Latest Offenders

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A man has been jailed for a year and banned from UK tanning salons after police found upskirting videos on his phone.

Thomas Hampton, 33, from Mexborough, was arrested after a woman in a salon reported someone trying to film her while she was using a sunbed.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of operating equipment beneath clothing of another without consent and observing a person doing a private act and was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday.

Det Insp Lucy Garside, of South Yorkshire Police, said Hampton was a "dangerous individual who has a preoccupation with filming and following lone women in public".

Officers said Hampton was found to be using the room next door to the woman on the sunbed when he tried to film her.

After his arrest, police discovered dozens of self-recorded videos and photos of women in public, including upskirting videos.

Det Insp Garside said: "He regularly recorded women without their consent, concealing the fact that he was filming."

She said the victim whose actions led to Hampton's arrest had undergone "a frightening experience in a place she should feel safe and I know it has affected her greatly".

Hampton was also banned from owning any device capable of taking photos without notifying police and banned from entering any unisex changing areas and tanning salons in the UK, as part of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting for seven years.

Description

A SEX offender who was challenged by a woman after he walked into a house he was banned from reacted angrily, spitting into her face. 

The violent behaviour on January 9 of 32-year-old Carlisle man Leighton Lewis and his decision to flout his sexual harm prevention order led to his arrest and a remand in custody, the city’s crown court heard.

The defendant, of Lediard Avenue, Carlisle, admitted two breaches of his sexual harm prevention order, a common assault, and the theft of a mobile phone.

Prosecutor Matthew Hopkins outlined the offending.

He explained that Lewis was given the sexual harm prevention order in June of 2024 after he was convicted of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

The defendant was charged after he fell for an online sting, sending lewd sexual images to a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. She was actually an adult decoy, working for a paedophile hunter group.

Lewis later blamed his sordid behaviour on being “off his head” on cocaine.

Mr Hopkins described how Lewis agreed to meet a woman for a meal in Workington on January 8, and at the end of the evening he was drunk. Going into the property from which he was banned, he challenged a woman who was there.

He verbally abused her, prompting the woman to tell him to leave and point out that his presence at the property was a breach of his sexual harm prevention order because there were children in the house.

“The defendant ignored this and said he would hit her,” said Mr Hopkins. Lewis then pinned the woman on to the sofa, straddled her with his knees, and spat in her face.

When she then tried to call the police, he grabbed her mobile phone, and asked her: “Do you think I’m scared?” As he left the property, Lewis took another phone that was in the property and left with it.

He returned to the address at 2am, banging on the door and again being verbally abusive.

When police arrested the defendant at his home in Carlisle, they found he had a tablet device which he had not declared to the police, as required by his court order.

Marion Weir, defending, said Lewis had felt as though the woman had interfered with his personal life, though he accepted this did not give him the right to behave as he had.

He had spent the equivalent of a 12-month sentence on remand.

Referring to the undeclared tablet, Miss Weir said it was given to Lewis by his father and not declaring it was an “oversight.”

“There was nothing untoward found on the tablet,” she added.

Judge Michael Fanning pointed out that the failure to declare the tablet was a serious offence because it meant police were unable to fit it with monitoring software and keep track of what it was being used for.

The judge then referred to the assault: “You straddled her and spat in her face, one of the worst forms of common assault,” said Judge Fanning, adding that this was the "most gross form of common assault.

The offending had to be marked be marked by custody. He jailed the defendant for 18 months.

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James Wadhawan has been jailed for sexual offences involving a teenage girl in Lancing.

Wadhawan, 35, of Penalverne Crescent in Penzance, was issued with a Child Abduction Warning Notice (CAWN) in January, 2024, following reports of inappropriate contact with teenager.

On Saturday, 9 March, 2024, police received a report of Wadhawan having been seen with the victim in Lancing.

Officers engaged with the girl and her family, while Wadhawan was arrested later that evening. He was released on bail with strict conditions while further enquiries were carried out.

On Wednesday, 13 March, 2024, Wadhawan was found again with the girl on a bridge in Lancing and arrested.

He was charged with two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 and one count of child abduction, and remanded in custody.

Wadhawan pleaded guilty to all charges at Lewes Crown Court on 12 May and, at Hove Trial Centre on Tuesday (1 July), was jailed for 10 years, given an indefinite restraining order against the victim and will be a registered sex offender for life.

