Latest Offenders

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A man who sexually manipulated two young girls across the country has today (Friday, 23 January 2026), been sentenced to a total of eight years behind bars, and will be required to be on licence for an additional three years.

He is also to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, and handed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Luke Williamson, 34-years-old, of Bunyan Road in Kempston, Bedfordshire, appeared at Hull Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to 20 child sex offences at a previous court hearing

Williamson sent thousands of messages, including videos and voice calls, through multiple social media channels to two teenage girls all under 16-years-old, living in West Midlands and Hertfordshire, leading them to believe he was in love with them and manipulating them into doing what he wanted for his own perverse sexual gain.

Williamson was charged in July 2025 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to 12 counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sexual offence, three counts of sexual communications with a child, three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act and taking indecent photographs of a child.

Leading the extensive investigation into the scale of Williamson’s offending was Detective Inspector Cat Slaughter from our Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, who said:

“Williamson is a very calculated and manipulative man who preyed on vulnerable girls and in essence, groomed them with his methods being the same each time.

“He would first ask the girls how old they were and once he knew they were underage he continued with messaging them inappropriately.  Once they were overwhelmed by his interest, he progressed on to asking them for favours which included sending photographs of their legs and feet.

“He went on to initiate a phone or video call with the girls.  If they were reluctant or refused, he offered them money, alcohol, or vapes in a devious scheme to coerce them into doing what he wanted.  He then took the next step, persuading them to meet him in person which enabled him to continue his sexual offending against them.”

The investigation commenced when Williamson’s phone was seized in May this year as part of another investigation and examined by our Digital Forensics Unit who uncovered the messages, images and videos he had been sending.

It was established during the investigation that Williamson drove significant distances across the country to meet the girls, and location tracking data analysed from his phone showed that he would wait for hours in his car to execute his plan.

On one occasion, he went to such lengths that he meticulously planned and implemented entering one of the girl’s houses whilst her family members slept to engage in sexual activity with her.

Williamson was arrested in July this year and whilst he first refused to admit involvement in any of the allegations put to him, due to the amount of significant evidence and strong case built by the detectives, he entered a guilty plea at a Pre Trial Plea Hearing in October 2025.

DI Slaughter continued:

“Even whilst on remand for a previous investigation Williamson continued to write letters to one of the girls, making false promises, and further led her to believe that he was in love with her.

“When someone has been sexually manipulated, groomed or abused, people sometimes do not want to fully engage with an investigation, as was the situation with this case, and I want to acknowledge how incredibly difficult it is and that we completely understand and respect the girls’ decision.

“We believed that Williamson was a danger to young girls, and we continued to gather as much evidence as we could to build a strong case against him.  

“Before the Judge passed her sentence today, she said that Williamson is a high risk offender and a serious risk to teenage girls, I hope the result at court today demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting offenders like Williamson and I hope it provides some reassurance to anyone who has been or is a victim of any type of sexual offence. It is never your fault, you will be believed, and we will do all we can to hold those responsible to account.

“I would urge anyone who reads this court result about Williamson’s offending and is affected by it, or if it causes you concern, please come forward and report via our dedicated Major Incident Public Portal quoting log 72 of 17 November 2025.”

Jessica Randell, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, added:

"Luke Williamson repeatedly targeted and groomed young girls, before subjecting them to appalling degradation. He treated his victims as sexual objects to be used and discarded, showing a complete disregard for their dignity and wellbeing in doing so.

“To build this case, we dissected thousands of text messages between Williamson and his victims. This allowed us to build a comprehensive picture of the extent of his offending and ultimately secure guilty pleas to 20 counts of child sexual abuse.  

“Working closely with Humberside Police, we have been able to ensure that Williamson is rightfully imprisoned for his crimes and cannot subject any more victims to his disturbing patterns of behaviour. The CPS is determined to tackle child sexual abuse in all its forms and to help stop the devastating impact of these crimes on victims.”

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A man who failed to attend court has been sentenced in his absence after he was found guilty of rape, neglect and controlling and coercive behaviour in Crewe.

