Latest Offenders

Description

A homeless man from Maidstone has been jailed after he was convicted of raping a woman in a communal area next to a block of flats.

Thomas Underdown assaulted the victim after they had agreed to meet at an outbuilding that he slept in, close to St Peter’s Street.

The ordeal started at around 12.20am on 5 January 2024, when after they kissed the victim made it clear she did not consent to any further intimacy.

In response, Underdown repeatedly prevented the victim from getting up from a mattress he used and went on to abuse her.

The offences were reported to Kent Police on 9 January and Underdown was arrested on the following day.

Unanimous verdict

He was charged with rape and after pleading not guilty a trial was held at Southwark Crown Court, which led to him being convicted by unanimous verdict.  

On 5 December 2025, Underdown, 33, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment.

He will have to serve a minimum of two thirds of the sentence before he can apply for parole and was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order.  

Detective Constable Stuart Cook said:

‘This was a deeply traumatic ordeal for the victim, who showed immense courage in coming forward and supporting our investigation. She made it clear to Underdown that she did not consent, and her wishes were ignored in the most appalling way. Consent is never negotiable — no means no.

‘I hope this conviction brings the victim some sense of justice and reassurance that her voice has been heard. We have dedicated teams committed to supporting victims and ensuring those who do commit such appalling offences are held fully accountable.’

Description

A Cleator Moor man who once tried to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex has been jailed for breaching a court order aimed at reducing his risk.

Anthony Callander, 55, violated his Sex Offender Register terms by moving in with a friend in Brampton without notifying police, using an undeclared mobile phone, and not disclosing a new bank card. He admitted the three offenses.

Prosecutor Matthew Hopkins told Carlisle Crown Court that telecoms data revealed Callander had swapped his SIM from a declared Nokia to an undeclared Motorola handset.

“The police also received information that he had been staying at an address in Brampton for seven or more days and he had not told the police about this,” said Mr Hopkins. Callander lived there from June 15 to July 6.

The sexual harm prevention order was imposed in 2023 for attempted sexual communication with a child. Callander has 112 prior offenses and denied wrongdoing when questioned. The Motorola phone was never found.

Defending, Lucy Moran said Callander, of Queen Street, Cleator Moor, cares for his mother, who has COPD, dementia, and a recent terminal diagnosis. A report indicated the undeclared phone belonged to his Brampton friend and was used to resolve benefits issues.

Callander's father had died, his brother committed suicide years ago, and he lost a stillborn child, added Miss Moran.

Judge Michael Fanning, who recalled sentencing Callander in 2023, noted he had arranged to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl in Cleator Moor Square with a bottle of wine, planning sex.

Though no evidence showed repeats, the judge said undeclared items could have enabled undetected offenses. A Probation Service report stated Callander minimizes his offending, shifts blame, and cannot be safely managed in the community.

Judge Fanning jailed him for one year.

Description

A man, who was working as a nurse at a Leicester hospital, has been sentenced today (Friday 5 December) for sexual assault.

The sentencing, at Leicester Crown Court, follows Telmo Ribeiro, being found guilty of the offences in October this year after a lengthy police investigation and subsequent trial.

Ribeiro committed the offences at the Leicester Royal Infirmary while he was working in the neurology ward. The offences relate to an adult female victim who was a patient in the hospital at the time.

During trial Ribeiro pleaded guilty to three computer misuse offences and one count of a data protection offence after images of medical records were found on his phone following his arrest.

Ribeiro had denied the sexual offences but was found guilty by a jury in October, following a trial at the same court.

The conviction of two counts of sexual assault offences relate to 2020 when Ribeiro sexually touched a woman (on two separate occasions) who was a patient in the hospital.

Ribeiro was arrested in 2020 and as part of the investigation, his phone was examined which led to the images of medical records being found. Some of these were photos of computer screens showing medical information while others were images of paper documents.

After a long and complex investigation, during which officers worked closely with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Ribeiro, 38, of Watkin Road, Leicester was charged two years later, in May 2022.

