Latest Offenders London

Description

A paedophile downloaded a manual on how to sexually abuse babies and accessed nearly 6,000 indecent images of children online.

Arif Azad, 21, of Newham, has been jailed after police first began to investigate the man in March 2023.

It was found that out of the nearly 6,000 indecent images, 3,500 of them were found to be in the most extreme category.

And a number of the images had been sent to him by an unknown child who he was communicating with online.

Azad pleaded guilty on October 25, 2023 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

On April 19 this year, he was sentenced at the same court to four years’ imprisonment – two for making, distributing and possessing indecent images, and another two for engaging in sexual communication with a child.

He is also subject to Sex Offender Notification Requirements for life and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.

Description

A man has been jailed after kidnapping and attempting to rape a woman in a van in North London. Tyrone Allert, 37, has been described by police as a 'violent predator'.

The Met was called at around 11.40am on Sunday (July 24) to reports of a man standing at the back of a white van in Marsh Lane, Haringey, with his jeans pulled down and sounds of a woman from inside the van shouting ‘help me’. Another call to police reported that the same vehicle, driven by Allert, had collided with six vehicles at Warwick Road, N11, and had been driven at a man who narrowly escaped injury.

Multiple police units were notified and an ANPR tracker was placed on the vehicle. The victim was then located at an East London hospital. She had suffered multiple injuries consistent with beating, police found. Thankfully, they weren't life-threatening.

Allert was arrested at his home address that same day on suspicion of kidnap and assault, and taken into custody on July 26. He was charged with attempted GBH with intent, assault ABH, attempted rape, rape, kidnap, racially aggravated harassment, assault of an emergency worker, possession of an offensive weapon (a knife) and dangerous driving.

The court heard how on July 24, 2022, the 28-year-old female victim had been drinking with friends and at some point had been picked up by Allert, who, seeing that she was intoxicated, had given her more alcohol and driven around with her in the back of his van. He then repeatedly pulled over trying to have sex with the victim, attempting to 'beat her into submission'.

When he was taken into custody Allert racially abused an officer before eventually assaulting him and causing injuries that required hospital treatment. The officer has since made a full recovery, the Met says.

Victim 'clearly heard to say that she didn’t want to have sex'

Allert claimed that the victim had consented to getting into the van and to having sex with him. But, when his mobile phone was examined, officers found clips of himself verbally abusing and assaulting the victim.

The victim in the footage was clearly heard to say that she didn’t want to have sex and at one point she said ‘this is rape’. The footage also showed her attempting to escape from the van, but Allert continually pushed her back inside.

Allert appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday (April 9) where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. This would be followed by five years on extended licence for the false imprisonment and attempted rape of a woman.

He was previously convicted at the same court following trial on November 14, 2023, where he had pleaded guilty to assault (ABH), racially aggravated harassment, assault on an emergency worker, possession of an offensive weapon and dangerous driving.

Detective Constable Iain McDonald, investigating, said: “The victim-survivor in this case has been incredibly brave. Realising the danger she was in she fought tirelessly to escape Tyrone Allert who is a violent predator.”

He added: “We are dedicated to protecting women and girls, eradicating sexual violence caused largely at the hands of predatory men such as Allert, and to supporting those who are impacted by sexual assault and/or rape. The effects of sexual offences can be long lasting, but I sincerely hope that the victim can move forward with her life leaving Allert and his despicable actions behind her.”

Description

55-year-old Marcelino Goncalves, from Acton, was arrested and convicted after being highlighted as a high-harm offender and prolific abuser. 

He was convicted on Friday 22 March for rape, assault by beating, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking and controlling coercive behaviour.

Goncalves came to police attention when a member of public saw him assault a woman known to him. The victim then disclosed her long history of abuse she faced – threatening her at her home, burning her with a cigarette because she did not want to have sex with him and punching her in the face.

Goncalves even continued to target her while on remand, making 15 calls from prison, but with enhanced management within the prison system, they were able to put a stop to the harassment when it was reported.

He will be sentenced on Friday 7 June.

Description

A man who flashed his penis on a South London bus to 'have a look at it' has been spared jail. Caine Sparkes exposed himself in front of disgusted passengers on a 155 bus, which runs between Elephant and Castle and Tooting, on November 9 last year, apparently to check his penis rather than for others see, Inner London Crown Court heard on Tuesday (April 9).

