Latest Offenders

Description

A Renfrewshire former Scout leader and foster parent who sexually abused two boys has died in jail.

William Quigg, 83, of Bridge of Weir was jailed for 10 years in 2019 after being convicted of sexually abusing two children.

His offences took place between 1980 and 1986 at two addresses in Glasgow. Quigg admitted sexually abusing one boy when the victim was aged between 12 and 15 but denied raping the other boy and sexually abusing him from the age of 12 to 16.

Neither of the boys were scouts.

He was told at his sentencing at Livingston High Court that his name would remain on the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely.

A fatal accident inquiry will take place following Quigg's death at HMP Dumfries.

A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: “Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual.

“Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.”

Description

A "committed paedophile" who tried tried to meet 'schoolgirl' and downloaded child abuse and sex-with-snake clips has been handed a sentence of over nine years.

Stockton's Paul Whitfield, 53, arranged to meet a "13 year old girl" in Lincoln - but the online profile he was chatting with actually belonged to a police decoy who called herself "Carrie." When police raided his home, they found videos on his phone showing young children being sexually abused.

Whitfield had also downloaded videos of adults involved in sexual activity with a snake and a horse.

On Wednesday, Whitfield appeared at Teesside Crown Court, on video link from Stafford prison. The court heard that he pretended to be a teenager and he began talking to "13 year old Carrie" in February 2023, about "holding and kissing" her.

The two discussed telling her school that she had a dentist appointment, on February 15, when they agreed to meet - but undercover cop Carrie cancelled the meeting.

Police then raided Whitfield's house and took away two mobile phones - that he had failed to register as a convicted sex offender.

The phones showed Whitfield's arrangements to meet the girl, and he had also downloaded over 900 photos and videos of children being sexually abused. He had looked at videos showing sexual activity with "multiple animals."

Whitfield forwarded some of the videos to other people, including one category A video - featuring the most severe type of child abuse - to a group of 227 users.

Whitfield, formerly of Fairfield in Stockton, but now of Stafford prison, pleaded guilty to:

• arranging the commission of a child sex offence;
• making and distributing indecent images of children;
• possessing an extreme pornographic image betraying an act of intercourse with an animal
• breaching sex offender notification requirements.

Previous offences

In 2015, Whitfield was handed an extended 13-year sentence for the attempted abduction of a child, where he had watched a 10 year old girl for two hours, from his car. When she left the playground, he told her to get in his car to hide "because the police were looking for her." The girl ran off to her grandmother.

Hours earlier, he had approached a nine-year old in Stockton, telling her she was beautiful. The girl ran off. The court was told that Whitfield said the thought of having a child in his car gave him a “sexual thrill”.

In 2023, Whitfield was sent back to jail for 16 months, for breaching his sex offender notification requirements.

Mitigating for Whitfield's latest sex offences, Tom Bennett told the court that in the case of the arranged meeting in Lincoln, there was "no actual child victim."

Judge Timothy Stead told Whitfield that he is a "committed and determined paedophile" and handed him an extended prison sentence totalling nine-years-and-eight-months. He will serve four-years-eight-months in prison; and the remaining five-years on licence in the community.

Description

A MAN has been jailed for numerous serious sexual offences against children in Flintshire.

Ryan Russell, of no fixed abode, appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday (November 26).

The 25-year-old had previously admitted two counts of raping a girl under 13, two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13, four counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15 and inciting a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity.

He had also admitted making indecent images of children, and possessing an extreme pornographic image portraying intercourse with an animal.

Prosecuting, Myles Wilson said the defendant had sex with the victim on four occasions last year, twice before she turned 13 and twice afterwards. Russell had met the victim on Snapchat. 

The offences, which occurred on each occasion in areas of Flintshire during the early hours, involved unprotected sex – despite the victim asking the defendant to wear protection.

The offences came to light after the victim's mother found her bed empty during the early hours of the morning. She came across the defendant and asked if he'd seen her daughter. Russell denied it, but, suspicious, of him, the victim's mother recorded his vehicle registration plate - which was subsequently used by police to link Russell to the offences. 

Once arrested, the court heard that the special software used to analyse the defendant’s phone found it to have contained over 300 indecent images of children. One of the 200 images in the most serious category involved a toddler, and extreme pornographic images involving a woman and a dog.