Detective Chief Inspector Mehdi Fallahi said:

“James Wadhawan is a predatory offender who targeted a young girl for his own vile gratification”.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to the victim and her family for their bravery and unwavering commitment throughout the investigation, which played a vital role in putting a dangerous man behind bars. I would also like to commend Investigator Sophie Williams on her diligent investigation.

“Sussex Police remains committed to protecting women and girls, which includes close work with our partners to ensure young people are safe from grooming and exploitation."

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A dog walker who raped a dementia suffering pensioner in her own home in a shocking attack is facing years behind bars.

Married grandfather Paul Woodmass hunted down the elderly stranger after chatting to her while they walked their pets a few weeks earlier.

As police spoke to the vulnerable victim hours later, Woodmass turned up outside her house, refused to give his name to police until he was arrested and was found to be in possession of a packet of condoms. He had denied rape despite his saliva being found inside her underwear.

After jurors at Newcastle Crown Court unanimously convicted the 66-year-old, of Linnel Drive, Lemington, Newcastle, of rape, Assistant Judge Advocate General Andrew Smith said: "It's inevitably going to be a long prison sentence."

The judge called on the probation service to assess Woodmass' dangerousness before he is sentenced in September, adding: "I'm sure he went away and obtained some condoms and came back because he was forensically aware and realised by that stage he could do what he wanted to with that lady. For that reason, I want a risk assessment."

During the trial jurors were told the complainant has dementia, which affects her memory but does not make her delusional. It was just after 3pm one afternoon that the pensioner called her son and said someone had been in her house and raped her.

The son and his wife rushed to her home, where she repeated the claim, saying someone had had sex with her and she didn't want it. Lee Fish, prosecuting, said: "The individual who had been in her house was this defendant, Paul Woodmass. It's possible she had met him while walking her dog, however she didn't know him.

"There can be no doubt he had been in her house because he admitted as much when interviewed by the police. He also chose to return to the area where she lived after the police had been called by her son.

"The prosecution case is this defendant deliberately targeted (her) because of her obvious vulnerability. For reasons that only he can really explain, he chose to go to her home even though he barely knew her.

"The prosecution case is that he had sex with her in her own home when she was not consenting and he couldn't possibly have believed she was. There is no suggestion she consented to sexual activity. Therefore, you may feel one of the crucial issues for you to decide is whether this defendant had sex with her that afternoon."

Jurors were told that earlier that afternoon, Woodmass had gone to a nearby house asking for the victim but he had gone to the wrong address. A neighbour then heard the complainant talking to a man - prosecutors say likely Woodmass - around 1.30pm and between 2pm and 2.30pm another neighbour saw a man with two small dogs walking down the pensioner's driveway. It was just after 3pm that the woman rang her son reporting that she had been raped.

Mr Fish said: "He must have spent at least half an hour in her house, it's possible he was there for longer. Not long after this defendant was seen walking down her drive, she was on the phone saying she had been raped by a strange man in her house.

"She said there had been a man there who left two dogs outside and had sex with her. She told him she didn't want it."

The court heard police arrived at the woman's home around 3.30pm. While she was struggling to recall certain details, she gave some details of what had happened.

Police spoke to neighbours and had identified the man with the two dogs as Woodmass after he was caught on ring doorbell footage. Mr Fish said later that day, police were still with the pensioner when "bizarrely, the defendant came to them". As an officer spoke to the pensioner, they saw Woodmass at the bottom of her driveway.

Mr Fish said: "The police officer ran straight outside, perhaps in disbelief the person they were looking for was at the bottom of the drive. The prosecution's case is the defendant's behaviour was immediately suspicious. He refused to give his name, saying he would only provide information if he was accused of committing a crime, a rather odd thing to say, you may think, members of the jury."

After being arrested, Woodmass said he had gone to the woman's home "to have a cup of tea". When he was searched, he was found to be in possession of a packet of condoms.

Mr Fish said: "He said he had found them in the street. He said he had no use for them because he was an old man. He referred to the complainant as "a bit senile".

The prosecutor said: "The prosecution say you may wish to ask why he returned later with condoms in his pocket and refused to give his name to police if he had just been for a cup of tea."

When interviewed by police, Woodmass denied having sex with her and said he had met her on a dog walk. He said he had taken up her offer of a cup of tea but when he got there, they just chatted.

Mr Fish said it's accepted the victim has memory problems and was inconsistent about where in the house the alleged rape happened. But he added: "There can be no doubt he was in her house, she barely knew him and shortly after he left she reported being raped. Later on, he returned with condoms in his pocket."

He added that Woodmass' saliva was found on the inside of the pensioner's underwear, which "is not consistent with having a cup of tea and giving her a hug".

