncovering the level of his worrying, and clearly illegal behaviour, which is why it’s vital you report this type of crime to police.”

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A man from Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for more than a decade after he raped and controlled a woman.

Steve Lloyd, 41, of Packmoor, Stoke-on-Trent, has been jailed for 11-and-a-half-years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court today (Monday 18 May) after he was found guilty of one count of the rape of a woman and one count of engaging in controlling and or coercive behaviour.

The offences took place over a number of years until the survivor bravely came forwarded and reported what happened.

Now, because of the strength of the survivor and the evidence we were able to present in court, Lloyd has been imprisoned.

As part of his sentencing, he was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and served with a 15-year restraining order.

Detective Constable Diane Sproston and Investigative Officer Janine Shropshire worked on the case. Speaking following the sentencing, IO Shropshire said:

“I’m pleased that we have been able to build all of the evidence needed to secure this outcome today.

“I must recognise the tremendous courage of the survivor in coming forward and supporting this investigation, which has resulted in another sex offender being imprisoned.

“We are determined to seek the toughest possible punishment in court for those responsible for these types of offences and to support survivors as much as possible.”

Record details

A man has been sentenced following convictions for serious sexual offences involving children.

Marc Gothorp, aged 45, of Carram Way, Lincoln, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on 15/05/2026 after pleading guilty to multiple offences. 

These were:

• Three counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of the rape of a child under 13 between 22/10/2025 and 28/10/2025.
• Making indecent images of children (Categories A, B and C) between 06/09/2020 and 04/11/2025, comprising 1,870 category A, 1,316 category B and 592 category C images
• Distributing Category A indecent images of children between 25/03/2025 and 02/11/2025, comprising 21 images.

Gothorp was arrested by officers from Lincolnshire Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) on 05/11/2025.

At sentencing, the court determined that Gothorp meets the statutory criteria for classification as a dangerous offender.

He was sentenced to a custodial sentence of 10 years imprisonment and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

This investigation was conducted jointly by Lincolnshire Police POLIT and the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU).

Record details

A 52-year-old predator who carried out a series of horror sex attacks on an eight-year-old child and two other young victims has been jailed for 24 months and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Mark Crosbie, a self-employed painter and decorator from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, preyed on his vulnerable victim at a home in Loanhead, Midlothian, between 2004 and 2006. He also targeted two further victims between 1994 and 2004.

He was arrested after one victim, now an adult, reported the abuse. Crosbie denied all allegations but was found guilty of four charges by a jury after a four-day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year.

At sentencing on Friday, May 15, police intervened after members of Crosbie’s family shouted abuse at the victims’ supporters. Three women were forcibly removed, one shouting: “are you f***ing joking me? - we know the truth”.

Defence agent Kenneth Woodburn said his client maintained his innocence but “does respect the authority of the court and respects he was found guilty in this matter”. He asked for a community disposal of unpaid work and supervision.

Sheriff Graeme Watson rejected the plea, describing the charges as “very serious” and noting Crosbie showed “no remorse or insight into the offending”.

The sheriff told him: “I have heard first hand the effect your offending has had on these individuals, these victims. I consider that there is a high level of culpability. These were offences against children and occurred in secret.

“Again I consider the level of harm is high. This has had a profound impact on [one victim] and will have for the foreseeable future. This is offending against three victims over a number of years.

“I have concluded that no method of disposal other than custody is appropriate.”

Sheriff Watson also imposed three non-harassment orders banning Crosbie from contacting two victims for five years and the third for 10 years.

Crosbie was convicted of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards a child aged 8-10 at Loanhead between 2004 and 2006; two similar charges against children aged 10 and 13 between 1994 and 2004; and disorderly conduct by making sexualised comments and staring at the breasts of an 18-year-old woman between 2001 and 2002.