Latest Offenders

Description

A man from the Forest of Dean has been jailed for 20 years after he was found guilty of multiple counts of raping and sexually assaulting two children several years ago.

Matthew Alexander, aged 48 and of Lydney, was jailed yesterday (Thursday 2 October) after a jury unanimously found him guilty of 16 offences against the girls following a trial.

Gloucester Crown Court was told the investigation into Alexander's crimes began in July 2023 after the victims, now adults, contacted Gloucestershire Police to report that he had raped and sexually assaulted them multiple times.

The girls were aged under 13 at the time of the offences.

Following an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department, Alexander was subsequently charged with the offences and although he denied them all, he was found guilty by a unanimous jury following a trial in July this year.

Before Alexander was sentenced, the court heard statements written by his victims in which they described how his crimes have impacted their lives.

One of the victims said:

“Alexander’s abusive behaviour has had a massive impact on me growing up, I felt that I had to grow up faster and I couldn’t be the child that I wanted to be. 

"It’s had a major impact on my ability to form relationships, trust people and open up. Specifically, I really struggle to trust men.  

"I will never be able to forgive him for what he has done to me. I have always felt that I am not good enough. I can’t look at myself in a positive way and my body image is very low.

"Whenever I go out, I always feel on edge and am looking over my shoulder. I have flashbacks of what happened, and I have to reassure myself that he is not there and that I am safe. 

"I was overwhelmed when I received the verdict that he had been found guilty of all 16 offences, however, I felt proud that my voice got heard and I was believed."

Another victim said:

“I struggled to make friends, this was because I did not know how to approach people and feel confident.  As I grew older, I always felt so nervous about new relationships and I felt ashamed of my body.

"I now find it hard to trust anyone to look after my child, especially men. What happened to me has made me so overprotective."

Sentencing judge Recorder Crooknorth told Alexander:

"The victims have both shown immense courage in the face of something you put them through. You have tried to escape the truth and now it has caught up with you. You continued to deny the offences and there is no remorse." 

Along with the 20-year jail term, the judge gave Alexander an extended sentence with an additional two years to serve on licence due to aggravating factors around his offences. 

He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 30 years to protect the public and a 30-year-restraining order not to contact either victim. His name will also be added to the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Alexander will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence behind bars before he is eligible for parole.

Detective Constable Smith from Gloucestershire Constabulary's Criminal Investigation Department said:

“We are committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm.

“As the court heard, the impact of Alexander's crimes on his victims has been significant and long-lasting and I would like to commend them for having the courage to come forward and report his horrendous crimes. Alexander’s lengthy prison sentence is down to their determination and bravery.

“We have officers dedicated to investigating these horrific crimes and bringing offenders to justice and I hope this sentence encourages other victims and survivors who may have been subjected to similar offences to report them to us, even if the offences occurred many years ago.”

Description

A man who evaded justice for 14 years has been jailed thanks to a major forensic breakthrough and the perseverance of a specialist police department.

Donatas Venclovas was sentenced to more than seven years in prison at Leicester Crown Court today (Friday 3 October) after admitting a series of sexual offences.

In 2011 three women were attacked in Leicester by the same man – all within the space of around an hour.

The final assault left crucial DNA evidence, but the-now 34-year-old of Craven Gardens, Ilford, wasn’t identified until a breakthrough in February this year linked him to the unsolved crimes.

The 2011 investigation

On Saturday 8 January 2011, police received a report of an attempted rape in The Rally park in Tudor Road, involving a-then 57-year-old woman.

Around 8.50am, the victim was pushed to the ground after she witnessed the suspect with his hands down his trousers. 

He attempted to remove her clothing, but she fought back, biting his hand and screaming for help, which alerted a resident in a home close by and forced him to flee.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, detectives launched a large-scale investigation.

DNA recovered from the victim’s face and inside of her mouth provided a vital forensic profile of the offender, but it did not match anyone on the national police database at the time.

As part of investigative enquiries, police issued a witness appeal together with a e-fit of the suspected perpetrator. Following this, a further two women came forward to report being indecently assaulted by a similarly described man on the same morning.

CCTV enquiries confirmed it was the same man and they had both occurred in the city centre, shortly before the attack in the park.

