Latest Offenders

Description

A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting a grandmother as she slept in her bed in Worcester.

Daniel Edwards, 28, entered the house through a kitchen window and then attacked the victim, in her 40s, in her bedroom, the court heard.

The woman, who had previously rejected him, woke up from what she thought was a bad dream, swore at him and told him to leave, jurors were told.

The father-of-one was found guilty of assault by penetration at Worcester Crown Court on Friday following the attack in a flat in Warndon in 2013.

Judge Nicholas Cole jailed Edwards for six years, half to be served in custody.

In the summer of 2013 the woman woke up to discover Edwards, who was “half-naked”, sexually assaulting her.

She thought she was having a “bad dream'” and then feared she was going to be strangled.

When she woke up the victim swore, asked Edwards what he was doing and told him to get out of her house.

He denied assault and claimed he only shook her to wake her because he was looking for somewhere to stay because he was locked out of his home.

The same woman had previously told Edwards she was “old enough to be his mum” as she rebuffed him.

The judge said the offence was aggravated because it was committed in the early hours of the morning and Edwards had been drinking.

Speaking after the hearing the victim said she had wanted an apology from Edwards but had never received one.

She thought he had “no conscience” about what he had done.

The woman, who declined the use of a screen when she gave evidence during the trial, said: "I'm still sad. I take no pleasure from this.

The victim, who cannot be identified, often sleeps on the sofa of her home because she cannot bear to sleep on the same bed where she was assaulted, has suffered mental health problems, has to see a psychiatrist and has been prescribed antidepressants.

Speaking of Edwards she said: "He's a sexual predator. I think women are safer now."

Edwards, from Pershore, Worcestershire, is subject to notification requirements indefinitely meaning he must inform police of any change of name or address.

He is also barred from working with children or other vulnerable people.

Edwards was cleared of assault by penetration against a girl aged 13 to 15, alleged to have taken place between 2008 and 2011.

The jury also cleared him of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, with regards to the woman in her 40s.

Description

A York company director who tried to give a '12-year-old girl' sex instructions and told her to think like a slave is today starting a jail term.

For six weeks, Timothy Michael Downie, 52, masqueraded online as a 19-year-old woman as he gave the 'girl' advice on how to perform sexual acts and encouraged her to find older boys to treat her sexually, Matthew Moore-Taylor, prosecuting, told York Crown Court.

“Stop thinking of yourself as a little girl and start thinking like a Roman slave girl who needs to please her master or get thrown to the lions,” he told her on an online social media platform.

He also told her performing sexual acts with older boys would give her self confidence.

But the “girl” was an undercover police officer taking part in an operation to track down and arrest online sex offenders and Downie was arrested.

Downie, who ran a management consultancy, of Chestnut Avenue, Heworth, pleaded guilty to attempting to incite an underage girl to perform sexual acts and attempted sexual communication with a child.

He was jailed for 32 months, put on the sex offenders’ register for life and barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Judge Simon Hickey said Downie had believed he was talking to a real girl. 

For Downie, Sean Smith said he had never tried to meet the 'girl' or get her to send photographs of herself. He had also taken substantial steps in rehabilitating himself since his arrest in 2022.

Mr Moore-Taylor said the detective set up a false profile on Kik social media of a 12-year-old girl called 'Mia'.

On January 12, 2022, 'Mia' was contacted by a profile claiming to be Katy Brown, a 19-year-old York woman on a gap year. But it was really run by Downie. It had been on Kik for 2,866 days.

Early on in the conversation Downie asked 'Mia’s' age and when she said she was in Year 8, Downie started sexual messages, including asking about her sexual experiences.

Police amassed 34 pages of messages between the two between January 12 and February 28 in which Downie gave continuous sexual instructions and tried to persuade “Mia” to perform acts that she said she was reluctant to do.

In the messages were references to 'Mia’s' age of 12 years. The messages were not sent every day.

Police went to Downie’s home, arrested him and confiscated his internet equipment. He didn’t answer their questions about his sexual crimes. He had no previous convictions.

Mr Smith handed in letters from Downie's family that the judge said showed a different side of him and how shocked and surprised they were by what he had done. 