The 41-year-old of Ouseley Road, Wandsworth, was sat on the lower deck towards the front of the double-decker bus, at around 8:30pm, when he pulled genitals over the waistband of his trousers 'on several occasions', prosecutor Alex Ng told the court.

"It was brief exposures, from the CCTV. He took it out and he had a look at himself, rather than intending for others to look at it. At some stage his left hand was inside his trousers near the private part, but there's no obvious signs he was doing anything down his trousers," said Mr Ng.

Police were called by a witness of the act, but they refused to give their details. The call and CCTV evidence was enough to secure a conviction, but a victim impact statement was not provided for Tuesday's hearing.

Just over a month after the incident, Sparkes was arrested at his supported living home on December 19. Sparkes admitted a single count of exposure at Croydon Magistrates'. He was also charged with failing to pay a bus fare, but this was not mentioned at Tuesday's hearing.

Sparkes was previously convicted of outraging public decency in 2007, and has a number of offences for low level thefts. Mr Ng said there was no raised harm or culpability, apart from the presence of others on the bus, as he called for a fine or Community Order.

The judge called Sparkes' Hestia support worker to the witness stand, who explained his life in high-level supported living where he can go and come back as he wants but must heed the rules when he is at home. Defence counsel Adrian Macho called for a specific mental health intervention to address his client's issues.

A probation worker, who authored the pre-sentence report, also said Sparkes' additional needs would be best catered for by Hestia, as he agreed with the defence about the need for specialist mental health treatment.

Judge Ian Darling told Sparkes: "You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence of exposure on the 155 bus in the mid-evening of November last year. The reason why that is a serious offence is because it happened on a bus with other members of the public, and possibly young children could have been present. That's why the court takes it so seriously."

Judge Darling said the concerns about Sparkes' mental health were being dealt with by his team in Wandsworth, and therefore the case could be dealt with by a 12-month Community Order. This also included a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and 10 days of rehabilitation activity requirement to stop Sparkes repeating his display.

"Providing you comply with the order, all will be well. If you fail to comply, without reasonable excuses, you may be brought back to court and resentenced," warned Judge Darling.

Description

A man who raped a woman in the grips of a medical episode then told her 'you jumped on me' in an attempt to gaslight her, has been jailed. Mark Anderson forced himself on the woman, who came round to hear him say 'be a good girl' and 'stay still', then pretended she consented to sex, Wood Green Crown Court was told.

The 42-year-old of Shafton Road, in Hackney, wore a grey Nike tracksuit with an orange tick as he was jailed for eight years on Friday (April 5), thanking the judge as he left the dock. After reacting badly to the jury's guilty verdict, after his trial in February, Anderson apologised to the court, through his barrister, at the outset of his mitigation.

After inviting the victim to his house in the summer of 2023, Anderson raped her as she slept. "She woke up to find that she had been completely undressed, and you were on top of her having vaginal sex with her. And she remembers you saying 'be a good girl' and 'stay still'," Judge Daniel Fugallo told Anderson.

"It was clear to her she was not only coming around from being asleep, but from [a medical episode]. The physical exhaustion, and the feeling like she had been hit by a bus, it was clear to her what you were doing could not be normal consensual sex."

According to Judge Fugallo, Anderson told her afterwards she had wanted to have sex and 'you jumped on me'. After 'assembling her memories', the victim concluded Anderson had raped her and bravely reported him to the police. Anderson was arrested and taken to Stoke Newington Police Station, where a small bag of cocaine was discovered during a search. He was subsequently charged with rape, common assault, and cocaine possession, but only admitted the latter.

On Friday, prosecutor Daniel Bishop said the rape should be aggravated by a common assault on the victim as he called for the highest level of culpability. Explaining the impact of Anderson's crime, the barrister said the victim still loses sleep, suffers nightmares about the rape, and has felt suicidal. He also claimed she had received threats from third-parties after reporting her rapist to the police.

"I used to be so confident and full of life," she said in an impact statement. "Now I am an empty shell. I do not have a soul. My relationships with other people have suffered. He has stolen my soul and the happy person I once was."

