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A 60-year-old man from Trowbridge  has been jailed, after he admitted sexually abusing a girl under the age of 13.

Appearing before Salisbury Crown Court two weeks ago, Stephen Hudd, was sentenced to a total of 13 years and 9 months imprisonment for a catalogue of sexual offences against his young victim.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 years of age, three counts of causing a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of assault by penetration.

He will serve at least 12 years and 9 months in custody and be released on licence for a year following this term.

Hudd will also be placed on the Sex Offenders register, preventing him from working unsupervised with children or young people.

In a powerful personal statement read to the court, the girl’s mother said:

"Although my daughter is the victim in all of this, these events and the trauma it has caused has n ot just impacted her. This has had a devastating effect on our entire family, and it has blown our world apart.

“The consequences of his actions have had a huge ripple effect and continue to affect every part of our lives. It is truly heartbreaking. He has ruined everything for her - how she views men, how she views the world, and he has taken the innocence of her childhood away.”

DC Danielle Swanborough said:

"Hudd's selfish and predatory actions have been devastating for his victim and those around her.

“I would like to praise the bravery of the survivor of this abuse and the support we have been given by her family during this investigation. Hudd will now serve a significant amount of time in prison.”

Description

On 11th August 2025, officers from the Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders unit were on a routine visit to Woolley when they found that his phone had a social media app with deleted messages.

His phone was seized for forensic examination, which resulted in six victims who were found to have been contacted by Woolley.

He was charged with eight breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and six counts of sexual communication with a child under 16 years.

Today (Tuesday 31st March), Woolley was sentenced to 28 months in prison at Teesside Crown Court.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Carl Middleton, said:

“Regular checks on those who are subject to sex offender notification requirements mean that we can protect the public by identifying any further offences which may have been committed to bring offenders to justice. I am pleased that other potential victims have now been safeguarded from Woolley’s persistent offending.”

Description

A 44-year-old man from Chandler’s Ford has been jailed for 20 months for two breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Craig Sankey, of Devon Close, was sentenced when he appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Friday 27 March.

He had pleaded guilty to the offences at a previous hearing at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 17 February,

Sankey was made subject to a ten-year SHPO on Friday 13 September 2024 following conviction for engaging in sexual communications with a child.

As part of the conditions of the SHPO, he is required to notify police within three days of acquiring any new mobile phone or other internet-enabled device.

On Tuesday 4 November 2025, Sankey had failed to inform police of a new phone and computer and was arrested.

PC Sean Davies, of the Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders team, said:

“We take the management of sex offenders incredibly seriously, and invest significant resources in doing so, in order to keep the public safe.

“Officers will often make unannounced visits to offenders where they may be subject to an intrusive investigative interview process.

“This helps us understand an offender’s routine, interests and behaviours, so we can closely monitor them.

“On this occasion, we visited Sankey’s home and quickly established that he had deliberately and knowingly breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

“These orders are put in place to protect the public and ensure that individuals do not reoffend.

“Where they choose to disregard them, they are rightly punished and I am pleased that Sankey is behind bars.”

Description

An Exeter man has been sentenced to a total of eight-and-a-half years in prison for rape and other offences.

Colby Hill, 22, of no fixed abode in Exeter, also known as Colby Seatherton, was found guilty at a trial at Exeter Crown Court on Tuesday 3 February on two counts of rape of a woman, charges he denied.

Appearing before the court for sentencing on Monday 30 March, he was imprisoned for eight-and-a-half years, plus one year’s extended licence and made subject of an indefinite restraining order as a result.

Hill was also jailed for intentional strangulation and two other non-sexual charges, to which he pled guilty at the start of the trial.

Detective Constable Jay McGhie, who led the investigation said:

“We welcome the sentence that he has been given which follows Hill’s conviction following a thorough investigation.

“Today’s positive outcome is a testimony to the strength shown by the victim in this case, not only in coming forward to report this but also for showing great resilience throughout the judicial process.

“We take all such incidents seriously and would encourage victims to come forward – you will be listened to, you will be believed and your reports will be investigated.

“Devon & Cornwall Police is committed to working the criminal justice system to make our communities safer.”

Description

An Uber Eats delivery driver who returned to a customer's address in Boston and raped her after a delivery has been jailed.

Jitendrakumar Prajapati, 47, of Castle Square, Wyberton West Road, Boston, appeared before Lincoln Crown Court on 27 March. He was sentenced to a five-year custodial sentence, reduced to three years and eight months after pleading guilty to rape. He was also sentenced concurrently for 18 months for sexual assault and served a deportation order.

