Latest Offenders

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A sex offender who committed multiple rape offences against two young girls in Kirklees has been sentenced to 20 years.

Neil North, aged 39, from Wakefield was sentenced to 16 years in prison with four years extended licence at Leeds Crown Court today ( Friday 15 August) after being found guilty of 17 sexual offences, including 11 of rape, against two young girls.  

The 39-year-old was convicted at a trial in April at which the jury found the just found him guilty of eight sexual offences, including rape and sexual assault, against one victim  

He was found guilty of committing nine offences of rape against the other.  

The sexual offending took place between 2018 and 2021 and was reported to police in May 2021 after victims came forward to disclose the sustained abuse they had suffered.  

North was arrested following the reports which initiated a complex and painstaking investigation by specialist detectives from the Kirklees District Child Safeguarding Unit.  

He was then summonsed to court by postal requisition in October 2023 after charges were authorised by the CPS.  

Following his release from prison, North will also be required to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.  

He was also made subject of a Serious Harm Prevention Order.

DC Georgina Lumb of West Yorkshire Police, who led the investigation, said:

“North’s offending against his child victims was absolutely appalling, as evidenced by the very large number of serious sexual offences, including multiple rapes, he was convicted of.

“He compounded this horrific offending by forcing his victims and their relatives to go through the ordeal of a trial.  North is without doubt a danger to children, and it is thanks to the bravery of his victims in coming forwards that he is now in a place where we cannot pose a threat to other young people.”  

She added: “We fully recognise how difficult it can be for any victim of sexual offences to contact the police, but can promise that all reports are fully and sensitively investigated.  

“They victim’s needs are absolutely at the heart of everything we do and we can also help victims access the support they will most likely need.”

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A paedophile who sent sexual pictures and videos of himself to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl has been put on the sex offenders register for five years.

John Meynell was actually speaking to an adult pretending to be a child, Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard.

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A shamed architect who attempted to rape a woman in Fife during a catalogue of abuse has been jailed.

David Dow, 53, is now subject to the sex offenders register for life, having been convicted of the offences last month.

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A man who raped a woman and strangled her has been jailed for seven years and nine months.

Michael Young, formerly of Skegness Road in Burgh Le Marsh, pleaded guilty to rape and non-fatal strangulation on the first day of a trial back in February at Lincoln Crown Court.

The 35-year-old had been remanded in custody since last year after repeatedly breaking his bail conditions.

Both charges relate to incidents that took place in July 2022 in Skegness, which kickstarted a lengthy investigation by Lincolnshire Police to bring Young to justice.

Today, Thursday, 14 August, he was jailed for more than seven years, given a restraining order and placed on the sex offenders register for life. He was also given five years extended licence.

Speaking at the conclusion of the hearing, DC Claire Chamberlain said she hopes this verdict brings Young’s victim a sense of closure.

She said:

“Young’s actions were barbaric and completely unacceptable – there is no place in our society for such behaviour.

“While I know the road ahead for the victim is a long one, I’d like to praise their courage in this case and hope this sentence gives her some sense of closure.

“Sexual offences have an enormous impact on a person, their family and the wider community. It’s something people have to live with long after the incident takes place.

“We will do everything in our power to bring culprits to justice and ensure the voice of the victim is heard.”

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A “dangerous sexual predator” who raped a woman in Clevedon has been jailed for 10 years.

The victim, who was aged in her 20s at the time of the incident in 2021, was attacked by 49-year-old Sean Reuben at a house in the town.

Having denied the offence, a jury unanimously found Reuben, of Lawrence Weston, guilty of rape in May. He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday 13 August.

Police were called immediately after Reuben raped the victim in November 2021 and officers arrested him the same night. Reuben was later charged.

During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, a powerful statement written by the victim was read out.

“This crime has deeply affected me physically and mentally. I faced suicidal thoughts, self-harm and unhealthy relationships, becoming someone I didn’t recognise,” she said. “Even three-and-a-half years later, I still suffer from nightmares, flashbacks and fear.”

She added:

“Since the verdict came in as guilty, I have been told that I can now be happy and move on with my life. This is not the case and will never be the case. I still have to learn to navigate my life with the disabling impact of PTSD.