He was jailed today (Friday 5 December) for two years. He was also made subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

The officer in the case Detective Constable James Moxon worked alongside Detective Sergeant Phil Brind-Surch from Leicestershire Police.

DC Moxon said:

“Telmo Ribeiro was in a trusted position and abused this trust in the most horrendous way. His actions are truly shocking, and my thoughts are with the victim of these crimes. Ribeiro should have been there to care for her and help her. He has shown no remorse, carrying out these offences and then denying the offences ever happened.

“The victim has shown true dignity and courage in speaking with us and helping to bring Riberio before the courts for his crimes. She bravely spoke to us about the horrific attacks she had endured and worked with us to secure these convictions. I truly thank her for that.”

Description

An opportunistic sexual predator raped a sleeping woman slumped on the floor of a house after a night of drinking, cutting open her knickers while she was unconscious.

Reuben Wilson, 54, of Minster Avenue, Beverley, was convicted of rape by a 10-2 majority jury verdict at Grimsby Crown Court after five hours of deliberations. He denied the charge and an alternative of sexual assault.

Prosecutor Simon Reevell said the woman had been out with her boyfriend, met relatives, then joined three others—including Wilson—at a pub before going to a house for more drinks. She fell asleep on the floor and awoke under a duvet with Wilson; her tights were ripped and knickers cut open.

Police found Wilson asleep and drunk under the duvet. Forensic evidence included the woman's internal bodily fluid on the inside of his boxer shorts (exact source undetermined) and fibres on scissors matching her underwear, with Wilson's DNA on the handle.

In police interviews, Wilson initially made no comment but later claimed blackouts erased his memory. He declined to testify, but defense barrister Julia Baggs said he alleged someone else committed the rape, citing his health issues and the woman's lack of recall.

Judge Gurdial Singh ordered a dangerousness assessment and remanded Wilson in custody, warning: "You are looking at a substantial prison term." Thanking the jury, he said: "Without you, we could not do our job. Thank you for your time, effort and patience."

To the victim in court, he added: "He attacked you. Don't think for a moment you should have done anything different. Do not reproach yourself. It is him. He is looking at a sentence in years."

Wilson, on bail before trial, failed to appear on November 24, leading to his arrest and remand. Sentencing is set for next year.

Description

A 53-year-old man from Ipswich has been jailed for five years after being found guilty of the rape of a woman.

Leon Thomas, formerly of Farina Close in Ipswich, appeared before Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday 27 November for sentencing after being found guilty of rape by a jury at an earlier hearing.

He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The court heard that Thomas and the victim were known to each other and that the attack had taken place at her home address.

A video recording had taken place at the time of the offence. Although visual footage was unclear, audio was captured. This was played to the court in which the victim is heard clearly asking the suspect to stop.

Investigation officer, Detective Constable William Wright said:

“Thomas took advantage of the victim and despite the clear audio evidence, he denied that he was the male in the recording or that he was guilty of any wrongdoing, thereby forcing the victim to relive the experience in court.

“This case serves as a reminder that consent is not optional.”

Description

A pervert who sent depraved videos of himself in the bath to a teenager has been jailed after the messages were intercepted by the girl's horrified mother.

Alexandru Negoescu, 35, of Warrington, messaged the 15-year-old on Instagram to solicit sexual images. The victim's mother spotted the request, pretended to be her daughter to gather evidence, and received two clips of Negoescu performing sex acts in the bath. He then asked for sexual images in return.

The mother reported him to police, leading to his arrest. Negoescu, who has one prior conviction for drink-driving in 2023, claimed he was "set up" and the conversation "fabricated," but was found guilty after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity.

Defending, Peter Killen said:

"The court knows that the defendant was a hard-working man who had supported his family. The rest of his life is quite different."

Judge Louise Brandon noted:

"At trial, you claimed that you had not engaged in the conversation and had been set up, and the conversation fabricated – an account the jury clearly rejected. You maintain that you did not commit this offence. I therefore cannot conclude that you have any insight or remorse for your behaviour or understanding of the impact your actions could have had."