The court heard how that Prajapati’s vulnerable victim had used the delivery service just after lunchtime on 19 January. He struck up conversation with her, stating that he’d just moved to the area and didn’t know anyone, that he needed help getting a visa and help to work. He asked for the victim’s Instagram account details, and they swapped phone numbers, playing on the good nature of the victim - to be able to keep in touch about helping him with his visa application.

He returned to the property at around 5pm the same day where they engaged in general conversation for a while before things took a sinister turn and he raped his victim.

After leaving the property, he sent a message to his victim saying, “Hey I am sorry”.  He then changed his WhatsApp username and enabled ‘disappearing chat after 24 hours’. More messages were exchanged where the victim accused him of raping her. His responses were apologetic and begging her not to tell.

Thanks to the courage of this young woman, police were notified, and swift investigative work identified the vehicle that he had used to make the initial delivery, which was traced to Prajapati. He was swiftly in custody by around 9pm, having been arrested on suspicion of rape and non-fatal strangulation, a charge which was later dropped at court.

The detective investigating this case, Detective Constable Jessica McKiernan, said:

“Bringing this offender to justice was made possible by the extraordinary courage shown by the victim in coming forward at the earliest opportunity. Her trust in us allowed our officers to begin swift and focused inquiries, which led to the suspect being located within hours. Her bravery has been vital in ensuring he is now held to account. We hope this outcome offers her some sense of reassurance as she moves forward on her own terms.”

Description

A teenager who was the victim of a sexual assault was praised by a judge during the sentencing of the man who attacked her. 

The girl had to give evidence to a jury in the trial of Jonathon Wignall (pictured) at Preston Crown Court.

When jailing Wignall in a hearing last week, Judge Graham Knowles KC, commended the victim for her bravery and confidence in the manner she gave her evidence.

She was 15 when Wignall assaulted her at a house in Preston in 2023.

In a Victim Personal Statement read to the court, the girl spoke about having to give evidence at the trial.

She said:

“I wish you’d told the truth from the very start.

“Not only did you put me through such an horrific thing when I was only 15 years of age, but by lying and trying to avoid the truth at every opportunity, you have dragged this out through a trial and forced me to give evidence in a court room and tell a room full of strangers what you did to me.

“Fortunately, I knew I was strong enough and once I’d stopped shaking in the witness box, I knew it was worth it to get justice for what you’d done.”

Wignall, 35, formerly of Stocks Road, Preston, was found guilty of sexual activity with a child and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child after a trial in February.

Appearing back in the dock for sentence last Thursday (26th March), he was jailed for four years and six months, made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 20 years, and put on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.

Det Con Chris Mills of our south division’s Child Protection Team, said:

“Wignall behaved in a disgusting way towards his young victim, and she then had to relive her experience by giving evidence at the trial.

“Lancashire Police take all reports of sexual assaults seriously, we will support victims and investigates reports thoroughly in a bid to bring offenders to justice.” 

Description

A former Wakefield man has been sentenced for non-recent sex offences against a child.  

Jeffrey Fisher committed the offences in Wakefield district during the 1980s.  

The victim came forward to report the offences almost 40 years later sparking an investigation by officers from Wakefield’s District Safeguarding Unit.  

Fisher was traced to an address in Lancashire and summonsed to court for a number of non-recent sex offences which he denied.  

Following a trial at Leeds Crown Court in December 2025, he was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault of a girl under 14, said to have taken place between 1981 and 1982; indecent assault of a girl under 16, said to have taken place between 1982 and 1984; and one count of rape of a female aged over 16, said to have taken place against a teenage girl in 1984.    

Appearing before Leeds Crown Court for sentencing yesterday ( 30 March) , Fisher, aged 64, of Kincraig Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.  

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and was made subject of a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Detective Khi Smith, on behalf of the Wakefield District Safeguarding Unit, said:

“I’d like to thank the victim for coming forward and providing an account of her abuse at the hands of Fisher. It wasn’t easy for her having to endure a lengthy court process but she showed courage and resilience in giving evidence against him after all these years. It is because of this bravery that we have been able to secure justice.  

“Fisher’s predatory actions make him a risk to children. I’m pleased that he is now behind bars for the harm he has caused.  

“I would also like to thank Victim Support for their vital work in supporting this case.  

“It is never too late to report sexual offending. West Yorkshire Police has dedicated safeguarding teams in every district who are specially trained to work with victims of non-recent offending. We are ready to work with victims whenever victims feel it is the right time to come forward.”

Description

A 67-year-old man who asked a 15-year-old boy for sex after the “kind” youth stopped to check if he was alright has been jailed for three years.