Calling for medium culpability, defence counsel Emma Hayfield argued the common assault was 'relatively low level' and reminded Judge Fugallo not to double count it as an aggravating feature. Ms Hayfield also said there was no evidence of any link between Anderson and those making alleged threats against the victim.

She explained Anderson, who has no previous convictions, was assessed as having 'several' Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms and a low IQ, which, she claimed, impact on his ability to empathise and recognise the emotions of others. "I say that is relevant to the assault and rape," argued Ms Hayfield.

Judge Fugallo gave him a 10-year restraining order, and handed down the eight-year sentence for rape and three months concurrent for the assault, with no separate penalty for cocaine possession.

Summarising the offence, Judge Fugallo told Anderson: "[The victim] was not conscious when you raped her, due to her being asleep and having a [medical episode]."

Anderson said 'Thank you' as he left the dock. He is entered onto the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A 'despicable' paedophile who groomed a child on Minecraft was twice released under investigation before he was brought to justice. Vinnie Pinkham was sentenced to seven years in prison and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order at Woolwich Crown Court on Thursday (March 28), after a multi-force investigation, led by the Met Police, spanning three years.

The 19-year-old, then of Catalina House in Eltham, first caught the attention of the Met in 2021 when the force seized his computer and put him on curfew during an indecent images investigation, which was later dropped. Shortly after the gamer got his computer back, he contacted an eight-year-old on his PlayStation while playing Minecraft, the court heard at an earlier hearing.

Pinkham, now of Restons Crescent, Greenwich, added the child on Instagram and asked them to send indecent photos in exchange for 30 worth of V-Bucks, a currency used in the game Fortnight. When horrified parents saw the images on the child's phone, they showed police, including chat logs where the child asked 'What does show butt mean?' and 'How do I get a picture of my own butt?'.

Pinkham was arrested at his Eltham address at 6.30am on November 11 2021, where police seized his Xbox and phone. Pinkham was questioned, but he lied and accused the child of 'talking inappropriately' and calling him a 'perv'. The victim later told police they were asked to take a photo of their 'rude part'. Pinkham maintained he could not remember the child's username.

Pinkham was released under investigation for the second time, but just over a year later, on December 14 2022, he struck again, posing as a seven-year-old boy to groom a six-year-old child over Snapchat. He threatened to hurt the child's parents, in return for indecent images, and sent obscene photos of himself.

When the child's family member realised what was going on, they messaged Pinkham's account, asking why he had contacted them. Instead of coming clean, Pinkham carried on his lies and told the victim's parents the messages were from an imaginary eight-year-old brother who was behaving strangely after the loss of his dad.

When Pinkham was arrested on April 13, 2023, police seized his devices and a top-up card linked to the number that had been messaging the child. When they searched his phone, they discovered hundreds of indecent images and searches for bestiality images.

MyLondon reported Pinkham's first sentencing hearing on Friday, January 12, which was adjourned because his true age, and some of his mitigation, still needed verification. At the hearing, prosecutor Allister Walker read emotional victim impact statements, including from one parent who described their feeling of guilt, and the emotional and mental effect on their household.

"It is truly hard to say how much this had an emotional and mental affect on not just [my child] but whole house and family. This horrific crime will leave emotional scars on [my child] that will not heal," they said. "I never thought anything like this would happen to one of my children. The guilt will stay with me forever for not being able to protect my [child] from this despicable predator."

Another victim's family member said: "I always thought I would be able to protect my child. Now I have not I will always blame myself... I'm always telling [them] it's not [their] fault but [they] always blame [themselves].

"[Pinkham] was old enough to get someone his own age. Why did he not get someone his own age? He's ruined so many lives for his own bitter pleasure."

On Friday (April 5), the Met Police told how it took three years, working together with Greater Manchester Police and North Wales Police, to reveal the full extent of Pinkham's crimes. The investigation required hours of interviews with Pinkham and his vulnerable victims, viewing and grading of horrific material by officers, and support for the victims and their families.

In the end, Pinkham was convicted of:

• Two counts of sexual communication with a child
• Two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Three counts of possessing extreme pornographic images
• Possession of a prohibited image

Detective Constable Amy Burnell who led the investigation said: I would like to highlight the incredible work of the Mets investigation team; they viewed images of horrific material seized from the suspect and had to grade the severity of the indecency of the images for viewing in court. They did this efficiently and were able to still work professionally and with true commitment to the case.