Jurors were told about a previous incident with another woman Woodmass met while dog walking in 2021. She said they got talking, had a shared interest in music and he offered to share some of his music with her. When he attended her house with a device with some music on it, the woman said he asked her for a hug and she agreed but during the "prolonged" embrace, he kissed her twice on the neck, which she said she was not happy about.

The woman said he then turned up at her home another day out of the blue in a drunken state. She said he told her he had not had sex with his wife for 20 years and that he "needed intimacy". She told him he was making her feel uncomfortable and she believed he was asking for sex. She said he asked for a hug and she closed the door and locked it.

The woman said she got a family member to call him and they left a message telling him to leave her alone and she never saw him again. She reported her concerns to the police.

Woodmass was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on September 26.

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A “PREDATORY” rapist who attacked a highly vulnerable woman at night in the playground of a Bradford park has been sentenced to 12 years in jail.

A judge ruled that 35-year-old Ifzal Hussain posed a significant danger to the public and also imposed an extended licence period of six years.

Judge Christopher Smith said Hussain, formerly of Lynfield Drive, Bradford, would have to serve at least two-thirds of his 12-year sentence before the Parole Board would consider whether it was safe to release him.

The judge said he had no hesitation in concluding that Hussain posed a significant risk of causing serious harm due to the “predatory” nature of his crime.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Hussain, who had no previous convictions, had first met the woman in May last year when he got into the back of a taxi with her and sexually assaulted her.

Five months later the woman, who must not be identified for legal reasons, was waiting alone at a bus stop at night when Hussain went by in a friend’s car.

“You were emboldened, in my judgement, by how there had been no consequences for your behaviour in May,” the judge told Hussain.

“No sooner was your friend’s car out of sight than you decided to retrace your steps on foot to make for the bus stop.

“I’m satisfied that your journey towards the bus stop was a deliberate series of steps you took to once again see your victim.”

The judge said the woman had followed Hussain into the park where in the dark he raped her against the children’s play equipment.

Hussain was found guilty by a jury on Wednesday of rape and sexual assault charges in relation to the two separate incidents, and Judge Smith said he was entirely satisfied that the complainant had suffered severe psychological harm.

“I’m satisfied that you specifically targeted someone you knew to be particularly vulnerable when you raped her,” he told Hussain.

The judge noted that such an offence would also have had a “profoundly unsettling” effect on the community as a whole when they learned that a serious sexual offence had been committed in a park near their homes.

Hussain will now have to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life.

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A man who indecently assaulted a young girl in the 1980s has been brought to justice following an investigation by specialist safeguarding officers in Leeds.

Richard Brown, aged 60, of Kelmscott Avenue, Manston, was convicted of two counts of indecent assault against the victim after being found guilty by unanimous jury verdicts following a trial at Leeds Crown Court, which concluded on June 18.

The victim came forward in 2022 to disclose the abuse after hearing Brown was being investigated by the police on suspicion of possession of indecent images. The images investigation was not able to progress to charge.

Specialist officers at Leeds District Safeguarding Unit obtained a detailed account with the victim in a video recorded interview as part of a comprehensive investigation into the offences. Brown was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of indecent assault against a girl aged under 14.

The victim was granted special measures for the trial, which meant her video interview was considered as her main evidence and screens were used in the courtroom to keep her out of view of the offender and the public gallery.

Today, Brown was sentenced to two years and four months in prison and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order preventing any unsupervised contact with a female child under 16.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register and the victim was granted an indefinite Restraining Order banning Brown from having any contact with her.  

Detective Inspector Thomas Crosfill, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said:

“The victim in this case has had to live for many years with the knowledge of what Brown did to her as a child and the traumatic impact that has had on her life.

“When she was ready to come forward and disclose what had happened, specialist safeguarding officers were able to give her all the support necessary to give a detailed account and obtain the best evidence possible to secure these convictions against Brown.

“We hope it will give her some degree of comfort to know that he has now had to answer for his actions and been held criminally responsible for the harm he caused.

“We will always treat any reports of offences of this nature very seriously and do everything we can to get justice for victims and protect others from harm.

“We hope the successful outcome of this case will help other victims of similar offences to have the confidence to come forward, knowing they will be supported throughout the investigation and the court process.” 

Description

A child rapist from Birmingham has been jailed for 25 years.

Andrew Speers, 53, was found guilty of multiple offences including raping a child and possession of child sexual abuse material.