Negoescu, of Hawleys Lane in Dallam, was jailed for 30 months, given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and ordered to sign the sex offender register for life.

Description

A man accused of raping four women has pleaded guilty to his crimes.

Joshua Springer of Cornstall Buildings in Stamford appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday, 2 December where he pleaded guilty to nine charges of rape.

Six charges are evenly split between three women while the remaining three charges are connected to a fourth woman.

Three of his victims were based at a Lincolnshire care home, while a fourth victim was located at an address in the North Yorkshire area.

The 35-year-old also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children – including those in the most extreme category.

Springer had been arrested and subsequently charged in relation to several offences on 26 July.

It came a month after Lincolnshire Police were called to investigate reports vulnerable people had been sexually assaulted at an elderly residential care home in the Stamford area.

We have not named this care home, or the location in North Yorkshire, to protect the anonymity of Springer’s victims.

Springer appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on 28 July shortly after his arrest and was remanded into custody before he appeared yesterday to enter his plea.

He will now appear at Lincoln Crown Court to be sentenced on Friday, 6 February.

Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Lovatt thanked the family of the victims in this case for their courage and patience.

She said:

“Springer’s actions show a clear lack of human decency and respect for the victims he targeted.

“He abused a position of trust and used the access he had to attack some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

“It is appalling, and my heart goes out to the victims and their families.

“The impact of Springer’s actions cannot be overestimated and will have long-lasting consequences. It was imperative that we got him behind bars and out of our community.

“I’d like to pay tribute to the women at the centre of this case and their families.

“Their courage and dignity cannot be put into words, and I hope that by bringing Springers to justice, they feel some form of comfort even if the road ahead is a long one.

“Cases like this have an enormous impact on family, friends, work colleagues and so on.

“Our investigations continue into Joshua Springer who has also used the surname Kearney and Kearney Springer if you believe you may have been a victim of him and/or have any information then we would encourage anyone to contact us to do so either by calling 101 (ask for Lincolnshire Police) quoting inc 272 of 28 November, anonymously through crime stoppers.

“If you’ve been the victim of rape or sexual assault or any other sexual offence not connected to Springer, then please report it to us or your local police service as soon as possible. I want to assure victims, we will listen – there are various ways you can get in touch, but please do not be afraid to. We are here to support you.

“Even if you’re not 100 per cent sure, we want to hear from you so that we can make sure you’re safe.

“If you’re not ready to talk to the police just yet, that’s OK.”

Description

A sexual predator targeted and repeatedly stared at an unsuspecting woman in a crowded pub before positioning himself close to her at the bar and touching her inappropriately.

Drunk on four or five pints of beer, he followed her for about 20 minutes before the assault, leaving her distressed and shocked, Hull Crown Court heard.

Deniss Mandruks, 26, of no fixed address but recently remanded in custody, was convicted after a trial at Hull Magistrates' Court of sexual assault on May 5.

Prosecutor Jeremy Evans said the woman was out with friends in the city centre when Mandruks entered their pub at 1:11am. Door staff confronted him twice for "obnoxious behaviour," spilling drinks, and acting loudly and aggressively toward two women.

"He was wobbly and unsteady on his feet," Mr Evans said. Mandruks was ejected but returned.

While she danced, "He continued to stare at her," Mr Evans added. "She caught his eye on four separate occasions. He had her under observation throughout this period of time and was clearly targeting her. He watched her, he stared at her and he stalked her."

At 1:30am, as she ordered a drink and chatted with two men, Mandruks touched her intimately, prompting her to confront him.

After time in his native Latvia, he was arrested on August 31 at Leeds Bradford Airport. He had no prior record.

Defence barrister Billy Torbett called the conduct "wholly unacceptable" and an "unpleasant offence." While denying the charge, Mandruks expressed remorse for the victim's impact.

A Latvian Russian-speaker, he worked in well-paid engineering roles across Europe and was based in Hull at the time. "He has no right to remain in the UK and he plans to return to Latvia," Mr Torbett said. Mandruks had been in custody since September 2.

