Latest Offenders

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A PENSIONER is now banned from travelling alone on buses at certain times of the day after inappropriately touching a girl.

Malcolm Leather was the subject of a police CCTV appeal for information earlier this year following the disturbing incident.

The 69-year-old was identified and brought to justice after being sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor Yvonne Dobson informed the court how the defendant was charged with assault of a girl under 13 by touching.

At sometime between 3pm and 3.30pm on Friday, February 17, a 12-year-old girl was travelling on the number three bus between Warrington Bus Station and the Manchester Road bus stop next to Beresford Street.

During the journey, an unknown man inappropriately touched her leg with his hand.

As stated in the charge to which he indicated a guilty plea, Leather intentionally touched the girl, with the touching being sexual.

Cheshire Police officers investigating the incident subsequently issued CCTV images of a suspect they wanted to speak to.

They said at the time that the incident was believed to be isolated and that they had been conducting a number of enquiries to trace the person responsible.

PC John Riley said: “I want to be clear that we are doing all we can to locate the person responsible and do believe this to be an isolated incident.

“We have a number of enquiries ongoing and as part of these we are now appealing for assistance to identify the man in the CCTV as we believe he may have vital information to assist us with our investigation.

“I would also appeal to the man himself to please come forward.”

After pleading guilty, Leather, of Samuel Street in Sankey Bridges, was sentenced by deputy district judge Angharad Davies to an 18-month community order.

This includes 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, while he must also pay a fine of £120, costs to the Crown Prosecution Service of £120 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £114.

In addition, he must sign the sex offender register for the next five years and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

One prohibition in the latter bans him from travelling alone on public transport, namely buses and trains, between the hours of 7.30am and 9.30am, and from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

The order states that travelling within these times, Leather must be accompanied at all times by a support worker or other adult expressly approved by social services.

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A sex offender has been jailed after he joined a notorious Exmouth paedophile in a plan to abuse a 14-year-old boy.

Benjamin Holt joined in group chats online with former theatre manager Gareth Weeks and the boy in which they discussed their perverted sexual fantasies.

Holt asked the boy to commit sexual acts on himself and was in the process of setting up a meeting at which they were to have sex but the intended victim realised that he was in danger and backed out.

Police found the messages after arresting 55-year-old Weeks in Exmouth for having sex with another 14-year-old who he met on the gay dating site Grindr. He was jailed for 15 years in 2020.

Holt had also downloaded a video of a boy aged about nine having sex with a dog. Police found it on his phone alongside another clip of bestiality involving an adult woman.

He was already a registered sex offender, having previously been jailed for downloading images of boys when he was still in his teens. His most recent conviction was for a similar offence in 2012.

Holt, aged 37, of Old Market Close, Exeter, admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making, by downloading, an indecent image of a child, and possession of extreme pornography.

He was jailed for three years and four months with a two year, eight month extended licence and put on the sex offenders’ register for life. He was also banned from contact with children for 15 by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The judge told him: “This was not a fantasy, you meant this thing to happen. It was only the boy’s withdrawal from the group chat that thwarted your intention. You have a very strong sexual interest in young boys.

“You have spoken very openly in the probation report about your strong desire to meet and to try to abuse young children.”

Miss Emily Pitts, prosecuting, said Holt was identified as a result of a police inquiry into more serious offences of abuse that uncovered his group chats, in which he discussed having different sorts of sex with the boy. The images were found when his devices were seized by police.

Miss Rachel Smith, defending, said Holt recognises he has a problem and wants help to address it. She said that these offences arose out of meeting Gareth Weeks and said his influence was ‘catastrophic.

In the earlier case, Weeks, of Bassetts Gardens, Exmouth, admitted two counts of sexual activity with a child, meeting a child following grooming, inciting a child to sexual activity, arranging or facilitating a child sex offence, breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, and making, taking and distributing indecent images of children.

He was jailed for 15 years with a six year extended licence and certified as a dangerous offender by Judge Timothy Rose.