Co-director of Safer Lives sex offender rehabilitation agency and qualified probation officer Andrew Green gave evidence on behalf of Downie and the rehabilitative work he had done with the agency.

He said he believed Downie would not reoffend.

Mr Smith said Downie had also worked with a psycho-sexual-therapist and completed 48 sessions.

Description

A Huntly man has been placed on the sex offenders register after police raided his home and found his device full of indecent images and videos of children.

Christopher Barron, 29, appeared in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court where he admitted having over 400 images and around 40 videos featuring child abuse.

Description

A 'manipulative' paedophile who tried to recruit vulnerable young girls as escorts after posting modelling ads on Craigslist has been jailed. Shaker Sharif sexually abused five teenagers, who he knew to be under 16, by constantly asking them for sexual videos and photos, screen recording them engaged in sex acts on Facetime, and paying them for other sexual content.

The 44-year-old predator, of Middleton Avenue, in Greenford, Ealing, West London, appeared in an olive green hoodie at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, May 30, where he was jailed for three years and nine months for the vile sex crimes committed between 2015 and 2016. Prior to the hearing, Sharif had been on a restrictive sexual risk order since 2020, limiting his contact with children.

According to Companies House filings, the pervert was formerly a director of a dissolved property management company, Tenantbox Limited, which previously advertised rooms across London, while offering landlords a zero per cent management fee. Among the accounts followed by the company's Twitter page are a massage equipment company and a user called 'Sexpestinthecity'.

Shaker met his first victim, a 14-year-old girl, in 2015, using the pseudonym 'Jay Biggs' to swap sexual images with her, including fully naked photos. Prosecutor Corinne Bramwell said he used 'grooming' methods, like sending links to pornography websites and reference to his escorting business. "He would talk about meeting girls and providing 600 for happy endings," said Ms Bramwell.

For months the sickening conversations continued until the girl told Sharif it seemed like he only wanted indecent images of her masturbating or for her to have sex with him. After telling her, in his twisted mind, they were in a relationship, he carried on asking for the photos, with reference to sex and masturbating together. In all, 159 indecent images of the girl were recovered by police.

The second victim was just 13 years old when she started chatting to Sharif on a teenage dating app in August 2016. The app meant for teenagers has been known as 'a playground for paedophiles' since 2014 when the NSPCC issued a warning to parents. The girl claimed she was 19 years old, while Sharif was aged 36, some years above the maximum intended age range.

This time Sharif asked if the girl was a virgin, and preyed on her vulnerabilities when she disclosed self-harm and being bullied at school. Within a day of starting the conversation, he sent the girl a photo of his penis and called her 89 times. He also asked her for contact details of friends, to which she provided a number. Ms Bramwell said there was evidence Sharif called that number.

In September of that year, Sharif asked for more pictures. When the girl asked what of, he told her 'I want to see your body, tits, p**sy, all'. The victim of Sharif's persistent demand for photos sent him two more images, which only prompted him to ask again. She eventually told him she would stop because he was 'annoying' and she was not allowed to.

In relation to his next victim, a 17-year-old girl, Sharif was caught with 164 indecent images. Messages from the former property manager included 'I wish you were older' and offers to make money out of her if she would 'trust' him. After telling her 'how much girls make in the sex industry' he asked her to come to London. Police later found evidence of 55 payments to her bank account.

A fourth victim was 15 years old in 2015 when she responded to Sharif's Craigslist advert for teen models claiming she was aged 16. Their conversations developed with Sharif asking if she wanted to join the agency, while she disclosed a rate of 170 a shoot. After the girl responded to two more adverts, Sharif asked if she would do 'sexual shoots or videos' in Shepherd's Bush.

The final victim received multiple bank transfers of between 10 to 20 in exchange for sexual content when she was just 14 years old in June 2015. The messages - described as 'plainly manipulative' by Ms Bramwell - included Sharif's claim that he 'loved' the girl and accused her of not caring about him. As the victim pointed out, it was Sharif who did not care about her and would talk about other girls and sex, rather than asking her how she was, Ms Bramwell told the court.

