Latest Offenders

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A 13-year-old girl was left "shaking" with fear after discovering the "friend" she was chatting with on Snapchat was actually a 29-year-old man.

The teen believed she was messaging a girl her age until Blake Potbury chillingly asked: "What if this wasn't the person you thought it was?"

Potbury, of Horace Black Gardens in Ellesmere Port, used his stepdaughter's phone to add the girl as a friend on October 16, 2023. After revealing his identity, he asked "whether she had a boyfriend, what was the oldest boy with whom she had done anything, and what she had done." He urged her not to tell anyone, but she immediately informed her mother, who contacted police.

Now 31, Potbury denied sexual communications with a child, claiming the girl lied to cover her "inappropriate" behavior. He was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court last month and sentenced on August 22.

Prosecutor Frances Wilmot described the victim's impact:

"The victim tells about how the offence affected her confidence, her being scared to live in the house for a length period of time. It took about a year before she felt she could leave the house. It's affected what clothes she would wear and the friends that she would see. She describes becoming sad and depressed, she couldn't believe that had happened to her, was closed off and didn't want to talk about it."

Defense attorney Oliver King noted:

"His report doesn't make for particularly good reading. At the heart of his offending seems to be class A drugs, and when he takes drugs his risk of harm is significantly elevated." He added: "The offence was relatively short in duration and came to an end without explicit messages exchanged and without any images being sent. It didn't get that far. This was nipped in the bud, it seems, fairly quickly when this girl told her mum. His phone was seized and examined and there's nothing on that phone to suggest a wider interest in children."

Judge David Knifton KC said:

"You sent a Snapchat request to the girl from your stepdaughter's phone, knowing that she was only 13. However she became concerned when she received the message, 'what if this wasn't the person you thought it was?' When she asked, you revealed your true identity accompanied by a photo of your face. You then proceed to send her a series of messages, accompanied by Xs and kisses, in which you questioned her about whether she had a boyfriend, what was the oldest boy with whom she had done anything, and what she had done. You also send several messages asking her to promise she would not tell anyone that you have connected or messaged her."

The judge added:

"Despite your outrageous suggestion that you were only questioning her out of concern or that she had been posing inappropriate questions, the jury concluded your motive was your own sexual gratification. But for the girl's decision to tell her mother, I have no doubt you would have continued to communicate with her. She was shocked and shaking when she saw the messages, which she said made her feel confused, upset, and scared about your intentions towards her. She describes feeling scared to leave her house. She also describes a loss of confidence, withdrawing from her friends, and becoming self conscious. She suffered the additional upset of a detailed interview with the police, and on being cross-examined that she had fabricated her account to conceal her own alleged wrongdoing. I'm quite sure she had never been involved in any inappropriate behaviour as you sought to attest in your trial."

Potbury had prior convictions for 12 offenses, including unlawful wounding in 2023 (suspended sentence in January 2024) and possession of a"large machete knife" (52-week prison term in November 2024). At the time of messaging, he was on bail. The judge noted: "You're assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm regarding your behaviour towards female children. It's noted in the updated report that you have the capability to act violently while children are present, that your drug use is a major concern, and that your offending occurred while under the influence of cocaine. Significantly your continued cocaine use is linked to your risk of serious harm."

Potbury was sentenced to 12 months in prison and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order.

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The man pictured is Danny Dunne and he is a paedophile.

You won’t see him on the streets of East Lancashire any time soon because he is today starting a long stretch in prison after officers from our East RASSO (Rape and Serious Sexual Offences) Team put him before the courts.

Dunne committed a number of sexual offences against a child in Pendle between 2009 and 2019.

After suffering in silence, the brave victim informed police of what Dunne had done to him in June 2024.

Dunne, 28, of Glen Street, Colne, was confronted about his offending and confirmed it was true.

He appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court earlier this year where he pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Dunne appeared back at the same court today (22nd August) where he was given a sentence totalling nearly 17 years. He was jailed for 10 years and eight months and given an extended licence period of seven years. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

DC Dan Healey, of the East RASSO Team, said:

“I would like to pay tribute to the victim for coming forward and showing incredible bravery in facing the abuser and to see justice through to the end after being subjected to the abhorrent offences committed by Danny Dunne.