He had been a stage manager who worked with major showbiz stars at theatres all over Britain and boasted to friends about having known celebrities including Little Britain’s Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

He was jailed for child sex offences in 1993 and 2012 but was still able to join an amateur theatre in Devon as a volunteer. He was still helping to organise shows until his arrest.

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A paedophile messaged a 12-year-old girl and asked her if she wanted to see his penis before asking her to be his girlfriend. He later attempted to meet up with a 14-year-old at a motorway services but was met by members of a paedophile group who had been using a decoy.

David Havard, 31, of Bridgend, began messaging the real girl on December 27 last year via TikTok and she initially blocked him. Undeterred by this he proceeded to contact her on Facebook and asked if she wanted to see his genitals and his "erect penis".

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard the girl was "frightened" and told the defendant "no" but he persisted in messaging her and asked: "Do you want to be my girlfriend?" She pointed out she was only 12 years old, called Havard "a paedophile", and told him she was going to report the offence to the police. She told her family about what had been happening who alerted the police.

By this time Havard was already in police custody having been arrested after trying to meet someone he believed to be young girls at Sarn motorway services on the M4. Prosecutor Jeffrey Jones said the defendant began speaking to a decoy account run by paedophiles on an over-18 website.

The decoy told the defendant she was 14 years old but he began speaking about sex and sent photos of his penis. He said he wanted to have sex with her and arranged to meet her with her 11-year-old friend. He invited her to sleep in his bed and explained in graphic detail what he would like to do to her. Havard also asked her to send photos of her bare chest.

The defendant was arrested and initially denied the offences and claimed he had not contacted the real victim and he had not sent pictures of his penis. He also claimed he "couldn't remember" sending pictures to the decoy.

Havard, of Oak Street, Aberkenfig, later pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to meet a child following grooming. The court heard he had received a caution after leaving a letter for a child outside her home which contained sexual messages and a conviction for outraging public decency after masturbating on a public bus.

In mitigation Helen Randall said there were initial concerns about her client's fitness to plea but after a psychiatric report found he was fit to plea he pleaded guilty to the offences. She said the defendant had a "difficult and abusive upbringing" and had poor mental and psychiatric health as well as learning difficulties.

Sentencing, the Recorder of Cardiff Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said there was a "significant risk" of Havard committing "contact sexual offences" in the future. She sentenced the defendant to four years imprisonment with an extended licence period of two years. He will serve two-thirds of the custodial period before he can be considered for release. Havard was made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order for life.

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A teenage sex pest was "bang out of order" when he sent "wholly inappropriate" intimate videos of himself to a young girl as well as highly "sexualised" messages that left her father sickened and shocked.

The girl's father discovered the disgusting videos and a whole host of messages after carrying out routine checks of his daughter's phone to make sure that she was not being put at risk. He alerted the police, who found that Dillon North had seemingly been in contact with his daughter for weeks, Hull Crown Court heard

North, 19, of Petersfield Close, Bransholme, Hull, admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child between February 13 and 28 last year. Jazmine Lee, prosecuting, said that the teenage girl's father regularly checked her phone to make sure that she was safe while using it.

On February 27 last year, he discovered a series of conversations between his daughter and North. The chats were almost all on Snapchat and they included images and videos. He took screenshots and recorded the videos. "He reported that to the police," said Miss Lee.

The girl later told police that she was in contact with North most days and that he had asked how old she was. She told him her age, which was under 16, and he gave his age.

"They continued to have conversations," said Miss Lee. "At first, they would send pictures of just their faces and the food they were eating but she later shared a video of herself in her underwear sitting on a bed."

She sent that video in response to him sending one of him committing a sex act. He used explicit language in the video. "She did not send any other videos of that nature," said Miss Lee.

North sent several more videos of him involved in sexual behaviour and using explicit words. "He asked her on three occasions to meet with him," said Miss Lee. "She said 'No' because of her age and he accepted that."

The girl claimed that the contact between them was for a few weeks but North insisted that it was for only a few days. He made no comment during police interview.

Marc Luxford, mitigating, said that North had no previous convictions and pleaded guilty. He had previously been an apprentice electrician. North told the court when asked about his behaviour: "It was disgusting and awful."