Judge John Thackray KC told Mandruks: "You were in a bar. Your victim was in the same bar. There was clearly some planning by you. You positioned yourself next to your victim. You were making eye contact and you were standing next to her for quite some time."

The assault left her distressed and upset. "She felt preyed upon," the judge said. "She felt powerless and unsafe. Your offending will continue to have a profound effect upon her. There was obvious targeting of your victim 20 minutes before committing the offence."

Mandruks was jailed for two years and must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Description

A man from Carlisle was jailed yesterday (2 Dec) for making indecent images of children.

David Wilson, aged 52, of Admiral Way, Carlisle was sentenced to 20 months prison for multiple counts of making indecent images of children between August 2024 and July 2025.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for a period of 10 years.

Wilson, a registered sex offender, was arrested in July 2025 after he was visited at his home address by his Offender Manager where a search of his devices located the files.

Over 60 files showing a sexual interest in children were found.

It was determined the Wilson had been accessing the dark web using Virtual Private Networks to disguise his identity.

Detective Constable Anna Ritson, from Cumbria’s Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) department said:

“Wilson is a dangerous offender, and it is evident that he went to significant efforts to hide his offending.

“MOSOVO officers play a vital role in safeguarding communities by rigorously managing registered sex offenders, ensuring compliance with legal requirements, and holding individuals accountable for their actions.

“We take a zero-tolerance approach against anyone found to breaching the terms of their requirements or committing any further offences.” 

Description

A nursery worker has pleaded guilty in one of the most harrowing and complex child sexual abuse investigations undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Service.

The conviction, which includes 26 charges, marks a chilling chapter in the fight against crimes targeting society’s most vulnerable.

Vincent Chan, 45 (28.10.80), a British national of Stanhope Avenue, Finchley, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday, 3 December for a pre-trial hearing. Chan pleaded guilty to 26 offences relating to sexual assault offences against children and the taking and making of indecent images of children.

The offences include five counts of sexual assault of a child by penetration, four counts of sexual assault of a child by touching, 11 counts of taking indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child, and six counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child. The latter offences involved images across categories A, B, and C, with category A depicting the most severe abuse.

Families of the identified children have been contacted directly and are receiving specialist support. A dedicated NSPCC helpline has been set up for all families whose children attended the nursery to discuss concerns and access support.

Chan will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 23 January.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the Met’s investigation, said:

“Child sexual abuse is one of the most horrific crimes imaginable, and Chan’s offending spanned years, revealing a calculated and predatory pattern of abuse. He infiltrated environments that should have been safe havens for children, exploiting the trust of families and the wider community to conceal his actions and prey on the most vulnerable.

“Our investigation remains ongoing, and we are continuing to review digital devices and assess Chan’s conduct across all relevant settings. We recognise the member of staff who raised their concerns, as without that first report of child cruelty Chan’s abuse could have continued unchecked, putting countless more children at risk.

“These appalling offences have caused deep shock and distress. We thank the community for its continued cooperation and reaffirm our commitment to supporting victims and their families. If you have any concerns, please contact the dedicated NSPCC helpline on 0800 028 0828 for specialist support. We are working closely with the NSPCC to ensure every family affected receives the help they need.”

Leigh Day, representing some of the families who attended the nursery at the time of the offending, have issued the following statement:

"As parents we are still trying to process the sickening discovery that our children were subjected to despicable abuse by Vincent Chan at the nursery.

“In admitting the charges, we are spared the prospect of hearing Vincent Chan's crimes at the nursery described in graphic detail in a trial. We trust the judge to pass the strongest sentence to fit the crimes Vincent Chan has committed against young children, innocent victims who could not fight back.

“We would like to thank the Metropolitan Police Service for their assistance and support so far, but appreciate that their investigations in this case are not yet complete.”

Chan’s guilty plea comes after a determined investigation from Met officers following his arrest on 11 June 2024.

The initial arrest on suspicion of child cruelty was prompted by a member of staff at the nursery, who reported that Chan had been capturing disturbing footage of children at the nursery he worked at in West Hampstead. Chan had been using a nursery-issued iPad to record the footage, which he then distorted by adding superimpositions and music for comedic purposes. He also shared stills with his colleagues.