“The victim is now able to look forward with life and begin the process of seeking closure. In contrast, Dunne will hopefully reflect on the horrendous crimes he has committed, from within his prison cell.

“Lancashire Police want people to know, that if you report a sexual offence, then we will do all we can to ensure justice is sought, whether it's a recent offence or a non-recent offence, all reports are treated the same and we will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice."

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A transgender woman who failed to disclose her gender status to a male sexual partner has been found guilty of sexual assault today at Teesside Crown Court.

Ciara Watkin, 21, of Walton Street, Stockton-on-Tees, was found guilty of multiple charges relating to sexual acts that she performed on the 21-year old man over a number of days in June 2022. The sexual assault charges were brought after Watkin failed to disclose her transgender status to the man, which meant that he could not have given informed consent to the sexual activity between them.

The court heard how the pair had initially met over Snapchat, exchanging messages over a couple of weeks before meeting at a house in Thornaby. After drinking and chatting, the pair went to the bedroom of the property where Watkin told the defendant that she was on her period, preventing him from touching her below the waist as she performed sexual acts upon him. A few days later, Watkin attended the victim’s home where further sexual activity took place.

Following this, Watkin initially blocked all contact with the man but eventually got back in touch with him, before telling him during an exchange of text messages that she was transgender and that she had male genitalia.

Sarah Nelson, Senior Crown Prosecutor at CPS North East, said:

“It is clear from the evidence in this case that, prior to engaging in sexual activity with the victim, Watkin had made no attempt to inform him of her transgender status.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has shown that, by failing to disclose this to him, it would not have been possible for him to give informed consent to sexual activity.

“The victim has made clear in police interview that he would not have engaged in sexual activity had he known that Watkin was transgender and, consequently, these events have had a significant impact on his mental wellbeing.

“We hope that he can take some comfort from seeing Watkin convicted for these serious sexual offences today.”

Watkin will be sentenced on 10th October at Teesside Crown Court.

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A 44-year-old data analyst, Karl Grocott, sent an image of Simpsons character Mr. Burns to "indicate his evil plan was working" before attempting to meet a "12-year-old boy" at Edge Lane McDonald's in Liverpool.

He boasted to the boy, "Kade," that he was a 27-year-old STEM teacher who "liked to kiss boys' bodies," but was actually communicating with undercover police.

Prosecutor Christopher Taylor told Liverpool Crown Court that Grocott had two conversations: one with "Kade" and one with adult "John," to whom he claimed abusing boys at parties and shopping centers, sending the Mr. Burns image as a "suggestion his evil plan was working."

After weeks of communication, Grocott arranged to meet "Kade" on May 10, 2024, planning sexual activity in a hotel room. Police arrested him nearby, seizing two Motorola phones; a hotel search found a condom, lubricant, and chocolate.

Grocott believed "Kade" was 12, claimed prior abuse of a pupil in Blackpool, sent naked torso images and sexual emojis, and promised "fun for hours" with "no pressure" for sex.

With five prior convictions for nine offenses, including making indecent images of children and breaching a sexual harm prevention order (from Manchester Minshull Street Court, 2018-2024), Grocott pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child under 16 following grooming and attempted sexual communication with a child.

Defender David Birrell noted no sexual images were exchanged (only sent by Grocott) and cited the defendant's mental health issues or learning difficulties, adding: "I think it is commonly known that those with traits of autism can excel in certain areas." He highlighted Grocott's data analyst role, earnings, and prison progress on courses.

Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "There was no real child. The people you were communicating with were two undercover police officers. There was no child available to meet you but you didn't know that or desist from the offences.

"You went online communicating with another adult expressing an interest in young boys. You then began to engage in sexualised chat with a boy you believed to be 12. It went on over a period of time. It did not end there because you agreed to meet a person you believed to be a 12-year-old boy.

"What you had in mind was penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 12 which would have been rape of a child under the age of 13. It was only the intervention of the police that brought it to a conclusion."

"You must have known what you were doing was quite wrong."

Grocott, of Hurst Avenue in Sale, received 27 months for the two offenses, plus a consecutive six months for breaching his prior order. He faces indefinite sexual harm prevention order and Sexual Offences Act notifications.

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A man has been jailed for six years for domestic-related offences in Southport.