Foisal Ahmed, of West Street, Buckingham, was sentenced in his absence to eight years in prison at Chester Crown Court on Monday 19 January.

The 34-year-old was earlier found guilty of two counts of rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and child neglect, following a 9-day trial in September 2025.

In November 2023, Cheshire Police were called to an address in Crewe and spoke with the victim who disclosed Ahmed had assaulted her and raped her multiple times over several months. He also assaulted the victim’s young child during this time.

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

Ahmed failed to appear at court on the final day of the trial, and a warrant has since been issued for his arrest. Detectives are now urging anyone with information as to his whereabouts to contact us.

Detective Constable Simon Knowles, who led the investigation, said:

“After all he put his victim through, Ahmed continues to torment her by failing to take any accountability for his actions and serve the sentence handed to him by the courts.

“Despite his cowardice, I am grateful for the sentence which reflects the severity of his despicable crimes, and I hope the conclusion of this case will bring the victim some closure.

“I would like to thank the victim for her bravery in talking to police about what happened to her, and I would encourage anyone who has experienced or been victim of an offence of this nature to please get in touch with us by calling 101 or visit our website.”

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A man who travelled to Swindon with the intention of sexually abusing a child has today been jailed (23/1).

Mark Bellas, 54, from Harebell Gardens, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, Bedfordshire was arrested in Swindon in October last year having travelled from his home address. He thought he was meeting a girl under the age of 13 who he was intending to sexually abuse. Instead, he was met by officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).  

At the time of his arrest, Bellas was on bail for distributing indecent images of children following an investigation by Bedfordshire Police. 

Today, at Swindon Crown Court, he was sentenced to 12 years with a five-year extended licence, given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be required to be on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely. 

Bellas pleaded guilty to two counts of arranging orfacilitatingthe commission of a child sex offence,attemptingto cause or incite the sexual exploitation of a child and five counts of distributing indecent images of children. He has been remanded in custody since his arrest by SWROCU last year. 

DI Dave Wells from SWROCU said:

“Due to the strength of the evidence gathered by the police, Bellas had no option but to plead guilty. He is a dangerous individual who preys upon children to fulfil his sexual desires, and I welcome the sentence handed down to him today. 

“Specially trained officers are all across the internet rooting out and prosecuting individuals’ intent upon sexually abusing and exploiting children. We worked in collaboration with our colleagues at the Metropolitan Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) to bring Bellas to justice.”

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A man has pleaded guilty to 48 sexual offences against his former wife.

Philip Young, 49, formally of Swindon but now living in Enfield, appeared at Winchester Crown Court today (23/01) charged with dozens of serious sexual offences against his ex-wife, Joanne.

He pleaded guilty to the following offences:

• 11 counts of rape
• 11 counts of administering a substance with intent to stupefy / overpower to allow sexual activity
• 14 counts of voyeurism
• 7 counts of assault by penetration
• 4 counts of sexual assault
• One count of publishing an obscene article

He pleaded not guilty to making indecent images of children, possessing prohibited images of children and possessing extreme pornographic images.

He will proceed to trial for these offences, scheduled for October 5 this year at Winchester Crown Court.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Geoff Smith said:

“I welcome today’s guilty plea from Philip Young, who has admitted dozens of serious sexual offences against Jo.

“I want to pay tribute to her for her incredible bravery throughout this process and she continues to be supported by specially trained officers.

“I’d also like to commend the investigation team for their relentless hard work in getting the case to this stage and thank the Crown Prosecution Service for their support in ensuring Young faces justice for his abhorrent actions.

“As the wider case is now continuing through the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further."

James Foster, Specialist Prosecutor, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

“Philip Young has today pleaded guilty to 48 serious sexual offences committed against his former wife, Joanne Young.

“We worked closely with Wiltshire Police to build a thorough and compelling case that resulted in him pleading guilty to dozens of offences today.”

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A high-risk sex offender breached his court order by installing three apps, then deleted them in panic when police arrived.

Jonathan Frost, 43, of Corscombe Close, Ferryhill, received a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after his September 2021 conviction for attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child following grooming, resulting in a suspended sentence.

Due to his "high risk" of re-offending, monitoring software was installed on his phone.