At the point of arrest, officers seized 25 digital devices from his home and three from the nursery. Forensic teams trawled through the devices, where they uncovered substantial amounts of indecent images and videos of children, including evidence of contact sexual offences against children.

The videos depicted sexual contact offending taking place within the nursery, at times when Chan was responsible for minding the children.

Following this discovery, officers worked quickly to rearrest Chan on Monday, 8 September and formally charged him with the child sexual offences the following day.

A further 26 digital devices were seized from his home and 15 more from the nursery. In total, 69 devices were retrieved and analysed by Met officers as part of this investigation. Officers continue to investigate and review the materials, noting no further evidence of contact offending against children has been identified.

In light of the complex nature and scale of Chan’s offending, Met officers have worked sensitively to identify the victims. At this time, four young children have been identified as victims of contact-related sexual offending or being the subject of indecent images.

Their parents or guardians have been visited and informed by specially trained local officers and provided with a contact. Following these difficult conversations, families were also given direct access to specialist support services and local community partners for long-term, trauma-informed support.

Helen Reddy, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Vincent Chan abused his position whilst working at a nursery to commit these horrific crimes against very young girls.

“It was a heinous breach of trust by someone working in a caring profession and in what should have been a safe place for children.

“The evidence against him was compelling and the nature and number of offences the CPS charged him with reflects the seriousness of his offending.

“The CPS will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to pursue perpetrators of child sexual abuse and secure justice for victims.

“I encourage the reporting of child sexual abuse to the police as you are not alone and there is always help available.”

Kellie Ann Fitzgerald, NSPCC Assistant Director for London and the South East, said:

“We are shocked and horrified by the nature and scale of the child sexual abuse that has come to light through this police investigation. Our thoughts are with all the children, families, and communities that have been impacted by Chan’s appalling breach of trust.

“The effects of child sexual abuse can be devastating for victims and their families, so part of our response must be to offer hope and healing. Alongside the local safeguarding partnerships, our first priority is to ensure that anyone directly impacted or worried about their child has the fastest possible access to the help and support they need. A dedicated NSPCC helpline has been set up - 0800 028 0828 - and our child protection specialists will be able to advise and take any necessary action to ensure the right support is put in place for every family.

“We are working with a network of specialist child sexual abuse services to provide therapeutic support for any child or parent who needs it. At the NSPCC, our ‘Letting the Future In’ service provides children and parents with the space, help and resources to process what has happened to them, and take vital steps towards recovery.

“In addition, our professional learning services are bringing together a range of resources for early years, education and community organisations to promote safe practice, and our schools service is working with education settings to help children know who they can turn to so they can be protected and supported. We encourage any setting which feels it could benefit from this support to reach out to us.”

Description

Women whose bravery helped convict a sex offender of multiple rape offences in Kirklees have been commended for their courage.

Detectives have praised the determination to see justice done of both victims following the sentencing of Tristan Bould to more than 20 years in prison at Leeds Crown Court today ( Wednesday 3 December ).

Bould, aged 31, of no fixed address, was jailed for 22 years with three years extended licence after being found guilty of seven counts of rape against one woman between 2019 and 2022, and two against another woman in June 2024.

Four of the offences against the first victim represented rapes thought to have occurred on at least 40 occasions.   All of the offending took place in the Kirklees District.

The 31-year-old was reported to police in June 2024 by the second victim, who disclosed to officers she had learned Bould had also seriously sexually assaulted another woman previously.

Police were able to identify and speak with the woman who disclosed the offences he had committed against her.

Bould was arrested on the day the initial report was made and was charged following a comprehensive investigation by specialist Kirklees adult safeguarding officers into the offences against both victims.

He was remanded in custody following his first magistrates court appearance and went on trial in October in a court case prosecuted by barrister John Batchelor.

Aside from his custodial sentence, Bould was also made subject of an indefinite restraining order against contacting both victims.  