Richard Henderson, from Warkworth, had been agitated after an altercation with a group of youths unconnected to the victim at Morpeth Bus Station. The boy, on his way home from school, saw he was “upset” and “approached to ask if he was alright,” Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Their conversation quickly turned sexual when Henderson propositioned the teenager for sex. The boy was immediately “anxious and upset,” left the scene and told his mother what had happened that night.

In a victim statement read to the court, the youth said he was an “innocent kid” who “just wanted to get the bus home” but had been left “intimidated and scared” and “traumatised” by the advances. He added he could no longer get the bus or ask anyone how they felt.

Henderson, who has 40 previous offences including causing more than £100,000 damage to Warkworth Church (for which he received a suspended sentence in December 2024), denied the charge but was convicted of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Judge Gavin Doig said the boy had approached Henderson “out of kindness” and that Henderson had turned matters sexual. He added that the only person lying was the defendant.

Henderson was also ordered to sign the sex offender register and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for the rest of his life.

Description

A former Hampshire police inspector who sexually assaulted young men in custody during unnecessary strip-searches has been convicted of sexual offences and misconduct.

Gerard Hutchings, 66, abused 18 victims at police stations between 1999 and 2007.

A jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty of five counts of indecent assault, five of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one of misconduct in public office. He had already admitted 17 further counts of misconduct in public office and will be sentenced on 24 July.

The victims, aged 17 to 31, had been arrested for minor offences and attended stations for cautions or reprimands. Eight told the trial they were strip-searched without justification.

One man, arrested for shoplifting, said:

He was trying to humiliate me. I do believe he took great pleasure in pointing out what a piece of scum I was and people like me should not walk the earth, or words to that effect. I have been strip-searched before and there was no following of the rules whatsoever. He never took any interest in my clothing.

Hutchings was jailed for 16 months in 2008 after admitting 11 misconduct charges; prosecutors then accepted not-guilty pleas to 11 sexual offences. He was sacked by Hampshire Police in 2007 after 28 years service.

A new investigation began in 2020 after another allegation. Detectives identified the 18 victims from 373 names in his police notebook.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Rob France said:

Hutchings behaviour was vile and degrading and clearly nowhere near the expectation we have of our officers. Thanks to the bravery of the victims in recalling their experience, and the hard work of investigators, Hutchings now faces another spell in prison for his awful behaviour.

Description

A Registered Sex Offender has been jailed for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. 

Anthony Kirkbright, 58, (pictured) began a friendship with a vulnerable woman after his release from prison in 2025.

She was unaware of his past until officers made an urgent disclosure to her last October.

Despite her telling Kirkbright that she no longer wanted him to visit he continued to attend at her address and sent numerous unwanted text messages.

Kirkbright also contacted social services, attempting to cancel a care package she had in relation to her health which caused considerable disruption to her.

The unwanted contact put him in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which had been imposed on him following convictions for previous offences, including sexual assault.

One of the conditions of the SHPO was ‘not to continue to associate or seek association with any female after being told by her that the association is unwelcome to her’.

Kirkbright was arrested on 5th November on suspicion of breaching the SHPO. He was then charged and remanded.

At Preston Crown Court last Thursday (26th March), Kirkbright, formerly of Great Bolton Street, Blackburn, appeared for sentence after pleading guilty to breaching the Sexual Harm Prevention Order at an earlier hearing.

He was jailed for 30 months and made subject of a further Sexual Harm Prevention Order until 2036 – Kirkbright also remains subject to Sex Offender Notification Requirements.

Lisa Parrington, Offender Manager for the Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) team, said: “

Kirkbright is a dangerous offender who uses persistence and lies to gain access to women. He continues to pose a very high risk to women, and I welcome the prison sentence imposed on him by the court.

“Lancashire Police take reports of violence against women and girls extremely seriously, it is a priority of the force.

“We will investigate thoroughly all reports made to us in order to try and bring offenders to justice and provide support to victims.”

Description

A former special constable with Northamptonshire Police has been convicted of multiple sex offences.

In 2020, Northamptonshire Police received intelligence regarding potential illegal images of children possessed by 48-year-old Wissem Bonafia.

In August, they attended his address in Barton Seagrave where he was arrested and multiple electronic devices were seized.

Upon inspection, they were found to contain numerous indecent images and videos of various females from prepubescent age up to the age of 17, many of which Bonafia had taken himself.

The offences took place between 2014 and 2019.

Bonafia was arrested and subsequently charged with six counts of raping a woman aged 16 years or over, one count of assault by penetration of an object/thing, six counts of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm, five counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child, four counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child, one count of causing/inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child and one count of committing an act/series of acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice.