The first happened shortly before 7.40am in Rutland Street. The woman, who was 25 at the time, was grabbed from behind. One hand grabbed her around the neck and the other hand between her legs.

Minutes later, near to St Nicholas Circle, he exposed himself and sexually assaulted another woman – then aged 74 – by putting his hand up her skirt.

He fled after being disturbed by someone nearby and made his way to the park when the third incident took place.

Detectives undertook extensive enquiries at the time of the attacks – including reviewing hours of CCTV, public appeals, and house-to-house.

Statements were also taken from key witnesses but despite a thorough investigation the suspect wasn’t identified.

Hope for the investigation came the following year, in 2012, when the same DNA profile was uncovered on the fence of a property that was burgled in London.

The identity of the suspect remained unknown.

2025: case reopened

The breakthrough came in February 2025 when Donatas Venclovas was arrested in London on suspicion of assault.

A DNA sample taken in custody matched the profile from the 2011 attacks – giving detectives the evidence needed to reopen the case.

Leicestershire Police’s specialist rape and serious sexual assault investigation team immediately launched a renewed investigation.

Detectives meticulously reviewed all the historical evidence in an effort to build a compelling case against the defendant.

Due to the length of time passed, tracking down all three victims initially proved difficult.

The victim who was attacked in The Rally was the first to be found. The victim in the Rutland Street incident was also identified. Unfortunately, the victim who was 74 in 2011, had since passed away but detectives were able to trace her family to inform them of the development in the case.

Despite the difficulties, the officer in the case – Detective Constable Shannon Hughes – remained committed to securing justice for the women.

She said:

“For more than a decade the women in the case have had to live with knowing the man who attacked them had not been identified and could still be out there.

“The actions of one of the victims on that morning in 2011 has ultimately led to this case finally being solved but the case still required a full review of old material, as well as reconnecting with the victims and carrying out new enquiries to ensure the case was fit for trial in 2025.

“Luckily the victims have been spared any added trauma of having to relive what happened to them in court and hopefully today will put an end to what has been many years of living with unresolved pain.”

Venclovas was charged with one count of attempted rape and three counts of sexual assault. Faced with the overwhelming evidence he pleaded guilty to all four offences at the start of the trial in August.

He was sentenced to a total of seven years and two months. 

Detective Inspector Lorna Granville added:

“At the heart of this investigation are the three women who were assaulted that day 14 years ago. They have carried the burden of these crimes for years and it is their courage and determination that has helped bring Venclovas to justice. We recognise the immense impact these crimes have had on their lives, and I want to pay tribute to them for the strength they have shown throughout.

“I also want to commend the officers and staff from our Signal team – Leicestershire’s Police specialist rape investigation unit – specifically the work of DC Shannon Hughes, who with the team, has worked tirelessly over the past nine months to bring this case to court. Their persistence, professionalism, and absolute commitment to securing justice for victims has been outstanding.

“This case clearly highlights that justice can be achieved, no matter how much time has passed. Unsolved cases will always be reinvestigated should new evidence or information come to light.”

Description

A man who took advantage of a vulnerable woman before raping her has been jailed.

Martin Glover (pictured) met his victim on a night out in Morecambe in April 2023.

He acted as a good Samaritan by offering the woman a place to stay but then proceeded to rape her at an address in the town.

Glover, 39, of Clarendon Road West, Morecambe, pleaded guilty to rape at a hearing in June of this year and was back at Preston Crown Court for sentence today (Friday, October 3rd).

He was jailed for seven-and-a-half years and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

In a statement the victim, in her 30s, described how she was a shadow of her former self as a result of the attack, that Glover had stolen her dignity and that she suffered from anxiety and sleepless nights.

Det Con Kirsten Bell, of Lancaster CID, said:

“First and foremost I would like to praise the victim for having the courage to support this prosecution – that cannot have been easy, but it would not have been possible to reach this conclusion without her.

“Glover took advantage of and preyed on this vulnerable woman for his own sexual gratification, and I am pleased that other woman are now safe from his offending for some time.”

“I hope that this case gives others who may have suffered similar ordeals the strength to come forward confident in the knowledge that we will investigate sensitively and professionally”

Description

A man from Scotland has been sentenced after being found guilty of non recent child sexual offences in Keighley.  