Detective Sergeant Adnan Alisic of Kirklees Police, said:

“Tristan Bould is without doubt a dangerous serial sex offender who has absolutely no regard for women whatsoever.  

“The scale of his sexual offending, as revealed in court by the number of offences he committed,  has been truly shocking and underlines the risk he poses.  

“He is now behind bars where he belongs thanks to the courage of the brave women who reported his offending.

“We know how hard it can be to report being a victim of these offences and support a prosecution, and they have both demonstrated a real determination to secure justice by supporting our prosecution in partnership with colleagues at the Crown Prosecution Service.  

“We continue to urge any victims of sexual offending in West Yorkshire, who have not come forward for whatever reason, to contact us at West Yorkshire Police.   You will be listened to and supported, with officers able to signpost you to any partner services you may need.” 

Description

A man has been convicted of raping a woman in Chester.

Scott Buxton, of no fixed abode, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 26 November 2025 where he was found guilty of rape, attempted rape, threats to kill and threats to damage/destroy property, following an eight-day trial.

The 32-year-old will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday 20 January 2026.

In May 2025, Buxton made several threats to kill the victim and ‘blow up her car’ while talking to one of her family members on the phone. Due to this, the victim contacted police.

She then told police that on previous occasions she had awoken to find Buxton raping her or attempting to rape her.

Buxton had also referred to ‘knowing where she had been’, disclosing information which the victim had not made known to him. He would also try to control her movements by making alternative plans, so the victim remained with him and didn’t socialise with anyone else.

Buxton was subsequently arrested and interviewed in relation to the offences, and later charged.

Detective Constable Max Jones said:

“Firstly, I would like to thank the victim in this case for her bravery in talking to police about what happened to her, especially after Buxton failed to take responsibility for his crimes and put her through the stress of a trial.

“But thankfully the jury saw through his lies, and he has now been found guilty of a number of serious offences.

“No-one should ever have to experience what this victim went through. We hope this conviction will give members of the public confidence in coming forward to report incidents of this nature.

“Anyone who wishes to report offences can contact police via 101 or through our website. We will always investigate every report seriously and thoroughly, with the needs and wishes of the victim as our main priority."

Description

A man who sexually abused and manipulated two teenage girls with alcohol and threats over a prolonged period of time has been found guilty of seven counts of non-recent sexual offences.

Following a five-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court that concluded on Friday, 28 November 2025, Alan Wigglesworth, 45-years-old from Scunthorpe has been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, assault by penetration, and inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He has been remanded into custody to appear back at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday, 6 February 2026 for sentencing.

On Tuesday, 24 June 2025, a 13-year-old girl disclosed to a trusted adult that she believes she had been touched inappropriately and sexually abused in a series of non-recent sex offences over a number of years by a man she named as Wigglesworth.

The trusted adult came forward and reported this allegation to the police, and our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit immediately launched an investigation.

Detectives first engaged with the teenage girl to understand the full circumstances around the report, who began to make further disclosures that the same had happened to her friend, again naming Wigglesworth as the one responsible.

Initial enquiries quickly uncovered that Wigglesworth had been manipulating and controlling two 13-year-old girls, luring them in by giving them alcohol to enable him to go on and perform sexual acts on them.

Wigglesworth was subsequently arrested at work in June 2025 on suspicion of sexual assault of two children aged under 13. 

During his interviews, he claimed he had no knowledge of the offences he had been arrested for and denied committing any sexual offences against either of the girls.

Detectives, however, submitted evidence gathered to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), charges were accepted, and Wigglesworth was remanded into custody to await his court date.

Detective Constable Nathan LeQuelenec from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit led the investigation and said:

“Wigglesworth enticed the young and vulnerable teenagers with alcohol and even threatened them that they would be taken away if they ever tried to tell anyone about what he was doing to them.

“He cruelly took advantage of them, luring them in to sexually assault and abuse them all for his own perverse sexual gratification.

“To then plead not guilty and force the victims and their families through the ordeal of a trial, could be seen as another twisted ploy to control them and appease his detestable behaviour.