Aiden Spillane, 44, of Cockleshell Square, Gosport, in Hampshire, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today (Thursday 21 August) after being found guilty of sexual assault and two counts of controlling or coercive behaviour.

Spillane lived in Southport during the time of his offences, which occurred between January 2016 and August 2023.

Detective Constable Rebecca Morgan-Richardson said:

“We are committed to tackling any form of abuse or violence against women or girls.

“I hope this sentence sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate any violence or abuse against women and will use our powers to bring people to justice.

“Domestic abuse can happen to anyone and we have specially trained officers who will listen to you and support you with sensitivity and compassion. I would also ask everyone to look out for your family members, friends or neighbours that may be suffering, by contacting us you could be helping someone who is too afraid to help themselves. Everything you tell us is taken extremely seriously and will be investigated thoroughly."

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A 29-year-old man from Christchurch, Dorset has been jailed for three years and nine months for the rape of a woman in Ringwood.

Joshua Blachford, of Everest Road, pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday 12 August.

The incident, for which he has now been imprisoned, took place at an address in the town between Saturday 17 February and Sunday 18 February.

In an emotive Victim Personal Statement read out to the court, the victim recounted how she will never be able to get back the person she once was.

In her statement, she said: “Before I was raped, I was confident. Outgoing. Full of energy and ambition. That version of me feels like a stranger now – someone who was stolen in the space of a single, horrific event.

“My relationship with my own body has changed. I used to be body positive. I liked the way I looked. Now I hide in baggy clothes, desperate not to be seen, not to be noticed, especially by men. Being looked at feels threatening. I no longer feel like a woman – I feel like a target.

“This rape has changed the way I see everything. The world. Myself. My future. And although I’m trying, healing isn’t about “getting back to normal” for me because normal no longer exists.”

She ended her statement by saying, “I’ve had to accept that the person I was will never return. And that’s a grief I carry on top of everything else.”

As well as the time he will now spend behind bars, Blachford has been made subject of a notification of requirement to register with police upon his release from prison.

He must also abide by the conditions of a restraining order, which prevents him from having any contact with the victim.

Detective Constable Emma Kelly, of the Western Amberstone team, said:

“I am so pleased for the victim in this case that justice has now been served for her, and that Blachford has been placed behind bars, where he belongs.

“While I know this result won’t rid the victim of the memories of what Blachford did, I truly hope it allows her to move forward with her life, safe in the knowledge that he can no longer harm anyone else.

“I must place on record my thanks to the victim in this case for her support throughout our investigation. Without her bravery and determination, we would not have been able to achieve this outcome at court.”

On what this sentence might do for other victims, DC Kelly, said:

“I hope it will reassure other victims that they will be listened to when reporting similar incidents to us, and that detectives on our dedicated Amberstone teams will work tirelessly to secure justice.

“At this point, I would like to encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously.

“This sentencing should also be a very clear message to other offenders out there that we will always thoroughly investigate any report made to us, in our determined effort to bring you before the courts.”

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A child rapist has been jailed for historic sex crimes which took place more than 30 years ago.

Mark French, formerly of Newbourne Gardens in Felixstowe, was jailed for 19 years after previously being found guilty of two counts of rape of a child and 10 counts of indecent assault on children.

French will also spend two years on an extended licence.

The 61-year-old appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, August 14, where he was sentenced following a 13-day trial in May of this year.

The offences took place in the Felixstowe area over a 10-year period and involved two girls.

The allegations first came to light in December 2020, dating back more than 30 years, and French was charged in May 2023.

French was also given a restraining order against both victims and made subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Mark French was jailed at Ipswich Crown Court (Image: Suffolk police)

DC Gemma Spink, who was the investigating officer for the case, said:

“No sentence will heal the trauma that French inflicted on his victims, who were children at the time of the offending and who have shown great bravery to come forward to report the crimes against them and see the case to its conclusion.

“I hope this outcome will encourage other victims of non-recent sexual abuse to feel confident about coming forward to police and assure them that they will be listened to by officers.”

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Two women have waived their right to anonymity and encouraged other victims and survivors of rape to seek support.

The man who raped them, 23-year-old Michael Brown was jailed for two counts of rape after he admitted the offences against two former partners.

Following the sentencing, both Chelsea McPherson and Rio Wager waived their right to lifelong anonymity.