Alaistar Langlands age 74 of Finlarig Terrace, Dundee went on trial at Bradford Crown Court in August.  

He was found guilty of 11 indecent assault offences against two male victims who were children at the time.  

The offences happened between 1988 and 1993 when he was volunteering at Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.  

Langlands was sentenced to 17 years and 4 months in prison in Bradford Crown Court yesterday (2 October). He was also given a sexual harm prevention order and made to sign the sex offenders register.  

A victim personal statement was read out in court – an extract from it reads:  

“He was an adult; I was a child. He was someone i should have been able to trust. He had all the power and control.  

“I had no self-identity. I am only now starting to feel as though I'm finding myself, all these years later.  I want to take back some control.”  

Detective Constable Bethan Windsor of Bradford District’s Child Safeguarding Team said:  

“It cannot be underestimated the sheer bravery of both these victims coming forward after so long and reporting these heinous crimes to us.  

“They have managed to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system and are now getting the justice they so rightly deserve.  

“Langlands took advantage and abused these two boys when they should have been safeguarded.  

“You could hear the devastating impact that this crime has had on his victims, from the victim impact statements.  

“If you have been a victim of a sexual offence and haven’t yet reported it, we have specialist teams who will listen to you and support you throughout the process.”  

Description

A convicted rapist has been jailed again for shoplifting high-end goods in Newcastle and Sunderland. John Hall, imprisoned for rape in 2004, has been in and out of jail since for thefts and failing to comply with the Sex Offenders' Register.

The 56-year-old, of no fixed abode, stole over £1,500 in clothes and fragrances from JD Sports in Washington and Fenwick in Newcastle city centre. He also failed to notify police every seven days of his homelessness, as required.

Hall appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, pleading guilty to four shop thefts and one count of failing to comply with register notifications. Prosecutor Glenda Beck said the first offences occurred on June 23 and July 3, when he took £500 worth of goods from JD Sports.

He pleaded guilty but missed his August sentencing, leading to an arrest warrant. While wanted, he stole £320 in fragrances from Fenwick on September 27 and £510 in tops on October 1. Mrs Beck added: "He was apprehended on the second occasion, so the tops were recovered."

The court heard Hall had been on the register since 2004 and failed to comply three times previously. Mrs Beck said he hadn't registered since June, despite being homeless.

Defence lawyer Ian Cassidy said: "Mr Hall tells me he was released from custody on June 8 and, up to date, has not had any money or accommodation and has been relying on his family. He explains that the reason for the shop thefts is lack of money."

Hall was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison and ordered to pay £500 compensation to JD Sports and £320 to Fenwick.

Description

A wanted sex offender from Lancashire has been arrested.

Stephen Pennington, 37, was sought for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and had links to Blackpool, Blackburn, and Wigan.

Lancashire Police confirmed yesterday that he was apprehended 300 miles away in Devon and Cornwall.

A police spokesperson said:

“Last week we asked for your help to locate 37-year-old Stephen Pennington from Blackburn who was wanted for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

“Pennington, who uses different names including Steven Cayzer and Stuart Rigby, is 5ft 10 and has tattoos on his neck, hand and body. He has deformed toes which turn outwards.

“Just to update you, Pennington was arrested on Thursday (October 2) by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police and is no longer on his toes.

“While we can confirm the arrest came as a result of information received from you, the public, we cannot confirm whether a foot chase was involved.

“Thank you to everybody who shared our appeal.”

Description

Eight men have been convicted of multiple counts of rape and sexual offending against a child in the early 2000s in Bradford.

Anna (which is not the womans real name) was between the ages of 13 and 15 years old at the time of the abuse which took place between 2002 and 2004.

An investigation was launched in 2019 after Anna reported the abuse to police.

Four trials have taken place over the last eight months, however until now they have all been subject to reporting restrictions to protect the integrity of proceedings. Today, the Judge lifted these restrictions.

One man Raja Zulqurnean, 42, of Bradford was found guilty of ten rapes and nine indecent assaults; he was sentenced to 18 years in jail. He was also given a lifetime restraining order, sexual harm prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

His sentence was referred to the court of appeal for being unduly lenient, his sentence was increased from 18 years to 23 years.