Judge Mark Bury said that the way that North spoke to the girl was "bang out of order" and he needed to understand that this was not the way to behave to females. "If you are caught again, you will go to prison," said Judge Bury.

"You got into a situation where you were sending sexualised texts which were totally inappropriate. They were inappropriate regarding how old she was."

The videos that North sent were "wholly inappropriate" but the girl had the "good sense" not to meet North when he asked her to do so. "It must be understood that offending like this does cause distress," said Judge Bury.

"It has affected her. If there was any repetition of this behaviour, a judge would send you to prison." North was given 30 days' rehabilitation as part of a two-year community order. He must register as a sex offender for five years.

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A man who groped a woman at a Trowbridge pub has avoided a prison sentence.

Joshua Reid appeared before Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on Monday (11 September), having pleaded guilty to sexual assault at a hearing in June.

The 26-year-old defendant, who failed to attend the court for sentencing on 24 July, also admitted a charge of failing to surrender.

At a previous hearing, prosecutor Victoria Hill said that he slapped the buttocks of a woman and groped her breasts in a pub garden in Trowbridge in the summer of 2022.

The magistrates imposed an onerous three-year community order, which has the requirement to attend 20 rehabilitation activity days with the probation service.

Reid must also complete 12 days of mental health treatment with Turning Point and complete a 34-day sex offender programme.

The was told to pay the victim £600 compensation and was slapped with a restraining order – prohibiting contact with the woman for one year. He will also register as a sex offender for fives years.

Reid, of Milton Cottages, off New Road in Bromham, near Devizes, was slapped with a £50 fine for the failing to surrender offence.

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A man has been jailed after pleading guilty to sexual activity with a child and other sexual offences.

Jason Newman, 35, of Castle Road, Great Bedwyn, admitted to one count of sexual assault of a child under 13, one count of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of producing a category B indecent image of a child.

He was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court yesterday (14/09) to three years and five months imprisonment.

He will also be required to sign on to the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Newman’s offences came to light in July 2021, when an email address linked to Newman was found to have uploaded indecent images of children onto the internet.

Newman was arrested and bailed, and in the ensuing investigation further offences were discovered, including sexual assault of a child.

Newman was further arrested in August 2021 and was bailed again. After initially indicating he would plead not guilty, he changed his plea and was sentenced yesterday.

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Anthony Insall, aged 49 from Yarm, has pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, both Category A images and Category C images, at Teesside Magistrates’ Court today, Friday 15th September 2023 and will be sentenced on 11th October 2023.

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Barnes from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team said: “Anthony Insall searched for indecent images and content on the internet. He was found to have accessed the child abuse material over, at least, a 15-month period.

“The behaviour committed by Insall, and those who commit crime of a similar nature, is entirely abhorrent and causes significant harm to vulnerable children.

“Whilst this is an online offence, there are real victims out there living with the scars of abuse in this cycle of suffering. People who commit crimes of this nature are not invisible and we will ensure we do everything possible to bring them to justice.”

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Officers have paid tribute to the bravery of a victim in a rape case that went to trial but resulted in a guilty verdict last week.

On Friday (15 September) a jury at Gloucester Crown Court found Matthew Dickens, 25 and of Greet Road, Winchcombe, guilty of two counts of rape against the same woman in an incident in 2020.

Dickens met the woman following contact with her via a messaging app. After meeting the victim and one of her friends, they went to a bar. Later, Dickens went to the woman’s home with her. She could not recall how she became undressed but recounted how Dickens then went on to rape her twice and hold her throat.

Detective Constable Rob Brown, officer-in-charge of the case, said: “Dickens subjected the victim to a terrifying ordeal that will deeply impact her for the rest of her life.

“He then compounded his crimes by pleading not guilty and claiming this was a consensual act, meaning the victim had to go through the trial process.

“I want to commend her bravery and determination to carry on supporting the case when it would have been understandable if she had decided not to put herself through it.

“Thankfully it took the jury less than two hours to decide on his guilt and I hope that provides some level of validation for her courage.