Ms Bramwell referred to Sharif's legitimate adult escorting activities, but could not provide evidence that his abuse of the girls was 'commercial'. Referring to a recent probation report, she accused Sharif of victim blaming due to his 'disconnect between being ashamed and remorseful'. "How he talks about the complainants effectively puts blame on them for starting conversations," she added.

'In part, this is a victimless case'

Sharif was arrested at his home on September 27, 2017 on an unrelated matter, during which devices were seized containing evidence of his child exploitation. He denied 20 counts - which included making indecent images of children, inciting children into sexual activity, and causing the sexual exploitation of children - at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court in October 2022.

At a pre-trial hearing in 2023 he reversed his pleas on five counts, but the case was still set to go to trial for the remaining 15 counts in March of this year. With all his victims ready to face him in court, Sharif then reversed another seven pleas just 10 days before the trial, bringing his confessions to 12 of the charges. The Crown decided it was not in the public interest to pursue the remaining eight counts which were left to lie on file at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday.

It means Sharif admitted five counts of causing the sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of paying for the sexual services of a child, one count inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and four counts of making indecent photos of children in Category C.

Defence counsel Zacharias Miah called for a suspended sentence as he outlined the long delay in bringing the case to court and the recommendation of a community order by the probation service. While he conceded the same report write concluded Sharif posed a high risk of harm to children, he said this could best be managed outside of prison.

"In part, this is a victimless case," argued Mr Miah. "As some of them are not involved in these proceedings. It was all based on data from his laptop and phone."

Ms Bramwell hit back at this by reading out one of the victim's impact statements, in which the girl blamed her depression, anxiety, and panic attacks on Sharif's abuse.

Mr Miah pointed to Sharif's previous good character, poor mental health at the time, and obesity as he reached for mitigation. The barrister also highlighted Sharif's progress with various schemes for sex offenders, including a 'Sexaholics' clinic and the Safer Lives programme, and his compliance with the sexual risk order made in 2020.

'High level of manipulative behaviour'

Recorder Sam Robinson KC dismissed the recommendation of the probation officer, and Mr Miah's arguments for a suspended sentence, as he jailed Sharif for nearly four years. The judge highlighted Sharif's 'pattern of of long manipulative communications with vulnerable young girls', some of which lasted years, and left them with 'serious psychological harm'.

Referring to the lead offence, Recorder Robinson said: "I'm in no doubt the chats between the two of you were manipulative and controlling. The fact you sent links to porn websites and references to escort agencies. You sought to entice her about what other girls made in the escort business. She could make 600 with a happy ending. She, 15 years old, said she would like that money. You could see the power which you had over her."

Summarising the case, the judge added: "Your offending throughout these two years shows a high level of manipulative behaviour. You were constantly asking for images of young vulnerable girls. You persistently asked for sexual photos and videos and wanted to get some of them to act as escorts and come and meet you.

"You have described yourself as being deeply ashamed of your behaviour. So you should be. You have caused your victims a great deal of psychological distress."

Recorder Robinson fell short of finding Sharif legally 'dangerous', which would have led to longer licensing conditions upon release, but he did impose a seven-year sexual harm prevention order. Sharif must sign on the sex offenders register for life and pay a 170 victim surcharge. His sentence for the lead offence aggravated by the other offences, which earned him lesser concurrent sentences.

Description

A sex offender has been put behind bars after using Snapchat and WhatsApp on his phone.

Paul Cummings was previously convicted of attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming in September 2020. The 38-year-old was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and notification requirement.

He went on to breach the order and attempted to engage in sexual communication with a child in November 2022.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how two police officers visited Cummings' home in South Shields on December 14 last year and examined his mobile phone. They discovered that the Snapchat app had been used the previous day.

Gabrielle Wilks, prosecuting, said the WhatsApp app had also been accessed the same day. She said: "Neither of the apps appeared to be present on the device and therefore they had been deleted."

When asked if he had used Snapchat the previous day, Cummings said: "I'm sorry I was only going to use it to pay for pictures of adults".

His phone was seized and found to contain 18 items of deleted website history, four alias names and a Lloyds bank account, which police had not been notified about. The history included visits to EE, BT, WWE, Lloyds bank and Hello magazine.