The victim's mother read out a victim personal statement in court. She said: "The shock and disbelief that someone could do this to an innocent child has been in our family every day. Since he did what he did, it's changed my daughter's life forever - her innocence has been taken away. 

"I will never forgive you for what you have done to my daughter. My anxiety is unbearable and I'm constantly living in fear." 

Defending, Maria Masselis said that the victim had told the defendant that she was aged 15 – and that her mother said she looked about that age. She said that Russell had an "unsettled" upbringing, and that he has a diagnosis of neurodivergence which makes making relationships with people of his age difficult.

Miss Masselis added that he was of previous good character, having no previous convictions. 

Judge Niclas Parry told Russell: "You showed a total disregard for the welfare safety and dignity of female children, all so you could satisfy your sexual urges."

He sentenced Russell to nine years imprisonment - eight of which will be served in custody, and the remainder supervised licence.

The defendant will be placed on the sexual offender's register indefinitely. Russell will also be made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and a restraining order against the victim for an indefinite period. 

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Ben Franklin said: “Although today’s sentence will not take away the harm and distress caused to the victim and her family, I hope it will provide some comfort knowing nobody else can now come to harm.

“I would also like to applaud her for her courage in reporting such serious offences, and for her bravery throughout the investigation.

“I hope this encourages other victims and gives them confidence that North Wales will endeavour to investigate violence against women and girls and bring offenders to justice.”

Description

A transgender pervert who raped and abused an 11-year-old schoolgirl has been jailed.

Aria Peers, 51, abused the child after bonding with her over Star Wars, with the sickening campaign of rape and assault leaving an "untold impact" upon her.

The offending came to light after the complainant confided in friends and teachers about the abuse.

Now, Peers has been jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of two counts of rape, attempted rape three charges of sexual assault and two offences of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity by a jury following a trial.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the 51-year-old, of Camberley Drive in Halewood, began by touching the victim's breasts and private parts before encouraging her to use a sex toy on herself. She was then raped.

The court heard how Peers identified as male when the offences were committed in Wirral, but now identifies as female.

Anthony O'Donohoe, defending, told the court: "There is nothing I can say about the facts of the case. The defendant accepts that a significant, lengthy custodial sentence is inevitable in this case.

"The defendant has settled on the wing that she is on, and that is encouraging. That was a matter of some concern. The custodial experience for her in her particular circumstances is likely to be more difficult to navigate than in other, more usual, cases."

Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "I accept that, in this case, there is an element of grooming with the close bond that you developed and took advantage of.

"It became more sinister, with you grooming her so that you could start to abuse her. You took the opportunity to fulfil your own sexual desires. You were disbelieved by the jury and convicted. You still deny these matters today. She is a brave young woman who, by coming forward, has stood up to you. I hope that, with the support of her family, she will be able to move on with her life.

"Prior to this, you worked as a support worker for a number of years. You have suffered with periods of anxiety and depression and have struggled with your gender identity throughout your life.

"I appreciate that, as a transgender prisoner, there will be issues which you will have to navigate during the very long period of your sentence."

Pierpoint continued: "You targeted a young female child for your own sexual gratification.

"The impact on her is untold. This was offending behaviour on numerous occasions over a period of time."

Peers was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a lifelong restraining order and will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Description

A man has been jailed for four years and a further four years on extended licence for the sexual assault of a woman in Exeter City Centre.

Fawzi Omar, 27, was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on Friday (November 22) after pleading guilty to sexual assault.

The court heard how Omar, a Sudanese national of no fixed abode, targeted the victim, who was a stranger to him, as she was walking home in the early hours on Wednesday May 8.

Omar approached the victim, grabbed her and proceeded to sexually assault her despite her telling him she did not want it to happen.

City centre CCTV operatives were made aware following the report and identified that they had the incident captured on CCTV.

A description of the suspect was passed over the radio and the suspect was tracked across the city by Exeter city centre CCTV operators until the suspect went out of frame and was no longer identifiable.

Officers continued searching the area, but there was no trace of Omar, who at the time hadn’t yet been identified.

Omar’s image was circulated, then, at 1.25am on Tuesday June 11, an Exeter city centre CCTV operator identified a male matching the description of the suspect.