“In the process a dangerous individual has now been convicted at court and, potentially, prevented from wrecking other people’s lives.

“My message to anyone else who is a rape victim who is worried about coming forward is that you will be believed and that the criminal justice system is beginning to change, so please do report what has happened to you. We are transforming the way that the CPS and police handle rape and sexual assault cases, and are working together to ensure that victims are supported throughout the prosecution process.”

Dickens will be sentenced at a later date.

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A paedophile blackmailed girls as young as nine into sending indecent photos and videos of themselves by posing as a model agency scout.

Ishmael Duncan, 24, used Snapchat to coerce children across the UK, US, Canada and Australia into sending explicit photographs of themselves, in one case targeting a teenager with learning difficulties.

On Wednesday, Inner London Crown Court heard that Duncan, of Walnut Tree Walk, Lambeth, had confessed to 50 child sex abuse and blackmail offences relating to 28 female victims.

However, prosecutors believe the predator may have contacted close to 10,000 children using Snapchat accounts he set up under different aliases.

The court heard how Duncan targeted victims by asking if they were interested in becoming a model for top fashion brands, and built up trust using a fake interview process and forged contracts featuring the brands’ logos.

He would then request topless photos on the pretext of assessing the victims’ body shape for modelling. Girls were threatened with being ‘blacklisted’ from modelling if they didn’t comply.

Duncan contacted victims from multiple accounts under different personas, pretending to be the agency’s photographer ‘Callum’, or ‘Mark’, the general manager of the agency’s preteen models division.

He then created another account to contact the same victims threatening to share the images on social media unless the children sent more.

He sent his victims a “warning”, reading: “We have your nudes, and unless you reply to this message saying ‘I understand’, they will be sent out to expose accounts on Snapchat, Instagram and Twitter.

“If you reply with anything else other than ‘I understand’, or if you block or unfriend this account, your nudes will be sent out. This is your first and only warning.”

On other occasions, the predator posed as a teenage boy on Snapchat, requesting sexual images and videos.

He blackmailed a 14-year-old girl with learning difficulties who sent him images, even offering her $1,000 (£804) to engage in a sex act with her brother.

Duncan was caught after two sisters in the US reported being threatened after sending images to one of the accounts.

When National Crime Agency officers arrested Duncan at his home in July 2021, they found 19,120 abuse images on his computer and phone, some of which was ranked as the most severe possible.

The agency’s operations manager Martin Ludlow said: “Ishmael Duncan cruelly preyed on young girls who had dreams of becoming models.

“The threatening messages he sent were chilling and showed his callous disregard for the victims he exploited for his own sexual gratification in this case.”

Duncan is due to be sentenced at the same court on December 1.

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A man who raped and attacked a woman then claimed she sustained her injuries in a bike crash has been jailed for 10 years. 

Richard Summer, 35, from Highbury Park, launched a vicious attack on the woman while under the influence of cocaine by forcing her to have sex with him. 

When she tried to fight back he repeatedly punched her in the face and hit her over the head with a glass ashtray. 

Police were called to a pub in Highbury Barn at around 1pm on Saturday, March 4, by a member of the public who saw the woman injured and in distress. 

When officers arrived she told about the attack. 

Summers was known to police as he had a long history of dangerous assaults and violence towards ex-partners. 

Det Con Max Orange, who led the investigation, said: “Summers is a predatory offender. We are certain that he posed a real danger to other women who he may have come into contact with.” 

Summers lied throughout his police interview, telling officers the victim sustained her injuries by riding into a lamppost on her bike. 

He later pleaded guilty to assault but denied rape and engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour. 

On Thursday (September 13) after a seven-day trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court a jury returned guilty verdicts for rape and coercive and controlling behaviour. 

He was jailed for ten years and has also been issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and added to the sex offenders register for 15 years. 

Det Ch Insp Paul Ridley, public protection lead for Islington, added: "Summers is clearly a very dangerous individual and I’m pleased that he has been brought to justice. 

“Detectives leading this case have demonstrated our determination to make London a safer place for women and girls, tackling the scourge of domestic violence. 