Cummings, of Woodhouse Court, South Shields, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a notification requirement and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court in Newcastle heard how he had already breached his sexual harm prevention order on five previous occasions.

Laura Miller, defending, told the court: "It was stupid, it was reckless, he knows that. He knows now the consequences. He's come today having been up for most of the night not being able to sleep because he's scared to go to prison today.

"He knows to expect a custodial sentence today and he's come prepared for that."

Ms Miller said that Cummings was currently in stable accommodation and he would lose that if he was to be sent to prison. She said he had previously worked well with the probation service and could be made subject to a suspended sentence order.

Recorder Tony Hawks told Cummings: "Because of offences that you have committed in relation to children in 2000 and 2022 you are a registered sex offender. You are also subject to a sexual harm prevention order. On no less than five previous occasions you have breached the notification requirements or sexual harm prevention order.

"It's said that you now understand what these requirements mean. Well you have been sent to prison twice already for breaching them so I find it difficult to know that you didn't know in advance what the consequences may be.

"You are a registered sex offender. These orders are in place to regulate your activity and any risk that you present to the public.

"You are a man who has persistently breached these requirements. And so I don't think there's any alternative other than to impose a period of imprisonment that will be immediate."

Recorder Hawks sentenced Cummings to 15 months in prison.

Description

A convicted sex offender who did gardening work at a north Suffolk school as a volunteer in breach of a court order has been jailed for 16 months.

Kevin Corrick visited the school to deliver gardening products and to cut grass over a period of 10 months without telling anyone he was banned from going to schools under a sexual harm prevention order, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Corrick, 63, of Nightingale Court in Blyburgate, Beccles, admitted four breaches of a sexual harm prevention order made in 2012 after he was jailed for 15 years for raping and sexually assaulting a schoolgirl and making indecent images of children.

The breaches related to him entering an educational establishment between March and December 2023 and working in a youth organisation when he was banned from doing so under the terms of the order.

He also admitted failing to notify the authorities that he had an Amazon tablet and a new bank card.

Jailing him for 16 months, Judge Emma Peters said sexual harm prevention orders had an important use in ensuring that people convicted of sex offences were regulated in the way they lived their lives when they were released from prison.

The court heard that Corrick had attended a school over a period of 10 months as a volunteer supplying items to the school and providing gardening services through the Man Shed community project.

Asked by police why he didn’t tell anyone he was the subject of a sexual harm prevention order, he said he didn’t want to lose his role.

He denied visiting the school to get access to children but admitted being sexually attracted to children.

He told police: “I can’t help what’s in my head.”

Claire Matthews, for Corrick, said her client had not had any unsupervised contact with children and his role had been limited to delivering gardening products and lawn strimming at the school through Man Shed.

She said Corrick had been released from prison in 2019 and had not reoffended since his release.

She said he realised he had done wrong and was remorseful.

Description

A SEX offender from Rugby who downloaded almost a thousand indecent images of children has been jailed for two years.

Martin Harvey, 66, of Ferndown Road, was being monitored by officers and the probation service following a previous sexual offence.

And in 2023 it was discovered that he had deleted some of his internet browsing history – breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He was also found to have a hard drive containing almost a thousand indecent images of children.

When Harvey was interviewed by officers, he claimed he had deleted browsing history on his phone because he had been having issues with ‘pop ups’ and he believed that might fix it.

He then claimed that he had bought the hard drive because he wanted to research ways to reinstate his search history.

When officers asked why the hard drive contained indecent images of children, Harvey said he had ‘drifted back into the old days,’ adding, ‘I was stupid’.

He was subsequently charged with breaching his SPHO and for downloading indecent images of children.

On Wednesday May 29, Harvey appeared before Warwick Crown Court where he was jailed for 24 months.

DC Lauren Cooper said: “We are thankful to the courts for this sentence.

“I hope this serves as a warning to others who believe they can continue to offend in this way.

“Viewing indecent images of children creates a market for the sexual abuse of children, and I want to be absolutely clear – if you are involved in the production or viewing of materials like that, it’s only a matter of time before we are at your door.”