An officer attended South Street Exeter and arrested Omar on suspicion of sexual assault.

Detective inspector Paula Trevett said: “We are happy that Fawzi Omar is now behind bars for a horrific attack carried out on a complete stranger.

“We’d like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case for helping ensure Omar was brought to justice.

“This is another example of outstanding work carried out by Exeter officers – response, neighbourhood, CCTV and CID.

“Omar was previously unknown to police and remained at large for four weeks after the offence. It was thanks to the diligent work of one of the city centre CCTV operatives who recognised him one night when he was walking around Exeter City Centre, that Omar was arrested.

“He was wearing the same clothing and had a distinctive walk.

“Omar was arrested and denied the offence however forensics were fast-tracked and a Magistrates’ extension was sought whilst we awaited the results. Omar’s DNA came back as an exact match with the swabs taken from the victim.

“This example of fantastic teamwork demonstrates the drive we all have to make the streets of Exeter safer for women and girls.”

Description

A ‘MANIPULATIVE and abusive’ predator sexually assaulted a child over 100 times making her feel like she would ‘never be normal again’, a court heard.

Darren Richmond, from Barrow, was jailed at Preston Crown Court on November 25 after admitting nine child sexual offences - including two charges of rape.

His Honour Judge Andrew Jefferies KC said the defendant caused ‘indescribable pain and suffering’ to the victim.  

Prosecutor Olivia Beesley said: “At times he placed a dog lead on his neck to choke himself and said if she didn’t do as she was told, he would do the same to her.

“He would also threaten that he would kill himself if she told anyone.”

Ms Beesley read the victim’s impact statement into the record.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: “It is clear how much this has affected me, but it is difficult to put into words. I even struggle to say his name.

"He has taken away my relationship with sex.

"I will never be normal again. I’ll just have to find a way to deal with it.”

The 41-year-old was also sentenced after admitting four offences of attempting to sexually communicate with a child online.

Ms Beesley told the court Richmond contacted girls, which were decoy profiles, on the ‘Sweetmeet’ application.

“He offered to send a photo of his genitals after they had identified themselves as 13 or 14-year-old girls," Ms Beesley said.

"He then asked them for photos. When clothed photos followed, he asked for topless ones.”

Officers arrested Richmond after being contacted by a North East-based paedophile hunter group called the ‘Child Online Safety Team’.

In mitigation, Richard Vardom said his client’s guilty plea was his best form of mitigation.

“The defendant has a manipulative and abusive past which has clearly caught up with him," Mr Vardom told the court.

“These are quite repellent offences against a young girl.

“He originally pleaded not guilty but a short time before trial, he changed his plea to guilty."

Judge Jefferies jailed Richmond for 16 years, as well as an additional five years of extended licence due to the seriousness of the offences.

Before passing the sentence, he told Richmond: “She estimates you sexually assaulted her over 100 times. I do not accept you are remorseful. You are still in denial.  That will only change with serious reflection on those who work in the prison service.

“I have come to the conclusion there is a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm. You are a dangerous offender.”

Detective Constable Faye Huddleston said: “I’d like to acknowledge the bravery of the victim for reporting these offences to the police. I can only imagine what a horrendous experience this was.

“I am pleased with the sentence given out by the courts today.

“Richmond is a predator, and I can only hope that seeing him go to prison for a substantial amount of time can bring some comfort than justice has been done.

“Cumbria Constabulary is committed to thoroughly and compassionately investigating all reports of rape and serious sexual offences, no matter how much time has passed.

“I would encourage anyone who has been victim of a sexual offence to contact police so that our officers can investigate.”

Description

A child abuse victim has been praised for her courage and dignity as the 'dangerous' paedophile responsible begins a lengthy jail term.

A judge told Anthony Collins that although his deviant behaviour had inevitably "wrecked" a period in the girl's life, it had not "broken her spirit".

Canterbury Crown Court heard how, having initially suffered in silence, she finally felt brave enough to report her attacker's depravity.

It was this, said Judge Mark Weekes, that had forced the 55-year-old to "confront" what he had done and admit his guilt in the face of "overwhelming" evidence.

Applauding the victim, he told the sex offender: "You grossly violated her at a time in her life when she was vulnerable. She was left confused and probably frightened.