Prosecutor Kathryn Wetherley told Durham Crown Court that police visited his home on December 15 last year, suspecting unauthorized apps. The apps—Zangi, Plamfly, and Buzzcast—enabled contact with women and were sexual in nature.

Frost let officers in but went to the bathroom. His phone then showed no apps, and he admitted deleting them.

He was arrested and, in interview, acknowledged understanding the SHPO terms, citing a prior breach involving Snapchat.

Frost admitted four breaches: three for installing the apps, one for deleting an image of his private parts.

Miss Wetherley called them "very serious, persistent and deliberate breaches."

Defense counsel Albany Kidd noted Frost's vulnerability, diagnosed learning disabilities, and supportive family living with his parents.

She conceded the deliberate breach but said: "When he saw the police arriving, in a moment of panic, it was a deliberate decision to delete, but it wasn’t calculated or pre-planned." The apps were for conversations with adult women.

Judge Nathan Adams noted these were not Frost's first breaches, as he was given "chances" in 2024.

The judge said: "You were given a further chance and, nevertheless, you are back here again in breach of the SHPO and sex offender notification requirements and the only outcome is immediate custody. You were fully aware deletion would be a direct breach of the order."

He imposed 12 months for the latest breaches, plus eight months activated from a June 2024 suspended sentence, totaling 20 months in prison.

Judge Adams warned further breaches would lead to more custody.

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Nathan Trewern has been sentenced at Truro Crown Court for making indecent images of children, distributing indecent images of children, and possessing extreme pornographic images of people having sex with animals.

A depraved offender caught with indecent images of children and extreme pornographic material depicting bestiality has avoided prison.

Nathan Trewern, 30, appeared at Truro Crown Court this month and was sentenced on January 9 for offenses spanning April 2015 to May 2024. He created 190 category A indecent images of children (the most serious), 159 category B images, and 51 category C images. He also distributed 231 indecent images and possessed seven extreme pornographic images "which portrayed, in an explicit and realistic way, a person performing an act of intercourse with a live animal, namely a dog and a horse," per court documents, as reported by Cornwall Live.

Trewern, of Treloweth Road in Pool (between Redruth and Camborne), admitted three counts of making indecent images, one count of distribution, and one count of possessing extreme porn. He received a two-year suspended prison sentence, 200 hours of unpaid work, and 40 days of rehabilitation including a sex offenders' program.

He faces a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, registration on the sex offenders' list for 10 years, and £120 in court costs.

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A man has been jailed for seven years and two months after he pleaded guilty to non-recent sex offences against a teenage girl.

Tom Heckley, 25, of Muirfield Way in Woodhall Spa was convicted of 15 offences when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court earlier today (22 January).

These include seven counts of sexual activity with a child involving penetration, one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child and one count of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

Heckley committed the crimes in 2021 in the Lincolnshire area when he was 20 years old. The offences came to light following a report to the police in October 2023.

The 25-year-old was also convicted of six counts of possessing indecent images of children. The images and chat logs were discovered on Heckley’s phone after they were seized and examined and were of other teenage girls under 16 at the time.

Detective Constable Kye Sykes, who led the investigation, said:

“We’d like to pay tribute to the bravery of the victim in this case. Having the courage to report a traumatic event and placing her trust in us meant that we were able to identify other victims and safeguard them to the best of our ability.

“Despite the case being reported three years after it took place, we hope that this case reiterates that it is never too late to report if you are a survivor of sexual abuse. We will do everything we can to thoroughly investigate historic offences and hold offenders accountable for their actions.

“We’d also like to give thanks to the Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) Service at Spring Lodge for their support that they provide to survivors of sexual violence.”

Heckley has also been given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and a restraining order. Heckley has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

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The bravery of a woman who was raped and sexually assaulted in her Bournemouth home has seen her attacker brought to justice.

Her courage in coming forward and support for the subsequent investigation by detectives saw 28-year-old Chret Courtney Callender convicted following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

On the night of Friday 13 June 2025 the victim, aged in her 20s, had seen Callender – who was known to her – on a night out in the town. She had then got a taxi home while the defendant stayed in town.