“We know that there is more work to be done in protecting women and girls across the capital which is a top priority in our New Met for London plan. 

“Every day we are making strides to work with partners to support victims and track down predatory offenders.” 

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Craig Gary Woolley, 40 and Bede Crescent, in Boston appeared before Derby Crown Court on Friday, September 1 where he was sentenced to 28 months in jail.

The offences took play at a number of locations – including in Chesterfield – between February 2020 and May 2021.

He was jailed for four offences including breach of a sexual harm prevention order and failure to comply with the sex offenders register’s notification requirements.

It was found that, on October 19th 2020, Woolley had unsupervised contact with young girls that he was prohibited from doing so under the terms of a sexual harm prevention order made in 2014. He breached this order again on April 25th of 2021 when he had unsupervised contact with a girl under the age of 18 at Crystal Peaks retail park in Sheffield.

He then breached his notification requirements when, on May 2, 2021, he resided with a child at Waterside Leisure Park in Skegness and failed to notify police within three days.

The fourth charge relates to an incident on February 17, 2020 when he stayed, for more than 12 hours, at an address in Chesterfield at which children were also residing – he again failed to notify police.

For the four offences he received a sentence totalling five years and eight months but, as these are to be served concurrently, the imprisonment period is one of two years and two months.

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A child rapist who compared his vile abuse to Hugh Hefner's Playboy mansion has been locked up.

Simon Hildrew left a young girl traumatised by raping and sexually abusing her and emotionally blackmailed her into not telling anyone. When his offending came to light, he was asked by police if he thought it was okay to have sex with a child and he replied: "Is it right for Hugh Hefner to have a Playboy mansion full of teenagers".

As the 39-year-old paedophile was locked up for 14 years, with an extended licence period of a further six years, at Newcastle Crown Court, the girl's mum outlined the devastating impact he has had on her and her daughter. She said she's noticed her daughter has gone from being happy and bubbly to being "ashamed, angry and withdrawn. I believe she will require long-term therapy".

Read more: South Shields stalker jailed for transatlantic campaign of harassment of two ex partners

She added: "He took her innocence. She's so traumatised she can't even speak about it. This will affect every relationship she will go on to have and will affect her future as a whole.

"My world has been shattered. My mental health has been massively affected."

Vince Ward, prosecuting, said of the victim: "She remembers being confused, wondering why he was making her do these things and being scared in case she got told off." He added: "He told her a few times that if she told anyone what he was doing to her he would kill himself."

Hildrew, 39, formerly of Washington but latterly of no fixed address, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape of a child, attempted rape of a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault of a child, attempted sexual assault by penetration, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of sexual activity with a child - one of which was on a second victim and three counts of taking 58 indecent images of a child - most of which were of the most serious type, category A.

Jailing him and imposing indefinite sexual harm prevention and sex offender registration orders, Judge Tim Gittins said: "No sentence can go close to undoing the harm you have selfishly done with your depraved acts. It's a credit to the victims that they have come forward to ensure you are not in a position to abuse them or anyone like them for a substantial period of time and hopefully never again. I hope they can see themselves in due course as survivors of your abuse rather than victims of it."

The judge added: "You remain a danger to young females. You have described yourself as a paedophile. You are - and will remain for a substantial period of time without substantial work with professional - a significant risk of causing serious harm to young females."

When told by Judge Gittins he formed the view he had limited remorse, Hildrew replied: "What do you want me to do, get on my hands and knees and beg and cry? Is this how remorse is displayed? I'm an emotionally damaged person, I find it hard to portray emotion."

Tony Cornberg, defending, said: "He has a significant level of self-loathing. He is effectively a loner in hiding from the world.

"He feels his life is over and he has suicidal ideations. He says prison is 23 hours a day behind the door thinking about what he has done every minute of every day, worrying, depression and a pre-occupation with death and suicide."

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A paedophile was caught with a sickening collection of abuse images featuring children as young as three-months old.

Police found more than 2,500 illegal pictures and movies on six of Jamie McDougall's internet devices after they raided his home in November 2019 and May 2020.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he also had extreme pornography and shocking footage he had recorded of a young child using the toilet.