"She suffered in silence for months, doing her best to cope with the situation.....hating the abuse and feeling unable to speak out....You left her for broken.

"It is beyond any argument that this has had and will have a considerable impact on her life.

“I have read with concern her victim impact statement which sets out the ways in which the abuse impacted on her.
"And yet for all that, the final victory in this case is hers.

“Her courage in coming forward to report you and give evidence against you shows that your abuse did not in fact break her spirit.

“You did not and could not remove her dignity.

"On the contrary, she can have the comfort of knowing that her evidence has been accepted and has been believed.

"She can know that she forced you to confront your own abusive nature and to admit to it.

"She is to be applauded for her bravery in coming forwards in that way. It would not have been an easy step."

Collins, of The Acre, in Whitfield, Dover, pleaded guilty in May to 14 offences of sexual activity with a child, with sentencing adjourned for the preparation of reports.

But when he returned on Friday, the court heard that despite admitting the charges, he had sought to minimise his criminality and try to blame the victim.

Furthermore, the probation officer who assessed Collins had concluded he posed a high risk of re-offending in terms of sexual abuse and exploitation of female children.

In deciding therefore that as a dangerous offender it was necessary to impose an extended sentence for public protection, Judge Weekes told him that although there was "a capacity for remorse and change", the risk he presented required "intensive management" for a long period of time.

Jailing Collins for seven-and-a-half years, of which he will have to serve at least two-thirds before the Parole Board can even consider whether it is safe to release him, the judge said: "I have reached the conclusion that you are dangerous within the meaning of the statute, despite the fact that you are of good character, and despite the letter you have written to me.

"You are no longer a young man and thus the potential for real and lasting change in you is much more limited. However nor will you be old when you are released .
"It is true that you have pleaded guilty, but I judge that to have occurred because you recognised the evidence was overwhelming.

"I also judge that you have sought to minimise your offending very substantially, and seek to attach significant blame to your victim for it.
"From that fact I draw the inevitable conclusion that you lack any deep remorse or insight into your offending."

Collins's denial of a sexual attraction to children was also criticised and highlighted as a further element of risk.

"That failure to acknowledge, coupled with the fact that you victim blame and have only very limited insight, makes you an obvious candidate for further offending if not intensively supervised, in my judgment," continued Judge Weekes.

"As the pre-sentence report author has noted, you engaged in highly risky offending, seemingly oblivious to the chance of being caught.

"It follows that in my judgment although in other respects you are assessed as having respect for the law, you engage in risk-taking offending sexually which in my judgment is apt to make you dangerous.

"You clearly have a significant sexual need and when that sexual desire is not met, or not completely met by an adult, you engage in thoughts of or actual abuse of children.

"It follows that I do consider it necessary to impose an extended sentence in order to protect the public in the future.
"I consider that as you will by no means be an old man on your release, even if you are required to serve the full sentence as you may be, the risk that you pose will need intensive management for a long period of time."

Under the extended sentence, once it is deemed safe to release Collins, he will have a further four-and-a-half years added to any licence period.

He will also be subject to indefinite sex offender notification requirements and barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Description

A 37-year old man has today been jailed for 17 years for committing multiple sexual offences against a child.

Ashley Lamptey, of Watling Avenue, Edgeware, Middlesex appeared at Norwich Crown Court today (Monday 25 November) for sentencing.  It followed a trial in the same court in April this year where he was convicted unanimously of two counts of rape of a girl under the age of 13, two counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13 by penetration and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard how Lamptey targeted his victim between 2020-2021 when he was living in Dereham, with the first offence occurring when she was 6 years old.  Lamptey was arrested when the victim told her mother what had been happening and following a complex investigation he was charged.

Today he was sentenced to 17 years in prison, as well as five years on extended licence.  He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

During sentencing Judge Katharine Moore described Lampety as a dangerous offender who posed a significant risk to members of the public and children and who had caused the victim severe psychological harm.

Description

A former police worker groomed a young girl and subjected her to a seven-year-long campaign of rape and abuse, a court has heard.

Alexander Wilson - who worked for two different police forces before latterly becoming a train manager - denied his guilt and forced his young victim to go through the ordeal of trial where she was seen to be visibly upset and shaking in the witness box as she gave evidence.