“I have to learn to trust in those around me but not be as trusting as I once was. I have to build up my life again…I have to re-build my career I was once thriving in. I have to pick up the pieces of a broken girl.

“I went through these past years believing that I wasn’t strong enough to go through with this trial, but I carried on anyway. I didn’t carry on because I wanted justice for the pain and harm that was caused to me, I carried on because I didn’t want anyone else going through the pain of being betrayed and having their lives change forever.”

At Bristol Crown Court, Judge Burgess sentenced Reuben to 10 years in prison and added to the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

DC Damon Carney, the investigating officer, said:

“Reuben is clearly a dangerous offender; someone who seized the opportunity to act out his sordid sexual desires and who has not once expressed any remorse for what he did or even acknowledged what he did was wrong.

“I want to thank the victim for her courage, firstly coming forward to police and then remaining steadfast in a long process through the criminal justice system.

“She has ensured that women are protected from Reuben who has demonstrated the behaviours of a dangerous sexual predator.

“It’s also important to acknowledge the support of the various witnesses who acted dutifully on the day of the incident and are a great example of community and looking out for one another.”

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Paedophile jailed for crimes against 14-year-old girl in Preston.

On 21st September 2024, we were contacted by a concerned member of the public who had seen Patel in Ribbleton Park, Preston, with the 14-year-old victim and another child.

This putting him in breach of a child abduction warning he had been given the previous April and he was therefore arrested, charged and remanded into custody.

Whilst he was in prison awaiting his court date, the brave victim wrote a letter which detailed the sexual offences Patel had committed against her.

This included an incident in Moor Park in Preston where he incited the child to engage in sexual activity, and a separate occasion where he had woken her up and attempted to engage her in sexual activity.

On occasions he said he loved her and described her as having a sexy body. The victim suffered multiple sexual assaults from Sabbir Patel which occurred over a period of 12 months. Appearing in the dock at Preston Crown Court earlier this year, Patel, of Ripon Terrace, Preston, pleaded guilty to six sexual assaults and engaging in sexual activity with a child.

He returned to the same court last week and was jailed for six years, made subject of an indefinite Sexual harm Prevention order and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

In an impact statement to the court, the victim’s mum wrote:

“My daughter’s confidence has depleted massively. This has caused her to struggle keeping and forming relationships with friends and with family. My daughter struggles to trust people and she puts barriers up when she is around her family and friends.
“My daughter does not like any physical touch, she will push away when myself or her family come near her. I feel this is a result of the abuse she suffered from Patel."

DC Ella Burrow, of the Preston Child Exploitation Team, said:

“Patel is a dangerous individual with a sordid sexual interest in female children.
“His offending has had a significant and ongoing impact on his victim, as demonstrated in the victim impact statement from written by her mum. I would like to praise the victim for the bravery in firstly putting down in writing what Patel had done to her, and then supporting the judicial process.
“I wound encourage anyone reading this who finds themselves or suspects someone else to be in a similar situation to contact the police. We will listen to you, and we will do everything in our power to put the abuser before the courts.”

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A convicted rapist continues to maintain he is the victim of a conspiracy against him, a court has heard.

Andrew Dow, 32, was convicted of several charges related to rape and attempted rape following a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen.

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Stepfather Jailed for Secretly Filming Stepdaughter in Shower as Victim Speaks Out to Encourage Others

A 63-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for covertly recording his stepdaughter in the shower, prompting the victim to waive her anonymity and share her story to support others affected by sexual offenses.

Megan Ervin, 32, spoke exclusively about the ordeal after Craig West, whom she had viewed as a father figure, was jailed for voyeurism at Maidstone Crown Court.

The court heard that West hid a spy-pen camera in a toothbrush holder at the family home in Sheerness, actively encouraging Megan to take a shower during her visit on March 13, 2020.

Megan, who had arrived at the home following a relationship breakdown, initially declined but later agreed after waking from a nap. While showering, she noticed a flashing light and discovered the device, which contained a memory card.

Quickly taking photos of the pen as evidence, Megan alerted her family. When confronted, West initially denied knowledge but later admitted to the act, even alluding to plans to sell the footage.

Police investigations revealed an additional recording on West's laptop, showing another woman using the toilet in his caravan, filmed approximately two years earlier.