Chelsea, aged 22, said:

"Michael, coming forward about what you did to me was the scariest thing I've ever done. I didn't do it for me. I did it to make sure that you would never hurt anyone again. I only wish I came forward earlier."

Rio, also aged 22, said:

"Knowing I was doing the right thing I still felt scared having to talk to the police, but I knew I had to speak out as I could not let him continue to affect me or anyone else and to get away with this. I needed to have some kind of justice."

Brown, of Foundry Rise, Dursley had been in a relationship with one of the women for around a month when he raped her. He took her to a location near his address, and encouraged her to smoke cannabis, which made her feel unwell. Brown ignored her when she told him no, withdrawing any consent, and he raped her.

She visited a Sexual Assault Referral Centre and later chose to support a prosecution. The woman then took part in a video interview with police.

In a separate occasion, Brown had been having consensual sex with another woman he was in a relationship with when she began to feel uncomfortable and repeatedly asked him to stop. He ignored her and then continued to rape her.

The woman reported the incident to a PCSO a couple of weeks later, and she did a video interview with police.

Brown was arrested and interviewed in relation to both offences of rape, which happened in 2021. In police interview he said there had been consensual sex with one of the women, and that he had no recollection of the second incident.

Following an investigation by the Constabulary's Criminal Investigation Department, the Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges.

Brown pleaded guilty the day before Chelsea was due to provide evidence to the court in a video-recorded cross examination hearing on 14 April this year.

On 14 May Judge Rupert Lowe sentenced Brown to four years in prison, and due to his guilty plea, this was reduced to three years and two months. Brown was told he must serve at least 19 months and he was given a 12-year-restraining order not to contact either Chelsea or Rio. 

Both women, along with the investigating officer and their support advocates, wrote to the Attorney General's Office to request the sentence be referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. However, this was not successful. 

After the sentencing, Rio said she wanted to waive her anonymity as she felt she should not have to hide due to someone else’s actions.

She said:

"For a week I sat there and thought what has just happened to me, who do I tell as this will make it even more real. I had to gain the courage to speak out and eventually I managed to talk to the woman that I was staying with at the time.

"Knowing I was doing the right thing I still felt scared having to talk to the police, but I knew I had to speak out as I could not let him continue to affect me or anyone else and to get away with this. I needed to have some kind of justice. 

"I find it difficult to describe my anxiety as this makes me feel low, vulnerable, and fearful. I’m unable to sleep at night due to the nightmares, flashbacks and triggers; leaving me with the trauma of reliving the events every day of my life.

"I would say to anyone who wants to report something to be mindful that the sentence might not turn out how you would hope, but that shouldn't stop you from reporting. If you report, you can also stop it from happening to someone else and that is one step closer to protecting others.

"I wanted to waive my anonymity as I did nothing wrong. I should not have to hide, and other victims and survivors should not have to hide either. Remember it is not your fault, nothing is your fault, and you do not have to hide away."

After the sentencing, Chelsea said she came forward and reported what Brown had done to her as she did not want him to hurt anyone else.

Chelsea said:

"Michael, coming forward about what you did to me was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t do it for me. I did it to make sure that you would never hurt anyone again. I only wish I came forward earlier. 

"I don’t care for your apologies, if you are even remorseful. The damage is done.

"Although I feel the outcome didn’t fit the crime, I’m still glad I came forward, as you are now in prison and will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life, preventing you from causing further harm.

"I would encourage anyone who has been subjected to sexual violence to please seek support, whether that's by reporting it to the police or an organisation who can provide you with support."

Chelsea also described the impact that Brown’s actions have had on her life.

She said:

"What has happened to me has destroyed my life, my family, my soul, my mental health.

"I began drinking heavily daily, staying out late, self-harming, trying to kill myself. I then thought I could go on with my life. I got a job, a car, starting attending college, socialising, hadn’t self-harmed or attempted suicide for just under a year, however after time the trauma of what you did to me caught up to me.

"What happened to me has affected my whole outlook on men. I walk up a street and I’m paranoid someone will rape me. If I’m left alone with a male I’m scared they will rape me and I’m looking for some way out. Four years later, I still get nightmares and flashbacks, have suicidal thoughts and engage in self-harm behaviours because of what you did to me. The fact you couldn’t even look at me in court speaks volumes."