A judge said the 45-year-old had caused his victim enormous psychological harm while a police officer said the damage he had done to the child was "incalculable". Wilson has been given a 20-year extended sentence as a dangerous offender.

Swansea Crown Court heard the rapes began when the girl was aged around five and continued for some seven years. Mark Wyeth KC, prosecuting, described Wilson as being "cruel and emotionally manipulative" towards the child during the prolonged period of abuse.

The abuse finally ended after an incident where Wilson had forced the child to perform a sex act on him. The court heard the girl texted her mother a "codeword" and a particular emoji the pair had agreed she should use if she felt in danger. The girl's mother later spoke to her daughter and the child disclosed what had been going on.

The barrister said as a "part-time policeman" the defendant "was certainly a man who knew the difference between right and wrong" and he described him as a "dangerous, highly skilled and manipulative paedophile". Wilson, formerly of Glais, Swansea, but now of Nightingale Court, Llanelli, had previously been convicted at trial of two counts of the rape of a child under 13 - one charge relating to a specific incident and the other covering multiple occasions of rape - and of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity when he returned to the dock for sentencing.

He has no previous convictions. Kevin Batch, for Wilson, said the defendant had been a man of not just clean character but of positive good character having worked as a civilian enquiries clerk for South Wales Police in Swansea, in a community liaison role for British Transport Police - a job which saw him regularly attending schools to give talks about the dangers of trespassing on the rails - and latterly a train manager and conductor for Arriva Trains. He said the defendant had earned enhanced prisoner status in prison and was a peer mentor helping other inmates with reading and writing.

Recorder Richard Booth KC said it was clear from everything he had read in the case and from presiding over the trial that Wilson had caused his young victim severe psychological harm. He said he would draw back from imposing a life sentence but said he was satisfied Wilson should be considered a dangerous offender and given an extended sentence.

Wilson was given a 20-year sentence comprising 17 years in custody followed by a three-year licence period. The defendant must serve two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence before he can apply for release but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be let out. Wilson will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order to control his access to children.

Speaking after the sentencing South Wale Police detective constable Chris Medlicott said: "Alexander Wilson is a dangerous child sex predator who disgustingly took advantage of a child. Thankfully, his victim’s traumatic ordeal is now over - but the damage caused to them by Alexander Wilson’s offending will be incalculable. He will now, rightly, be sent to prison."

Description

A 60-year-old man has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of nine child sexual abuse offences.

Anthony Dugard, of Park Drive in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on Friday (22 November), following an investigation carried out by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU).

Dugard was arrested on 4 July 2024 in Swindon where he’d travelled to meet who he thought was a child with the intention of abusing them. Instead, he was met by SWROCU officers.

Dugard was arrested as part of a proactive police operation led by the Online Investigations Team at the SWROCU. This team works alongside a national network of officers tackling offences online, including child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Dugard pleaded guilty to four child sex offences and was remanded in custody.

Following his remand and upon examination of his mobile telephone, officers became aware of further offences committed against a real child.

The child, who was only 15 years old when she was abused by Dugard, was able to provide evidence that he had coerced and exploited her over a period of several months. Dugard was charged and subsequently pleaded guilty to a further five child sexual abuse offences.

Whilst handing him his sentence, Judge JN Townsend told the court: “I pay tribute to the victim in this case to her engagement to the Criminal Justice Process in bringing Mr Dugard to justice.” Dugard will also be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

Description

THIS convicted sex offender has been jailed due to his “unhealthy” and “degenerate” interest in children.

Wayne Mansbridge, 57, of Oak Grove in Twycross, was sentenced to a total of 14 months after being found with 149 pictures and videos of child sexual abuse on his phone.

“These images are shared extensively on the internet and they remain on the internet forever and a day,” said Judge Huw Rees, as he branded Mansbridge’s interest in children as “unhealthy” and “degenerate”.

“These are not just victims, but real children,” he said.

“The court has given you opportunity after opportunity.”

Swansea Crown Court heard that police attended Mansbridge’s home on June 26 last year and arrested him in relation to an unrelated matter.

That matter has since been discontinued, prosecutor Caitlin Brazel said, but as part of the investigation his phone was seized and analysed.

A total of 149 indecent pictures and videos of children were found on Mansbridge’s phone, of which 138 were accessible and 11 inaccessible.

Ms Brazel said the images involved children as young as eight years old.