West, a former lorry driver now working as a vending machine delivery driver and residing in St Georges Avenue, Eastchurch, pleaded guilty to two counts of voyeurism and two counts of observing a private act for sexual gratification.

During pre-sentencing reports, West claimed the acts were motivated by "hate and spite" rather than sexual intent and denied planning to record the second woman, saying the camera was set up to catch his wife's alleged lover.

He urged family members not to involve the police, insisting he did not deserve prison. His defense argued for a suspended sentence, citing his guilty plea, lack of prior relevant convictions, potential for rehabilitation, and a five-year delay in the case.

However, Recorder Vivian Walters rejected this, imposing a six-month immediate custodial sentence on August 7, stating that only imprisonment was appropriate given the impact on the victims and lack of concrete evidence of rehabilitation.

Both victims attended the hearing and were emotional as the sentence was delivered. Megan's mother supported West, leading to a breakdown in her relationship with her daughter.

Prosecutor Stacey-Lee Holland detailed how West entered the bathroom under the pretense of brushing his teeth to hide the device before encouraging Megan to shower.

After the shower, West removed the pen, but Megan had already documented it. When challenged, he pretended to destroy the device but later retrieved it.

In victim impact statements, Megan described feeling "dirty" and violated, exacerbating her existing body confidence issues. She referred to West as a "sexual predator" and noted the "devastating impact" on her life, including a mental breakdown that led to her being sectioned.

The trauma caused suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and forced her to relocate her young family from Sheppey to avoid encounters with West.

The second victim expressed feeling "deceitful" treatment by West, leading to distress, antidepressant use, paranoia about hidden cameras, insomnia, and the installation of security cameras in her home.

The judge highlighted the planning involved, abuse of trust, and ongoing devastation to the victims' lives, noting West's letter to the court made no mention of remorse toward them.

West received an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with the victims and must register as a sex offender for seven years.

In a joint statement following the case, Megan and the second victim encouraged other survivors to come forward, emphasizing that help is available regardless of relationships involved.

They stated: We want them to know it doesnt matter who the perpetrators are to you or who stands by them. There is help and there are people who will listen and believe the truth. You absolutely can get some kind of justice even if thats just in a form of belief, sometimes being believed is what means the most.

They added: We hope that by speaking out, it shows these predators that it is not OK, it wont be tolerated and you will be caught. I have lost a relationship with my mother over this, and thats been hard but with that loss we have gained so much support and love within others. I no longer have to make my mother happy or keep a relationship with her. Despite the great impact this has had on our mental health, we are now finally free from this man and can rebuild our lives.

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A child rapist from Worcester has been handed an 18-year sentence at court for a series of serious sexual offences against children.

Paul Davies, 45, was convicted at Worcester Crown Court on Friday 8 August of two counts of rape of a girl, two counts of assault a girl by penetration.

Davies was sentenced to 18 years for one count of rape and 18 for the other, to run concurrently.

He was handed a further term of 15 years for each of the sexual assault convictions, also to run concurrently.

Davies was further ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely, handed a restraining order against contacting his victim and pay a victim surcharge of £120.

Three further charges of making an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child were ordered to lie on file.

DC Harriet Adams-Evans, of the Protecting Vulnerable People team, said:

“We are pleased to get this long sentence for Davies whose disgusting actions have had an awful impact upon his victim.

“This has brought some justice for the victim, and I would like to thank her trusting the judicial process.

“We hope this court result will encourage other victims of rape or sexual assault or those who know of such crimes to come forward and speak to us so we can attempt to bring their attackers to justice too.

“We will always listen to you and act where appropriate to bring predators like Davies before the courts with the aim of securing justice and long custodial sentences as in this case.”

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A man with a sexual attraction to young adolescent males followed boys and bought them vapes before touching them.

Stephen Cannon is a registered sex offender having previously been convicted of trying to rape a 15-year-old boy and then sexually grooming a vulnerable teenager he'd met on a football fans Facebook page.

A judge at Swansea Crown Court said it was clear from a detailed pre-sentence report that Cannon poses a high risk of causing serious harm to adolescent boys and that the risk is "almost impossible to manage in the community". He handed the 37-year-old defendant an extended sentence.