The teams diligence and professionalism has ensured this perpetrator has been taken off the streets of London and will no longer be able to hide behind a computer screen and take advantage of vulnerable children enjoying online games and chat rooms with their friends.

Pinkham exploited childrens youthful ignorance for his personal gratification. We are committed to finding individuals who wish to cause harm to young people across London. Well do everything in our power to protect children, bringing to justice those predators who threaten their safety.

Description

A flasher who swung his 'large' penis at women from his South London balcony claimed it was 'impossible' for a witness to hear it slapping his belly, a court heard. Joseph Mafe, 53, of Empire Square South, Bermondsey, was jailed for 10 months at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday, March 6, after admitting two counts of exposure and breaching a suspended sentence, with the judge delivering a scathing rebuke over his repeated offending.

The drug addict was spared jail at Snaresbrook Crown Court in 2022 for multiple flashing incidents, but found himself in breach of the 23-week suspended term last autumn when he relapsed and went on a two-day 'chemsex' bender, combining alcohol with crystal meth and GBL - substances commonly used at drug-fuelled orgies.

The court heard Mafe paraded his member from his balcony on September 16, shouting 'Oi' and 'Hello' at any woman who walked by until they had the misfortune of looking up. "When they looked up he would put his hands behind his head and thrust forward until his penis touched his stomach. She described a large penis," said prosecutor Mark Gadsden.

With Mafe shouting 'yeah yeah yeah' and thrusting his organ at women and children, a witness threatened to call 999. When she later found naked Mafe still waving his penis she called the police. Mafe was arrested, charged, and pleaded guilty in the magistrates' court, then was committed to Inner London Crown Court for sentence on February 11 this year.

But on the day of the hearing, Mafe was arrested again for exactly the same behaviour. A witness heard someone saying 'Hey hey' and saw him dancing around on his balcony in a dressing gown shouting 'Yeah baby, it feels so good'. He then pulled off his gown to reveal his penis, with another cry of 'Yeah yeah it feels so good'.

"I could see his penis. I could hear his penis slapping against the rest of his body," the witness told police. When Mr Gadsden read this part of her statement to the court, Mafe shouted 'That's impossible, that's absolutely impossible'. His protests were rejected by Judge Darren Reed who allowed Mr Gadsden to continue.

After witnessing the initial naked dance, Mafe then exposed himself five more times, the court heard. "I found it quite distressing and it says more about what this incident may lead to. A lot of young girls may walk past this address. I worry they may see it," the witness added.

Defence counsel Danielle Buckett said her client's paranoid schizophrenia and drug use, combined with a lack of support by the probation service, had left him suicidal, as she called for another suspended sentence. "He said it was a cry for help and he was struggling at the time... He had been left unsupported for some months," Ms Buckett said.

Mafe addressed Judge Reed directly, telling him about alleged blackmail attempts on him, devices planted in his home, and death threats over the phone. He also claimed he had only been seen four times by South London and Maudsley NHS mental health team in 15 months, and claimed he had not seen his drug support worker for eight months.

But Judge Reed took little pity on Mafe's claims, and told him the offences were 'not caused by your previous mental health condition, but by recklessly taking drugs'.

"You told probation you had no recollection of what you had done because you had been binging on crystal meth, GBL, and alcohol for two days," Judge Reed snapped. "You detail how others have let you down but take absolutely no responsibility for your own offending. You are not a young man - you are 53 years old, with a history of these offences... It's clear to me you simply don't care about the effect your behaviour has on others, or appreciate it, and are taking no steps to stop it."

Mafe's suspended sentence was activated to run for 14 weeks consecutive to a 26-week sentence for the other two offences. It means he will serve a total sentence of 40 weeks. Mafe is also entered onto the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Description

A disgraced ex Met cop has been found guilty of trying to molest a child. Paedophile Thomas Thorpe was found guilty at Kingston Crown Court earlier today (March 28).

He was found guilty of three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, and attempting to cause a child under 13 to look at an image of sexual activity. Thorpe was also found guilty of attempting to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, as well as attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

He was remanded in custody to be sentenced at the same court on May 14. Thorpe spoke online with a person he believed was a 12-year-old girl, but was in fact an undercover police officer from West Midlands Police.