Those convicted and awaiting sentence are:

• Mohammed Imran Akram, 42, of Bradford was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault
• Mohammed Shezhad Hussain, 39, of Keighley was found guilty of two rapes and three counts of indecent assault
• Basharat Khaliq, 44, of Bradford was found guilty of three rapes and four counts of indecent assaults
• Wajid Hussain, 42, of Bradford was found guilty of indecent assault
• Mohammed Naheem, 39, of Bradford was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault
• Nadeem Ali, 39, of Bradford was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault
• Safraz Ahmed Latif, 40, of Bradford was found guilty of four indecent assaults

They will all be sentenced in due course.

In Annas own words, she said:

I lost vital school academic years; you took away my basic rights and stole my future.

The investigation and trials have been so traumatising, the triumph of this trial has not left me triumphant it has left me feeling pain for the girl I was when you came into my life.

Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Greenbank said:

Annas courage and bravery has been immeasurable; she has had to wait a long time to see these convictions after all these years.

Cases such as these are incredibly sensitive and complex and it has taken years of painstaking investigation to bring these men before the courts.

I would like to take this opportunity to praise Anna for coming forward and reporting these offences to the police and for her patience while the criminal investigation has been ongoing.

If anyone has suffered abuse or has concerns about someone who may be suffering abuse, I would urge them to come forward and speak to us. We will listen to you, investigate all reports, and ensure you have access to any help or support you need.

I hope this sends a clear message that regardless of how long-ago abuse happened we will pursue every avenue to get justice.

Description

A man with learning difficulties has been jailed for twice raping a girl under 13. Kyran Wingfield-West was 17 when he committed the offenses several years ago in northwest Wales.

Wingfield-West, formerly of Anglesey, pleaded guilty to two counts of raping a child under 13. At Caernarfon Crown Court, Judge Her Honour Nicola Jones sentenced him to two years and eight months in a young offenders' institution for each offense.

Prosecutor Jemma Gordon said the crimes were discovered when the victim's father found messages expressing her pregnancy concerns after sex with Wingfield-West. Police investigated and learned the defendant had asked if he should bring a condom, and she said yes.

They had sex in a car park, where he raped her twice. Wingfield-West did not ejaculate and assured her she could not be pregnant. When police got involved, he told the girl to delete a messaging app.

In her statement, the victim said she now understands "even more how wrong the defendant's behaviour was." It has "tainted" her impression of home, and her ordeal must have been difficult for her dad.

Defense barrister Dafydd Roberts cited an expert report calling Wingfield-West a "naive soul." He argued that while the victim was too young to consent, it had been "sex by agreement," and suggested community rehabilitation instead of custody.

The judge told Wingfield-West that as the girl was under 13, she "did not have the capacity to give her consent" to sex. She acknowledged his learning disability but noted his attempt to interfere with the investigation.

The sentence was reduced for his immaturity, mental health difficulties, and guilty pleas.

Wingfield-West, now of Ropery Road, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, was also subjected to an indefinite restraining order, sex offender notification requirements, and sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A former Inverness teacher has been placed on the sex offenders register after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a pupil.

Charleston Academy physics teacher David Vincent, 57, first targeted the girl when she was aged 16.

Description

A former Glasgow Clyde College student who admitted possessing over 2,600 child abuse images—claiming he was the victim of a "cyber attack by a hostile nation"—was sentenced after spending two years on remand.

Jack Marshall, 32, avoided further punishment after police found the material at his Symington home in December 2022, including images of a child aged eight being sexually abused by a man dressed as a clown.

The content depicted children aged 4 to 12, with 1,499 category A images (the most severe), 413 category B, and 699 category C.

Marshall pleaded guilty at Ayr Sheriff Court, where he had appeared over 30 times and gone through several solicitors. He previously ranted in the dock that he was "the victim of a crime," alleging a "cyber attack" from a hostile nation.

The court heard he echoed The Who guitarist Pete Townshend's defense; Townshend was placed on the sex offenders register in 2003 after admitting to accessing a child abuse website for "research" to "write a book."

Returning for sentencing, Marshall told the Advertiser "it was a cyber attack," claiming he was "a journalist" with a "movie deal." His social work reports were described as "not good."

A Crown prosecutor explained that police searched Marshall's home after receiving information about a device linked to child exploitation images. Devices seized included a mobile phone, laptop, and USB stick from his bedroom.