Detective Sergeant Gareth Morgan said:

"Brown’s actions have had an immeasurable impact on the women in this case. I would like to thank them for supporting a prosecution which means Brown is now a Registered Sex Offender, and on his release from prison, he will be monitored by the police.

"Both of the women told Brown to stop and he ignored their pleas and then raped them - consent must be freely given, without coercion, manipulation, or pressure, and it can be withdrawn at any stage.

"In both of these cases reports were made to the police either in the weeks or months afterwards, and therefore this shows that no matter when someone has sexually assaulted you, police can and will still investigate these crimes and put rapists and other offenders before the courts."

In mitigation, Brown's defence barrister told the court that he was vulnerable, had a difficult background and that he was immature. 

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A WREXHAM sex offender who was caught with indecent images of children on his devices had 'reverted to his old ways,' a court heard.

Simon Beckett, of Queensway, appeared for sentence at Mold Crown Court on Thursday.

The 55-year-old had previously admitted one offence of breaching his SHPO and three of making indecent images of children (one each at categories A, B and C).

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, told the court that Beckett was made the subject of the SHPO in 2016, also for indecent image offences.

His breach of the order occurred due to his prohibited use of file sharing software and came to light when police received intelligence suggesting indecent images were being uploaded to the internet from Beckett's address. 

A warrant was executed at his home in September 2024 and he was arrested.
Four of his devices were seized and when analysed, three were found to contain indecent images while the fourth showed his use of the filesharing software.

In terms of the images, there were 19 at category A (the most serious), three at category B and 28 at category C.

Mr Scholz told the court more than 3,000 other files 'indicative of a sexual interest in children' were also found.

Beckett made no comment to all questions when interviewed.

Amy Edwards, defending, said: "His best mitigation is his early guilty plea and I invite the court to award full credit for that.

"This is the first breach of his SHPO.

"His is willing to take responsibility for these offences and accepted having purposefully searched for these images.

"He completed his suspended sentence passed in 2016 satisfactorily, attending all office appointments and completing a course.

"He is now in settled accommodation and is looking for work."

Ms Edwards asked Judge Rhys Rowlands to take into account the slight delay in bringing the matters to court.

The Judge told Beckett: "You told the probation officer it (the offending) was borne out of boredom.

"You said your intention had been to download adult pornography - but then 'out of curiosity' you searched for these images of young children as well.

"Your behaviour was calculated - you reverted to your old ways."

Beckett was jailed for a total of 14 months and was made the subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.

He must register as a sex offender for the same length of time and will be placed on a barring list to prevent him from working with children or vulnerable adults in the future.

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A thug who gloried in violence and had sex with an under-age girl less than half his age has been given a 24-year extended prison sentence.

Kallan Hunt, 35, invited a friend to watch him give another man a lengthy beating that lasted  30 minutes and left the victim with a bleeding eye in a shattered socket, bleeding on the brain, a fractured nose and other injuries, said Andrew Petterson, prosecuting.

He beat up the victim both before and after his friend was present in an attack that the victim later told police lasted “an eternity”. Hunt also sent the teenage girl a blow by blow account of what he was doing, with pictures of the victim’s injuries.

He told the victim that if police arrived, he would kill him and left him so terrified the victim was initially reluctant to seek medical help and wouldn’t give officers a statement until he was sure Hunt would be remanded in custody, said the prosecution barrister.

Hunt was on bail at the time for being one of a gang of six masked men, some of whom were armed, who burst into a second victim’s Selby home in March 2022 to steal his drugs and money.

The second victim fought back and stabbed one of the gang to death, a Leeds Crown Court jury heard. Hunt was not one of the armed men.

Judge Tom Bayliss KC declared Hunt to be a dangerous offender.

“You humiliated him quite gratuitously,” he told Hunt about the attack on the first victim. “You were boasting of the violence you had inflicted on him, you were glorying in your violence.”

He gave Hunt a 24-year sentence of which he will serve up to 19 years in prison, plus five years extended parole on release, put him on the sex offenders’ register for life and made a restraining order to protect the first victim, also for life.

Hunt, formerly of Selby and of Dunhill Road, Goole, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the first victim. He denied a charge of aggravated burglary at the home of the second victim, but was convicted by a jury at Leeds Crown Court last month.