Mansbridge attended Haverfordwest Police Station on January 5 this year relating to the unrelated matter, and was then further arrested for possession of the indecent images.

The court heard he had eight previous convictions for 11 offences, and was subject to the sex offender notification requirements at the time of these offences.

He was convicted in 2013 of possessing extreme pornography and of sexually assaulting a serving soldier who he had given a lift to in the rain between Tenby and Castlemartin in 2014. Earlier this year, he was also convicted of breaching the terms of his sex offender notification requirements after he jetted off on holiday to Morocco without notifying the police.

Wayne Mansbridge was jailed after being found with indecent images of children. (Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)

Mansbridge pleaded guilty to three offences of possessing indecent images of children – of categories A, B and C – and two offences of making indecent images – of categories B and C – of children.

“The defendant stands by his guilty pleas. He accepts his offending,” said Matthew Murphy, for Mansbridge.

Mr Murphy added that – despite the defendant making comments when speaking to the probation service which “ran contrary to his guilty pleas” – the author of the pre-sentence report had said there was “a prospect of rehabilitation” in his case.

Judge Rees revoked the community order the defendant was currently serving, and imposed the 14-month sentence.

Mansbridge must register as a sex offender for 10 years, and was made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A homeless South Tyneside sex offender who breaches a court order to be returned to prison has been spared fresh jail time after allegedly changing his ways.

Stanley Riches, 51, convicted of rape in 2003 and currently sleeping rough in a tent, has taken steps to turn his life around, his latest court appearance heard.

Before borough magistrates, he pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

He did so by failing to inform police of his whereabouts on one weekly occasion earlier in November, as required.

His apparent lifestyle progress led to borough magistrates jailing him for 26 weeks but agreeing to suspend the sentence for a year.

She revealed previous non-compliance saw him jailed for 26 weeks in July, 15 weeks in April and 26 weeks last November.

He was also put behind bars for 24 weeks in December 2021 – and has seven other same breaches.

Riches was returned to court after being arrested on Tuesday, November 12, for failing to keep his weekly date with police.

Ms Burgess added: “The circumstances are straight forward. He must register every seven days if homeless.

“He last did so on November 4, thereby seven days was midnight on November 11. He should have gone back to register.

“The defendant was arrested and in interview he made admissions. He has 40 previous convictions from 91 offences.

“There are a number of like convictions where he has not adhered to the notification requirements.

John Williams, defending, said he had seen a marked improvement in Riches’ attitude to life.

He said: “He accepts he should have signed on but didn’t. He’s homeless and living in a tent. He fully complied between September 12 and November 11.

“He says that on the day in question he had gone to his doctors for medication and his head was all over the place and he forgot.

“He signed yesterday and thought that would be the end of it. There’s been a significant change in his attitude.”

The Probation Service also said Riches’ attitude towards his work with them had seen “vast improvement”.

Riches must pay a £154 victim surcharge.

Description

A rapist who also sexually abused a young girl has been locked up for 17 years after being convicted of a string of sex offences.

Keith Sterling’s degrading abuse took place several years ago while he was living in Darlington.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the sex offender had significantly damaged the lives of his victims and he still continues to deny his offences.

Rebecca Brown, prosecuting, said one of the rapes happened when the victim was sleeping.

In a victim personal statement, the woman said Sterling’s abuse had impacted on her mental health and would take the pain ‘to her grave’.

The child victim said Sterling’s abuse had left her struggling to come to terms what had happened to her and she still struggled to put into words the impact that his abuse had on her and remains mistrustful of male adults.

The 46-year-old, of Roker Place, Darlington, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault on a child following a trial at the same court.

Tony Davis, mitigating, said his client maintains his innocence and has made his stance clear in his pre-sentence report.

He added: “The reality of the contents of his pre-sentence report means that submissions on his behalf will be short.

“The defendant continues to deny, as he has done throughout the proceedings, any responsibility the offending.”

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi sentenced Sterling to a total of 17 years for all offences.

“The prosecution submitted that some of the offences were done in drink but there was a repeated pattern of sexual offending which was reflected by the jury’s verdicts,” she said.

Sterling was also made subject of life-long restraining orders, sexual harm prevention order and was told he would have to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Description

A NEW Forest man who shared images of children featuring the superimposed face of Harry Potter actress Emma Watson has been jailed for 30 months.