"Indecent images were found on the USB stick, and the accused was arrested and conveyed to Kilmarnock police office," the fiscal depute said. "He stated it belonged to him and he was then cautioned and charged."

Across the devices, over 2,600 still and moving images were recovered. A keyword search revealed queries for "lolita," a child sexual abuse term.

Graphic descriptions of the images were read in court but deemed too horrific for publication.

Marshall's solicitor said his client did not wish to hear the descriptions ahead of the plea, adding: "It is his position that there is no underlying deviancy. He was brought to this area in the same way that a celebrated rockstar [Townshend] was once brought in."

Sheriff Mhari Mactaggart acknowledged awareness of that case.

The solicitor continued: "This case has brought great stress. He wishes to apologise, not limited to all members of the court service when he has appeared, but to me for his occasional brisk manner."

Marshall later returned to court for posting lists of Russian names to Symington neighbors.

Sheriff Mactaggart sentenced him to 12 months of supervision and placement on the sex offenders register for the same period. He was admonished on the other charge.

Marshall muttered "ridiculous" as he left the dock a free man.

Previously, one solicitor, Mark Dunbar, told the court it was his "estimation" that Marshall was "seriously psychologically unwell." Another mentioned claims he was "in the CIA," which Marshall denied to the Advertiser.

The Crown was ready for trial on December 16 last year after another solicitor withdrew.

Marshall said: "On February 23, 2023, I informed Police Scotland I had been the victim of a crime, a cyber attack by a hostile nation."

Complaining in court—"you just chucked my lawyer out"—Sheriff Desmond Leslie clarified: "I've not, she left."

Marshall added: "I've not been provided defence evidence for my trial date, I am utterly appalled by the behaviour of the courts."

Sheriff Leslie noted: "You have been in custody almost two years."

Marshall claimed: "I'm an investigative journalist as well - I studied at Glasgow Clyde College."

Description

We are encouraging victims of non-recent sexual abuse to speak out after a man who groomed a teenage girl more than 45 years ago was jailed today (Thursday 2 October).

After first meeting his victim in Melton Mowbray when she was around 13 years old, John Raisen began committing his crimes in 1979. He took an interest in her relationship with boys, which soon progressed into a sexual interest in her.

Despite knowing her age, his behaviour began with inappropriate touching but over a period of around 15 to 18 months, he encouraged her to engage in sexual activity.

When Raisen’s victim contacted police in 2021 to report what had happened, she said Raisen had made her feel special and that she did not realise what he was doing was wrong. However, she had now come to realise he had stolen part of her childhood.

Following the report, 76-year-old Raisen was interviewed by police and declined to answer all questions put to him in interview.

On 19 September, following a trial at Leicester Crown Court, he was found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault and four counts of indecency with a child.

Raisen, of North Parade in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. He has been placed on the sex offender indefinitely and is subject to a lifetime restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.

Detective Constable Aisling McPhillips was the investigating officer. She said:

“What happened to the victim in this case is something she has had to live with for more than 45 years.

“Today her abuser is finally facing the consequence of his crimes and I hope this now provides a degree of closure and allows her to move on from her past.

“This outcome should also serve as a reminder to anyone who has also been sexually abused that it’s never too late to speak out and that we will continue our work to bring offenders to justice."

Description

A sex offender who told a friend he had “f***** up” after inappropriately touching a teenage girl has been jailed for two years.

David Marsh, 40, of Melvin Close in Salisbury, abused his victim on August 9, 2023, leaving her "haunted" by the memory. He was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Wednesday (October 1).

Marsh pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with the girl at his initial magistrates' court appearance in January, and admitted attempted touching when his crown court trial began in August. Judge Adam Feest imposed immediate imprisonment, with Marsh expected to serve half his sentence before release on licence.

Prosecutor Mike Mason said the offences occurred within minutes, after which Marsh confessed to a friend and turned himself in to police. The victim reported the crime to her family, who believed her; her clothing was forensically tested.

Mr. Mason added: “The defendant contacted a friend saying that he had ‘f***** up’ – those are his words – and needed to talk to her. He arranged to talk to her that evening, which he did. He said he knew what he had done was inappropriate, and he had done something really stupid.”