Thorpe sent sexually explicit images to the ‘girl’ over four-week period in November and December 2019. He was arrested December 6 2019 and a search of digital devices recovered from his home found indecent images of children.

The devices also had the images that he been sent to the ‘girl’. Thorpe was suspended from duty following his arrest in December 2019. He resigned from the Met in September 2022.

An accelerated misconduct hearing took place in May 2023 and found former PC Thorpe had breached the standards of professional behaviour which amounted to gross misconduct. He would have been sacked had he not already resigned.

Chief Superintendent Andy Brittain, local policing commander in South London, said: “People rightly expect police officers to uphold the highest standards and when an officer fails to meet those standards they can expect to face the consequences of their actions through the courts and our own misconduct process.

"Former PC Thorpe’s behaviour was abhorrent and he has been convicted of serious sexual offences. Prior to his conviction misconduct proceedings established that he would have been sacked had he not already left the organisation.”

Description

A 46-year-old man sexually assaulted a lone woman at a London Underground station and spat at a police officer. The incident happened on May 24 last year at Seven Sisters Tube station as Nathan Gordon, of Wightman Road, Hornsey, was later caught lying down on a bench in the same station after the attack.

Immediately after the incident, he was reported to a member of station staff who challenged him before he left the station. Later the same day officers were alerted to the suspect lying on a bench at the station, who was identified by staff as the same man.

Officers recognised Gordon from an incident back in March 2023 when he was arrested for a separate offence and spat at an officer while in custody.

Investigating officer DC Stephen Allen said: “Gordon’s blatant intimidation and harassment of this woman was both unnerving and sickening. Thanks to her bravery for reporting the incident immediately, despite being understandably upset, meant that officers were able to attend the location and identify and arrest Gordon within hours of the offence.

“He’s now been issued with a SHPO which will go some way to protecting women on the rail network once he is released from jail.

“We will stop at nothing to deter, pursue, arrest and bring sex offenders on the railway network to justice. Every report is important. We urge everyone to save 61016 to their phones and download the Railway Guardian before you travel so you can discreetly get in touch with us if you need us.”

Nathan Gordon pleaded guilty to sexual assault and assault of an emergency worker and was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday 11 March.

He was also handed a seven year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prevents him from approaching, touching or making any attempt to communicate with any lone female traveling on the railway network.

He must also leave any station immediately after leaving a train or make his way directly to the next available connecting service.

Description

A man who raped and strangled a woman in an alleyway behind a row of shops in Barking has been jailed. Daniel Jordan, 28, was identified using DNA and was revealed to be a known offender.

Jordan had carried out the violent and sustained attack in Barking in October 2022, and, since then, the woman has received support from a team specialising in investigating sexual offences. The woman who was attacked called police to say she had been raped and that her attacker had fled the scene.

Police immediately responded and set into motion the appropriate steps to look after the victim survivor, and gather vital evidence.

She told officers how a man had approached her and quickly began a physically and sexually violent assault in an alleyway behind a parade of shops on Longbridge Road. She described how, at one point, he had strangled her so she fell in and out of consciousness.

Detective Sergeant Charlie Yexley, who works in Met Police's east London office investigating sexual offences, said: “This was a horrendous attack and I have the utmost respect for the victim survivor, as she has worked to come to terms with the extreme violence she was subjected to.

“She has demonstrated grace and tenacity through this trial and I hope it brings some comfort that a jury unequivocally saw this man for what he is.”

Officers swiftly arrested him at his home seven days after the attack. He was charged and remanded the next day.

Jordan was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on March 15 to ten years’ imprisonment with an extended license period of five years, and a 30-month sentence for both the non-fatal strangulation and assault.

He will serve both sentences concurrently and will also be on the sex offenders' reregister for life. The woman has received support from a team specialising in investigating sexual offences.

Description

A South London man who subjected a woman to a campaign of physical and emotional abuse has been convicted. Nam Nguyen took control of the woman's life over a 10-day period in September 2023 and held her captive inside a flat in Tulse Hill.

She managed to escape after jumping from a window. She ran to a nearby care home where she was found with extensive injuries to her face and body.

She had been raped and repeatedly attacked. Officers were called and the Met launched an investigation.