Paul Woodford (39), of Hillside Road in Pennington, admitted making and distributing indecent images of children, whose ages ranged between eight and 14.

Southampton Crown Court heard Woodford’s devices, including mobile phones and laptops, were seized by police on 25th May 2022, who had been tipped off over the images.

Investigators found Woodford had downloaded 38 category A images – the most severe – along with 25 category B and 353 category C.

He had distributed to others five category A, two category B and 19 category C pictures, the court heard. All were a mixture of stills and videos.

Prosecutor Keely Harvey told the court that in his initial interview, Woodford admitted to police that he had been part of online chat groups in which people had shared indecent images.

As an administrator of one group, Woodford would ask new users to submit three indecent images of children before they were allowed to join, Ms Harvey said.

He had asked one user for images of children aged between five and 14, she explained. Another he had asked for “upskirt” images of 11 and 12 year-olds.

The images of actress Emma Watson were superimposed onto bodies of young girls aged around 12 or 13, the court heard.

When Woodford was interviewed by police for a second time, he told them he had deleted the messaging app for a period, but added: “Old habits die hard”.

He also admitted forwarding some images to other people, but claimed the ones he had sent were not illegal as the youngsters were simply scantily-clad, rather than naked.

Ms Harvey said he had asked officers: “Would that be classed as indecent?”

He also admitted in interview that he had said “stupid stuff” in the online chats, and “people always wrote stuff they did not mean”.

Ms Harvey added: “He said he had been trying to impress people and that he felt important to be able to invite or disinvite people to the chat group as he did not have this type of authority in real life.”

She added: “Despite what he claims about them being dressed, it is quite clear the images show naked or undressed children.”

Defending, Joscelyn Lee said her client felt “a great deal of remorse”, adding: “He did not think about the harm caused [to the children] until after his arrest when his head was firmly pulled from the sand.

“He was so low, with such a hopeless sense of place in the world, that the risk was worth it. The [online] community was all he had.”

Woodford, who suffers with “significant” mental health problems, now had “a sense of relief” that the matters were now in the open and he could seek help, she added.

She also urged any sentence to be suspended.

Woodford pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and three of distributing indecent images of children between 15th May 2018 and 25th May 2022.

Handing him an immediate prison term, Assistant Judge Advocate General Jane England said: “There are other ways to feel important without asking people to send you indecent images of children.

“You facilitated the sharing of these images amongst the group and you asked people to post images, actively seeking them out over a period of four years.

“You don’t need me to tell you that any right-thinking person looking at indecent images of children would be shocked and disgusted and would want to report the people posting them – not solicit more.

“In order to create these images it is obvious a child is being abused and their innocence ripped away. Those who seek these types of images create a market for it.”

She added: “Only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate due to the seriousness of the offending. It is the least I can impose which reflects the justice of the case.”

Woodford will be the subject of a sexual harm prevention order, aimed at preventing re-offending, and must also sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Description

A paedophile who raped a child in her sleep has been handed a 21-year prison sentence.

George Bellwood raped the child at least 25 times over a three-year period, on one occasion assaulting her while she slept.  

He also regularly forced her to carry out other sex acts on him, often recording the abuse on his mobile phone.

The 32-year-old’s offending came to light when the child bravely told a trusted adult what had happened, who then informed Durham Constabulary.

An investigation was launched, and Bellwood was arrested.

During the investigation, his phone and laptop were seized and thoroughly analysed by specialist police officers from the force’s Digital Investigation Team, who found more than 2,800 images of child abuse.

More than 1,000 were classed as Category A images – the most severe.

Bellwood was charged with a multitude of offences, including eight counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, all of which he initially denied, but later changed his plea to guilty.

He also admitted further charges of making indecent images of children, distributing indecent images of children, and possession of extreme pornography involving animals.

Bellwood, of Darlington, was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at Durham Crown Court today (November 22) where he was handed a 21-year prison sentence, with four years on extended licence.

He will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

In a victim impact statement, one of the girl’s family members described the impact Bellwood’s offending had on her.

“He has made her go through something that not even an adult should have to deal with,” they said. 

“She has had her childhood taken away from her, which she will never get back and will never fully recover from.”