Speers was arrested in July last year after police raided his home address and a substantial amount of child sexual abuse material was recovered from his digital devices.

Following an investigation, police discovered he had also raped a child.

Speers, of Bell Court, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children but denied multiple offences of raping a child.

He was found guilty following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court in March.

He was sentenced to 25 years at the same court on July 10.

Speers will remain on the sex offender register for the rest of his life.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said:

"This was a truly horrendous case, but thankfully due to the bravery of the victim coming forward, we were able to ensure Speers has now been jailed.

"We would encourage anyone who has suffered sex offences to come forward and tell their story.

"We know reporting rape, sexual assault or another sexual crime like indecent exposure or upskirting can be daunting.

"We're here to support you whether you're ready to report it to us or if you'd prefer to talk to someone else.

"If you want to talk it through before deciding whether to report to us, you can talk to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service (ISVA) or another support service."

Description

A man has been jailed for almost two decades for abuse he committed more than 30 years ago.

David Wilkinson, now 56, initiated the abuse of the school-aged girl in the late 1980s when he was a teenager.

He raped and sexually assaulted the girl multiple times, including in the Newcastle area.

After living with the consequences of the abuse for most of her life, the victim bravery made a report to police in 2023.

In May last year, Wilkinson was charged in connection with the abuse.

Earlier this month, following a seven-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Wilkinson, of Wood Grove, Newcastle, was found guilty of 10 counts of non-recent child sex abuse.

The offences comprised of three counts of indecent assault and seven counts of rape – being that the offences occurred before the Sexual Offences Act was introduced in 2003.

On Friday (July 11), he returned to the same court where he was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment. He will also spend an extra year on licence as part of his extended sentence once he is released from custody.

Wilkinson will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and was handed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). The victim will also be protected by a lifelong restraining order.

Speaking after Wilkinson’s conviction, the victim shared these words:

“I’ve found writing this statement incredibly difficult. It has brought up so many emotions that I’ve been feeling and at times needed to bury due to the sexual abuse that happened to me when I was a child at the hands of David Wilkinson.

“I have had difficulty sleeping due to intrusive thoughts and flashbacks. I struggle to communicate with others about how I feel.

“Since the abuse, I have felt weak all my life. I don’t feel like I’ve achieved what I could’ve achieved in life. During and after the sexual abuse, my life spiralled.

“I had no respect for myself and was used to being treated like a piece of meat.”

She added:

“I believe if the abuse had not happened my life would have been so different, I feel I would have achieved more in life, I would have focused more at school and maintained healthy relationships with others and more importantly myself.

“David Wilkinson has committed horrific offences against me, and instead of admitting it and saving me a further ordeal of a trial, he watched as I was cross-examined and made to feel like I was on trial.

“He was a coward, and I feel like I have been so brave to stand up to him.

“I would like to thank my team for believing in me and bringing justice for me. I feel like I have belief in the justice system, and I have faith that the sentence given to David Wilkinson will reflect the impact that he has had on me and my life.”

Leading the case for Northumbria Police was Detective Constable Sarah Hails, from the Force’s Rape Investigation Team (RIT).

Speaking after the sentencing, she said: “I hope this case shows other people out there who may be hesitant to come forward that it’s never ever too late to make that report and look to have your abuser put before the courts.

“The victim struggled with the consequences of Wilkinson’s heinous crimes for most of her life – but bravely made the disclosure to us.

“Her voice has now been heard loud and clear – and it’s because of her that this predatory man is in prison.”

Det Con Hails added:

“No one should have to go through anything like this, and I'd urge anyone who has been a victim of any form of sexual offending to reach out, whether it happened today, yesterday, last year, or half a century ago.

“The clock never runs out on the support we can provide for you.”

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A man has been jailed for 14 years after he was found guilty of non-recent sex offences against four girls under 16.

Ben Cairns, 44, of St Mary’s Way, Old Leake, Boston, was convicted of seven offences at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday 11 July 2025.

These included six counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and one count of assault a child under 13 by penetration.

The offences took place between 2014 and 2020.

Cairns was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Sergeant Cherry Miller said:

“This sentencing marks the end of a long journey for the survivors, who have shown immense courage in coming forward and throughout the process, which has taken a very long time to get to this sentencing. The children have shown incredible strength and determination to report him to the police and support the investigation.

“Ben Cairns would be a free man if it was not for their bravery in giving their evidence and confronting their abuser. Cairns is a sexual predator who gained the trust of the victims and their families. He abused the trust placed in him to commit the most heinous of crimes, preying on their vulnerability.