“I’d like to commend the victims for first disclosing what was happening to them to a trusted adult, and for their patience and maturity throughout the entirety of what has been a very lengthy process.

“Whilst he has been found guilty, I know that this will not take away the pain and trauma they have faced and continue to have to live with, but I am pleased he is being held accountable and will be sentenced next year.

“We take reports of this nature incredibly seriously and will continue to seek prosecution against anybody who thinks it is okay to commit these types of offences.

“If you believe you have been a victim of these kinds of crimes, or suspect someone you know has, please report it to us, a trusted adult, or if you are not yet ready, you can first speak to an appropriate support agency. You will be listened to, and working alongside partner agencies, we will continue to take action against offenders like Wigglesworth.

“You can speak to specialist support networks and organisations privately and confidentially before you even call us to talk through the criminal process or seek advice about reporting both recent and non-recent crimes of this nature to us.”

Description

A 35-year-old man who sexually assaulted a woman in her thirties on a busy Central Line train has been jailed for six months, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Jatinder Singh, known as Vicky Singh Sangha (15/02/1990) and of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to Sexual Assault and was sentenced at London Inner Crown Court on Tuesday 25 November.

He was handed a 26 week prison sentence, ordered to pay £187 surcharge, and register with police for the next 10 years.

The court heard that just after 8.20am on Wednesday 2 October 2024 Sangha boarded a train at Liverpool Street station. Once on the busy westbound Central Line service, he sexually assaulted a woman.

Sangha used the fact the train was extremely busy and tight on space as an opportunity to try and conceal what he was doing to the woman from other commuters.

The victim bravely texted BTP on 61016, and only days later an officer familiar with the incident recognised Sangha outside Kings Cross Station and arrested him.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Steven Ridpath-Mitchell said:

"Sangha's opportunistic behaviour was totally unacceptable, the victim was trying to go about her daily life on her way to work and should not have been subjected to his abhorrent and despicable actions.

"It is down to the bravery of the victim and the keen observation of an officer that we have been able to arrest, charge and sentence Sangha and see him held accountable.

"The victim has bravely supported the investigation throughout, ensuring that Sangha will now have plenty of time to think about his actions while in prison and feel the consequences for years to come.

“If you experience or witness a sexual offence on the railway network or at a station, I urge you to report it to us on 61016, we will always take you seriously."

Description

A paedophile who raped and sexually abused eight victims over a 19-year timeframe has been brought to justice.

The abuse by Pramod Dhakal, 49, only came to light in November 2023 when one of the victims confided in her family. This then resulted in further victims coming forward.

All of Dhakal’s victims except one were children at the time of the abuse, with the youngest eight years old. All but one of the victims were based in Cambridgeshire, with the other from London.

Some of the victims were reluctant to report the sexual abuse to police because they feared they wouldn’t be believed.

Dhakal, of Victorian Crescent, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, was arrested two days after the initial call to police but denied sexually assaulting any of his victims.

He continued to deny any wrongdoing and stood trial for 20 days at Cambridge Crown Court in September.

After less than three hours of deliberations, jurors found him guilty by unanimous verdict on 25 counts including:

• 15 counts of sexual assault on a girl under the age of 16
• Seven counts of rape of a girl under the age of 16
• Three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

He was sentenced at the same court on Monday (1 December) where he was handed 25 years in prison, with an extended eight years on licence.

Dhakal was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and given a restraining order preventing him from contacting all eight of his victims for the same timeframe.

DC Phillipa Mallett, who investigated, said:

“This case highlights that no matter when the abuse happened, or when you feel comfortable to share your story with the police, we take reports of this nature extremely seriously.

“We will endeavour to do everything we can to protect the public from child sexual offenders in our communities, no matter how much time has passed.

I hope this outcome brings closure to the survivors of Dhakal’s abuse. I commend them on their bravery for coming forward and potentially stopping further children being exploited. 

Child abuse comes in many different forms and can affect anyone. If you notice something that doesn’t feel right, or think a child might be at risk, I encourage you to speak up. Sharing any concerns, no matter how small, can make all the difference.”