Later on, during the early hours of Saturday 14 June 2025, Callender turned up at her address and she let him in, hoping he would not stay too long.

Callender started to make sexual advances towards her, but she made it clear she did not want anything to happen.

He subsequently sexually assaulted her and raped her, despite the victim making it clear she did not consent.

The victim reported the matter to police the same day and was supported through The Shores Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and by an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) throughout the investigation and court process.

Following a detailed investigation by detectives from BCP CID, Callender – a Trinidadian and Tobagonian national who gave his self-defined ethnicity as black Caribbean including black British – was charged and appeared at court.

He denied the offences and the matter went to trial, where the victim’s evidence helped secure a conviction.

Callender returned to court on Thursday 22 January 2026 and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Detective Constable Samantha James, of Dorset Police, said:

“Chret Callender forced himself upon his victim despite her clear indications that she did not consent.

“Despite the horrific ordeal she faced at the hands of this defendant, she has shown the strength to come forward and report the matter as well as support the subsequent investigation, ensuring Callender faced justice for his offending and now finds himself behind bars.

“We are committed to doing all we can to tackle violence against women and girls and want to ensure victims have the confidence to come forward and report offences in the knowledge they will be fully supported and perpetrators such as Callender will face the consequences of their actions.”

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A Wirral man has been jailed for ten years after being found guilty of non-recent sex offences.

Craig Middleton, 53, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 21 January) after being convicted of two counts of rape.

The offences occurred in 2009 at two properties in Leeds against a woman aged in her 20s, but it formed part of a Merseyside Police investigation.

Detective Inspector Peter Rexwinkel said:

“I hope this sentencing reassures our communities that we take all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, no matter how long ago they occurred.

“We will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of those who commit serious sexual offences and time is no barrier to an investigation.

“I want to praise the victim in this case who had to undergo the added trauma of a trial after Middleton denied the offences.

“Thankfully a jury saw through his lies and he is now starting a lengthy prison sentence for his appalling offences.

“Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting anyone from violence and sexual abuse.

“Anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us.

“We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports, and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

“We urge anyone who is a victim of any form sexual abuse to please report this to police, as we have specially trained officers who will treat you with sensitivity and compassion.

“We take all such reports extremely seriously, and in addition, work with partner organisations such as Victim care Support Service and RASA who are there to support victims of this crime.”

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Sex offender Michael Hampson, 35, failed to inform police about a Samsung Galaxy tablet. He initially lied, claiming an empty Samsung Galaxy box by his settee belonged to a former resident.

Officers found the tablet under the sofa and arrested him. It marked his 10th breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Hampson has now been jailed for 16 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

The SHPO prohibits him from using internet-capable devices without notifying police within three days. Devices must retain internet history and be available for inspection. On October 17, police visited his home and spotted the box.

Prosecutor Josh Daley said: "He allowed them in. They spoke in the lounge. Police noted an empty box for a Samsung Galaxy tablet. He said it was not his and it belonged to a previous resident. Police suspected he may have a further device. They conducted a search. They asked him to stand up. He admitted he had a tablet under the sofa. Police located it and seized it. He had only obtained the tablet the day before. He is not in breach for failing to register it but in breach for failing to make it available for inspection."

The court heard Hampson was convicted of two charges of encouraging a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He has nine prior SHPO breach convictions.

Hampson, of Maryfield Walk, Penkhull, pleaded guilty to the breach.

Mitigating, Paul Cliff said: "He does exhibit some remorse for his offending. His words are, 'I need to stop telling lies'. It was foolish to push the tablet under the sofa. He initially denied he was in possession of that item. It was driven by panic. He was in possession of the tablet for less than 24 hours at the time."

Recorder Robert Smith said: "You are a loner. You are quite isolated. The way you deal with that situation is to constantly lie to professionals who are charged with protecting the public. The purpose of the SHPO is to stop you having sexualised conversations with children. Your previous convictions seriously aggravate the position.