“Thanks to these brave children and the support of their families, justice has finally been served. I hope this outcome brings them some measure of closure.”

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Pair who raped and sexually abused children jailed for almost 30 years.

“Speak to police – you will be believed, and it will be investigated. It doesn’t matter if it was four years or 40 years ago, just say something and get the justice you deserve.”

These are the words of a rape survivor who this week saw her abusers jailed for almost 30 years.

The woman was in primary school in the 1980s when she was raped and sexually assaulted by Neil Willis and Anthony Douglas.

The pair also sexually abused a boy, while Willis also assaulted two other young children.

The two rapists were living in Peterlee, County Durham, at the time of the abuse, with Willis, formerly known as Neil Blenkinsop, aged between 14 and 17, and Douglas aged 19 to 20.

Their offending came to light when one of the boys – who is now an adult – told police what happened to him in 2019.

An investigation was launched by Durham Constabulary, which led to three further survivors coming forward and disclosing that they too had been abused, and the pair were charged with a multitude of sexual offences.

Willis, aged 57, admitted some charges and was found guilty of others, including rape, indecent assault, buggery, and gross indecency with a child following a two-and-a-half-week trial at Newcastle Crown Court earlier this year.

Douglas denied all offences, but the 58-year-old was found guilty of several counts of rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency with a child.

The pair appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday (July 14) for sentencing; Willis, of Ealing, in London, was jailed for 13 years, while Douglas, of Hartlepool, was jailed for 16 years with a one-year extended licence.

They were also placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

In a powerful victim impact statement that was read out in court, one of the survivors said the pair had destroyed her life.

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A rapist from Dundee subjected a partner to months of violent torment and coercive control.

John Williamson choked the woman to the point of unconsciousness, took control of her money and isolated her from loved ones.

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An "extremely dangerous" predator is facing a long prison sentence after being convicted of raping a child. Daniel Carter was also found guilty of a string of other sexual offences against the victim.

Chester Crown Court was told Carter abused the girl - who was under 13 - over three years. He had denied all the allegations but was found guilty after a four-day trial.

Carter was found guilty by unanimous verdict of 10 counts of child sexual offences, including rape of a child under 13, exposure, sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Police began an investigation in November 2022 following a disclosure made by the victim. Carter, aged 28, of no fixed abode but from the Macclesfield area, has been remanded in custody and is set to be sentenced on September 12.

Following the verdict, Detective Constable Steph Darbyshire said: “Firstly, I want to commend the victim for her bravery and courage shown throughout this investigation and trial. Sadly, there are no winners in this case, however I truly hope this result will provide her closure.

"I would like to thank the victim’s family who have whole-heartedly supported her and the investigation throughout. I would also like to thank my team and all those involved in securing this verdict – an immense amount of work has gone into ensuring the victim and other innocent children are safeguarded from what is an extremely dangerous sexual predator.

“Carter has shown no remorse for the horrific acts of abuse he subjected his victim to, and denied everything throughout the investigation, traumatising his victim further by putting her through a trial.

“Thankfully, the jury were able to see through his lies, and he will finally be held accountable for what he’s done.

“I hope this result will enable the victim to move past this part of her life, with the comfort of knowing Carter will never be able to hurt her again.”

As well as his sentence, Carter has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Description

A convicted sex offender who had online chats about sex with volunteers from four paedophile hunter groups posing as schoolgirls has been jailed for three years.

Sentencing Daniel Gibbs, Recorder Emma Nash described him as a danger to children and said if the decoy children had been real they would have been caused significant trauma.

She said that in the chats Gibbs had told the decoy girls to delete the messages he had sent them because he knew what he was doing was wrong and that he could go to prison.

“You don’t consider yourself a danger to children. I disagree with you,” said the judge.

 Gibbs,  33, of Crown Street, Stowmarket admitted three offences of attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and sending naked pictures of himself.

In addition to jailing Gibbs, Recorder Nash made him the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 20 years and ordered him to sign the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

Marc Brown, prosecuting at Ipswich Crown Court , said Gibbs  was arrested after he had online chats about sex with volunteers from paedophile hunter groups “Angels of Innocence” and “Justice Reborn” who were posing as schoolgirls.

In the chats Gibbs had claimed to be a swimming coach and after telling one of the girls he believed to be 13 that she was cute he had sent her a naked picture of himself and asked her about her school uniform and her underwear.

Gibbs had told another decoy child who told him she was ten that he wanted to see her vagina, knickers and school uniform.