In victim impact statements, she said Marsh "stole her innocence" and left her "on edge" around men. She wrote: “It is difficult for me to put into words how I have been affected. The thought of bumping into him or seeing him when I’m out and about fills me with dread. I regularly have thoughts about it, which is upsetting and a permanent reminder. I was not able to concentrate well on my schoolwork, and I think that suffered as a result. I feel like people like me need to be protected from him.”

Defense lawyer Nicholas Cotter argued the incident was "not pre-planned" but "impulsive," adding: “I don’t think the defendant understands what made him do it. He is profoundly remorseful about what happened. From the very outset, he has admitted to others, not just the police, the criminality that he has latterly accepted. He is terrified about going to custody.”

Mr. Cotter requested a suspended sentence, but Judge Feest rejected it, saying: “You took the opportunity, for reasons that only you will ever understand – if that – to sexually abuse her. She had, and still, suffers significantly from what you did.” He accepted Marsh's remorse as genuine.

Marsh, who had no prior convictions, will be on the sex offenders' register for 10 years. He also faces a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, an indefinite restraining order, and a £140 victim surcharge.

Description

A man has been jailed after he followed a young woman out of a Derby fast food restaurant and attempted to rape her.

Ivan Godla spotted the woman in the McDonalds on Osmaston Park Road on the evening of 19 November last year.

The 24-year-old then followed her down Portland Street before trying to speak to her and exposing himself.

The woman carried on walking and crossed the road to get away from Godla, but he continued to follow her before pushing her to the ground and trying to rape her.

The woman managed to fight Godla off and ran away, before calling police.

Godla was arrested on 21 November and was subsequently charged and remanded.

Godla, of Leacroft Road, Derby admitted charges of sexual assault and sexual exposure but initially denied a charge of attempted rape.

 He eventually admitted attempted rape on the day of trial, in May this year.

He was sentenced at a hearing at Derby Crown Court on Tuesday 23 September, with a judge ordering him to serve a prison term of 8 years and 1 month.

Detective Constable Spibey, officer in the case, said:

“This was a calculated and predatory attack on young woman.

“No woman or girl should be made to feel unsafe for fear of violence, whether they are walking home, at home, or at work.

“Thankfully this kind of stranger attack is rare, but we are committed to weeding out those who commit any acts of sexual violence and will do everything we can to ensure that justice is served against perpetrators.

“This was a complex investigation, and I would like to thank the members of the public in the Portland Street area who assisted police by providing CCTV footage. This footage allowed us to build a timeline of events which assisted with us securing a charge against Ivan Godla.

“Most importantly I want to express my thanks to the victim in this case, who bravely came forward and recounted the details of this incident.

“Her courage throughout the investigation has been commendable.

“Godla is now off the streets, and our communities are that bit safer.”

Description

A Highland paedophile watched a short clip of a girl as young as five being sexually abused and then requested the price for the “full video”, a court has heard.

Ashley Wiltshire’s sickening conversation with a fellow paedophile was revealed at Inverness Sheriff Court as he pleaded guilty to a number of sex charges, including communicating indecently with children.

Description

A man has been jailed for the rape of a child, who he met on Snapchat, after being found guilty by a jury following a trial.

Joshua Emery, aged 25, of Cannock, was handed a seven-year jail term on Monday (29 September) at Stafford Crown Court, after being convicted of raping a girl aged 13 to 15 in August 2022.

Emery was found guilty of the offence in court at the end of June 2025.

Along with his prison sentence, Emery has also been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and has been ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228 upon his release.

The court heard how Emery, who was 22 at the time, raped the girl - who he stated he believed was 16 or older - and who he had contacted through Snapchat, near Essington Pools in August 2022.

Specialist officers carried out inquiries immediately and traced Emery through a taxi booking he made to the location. He was arrested in the following days and his devices and clothing were seized.

Emery denied the offence, but the victim gave compelling evidence and a jury found him guilty.

Following the sentencing on Monday, Detective Constable Hayley Cave, of our child protection and exploitation unit, who was the officer in the case, said:

“This was a harrowing case of an extremely serious sexual offence involving a child.

“I’d like to praise the victim, whose courage in coming forward and supporting the investigation has been instrumental in securing this conviction.

“Her strength and resilience are commendable.”