Description

Today (Thursday 30 May), Nicholas Moxham has been found guilty of a series of depraved and abhorrent offences against women, including rape, prostitution, slavery and sexual assault, many of which took place in his home where he set up secret cameras to watch his victims and film his disturbing behaviour.

Nicholas Moxham (5/3/72), of Briarfield Road, Heaton Chapel, was found guilty of the following offences after 5-week trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court:

• Controlling prostitution for gain x6
• Requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour x3
• Rape x6
• Attempted rape
• Assault by penetration x3
• Voyeurism x13

Moxham first came to the attention of the police in June and July 2020 when witnesses reported seeing someone called ‘Nick’ in the company of sex workers and often loitering near homeless shelters.

Over time, he recruited six women as sex workers, arranging for clients to visit his home and an address in Longsight, Manchester.

Many of these encounters were covertly filmed by Moxham using specialist equipment including secret cameras hidden in pens.

On several occasions, videos showed Moxham raping or sexually assaulting women, sometimes whilst they were unconscious.

During a warrant at his home on 17 August 2021, officers found a woman, described as ‘pale and malnourished’, under a duvet on his living room floor. Immediate safeguarding measures were put in place to protect her, and the investigation advanced to identify other victims.

During this raid, officers recovered computer hard drives, storage devices and spyhole cameras, despite Moxham’s attempt to dispose of the evidence by throwing a hard drive out of his bedroom window as police entered his house.

Detective Sergeant Lee Attenborough, of Stockport CID, said: “This is one of the most horrific and upsetting cases my team has ever had to deal with.

“Moxham is a controlling and predatory sex offender who thought he was untouchable, denying his horrendous crimes right to the very end, forcing his victims to go through the ordeal of a trial.

"He showed absolutely no regard for any of his victims, some of whom won’t even know they were targeted due to the calculated and covert methods he used to take advantage.  

“His offending was well-planned and continued whilst he was under investigation, even boasting to one of his victims that he was too clever for police.

"His victims have been extremely brave, and I can only commend them for coming forward to give evidence against Moxham. I know this hasn’t been easy, but thanks to their courageous actions, Moxham is off our streets and will now face a considerable time behind bars.

“I know that reporting crimes like this can be incredibly difficult and traumatic, but we would urge anyone who has suffered violence or controlling behaviour of any type to come forward.

“If anyone has been affected by this case or believes they may have been targeted, we have specialist officers who can help.

“We are determined to bring offenders to justice and make Manchester a safer place for everyone."

Description

A CREEP who filmed young girls from behind without their knowledge or permission at Greenock's Oak Mall was yesterday spared a jail sentence for the 'extremely disturbing' crime.

Stewart Stenhouse - now on the Sex Offenders Register - was snared in the shopping centre after a shocked witness watched him follow a group of children and record them on his mobile phone.

The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to the breach of the peace offence prior to being sentenced at Greenock Sheriff Court.

A sheriff declared that the 'extremely disturbing' video Stenhouse had captured had a 'significant sexual element' to it.

Sheriff James Varney told Stenhouse yesterday: "I reviewed the footage in this case, which was extremely disturbing."

However, a community payback order was imposed as a direct alternative to a custodial term.

Lawyer Ellen Macdonald told the sentencing hearing: "He appears to have insight into this offending and into the fact that it would have had an impact on the girls that were involved."

The court previously heard how Stenhouse targeted four young females in the mall and videoed them without their knowledge or permission on June 17 last year.

A prosecutor said his actions raised 'extreme alarm' and suspicion among other people in the centre and an eyewitness saw Stenhouse following the group of ‘young girls’ at around 3.15pm.

Procurator fiscal depute Pamela Brady said: “The accused was walking behind them and was videoing the girls on his phone.

“He had followed them for several metres with his phone at stomach level.

“The witness was extremely alarmed by what he saw and notified security staff.

“He was immediately of the opinion that the accused was videoing the young girls for sexual gratification.”

Following intervention from the witness, Stenhouse attempted to ‘run away’, the court was told.

He eventually admitted his actions to security staff, who then contacted police.