When the girl said she was in the bath he had persistently tried to video call her and then accused her of wasting his time.

In chats with a decoy posing as another 13-year-old girl he had sent a picture of his erect penis and had encouraged to touch herself in a sexual way.

The court heard that in 2007 when he was 15 Gibbs had sexually assaulted a girl under 13 and later that year he had raped a boy under 13.

The court was told  Gibbs was genuinely remorseful and had been lonely and bored at the time of the recent offence which were committed after he had kept out of trouble for 17 years.

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A man has been sentenced to twenty years in prison for multiple counts of rape following a South Wales Police investigation.

Aaron Gaughan, 45, of Barry, was sentenced to 20 years - 15 years in custody and a five-year extended sentence - at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday July 14, 2025. He has also had an indefinite restraining order imposed against him to protect his victim.

The trial followed not guilty pleas entered on November 26, 2024 to the offences of three counts of rape, engaging in controlling/ coercive behaviour, two counts of assault and stalking involving serious alarm and distress. He was found guilty of all counts following an eight day trial.

He had previously pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified and driving a motor vehicle without insurance.

DC Brittany Brewer said:

“Aaron Gaughan is a dangerous individual who controlled every aspect of his victim’s life. He has shown no remorse or empathy for the campaign of abuse he has inflicted.

We applaud the courage of the victim in this case who has shown remarkable strength in attending court and providing evidence to the jury.

We hope they can finally achieve some peace and rebuild their life following the significant sentence passed by HHJ Lucy Crowther today”.

The victim read out the following impact statement in court:

“I am starting to feel like a different person since all the trauma Aaron Gaughan has put me through.

However, that doesn’t take away from the overwhelming anxiety and stress I have suffered over the last couple of years. I find it very difficult to sleep and as a result of this I am on different and more medication. I have continuous nightmares and a massive fear of leaving my home.

When I was in a relationship with Aaron Gaughan, I felt like a prisoner in my own home which I shall be receiving counselling for, I am still in fear of him to this day. Throughout the relationship Aaron has made me feel worthless and controlled my mind.

I just hope that now Aarons is sentenced that myself and my daughter can go on to have a normal life without living in fear. I can focus all my attention on my daughter and giving her the up bringing she deserves.”

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A man groomed a 12-year-old child in Lancaster and then tried to cover his tracks by asking his victim to delete pictures, chats and videos.

Thomas Freret, 39, is now behind bars after pleading guilty to several offences. 

The offences, which happened in Lancaster, date back to 2020 when the victim was just 12-years-old.

Freret groomed the victim for sexualised chats, pictures and videos and told the victim to delete the messages in a bid to cover his tracks.

Enquiries found that Freret, who lived at an address in Elche, Spain, until his arrest on November 10, had been issued with a sexual offences prevention order in 2013. This banned him from using the internet to contact or attempt to contact any child known or believed to be under the age of 16, which this latest offending put him in breach of.

On July 14, he was jailed for six years at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breach of a sexual offences prevention order.

During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, Freret was also put on the sex offenders register for life and made subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

DS John Barton, from the police’s west internet child exploitation team, said: “Freret groomed and exploited a vulnerable child for his own sordid sexual interests. Despite residing in Spain, officers worked tirelessly to ensure he faced justice back here in Lancashire and now he is behind bars where he belongs.”

“Freret is one of a growing number of offenders we’ve put before the courts and I hope this case sends a strong message that our team will continue to relentlessly pursue those who prey on vulnerable young children online.”

The man pictured is 39-year-old Thomas Freret and he is a sex offender.

Yesterday (14th July) he was jailed for six years at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The offences, which happened in Lancaster, date back to 2020 when the victim was just 12 years old.

Freret groomed the victim for sexualised chats, pictures and videos and told the victim to delete the messages in a bid to cover his tracks.

Enquiries found that Freret, who lived at an address in Elche, Spain, until his arrest on 10th November 2024, had been issued with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order in 2013. This banned him from using the internet to contact or attempt to contact any child known or believed to be under the age of 16, which this latest offending put him in breach of.

During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, Freret was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and made subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

DS John Barton, from our West Internet Child Exploitation Team, said:

“Freret groomed and exploited a vulnerable child for his own sordid sexual interests. Despite residing in Spain, officers worked tirelessly to ensure he faced justice back here in Lancashire and now he is behind bars where he belongs.”

“Freret is one of a growing number of offenders we’ve put before the courts and I hope this case sends a strong message that our team will continue to relentlessly pursue those who prey on vulnerable young children online.”