"There is some truth to what you said to the pre-sentence report writer, in that you lead an isolated and lonely life. But if you keep dealing with matters in the way you are I will keep sending you to prison for longer and longer. You have two choices, comply with the order or keep getting prison sentences. You need to stop flagrantly breaching the orders of this court. The court's patience with you has run out. Your offending is so serious and persistent, immediate imprisonment is inevitable and unavoidable."

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The man pictured is Stuart Williams – he is a paedophile and a sex offender and this week a jury found him guilty of his crimes.

Williams, 57, of Moore Street, Blackpool was brought to justice after messaging who he thought were young girls. They were not and instead were decoys. On three separate occasions he was caught by undercover police officers, once whilst he was on court bail for the previous two.

Through our enquiries, we uncovered three reports of historic sexual offences against children. A further adult victim reported a sexual offence against her by Williams to us. 

Williams' (pictured above) offending happened in Penwortham and Lytham.

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, he was charged with a number of offences.

These are:

• Three counts of indecent assaults of a girl under the age of 14.
• Attempted tape of a female under the age of 16.
• Four counts of sexually assaulting a female age 13 and over.
• Two counts of sexual assault of a female.
• Three counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child.
• Possession of Category B indecent images of children
• Possession of Category C indecent images of children.

He pleaded not guilty, instead running a trial and inadvertently admitted to two offences of making indecent images of children during cross examination.

A jury took three hours to unanimously find him guilty of all 17 counts . He has been remanded to appear for sentence on 9th February.

DC Hannah Sturgess, of Preston CID said:

“Williams abused his victims, both in person and online.

“He never admitted his guilt and instead made his victims sit through a 12-day trial.

“I can only praise the victims for the strength and bravery they have shown throughout this whole investigation and hope the knowledge that a jury saw through Williams’ lies brings them some feeling of justice.”

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A high-risk sex offender who was given a chance by magistrates blew it immediately.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Mohammed Patel, 43, of The Larches, received a suspended prison sentence for breaching sex offender register requirements but promptly failed to register his address or homelessness with police.

He pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements and was jailed for nine months.

Deputy District Judge Laura Nash noted Patel's awareness of his duties due to prior breaches. "Very recently you were given a chance in the shape of a suspended sentence," she said. "You didn't register with the police and you haven't been co-operating with the probation service."

Prosecutor Lyndsey Vinden said Patel was instructed on December 16 to register his whereabouts but did not.

Defense lawyer Zabair Afzal said his client was confused about the requirements. "He says he provided the court with his address and did not know he had to go to the police station and do the same," Mr. Afzal added. "This was not deliberate, he simply didn't realise what he had to do."

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A Crowborough man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted of multiple serious child sexual offences.

The offences include producing and possessing child abuse material, inciting a child under thirteen to engage in sexual activity, and arranging the commission of a child sex offence.

Ray Lombard, 46, of Croft Road in Crowborough, was identified by police after accessing child abuse images online. Investigators found he had livestreamed child abuse, arranged acts of child sexual abuse at his request, paid perpetrators, and discussed paedophilia and online child exploitation.

During the investigation, Lombard was found in possession of extreme pornographic images and more than 5,000 child abuse images classified as categories A and B stored on multiple devices seized from Lombard. He established online connections with other distributors of child abuse material and targeted vulnerable women, while investigators also found screen recordings documenting live streamed sexual abuse of children.

He admitted to paying a vulnerable woman in Ukraine to produce child sexual abuse material involving her daughter under the age of five.

Lombard was arrested on 19 March 2024 and charged at Eastbourne Custody Centre on 12 March 2025 with three counts of making indecent images of children, eight counts of arranging and facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, causing to incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, including penetration, and possessing extreme pornographic images.

He appeared at Lewes crown court on the 31 October 2025, where he pleaded guilty to all charges.

On Thursday (15 January 2026), at Lewes Crown Court, he was sentenced to 13 years in prison. The administration of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order will be considered at a future date, and the court ordered the destruction of all his devices.

Detective Sergeant David Rose, from the Online Child Abuse Team, said:

“Lombard’s behaviour was abhorrent and demonstrates the very real dangers posed online by individuals who deliberately seek to groom and sexually exploit children.

“These crimes represent a profound abuse of trust and a complete disregard for the safety, dignity and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable members of society.