The court heard that Cannon followed two 13-year-old boys in Ammanford, bought them vapes, and then sexually touched them over their clothing. Statements read to the court by prosecution barrister Ian Wright set out the impact of the offending on the boys who had been left scared, worried, and fearful of encountering the defendant again.

At the time of the Ammanford offending Cannon was subject to a sexual offences prevention order which had been imposed at Ayr Sheriff Court in Scotland February 2020 and which was designed to control his contact with children.

The order was imposed after Cannon was convicted of grooming an 18-year-old male with learning difficulties and a functional mental age of around 12 or 13 who he had met through a Facebook football fan page. Using a false name to hide the fact he had a previous conviction for attempting to rape a teenage boy Cannon groomed his vulnerable victim online and then kissed and touched him after luring him back to his home in a so-called "catfish" incident.

Stephen Cannon, of Heol Marlais, Tir-y-Dail, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, had previously been convicted at trial of three counts of sexual assault and two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. For all the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter.

Hannah George, for Cannon, said the defendant had spent 158 days on remand in prison and had used his time productively by acting as a mentor to other inmates and undertaking educational courses "to better himself for the future".

Judge Huw Rees said it was clear Cannon had a long-standing sexual interest in young adolescent males and that until he accepted that fact and took steps to deal with it he would continue to pose a risk. He said a detailed pre-sentence report had concluded the defendant poses a high risk of serious harm to male adolescent children and that the risk he poses is "almost impossible to manage in the community".

Cannon was made the subject of a six-year extended sentence comprising three years in custody followed a three-year extended licence period. He will be eligible for release after serving two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be released.

Cannon will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life and the court heard that a 10-year sexual harm prevention order had been made on application to Carmarthenshire Magistrates' Court in March this as the sexual harm prevention order he was subject to was expiring.

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A 39-year-old man has been jailed for nine years for serious sexual offences in the Falkirk and West Lothian areas.

Kevin Malloy was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, 13 August, 2025. He was convicted at the same court on Friday, 4 July, 2025, for offences against three women which took place between April 2021 and October 2022.

He was also issued with a non-harassment order.

Detective Constable Donna Smith said:

“Malloy subjected his victims to appalling abuse, and he will now face the consequences of his abhorrent actions.

“We remain committed to investigating all reports of domestic and sexual offending and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice. Anyone affected can be assured they will be listened to, supported and treated with the utmost professionalism and care by specially trained officers and our partner agencies.”

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A cocaine-addicted man from Gateshead, who raped and assaulted a woman while degrading and humiliating her, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.

David Hodgson, 34, left his victim feeling "destroyed" and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, for which she now requires medication.

During sentencing at Durham Crown Court, the judge described Hodgson as having "unhealthy, perverse sexual desires" and noted that he used his physical strength to overpower the woman.

Hodgson, of Ryton in Gateshead, appeared via video link from HMP Durham on Wednesday.

He was convicted last month after a trial on six counts of rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault by penetration, and common assault.

The court heard that Hodgson showed "no respect" for his victim and committed the offenses in County Durham.

Recorder Mark Giuliani highlighted that Hodgson was observed "smirking," "yawning," and "looking bored" during the trial.

Prosecutor James Yearsley read the victim's impact statement, in which she said Hodgson had "destroyed" her and that she is now on medication for PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Defense barrister David Callan argued that Hodgson's expressions were due to a "nervous smile" and emphasized his "good work ethic," noting he had worked all his life.

Callan also mentioned that Hodgson suffered from PTSD following a horrific motorcycle accident and has ADHD.

He added that there was "another side" to Hodgson, reading from a character reference describing him as a "big, friendly giant with a heart of gold."

Recorder Giuliani stated that the offenses involved "significant degradation and humiliation" and that Hodgson posed a "risk of committing further offences."

The judge noted Hodgson's addiction to cocaine at the time of the crimes.

In addition to the 24-year prison sentence, Hodgson was given a lifelong restraining order and must register as a sex offender for life.

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A Serial Sex Offender from Derby Sentenced for Befriending and Grooming a 13-Year-Old Girl

A 24-year-old serial sex offender named Ethan Hewitt from Derby has been jailed for befriending a 13-year-old girl with mental health issues, calling her "wifey," and discussing having sex with her in a field.