Hunt’s  barrister Andrew Stranex said he had always been “polite and respectful” with him and wanted to work with professionals to address his offending behaviour. He had expressed remorse and regret to a probation officer about the aggravated burglary following his trial.

The judge told Hunt: “In front of me you are polite and co-operative but there is a different side to you.”

Mr Petterson said the girl was high on drink and drugs when she and Hunt were together.  She asked him for cannabis and he gave her some before they had sex.

Hunt was at the first victim’s house in March 2025 when the host received a phone call telling him about the sexual encounter shortly before and that police were likely to come to his house.

Hunt overheard the discussion and threatened to stab the first man before police arrived. He took the householder’s mobile phone and every time the victim tried to leave hit him.

He punched him repeatedly to the face and elbowed and kneed him to the face.

The victim needed surgery to repair his eye. Hunt left the house before police arrived and was arrested later.

The judge commended seven of the police team that worked on the aggravated burglary case. 

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A woman from Rhondda Cynon Taff has been jailed after she was found guilty of multiple offences involving children.

37-year-old Leah Church, from Tonyrefail, was found guilty of multiple counts of cruelty to children and a sexual offence at Swansea Crown Court on August 15.

Church was sentenced to five years in prison. Upon release she will be required to register as a registered sex offender for ten years and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining order.

Detective Constable Amanda Jenkins said:

“I commend the victims of these offences for coming forward and reporting to us.

“They have been supported by specialist officers throughout this investigation, and I'm pleased to see Church held accountable."

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A “hawk-like” Forfar man has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two boys during the school summer holidays.

One of Lee Milne’s young victims told a court he was “so scary” after watching him approach in the evening.

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A former ordained Church of England priest has been found guilty of multiple counts of indecent assaults on nine women in Sheffield in the 1980s and 1990s.

Chris Brain, 68, has been found guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault at Inner London Crown Court on 20 August 2025. He was cleared of a further 15 counts of the same offence. 

Brain became involved in a religious community in the 1980s of which he was considered a leader.

It was at this time that Brain used his position to assault females associated with the religious group.

Brain’s role evolved into leading religious services in a local church which was famously known as the Nine O Clock Service (NOS) due to the fact they were held at 9pm on Sundays.  These services were different from the usual Church of England services due to the musical and media visual aspect of the service which was particularly successful in attracting younger people to them.

International and national attention was drawn to these services to such an extent that Brain was fast tracked to become an ordained priest within the Church of England in 1991.

However, at the same time Brain was using his position and status to indecently assault other women who were recruited into NOS.

South Yorkshire Police first arrested the defendant in April 2021 after the force started to receive allegations about Brain in the previous year and was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service in January 2024. 

The police investigation gathered evidence from interviews from victims and statements from witnesses in relation to allegations of non-consensual sexual acts with the defendant.

Julie Moss, Senior Crown Prosecutor of the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Chris Brain abused the trust and power he gained as a religious leader to sexually exploit and abuse young women. He instilled a culture of fear to subjugate and control NOS members into submission and to do his bidding.

“Brain discouraged members of the Nine O Clock service (NOS) from having any contact with family or friends outside of the NOS community to isolate members them and make them susceptible to his control.

“Brain set up a home base team in which he required female members of NOS to assist his household. This assistance included attending upon him in his bedroom before he went to sleep which is when many of the offences occurred. The victims were too scared of being excluded from the religious group to refuse. This became known as the ‘putting to bed ROTA’.

“Brain clearly engaged in controlling behaviour and is a narcissist who subjected his victims to awful and horrendous act of sexual violence. 

“We hope that these convictions help in some part to see justice delivered for the victims.

“We note that the jury could not reach a verdict on some counts, and we will carefully consider a retrial.”

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on four further counts of indecent assault and one count of rape. On 21 August 2025, the jury was discharged. 

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A man who committed 15 sexual offences against a child – including two counts of rape of a girl under 13 – has been jailed for 12 years and nine months.

Dennis Gartsen, of Hobhole Bank, New Leake, Boston, was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday 18 August, for charges relating to his young victim.

The 42-year-old was also given an additional four-year period to be served on licence and is now the subject of a stringent sexual harm prevention order on his release.