A trial date was set for February 16, 2026, which saw a further two charges added - one count of rape, and one count of causing/inciting a child to engage in non-sexual activity.

On day one, Bonafia pleaded guilty to six of the offences - five counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child and one count of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm.

The remaining 21 were taken to trial with the jury hearing the evidence over the course of two weeks.

As the trial progressed, Bonafia pleaded guilty to a further four counts of assaulting a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm.

Today (March 30), Bonafia was found guilty of a further 12 offences.

He was found not guilty of three counts of rape, one of engaging in sexual communication with a child and one of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.

Lead investigator - Detective Constable Caroline Knight said:

“First of all I would like to thank the women in this case for their resilience and patience while our investigation took place. It has taken a long time to bring it to trial and I cannot speak about them highly enough.

“They have shown great bravery in supporting our case and providing their evidence in court, despite experiencing the most heinous of crimes perpetrated by a person who knew what he was doing was wrong.

“They were all vulnerable in their own way and should be proud of what they have done to get it to this point. I want to thank them for staying on board and in times of hesitation, believing in and continuing with the process.

“Without them giving their evidence and remaining stoic in the witness box whilst experiencing thorough cross examination, we would not have had as good a case as we did.

“I also want to thank Jeff Wells from our Digital Forensics Unit. Without his diligence at the beginning of this investigation, we would never have identified these children. Also Michelle Mallison from the same team for providing additional evidence for court and standing in as Jeff’s replacement at the last minute. And retired DI Helena Congreve and my other supervisors, who supported me through the investigation. 

“And finally to our KC Sam Skinner and his colleague Laura Blackband who prosecuted this case marvellously.

“We will now prepare for sentencing, and I hope this case demonstrates our determination to bring those responsible for sexual crimes, no matter who they are, to justice.”

Detective Inspector Lee Jones said: “This has been a really complex investigation with a lot of moving parts, and I am grateful to DC Knight for her diligence, victim care and unwavering determination to bring Wissem Bonafia to justice.

“Bonafia’s crimes are a disgrace to the uniform he once wore, and I hope this investigation and subsequent result at court reassures the wider public that we will do all we can to root out individuals like him.

“We have a lot of brilliant special constables in this force who continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, and for them and their work, we are really grateful.”

Bonafia resigned from special constable duties on November 9, 2021. An accelerated gross misconduct hearing was held by Northamptonshire Police on February 16, 2023, which determined that, had Bonafia still been a serving police officer, he would have been dismissed without notice.

Description

A 36-year-old man has been jailed after admitting breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and making indecent images of a child.

Mark Anthony Sinclair, formerly of Kettering, was issued a SHPO in January 2024 at Wood Green Crown Court after he was convicted of a sexual offence involving a child under 16.

The 10-year SHPO was issued with certain conditions he was required to abide by, including not deleting his internet history or having unsupervised contact or communication with any child under the age of 18.

However, in May last year, Sinclair engaged with someone who he believed to be a 12-year-old girl in an online chat room before moving the conversation on to a private messaging app.

What he didn’t realise, however, was the profile he was sending messages of a sexual nature to, was in fact a covert operation to safeguard and protect children from online predators. 

Evidence of the SHPO breach was passed on to Northamptonshire Police’s MOSOVO team who arrested Sinclair on May 21. His mobile phone was seized which on further investigation was found to contain indecent images of children.

He was subsequently charged with one count of breaching his SHPO, one count of being an adult attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child as well as three counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child.

And the next day (May 22) Sinclair appeared before Northampton Magistrates’ Court, where his case was transferred to Northampton Crown Court for trial, however on July 24, he pleaded guilty to all charges.

Last month (February 25) Sinclair returned to the same court for sentencing and was jailed for 44 months. He was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.

PC Holly Morgan-Humphrey from the Force’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), who led the investigation, said:

“Mark Sinclair thought he was sending private messages of a sexual nature to an unknown 12-year-old girl he befriended in an online chat room.

“Although thankfully there was not a real child in this case, it does not lessen the seriousness of it at all as the content of his messages were not only extremely concerning but also showed a total disregard for the court order put in place to protect children from him.

“I hope this case reassures the public that we are working proactively to continue to keep children in Northamptonshire safe from online predators and to bring anyone who threatens that safety to justice.”

Description

Thomas Serpell, 28, sent sexualised messages to a nine-year-old boy, asking him to “be his boyfriend”, to kiss him and if he could see him naked. The messages were described in court as “sexual and disturbed”.

Serpell later told the boy to delete the messages and not tell his mother, which the child did. He then claimed the messages were a “joke”. When reported to police, Serpell denied any messages had been sent.

At Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, the victim was said to have been left “confused and uncomfortable”. In a victim personal statement, the boy said he was now scared to go out alone, was struggling to eat and sleep, had become more isolated and at times “feels he doesn’t want to be here anymore”. There were concerns about self-harming.

Judge Paul Hobson told Serpell: “You only have to think how frightening and disturbing this episode must have been for that child. The impact on him has been significant.”

Serpell, of Regent Street, Aberaman, Aberdare, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child. He was previously of good character.

In mitigation, Nick Gedge said the offence occurred shortly after his client suffered an epileptic seizure. He added that Serpell knew what he had done was wrong and expressed “remorse and regret”. Mr Gedge said his client had been bullied at school and by his father because of his sexuality.

Judge Hobson rejected the mitigation, saying: “You claim you sent these messages after coming out of an epileptic seizure. I do not accept your illness had an impact on your behaviour or your recollection of what you did… Epilepsy does not cause people to sexually offend against children, you have sought to minimise your behaviour.”

Serpell was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. He was also made subject to a restraining order, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements, each for 10 years.

Description

A man has been jailed after being found guilty of raping a man in Leeds.  

Abdi Wahab Abdulla, aged 31, of Harehills Avenue, Leeds, was found guilty following a four-day trial at Leeds Crown Court of rape and attempt rape. He previously pleaded guilty to a charge of theft against the same victim.  

He was sentenced today to seven and a half years imprisonment and will be added to the Sex Offenders Register.

The offences happened on the morning of 14 January 2023. The victim, who was 19-years-old at the time, had been on a night out and fallen asleep inside the Queens Arcade in Leeds city centre.  

CCTV footage shows Abdulla enter the arcade and approach the victim, before searching him and putting items in his pocket.  

The victim woke up at this point, and Abdulla is seen helping him to his feet and walking out with him.  

Abdulla has gone on to follow the victim over some distance, initially threatening him with a knife and orally raping him near the Merrion Centre before attempting to anally rape him in Woodhouse Moor Park. It is after the oral rape that the victim has realised that his phone, keys and credit card were missing from his pocket.  

The victim reported the offences to the police later that day.  

Abdulla was made a suspect as a result of officers positively identifying him in CCTV images, and he was arrested on 12 February 2023. He was later also the subject of a forensic DNA hit.  

The Judge commended the detectives involved in the investigation.

Detective Constable Jack Powell, of Leeds Safeguarding, said:

“The victim was by his own admission, and verified by CCTV footage, heavily intoxicated at the time of these offences, leaving him in an extremely vulnerable state and unable to consent to any sexual activity.  

“Abdulla has taken advantage of this, firstly stealing the victim’s property before threatening him at knifepoint and subjecting him to horrific sexual offences. The way Abdulla followed him over a considerable period of time demonstrates a predatory nature and shows the danger that he poses.  

“These offences have had a huge impact on the victim, and I know no sentence can or will ever make up for the awful ordeal that he has suffered. I hope though that he is reassured that Abdulla has been held accountable for what he did and that he feels safer knowing that Abdulla is now in prison.  

“The victim received specialist safeguarding support throughout this investigation, and I would urge anyone who has been the victim of any sexual offence to please come forward so that you can also be safeguarded. Offences against boys and men in particular are believed to be under-reported. I want to reassure male victims that you are not alone and that there should be no stigma in coming forward.”  

Description

A Hove man has been jailed after admitting sexually assaulting multiple women in public spaces.

Fattah Derrahi, 59, a British national of Farm Road in Hove, was charged with 11 counts of sexual assault against 11 women over a four-year period 

Between September, 2021, and October, 2025, Derrahi primarily targeted women who were exercising or post-exercise, often engaging them in conversation by complimenting their ‘energy’.

Derrahi would engineer physical situations including helping the women stretch, dance or conduct breathing exercises, before sexually assaulting them.

Many of the sexual assaults took place along the seafront, particularly around the Hove Lawns area.

Derrahi was arrested in November, 2025, subsequently charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and remanded in custody.

Appearing at a pre-trial preparatory hearing at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, 15 December, Derrahi admitted nine charges. He later admitted a further two charges relating to incidents in 2021.

At the same court on Friday (27 March), he was sentenced to six years in prison.

Detective Inspector Jenny Pietersen said:

“Brighton and Hove is a safer place now that Fattah Derrahi has been brought to justice.

“I want to extend my gratitude to the brave women who came forward and reported Mr Derrahi for his heinous behaviour. Today we received justice for those involved and all women using open spaces in our communities. 

“We remain committed to improving our service to women and girls in Sussex, working with our partners to prevent crime in the first place, provide support to victims and catch perpetrators.”