Nguyen was identified as the suspect and arrested nearby a short time later. The victim spoke at length to officers about the horrific abuse she had faced, including vicious attacks, one of which resulted in a fracture to her spine.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander in Lambeth and Southwark, said: "It's hard to imagine the pain and suffering this woman went through and I am pleased the man responsible for these awful crimes has been brought to justice. This is some of the worst offending our detectives have ever seen and I do not underestimate the impact having to speak at length about this has had on the victim.

"We will continue to support her in any way we can. This has been an incredibly complex investigation and I hope this outcome demonstrates how the Met is committed to tackling violence against women and girls.

"We will continue to ensure dangerous and predatory men face the consequences of their actions." Nguyen will be sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, May 24.

Nguyen, 26, of no fixed address, was found guilty of the following offences at Inner London Crown Court on Monday, March 18.

• False imprisonment
• Wounding with intent
• Threats to kill
• Grievous bodily harm with intent
• Rape
• Actual bodily harm
• Administering a noxious thing
• Sexual assault

Description

A paedophile has been jailed after raping a girl in her own bed. Garry Gibbons, 36, of Mile End, East London, was sentenced to six years and four months imprisonment for the rape of a girl aged under 18 at Snaresbroke Crown Court on Wednesday, March 13.

Gibbons had been sleeping in the living room of a home where his young victim was sleeping in a bedroom on 18 April 2023. He got up in the early hours of the morning, entered the room where she was sleeping and then got into the bed and raped her "despite her protests," police said.

His victim then fled the property to a friend's house where the police were called. Forensic samples were taken from the victims clothing that were later identified as being a match for Garry Gibbons.

Gibbons was arrested on August 31, 2023, on suspicion of rape which he denied, despite having left DNA on the victim. He was convicted on March 6, 2024.

Detective Inspector Chris Heathcote of the Mets Public Protection Unit in Tower Hamlets said: "Gibbons is a predatory offender who targeted a young girl, while she slept and despite her protests, raped her.

"He strongly denied the allegation, claiming that he hadnt gone into the room and that he had slept through the night. However, DNA testing of samples taken from the victims clothing proved otherwise."

He added: I am pleased that Garry Gibbons has been removed from the community to a place where he no longer poses a threat to women and girls.

"We understand the anxiety of reporting rape, particularly when the attacker is someone that you know. I urge anyone in that situation to get in touch, at the very least so that we can check you are okay. My thoughts are with the survivor/victim in this case. I hope she may now find a measure of closure.

Description

A paedophile who boasted about molesting young children was caught sharing baby abuse videos with sick predators on a fetish website. Mark Penfold, 53, of Turberville House, Brixton, was arrested in 2009 and 2015 for 'similar' indecent images offences, but the investigations were dropped ahead of his third arrest in December last year, Inner London Crown Court heard on Tuesday, March 12.

Police raced to Penfold's South London flat on December 18, 2023, after he told an undercover police officer he had abused young children. But a subsequent investigation into his claims found no evidence to back them up. Judge Ian Darling said the boasts were 'worrying' because 'it shows a specific interest', but added 'on the face of the material before me it appears more fantasy than real'.

When the dad-of-three's home was raided, police seized three mobile phones, including a Samsung which contained 361 indecent images and videos, including 122 Category A, the worst kind. The images include a video of the rape of a one-year-old baby.

Prosecutor Gregor McKinley said Penfold spoke to an undercover officer for around two weeks, sharing parental abuse fantasies and details of the child sexual abuse content he had been looking at online. He also admitted to sharing the vile content with other sick users.

"He admitted occasionally, and in a limited way, he had shared images with other like-minded people across the fetish network, and that's what gave rise to the distribution charges," Mr McKinley told the court.

"He also claimed he had taken part in illegal activities with minors, so police decided to arrest him on December 18. What Mr Penfold said has been investigated and there's nothing to suggest that this activity took place."

Penfold answered no comment under questioning, but pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing indecent images and three counts of making indecent images at Croydon Magistrates' Court on December 19 last year.

On Tuesday, Penfold was self-represented as he blamed drug addiction and childhood trauma for his deviant behaviour. Gripping his handwritten mitigation speech, he stammered about being 'deeply ashamed, sickened, and disgusted', adding 'I fully blame what I did on cocaine addiction and mental health issues'.