Stenhouse was later arrested by officers who had reviewed CCTV footage from inside the centre.

He replied ‘no comment’ after being charged.

Prosecutor Mrs Brady explained that the footage on his phone captured between the girls’ knees and waists.

The fiscal depute added: “The Crown position is that there was a sexual element to this behaviour.”

He eventually admitted his actions to security staff, who then contacted police.

Stenhouse was later arrested by officers who had reviewed CCTV footage from inside the centre.

He replied ‘no comment’ after being charged.

Prosecutor Mrs Brady explained that the footage on his phone captured between the girls’ knees and waists.

The fiscal depute added: “The Crown position is that there was a sexual element to this behaviour.”

Description

A man from Swansea has been jailed for multiple child sex offences.

34-year-old Phillip Bowler, from Mount Pleasant, sent messages of a sexual nature to a child before arranging a meeting to force them to delete the messages. He then touched the victim inappropriately.

Bowler later sent multiple further communications to the child, making considerable effort to incite them into sexual activity. He also sent the victim a video of himself which was of a sexual nature.

Phillip Bowler has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for engaging in sexual communications with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and for arranging/facilitating of child sexual offences.

He will be a registered sex offender for life.

Description

A CHILD abuse victim stayed silent about her ordeal because she blamed herself after her attacker tried to kill himself following one incident.

Salisbury Crown Court heard how the woman, who was only 12 at the time, did not tell anyone what had happened until years later.

She eventually told police that when Paul Murphy (61), from Totton, attempted suicide after the last time he abused her, she “blamed herself for it”.

The woman only finally disclosed what had happened to a friend at university. She then underwent years of therapy before feeling she could report Murphy to police.

In a victim impact statement read to the court she said: “It has been a long journey for me to get here.” The woman revealed how she had had had to “carry the weight” of what Murphy had done to her “for many years”.

She said she still suffers “flashbacks, anxiety and depression” from the abuse, which had happened nearly 20 years ago, adding “the effects have been long lasting”.

Murphy had denied two charges of assault by penetration of a child and one of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity at a trial held at Salisbury Crown court but was found guilty by a jury. He appeared in court using a walking stick, with his arm in a sling and wearing burn dressings on his face.

The court heard that he was in ill health, having suffered prostate cancer and was still receiving treatment for burn injuries.

Defence barrister Ed Wilde said the defendant was “intensely sorry” for what he had done, adding that he had lost his “good character and his good name. He is sorry that his life has come to this”.

He added: “Prior to these matters he was in good standing in the local community, a supporter of the community, helping out where he could.”

Mr Wilde then read a character witness statement from a friend of the defendant which said: “I have known Paul as a friend for 30 years. Anything that has to be done Paul is there night and day. The elderly felt more secure when Paul was around for them.”

Judge Adam Feest KC said Murphy’s actions had a “long-lasting and significant effect” on his victim. He jailed Murphy for a total of nine years, with one to be served on licence. He was also given a sexual prevention order and will be on the sexual offenders register for life.

Description

A man has been convicted of multiple sexual offences committed against a teenage girl who showed incredible bravery in coming forward to speak to police.

Colin Moore – 57 (04.06.66) of Grove Lane, Southwark was found guilty of four counts of rape and five counts of indecent assault following the conclusion of a trial at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, 24 May. Moore was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at the same venue on 9 September 2024.

The court heard how Moore took advantage of the girl who was under the age of 16 at the time the offending started in 1995. Moore’s abuse took place over the next four years at locations in west and central London.

The girl, by now an adult, came forward and reported the abuse to police in 2020. Moore was arrested and subsequently charged with numerous offences.

Description

Daniel Neary, a 41-year-old man, was arrested after sending sexual images to what he believed was a 12-year-old boy named Rory on a dating website.

Unbeknownst to him, the profile actually belonged to an undercover police officer.

When police searched Neary's home, they found explicit photos of children as young as eight, as well as search terms for indecent images.

Neary pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and possessing indecent photographs of children.

His defense argued for rehabilitation, stating that he had no prior offenses.

However, the judge condemned his actions, stating that Neary had a sexual interest in children and had encouraged a child to engage in sexual activities for his own gratification.