Gartsen pleaded guilty to the following 15 charges:

• Two counts of rape of a girl under 13.
• Two counts of assault of a girl under 13 by penetration with a part of his body.
• Six counts of assault of a girl under 13 by touching.
• Possession of a prohibited image of a child.
• Three counts of making of an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child.
• Possession of extreme pornographic images / images portraying an act likely to result in serious injury to a person’s private parts.

A further two charges of rape of a girl under 13 were ordered to lie on file. 

An application for his deportation back to his native Netherlands has also been submitted – a process which is reviewed and undertaken by the Home Office. 

The court heard how Gartsen had handed himself in at Boston Police Station on 23 August 2023, advising officers that he had sexually assaulted a child. It was reported that he did so after being confronted by the adults to whom his victim had disclosed the acts, which are reported to have taken place on multiple occasions between December 2021 and August 2023.

A search of devices found at his home address revealed him to be in possession of multiple examples of disturbing pornographic material.

He pleaded guilty to 15 charges at a hearing held on 28 April, where he was remanded to prison to await sentencing.

Specialist officers worked sensitively and meticulously with Gartsen’s courageous young victim and family over the weeks, months, and years following the initial disclosure in August of 2023 to progress this case through the courts to secure today’s sentence. 

Detective Constable Sarah Oliver from the Protecting Vulnerable People unit in Boston, said:

Gartsen carried out deeply disturbing crimes on a particularly young victim. His actions are utterly inexcusable - the child he targeted for his own depraved gratification was so vulnerable.  The victim’s family have been completely devastated by his sickening actions, yet throughout this testing process, the child and her family have demonstrated remarkable courage and resilience.

We hope this ruling offers some measure of conclusion after what can only be described as a most horrific and unimaginable chapter of their lives. While nothing can erase the distress and unquestionable psychological impact, may this serve as a step toward healing.

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A serial burglar who plagued dozens of businesses has been jailed after breaching three suspended prison sentences with his latest spree.

Kevin Thoburn, 44, smashed windows and raided five "small independent" businesses in Monkseaton, North Tyneside, in June stealing hundreds of pounds including cash from a charity jar, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

At the time Thoburn, who had previously been jailed for eight years for sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl, was subject to suspended sentences for similar break-ins in Gateshead and Jarrow.

Homeless Thoburn, who had more than 150 offences on his criminal record, was jailed for three years four months after admitting multiple burglaries.

In the early hours of 2 June, Thoburn broke into two delis, a fish and chip shop, barber business and bakery in Monkseaton, prosecutor Antonia Adie said.

In total he stole about £1,700 in cash, including £58 from a tip jar and £40 from a charity box, as well as causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage, the court heard.

All of the businesses suffered further losses as they had to be closed for repairs and clean ups after Thoburn's "messy" searches, Ms Adie said.

The barber shop owner said the break-in had had a "significant emotional and financial impact" on the "small family-owned business", while the fish and chip shop manager said he was "left feeling really annoyed and angry".

'Failed to register'

Thoburn was subject to three suspended prison sentence orders at the time made by two magistrates' courts and the crown court, the prosecutor said.

Those related to burglaries of a beauty salon, butcher shop, pottery studio and three barber shops in a one-night spree in Gateshead in November in which he stole cash and items worth £2,250, the court heard.

He has also used a hammer to smash his way into Greggs at the Viking Centre in Jarrow and a cafe in South Shields a week later.

Thoburn also admitted multiple breaches of sex offender requirements because, as a homeless convicted child abuser, he had failed to register at a police station every seven days.

That order was made to last indefinitely in 2016 after he was jailed for six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, the court heard.

'Left misery in wake'

Judge Amanda Rippon said Thoburn had 70 burglaries on his record and a further 30 or so he had asked to take into consideration, which meant by her calculation he had been convicted of raiding at least 100 businesses.

She said he targeted "small independent" firms, many of whom operated on a "knife-edge" and needed "every penny" they earned.

"You left misery for the owners in your wake," the judge told Thoburn, adding the impact was "long-lasting and significant".

Judge Rippon said she accepted much of his offending stemmed from a drug addiction caused by "awful abuse" he was subjected to as a child.

However, she said he had to "come a point" when he acknowledged the damage caused in his past but made "a choice to no longer let that define who you are and what you do".

She said other judges and magistrates had tried to give him a chance with suspended sentences but he was not ready for the help they offered.