“His devices contained moving images recording the sexual abuse of young children. These children, wherever they are in the world, live with the trauma of the abuse they have suffered.

“Offending of this nature causes lasting damage not only to the direct victims, but also to families and communities, and it will not be tolerated.

“The Online Child Abuse Team continues to work tirelessly with our partners to identify and apprehend offenders, disrupt this type of criminal activity, and educate parents and carers on the steps they can take to help keep children safe online.”

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A man has been jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage girl as she waited for a train at Cosham railway station, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Barnaby Money, 46, of East Hill Road, Ryde, was sentenced to one year in jail at Portsmouth Crown Court on Thursday 15 January, having pleaded guilty to Sexual Assault at a previous hearing.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and is banned from working with children.

The court heard how at around 6.20pm on 25 February 2025, the 17-year-old was sat on a bench on platform two at the station waiting for her train when Money approached her.

He sat on the same bench and proceeded to ask her questions about the trains, though the teenage girl attempted to ignore him. He then moved closer to her and asked if she wanted to go on a walk with him and perform a sexual act on him.

Moments later he attempted to kiss her hand before sexually assaulting her. He stayed on the bench next to the victim and then threatened to rape her.

A member of the public at the station witnessed the attack and called the police. Officers from Hampshire Police were first to arrive at the station, and the witness pointed out Money who was still sat next to the girl. He was immediately arrested and taken to custody for questioning.  

Following an extensive investigation led by BTP detectives, Money was left with no choice but to plead guilty to the attack.

BTP Detective Constable Phil James said:

"Money is a dangerous sexual predator who preyed on a lone teenage girl and attacked her as she waited for a train. His behaviour was totally unacceptable and has caused a young woman severe trauma.

"I commend her bravery in supporting our investigation, as well as the bystander who quickly called the police so Money could be arrested at the scene. Thanks to them, Money is now behind bars and no longer a danger to women.

“If you experience or witness a sexual offence on-board a train or at a station, I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016. We take all reports seriously, and just like in this incident, officers will immediately attend to arrest sexual offenders and bring them to justice."

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Ammanford teen sentenced for raping 12-year-old girl

A teenager has been sentenced to three years and six months in a young offender’s institution after pleading guilty to raping a 12-year-old.

Jake Richards, aged 19, of Garnswllt, admitted to raping the girl when he was 17 years old after the pair had chatted on Snapchat before meeting in real life.

The victim reported the offence to police in August 2024 after disclosing what had happened to a friend. She told officers she had met Richards, and that they walked to a secluded tunnel where she thought they were going to talk. While in the tunnel, Richards instigated sex, and continued after she had told him no several times.

Following a lengthy investigation, which included forensic and digital enquiries, Richards was charged with rape. He admitted the offence when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court.

Today, Wednesday, January 21, he was sentenced to three years and six months in a young offender’s institution

Detective Sergeant Carl Pocock, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said:

“Firstly, I would like to commend the victim, who was just 12 years old when this offence happened, for her courage in coming forward to report this offence, and for her cooperation during the subsequent investigation.

“Rape, or any form of sexual abuse, is not easy to talk about, and especially at such a young age this must have been incredibly daunting for her.

“Despite facing someone five years older than her, she took the correct steps in saying no when she was not comfortable with the situation, pleading with Richard to stop. He, however, continued regardless to satisfy his own needs.

“She continued to show her bravery when she spoke out about the offence, first with a friend and subsequently by reporting it to police to ensure action could be taken.

“Our specialist staff explored the victim’s account thoroughly, and were able to help prove the case through DNA and digital forensic evidence. The strength of this evidence undoubtedly resulted in this early guilty plea, and spared the victim the additional trauma of the case going to trial.

“I feel it is important to highlight that the victim of this case could not provide consent due to her age, and that this case highlights the vital importance of having conversations about staying safe online, the law and consent with young people. This includes how to give consent, how not to assume consent, and what to do if someone continues with sexual activity despite a lack of consent.

“I also hope this case demonstrates that our specialist officers will listen to, support and seek justice for victims of all ages who may be subject to sexual abuse.”