During a sentencing hearing at Derby Crown Court, it was revealed that Hewitt exchanged over 3,700 messages with the victim via social media platforms like Snapchat and WhatsApp over a one-month period.

At the time of the offenses, Hewitt was under a sexual harm prevention order due to prior convictions involving underage girls.

Recorder Helen Malcolm sentenced Hewitt, who has no fixed address, to three years and four months in prison.

She stated: “Your previous record is very poor and includes previous breaches. You were on licence throughout the time I am sentencing you for.

“In that month, you were directly in contact with a 13-year-old on a number of occasions, and you also engaged in some 3,794 messages over Snapchat, WhatsApp and other services with her. You also deleted messages.

“I have read the reports which say you have no insight into the effect on your victims. You have shown what is called a ‘wilful defiance’ to authority figures and you actively seek opportunities to offend.

"You pose a very high risk of harm to young females and nearly 4,000 messages with a 13-year-old over the course of one month is a very concerning number.”

Prosecutor Serana Varatharajah explained that Hewitt, formerly of Aylestone in Leicester, was convicted in 2021 at Manchester Crown Court for sexual activity with a female under 16, leading to the imposition of the order, which he breached four times.

He was convicted again for the same offense in March 2023.

The order prohibited any contact with females under 16, but in July 2024, Hewitt befriended the victim secretly, and their interactions turned sexual.

Miss Varatharajah said: “The friendship was kept secret and developed to become sexual. He told her he loved her, he spoke to her about getting married and they spoke about having sex.

“He said they would have to wait until she turned 16 and he told her not to tell anyone about their conversations. He called her ‘wifey’ and she called him ‘hubby’.

“He said if she was not ready for sex they could just kiss and cuddle. He said, as they could not go to a hotel because of her age, they could have sex in a field.”

The victim's mother discovered the communications, leading to police involvement and Hewitt's arrest.

Hewitt pleaded guilty to breaching his sexual harm prevention order and engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Defense attorney Catherine Picardo, mitigating on behalf of Hewitt—who appeared via video link from HMP Lincoln—noted that he is undergoing medical investigations for a possible cancer diagnosis.

She added: “He knows he should not have access to Snapchat. He has a very traumatic upbringing where he was abused, and, since his time in custody, he has been given responsibilities working in the kitchens.

“There is an address available to him in Derby which will be monitored.”

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge imposed an indefinite new sexual harm prevention order, and Hewitt will remain on the sex offender register indefinitely.

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A convicted sex offender who hid ten phones in his mattress has been jailed.

Muhammed Idrees, 53, was being managed in the community by specialist officers when they conducted a search of his home in Peterborough earlier this year.

Idrees was forbidden from using or owning any device capable of accessing the internet or storing digital images under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

When officers arrived at his address in April to arrest him for an unrelated matter, Idrees produced two basic non-internet, non-camera phones, permitted under his conditions.

However, a further search of his home revealed ten phones in his mattress, three of which had internet capability and seven built-in cameras.

Idrees, of Cobden Street, Peterborough, later pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a SHPO and was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison at Huntingdon Law Courts on Monday (11 August).

PC Emily Heriot, from the specialist management of sexual or violent offenders unit (MOSOVO), said: “Idrees went to great efforts to conceal his prohibited devices, with complete disregard for his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification requirements, which are in place to safeguard the public. These new convictions reflect the serious sexual risk of harm he poses to children.

 “Our specialist officers work tirelessly to monitor and manage all registered sex offenders in the community and won’t hesitate to put them back before the courts if they discover any breaches.”

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A taxi driver, Aaron Burnicle, 36, was caught in a police sting after sending explicit messages and images to an online decoy posing as a 13-year-old girl on Kik.

Unaware he was communicating with an undercover officer, Burnicle was arrested by Police Scotland following a cross-border investigation.

During interviews, the father-of-one, who drove primary school children, denied any intent to harm children and became emotional.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court, he admitted to indecent communications with an older child. Evidence showed he accessed Kik over 2,900 times in a month.

Sheriff Liam Murphy deferred sentencing for reports, placed Burnicle on the sex offenders' register, and warned of the seriousness of the offense.