But Judge Darling decided only immediate custody could protect the public, noting Penfold's 'particular interest in parents abusing children' and his admission 'age was a significant exciting factor'. Judge Darling also said the 'specific naming' of alleged victims was 'worrying' even if the evidence before him suggested Penfold's abuse claims were fantastical.

"The worst images involved the penetration of the vagina and mouth of a very young child who must have been in distress. I expect you did not consider for a moment the distress those children must have been going through because your sexual interests override any thought of what was going on," said Judge Darling.

As Judge Darling sentenced Penfold to 20 months in prison, he concluded the paedophile's interests are 'an entrenched issue' and he would need the help of prison services to stop repeat offending.

Penfold was also given an eight year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and was put on the sex offender's register for 10 years.

Description

A 20-year-old man has been given an extended seven-year sentence and deemed a risk to the public after engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Tyrese Smith, of Grove Road, Romford, will serve a four year and eight month sentence in a young offenders’ institution, before he is subject to an extended period on licence of two years and four months.

This sentence follows his guilty pleas to all charges Essex Police secured against him, including three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

He also admitted other charges secured by the Metropolitan Police in relation to sexual communications with a child and possession of indecent images of children.

Officers from the Child Abuse Investigations Team (CAIT), along with support from the Adult Sexual Abuse Investigation Team (ASAIT) and Grays Local Investigations Team had launched enquiries after concerns were raised over reported sexual activity between Smith and a child in the Tilbury area last year.

This also followed reports Smith had breached bail conditions imposed by the Met.
Smith was arrested on November 27 last year.

He was heard to make a significant comment when fleeing the victim’s address just hours before, voicing his fear he would be jailed for his offending.

Smith answered no comment to all questions asked of him in interview, but later admitted all charges at Basildon Crown Court.

Appearing at court for sentence on Wednesday February 28, he was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and requirements as a Registered Sex Offender, which will monitor his use of electronic devices and prohibit contact with children.

An indefinite restraining order will strictly prohibit further contact with the victim.

Description

A "predatory sex offender" who raped and abused young girls has been jailed for 28 years.

Ian Neasham, 65, from Londonderry, North Yorkshire, conducted an "appalling catalogue of abuse" against three victims over an 11-year period.

He was convicted of 24 offences, including nine counts of rape, at Teesside Crown Court.

On Monday, he was told he must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being considered for parole.

Neasham's offences, which began in the 1990s, came to light in November 2020 when one of his victims confided in someone they trusted, which resulted in his arrest.

North Yorkshire Police said this resulted in two further victims coming forward.

Neasham's youngest victim was 10 at the time the abuse began.

Victim interviews, disclosures made to counsellors and searches of Neasham's home and digital devices enabled the force to bring 25 charges against him.

Neasham denied all the offences and was cleared of one count of indecent assault, but convicted of nine counts of rape, seven of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

He was also convicted of two counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, three counts of possession of indecent photographs of a child and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

In impact statements given during sentencing, his victims recalled how Neasham's behaviour had affected them.

One said Neasham "took advantage" of the trust she had for him and had meant her childhood was filled with "abuse and anger".

The victim recalled how she needed to tell someone what was happening but feared he would follow through with his threats to kill her if she did.

"I lost my innocence because of what he did to me," she said.

Another victim said her behaviour at home and school was affected by the ordeal.

"I felt angry, frustrated, and upset, like no-one cared and no-one could see why or what was happening to me," she said.

"I felt alone through it all, and I couldn't talk to anyone about it because of the threats he had made.

"He took my innocence and ruined my childhood. I felt petrified whenever I was around him."

A third victim described feeling "dirty and physically sick at times", during the abuse.

"I was terrified of him and what he would say about me or do to me because he was a violent man," she said.

"I was scared he would hurt me or someone else."

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Con Gillian Gowling said: "Neasham is a predatory sex offender who was responsible for an appalling catalogue of abuse against vulnerable victims who he believed he could control, intimidate, and silence from speaking out about his despicable crimes."

She praised the victims' bravery and determination and said they had shown "incredible courage and strength".

"They have suffered in silence for many years, but I hope they can finally start to move forward and rebuild their lives knowing that Neasham is now rightfully behind bars where he belongs."

Neasham's prison sentence will be followed by a four-year extended licence and he has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.