Despite this, the judge decided to suspend Neary's ten-month sentence for two years, with the requirement of rehabilitation and unpaid work.

Neary will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification requirements for the next decade.

Description

A serial abuser has been jailed for nine years for serious sexual offences committed in Perthshire.

Clifford Hodgkins, 42, abused a woman over the course of 19 months between September 2020 and January 2022 at locations in Blairgowrie.

He was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this year of rape, physical and sexual assaults and abusive behaviour, including brandishing a screwdriver at his victim.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison with a further three years' supervision and placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Description

A world-renowned classical music conductor who pleaded guilty to child sex offences, including messaging someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy, has been spared jail.

Jan Latham-Koenig had admitted arranging sex acts with someone he thought was a teenager, but was in fact an undercover police officer, London’s Southwark Crown Court had heard.

On Tuesday, the 70-year-old was given a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, by Judge Alexander Milne, who told him he has been “humiliated in the public eye”.

The judge also told him his successful career means that, unlike other defendants who may be “unknown before and unknown after, that is the not case for Mr Latham-Koenig”.

Latham-Koenig, from Belsize Park, north-west London, had previously pleaded guilty to three charges.

He was sentenced to 14 months each for attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and also arranging or facilitating the commission of a sexual offence with a child between December 9 2023 and January 11 this year.

He was also given 10 months’ imprisonment for engaging in sexual communication with a child.

All sentences are to run concurrently.

Latham-Koenig was made an OBE in 2020 for services to music and UK-Russian cultural relations.

He has conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and all the BBC ensembles.

The judge, who described Latham-Koenig’s actions as “deeply worrying behaviour”, told the court: “This is a gentleman of 70 years of age who has a long and distinguished cultural career behind him.

“I would give credit for the pleas and at an early stage.

“I accept that there is clear remorse on the part of the defendant and that he has suffered – effectively this would have brought his career to an end.

He is humiliated in the public eye
- Judge Alexander Milne at Southwark Crown Court

Latham-Koenig had used a dating app to make contact with someone he knew as Jacob.

He believed Jacob was a 14-year-old boy, who was in fact an undercover police officer.

Their conversations became sexual and Latham-Koenig gave him a train ticket to Victoria station in London so they could meet but instead the conductor was arrested.

No child was physically put at risk at any stage, the court heard.

The judge said: “What is clear is that, from the latter part of last year, he entered conversations on a dating app, accepted to be frequently used by bisexual and homosexual men, to strike up conversations with a person whom he believed was Jacob, a 14-year-old boy.

“Jacob did not exist.

“He was an undercover police officer.

“The conversations were of a sexual nature on a number of occasions.

“At one stage the defendant sent Jacob a photograph of a naked penis.”

The judge noted there were discussions about keeping their conversations secret.

Latham-Koenig was “particularly concerned” that Jacob’s mother should not know about it.

The judge added: “He believed Jacob was gay.

“He gave Jacob a train ticket to Victoria for travel for where they were to meet.

“It is clear that the defendant in these conversations – the defendant, who is 70 – had lied about his own age.

“He said he was 49.”

The judge said that “fondling between them was discussed and there was discussion of them going further than merely talking”.

Jacob was “encouraged to delete the electronic messages and any electronic trail between them”.

The judge also said that “a gift in the form of a train ticket was provided”.

Prosecutor Bill McGivern said the contact began on a dating app before moving on to WhatsApp messages.

Mr McGivern said that at one point during the conversations: “The defendant said he was a conductor in classical music and was dying to meet someone like Jacob.”

Defence counsel Eleanor Laws said the case has had a “devastating effect” on Latham-Koenig, who has suffered “a loss of his career” which was something he “worked very hard at and was his great passion”.

He is also dealing with the “feelings of distress” and “upset” he has caused to his family and has not shown “self-pity or a lack of understand as to what needs to be addressed”, according to Ms Laws.

She added that Latham-Koenig’s friends, who say he is “kind, humble and generous with his time”, are sticking by him and he has taken “considerable steps to address his offending behaviour”, including undergoing intensive therapy.