The court heard all of the illegal material had been stored when McDougall, now 23, was between the ages of 17 and 19.

Prosecutor Chris Baker told the court there were a "large number of victims" featured in the images and added: "The age range of the children was between three months to 16-years of age."

McDougall, of Mainsforth Terrace West, Sunderland, who has been in no trouble before or since, admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of children, one of possessing extreme pornography and one of voyeurism, committed between 2017 and 2019.

Fiona Lamb, defending, said McDougall, who has had no involvement in the criminal justice system before, has now come to terms with what he did and accepted he needs help.

Mr Recorder Jonathan Sandiford KC said the offences were "many years ago" and McDougall has a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

McDougall was sentenced to 18 months, suspended for two years, with programme and rehabilitation requirements.

He has to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

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A nursery worker has been jailed for eight years for the rapes and sexual assault against two children in Southampton.

Declan Norman, 23, coerced one of his victims - who was 13 at the time - into performing a sexual act on him in February 2020, the court heard.

Further allegations that Norman raped and sexually assaulted a young girl between a period of 2014 and 2020 were also heard by a jury at Southampton Crown Court.

A separate investigation into these matters by Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Child Abuse Investigation Team found that Norman was in possession of a high volume of indecent images of children.

This followed a search of Norman’s home address in November 2021, where a number of electronic devices were found.

A laptop was seized and investigating officers discovered 88 Category A images – the most serious, 74 Category B images and 494 Category C images.

Norman, of Shinewell Gardens, Southampton, was found to be in the possession of 656 indecent images; albeit these were not deemed to be first edition images – so were not taken directly by Norman.

He was found guilty by a jury of rape against a child, sexual assault against a child and engaging in sexual activity with a child.

On September 7, Norman was sentenced to eight years with a further year extension.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for an indefinite period and on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

On sentencing Detective Constable Ella Knight, the officer in case, said: “The abhorrent offences committed by Declan Norman have, and will continue to have, a lasting impact on both the victims.

“My admiration for the victims and their parents is commendable.

“It takes a great deal of courage for people to come forward and speak to us about incidents of this nature, and that should never be underestimated; especially for those who have shown maturity beyond their years.

“I hope this case goes to show that regardless of how long ago a serious sexual assault, or sexual activity has happened, we will work tirelessly to relentlessly pursue perpetrators and provide specialist support to survivors.

“We want our communities to know that we stand with them and will do all in our power to bring the offenders of these horrendous crimes to justice via the criminal justice system.”

A spokesperson from Hampshire Constabulary said: “We encourage anyone who has been affected by sexual abuse to report this to police on 101 or via our online reporting tool.

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Christopher Brooks plied the then 15-year-old with vodka on February 22 2020, before kissing her on the lips and groping her.

Preston Crown Court heard the girl reported the assault to the police, but Brooks, of Church Street, Ribchester, denied the allegations and took the matter to trial.

In July, he was found guilty by a jury of three counts of sexual activity with a child.

Judge Darren Preston told the court he believed Brooks, whose rugby career ended after he became injured, had continued to deny any wrongdoing, and even suggested during the course of the trial that he had been set up.

He said: “He continues to find new ways to deny the offences, and claimed during the course of the trial that this had been a set up.

“When you were arrested you denied the allegations, but your DNA was found on the inside of the victim’s bra.

“You then came up with offensive theories as to how the DNA came to be inside her bra – anything to avoid the truth of what happened that night, which is that you were guilty of the attack.”

During the sentencing hearing on Wednesday September 13, the brave victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, stood in court to read her impact statement, in which she said her “whole life had been affected massively” and “she couldn’t concentrate at school or stay in lessons which impacted her overall performance in her GCSEs”.

The victim’s mother also gave a statement in which she described the last three and a half years as being “a struggle” and said: “I hope after this ends today for us he will never destroy a child’s life again”.

Brooks, 34, has no previous convictions save for an old driving offence.

Mitigating, Kathryn Johnson said her client had come to court with a realistic attitude, and asked Judge Preston to impose the shortest sentence possible.

She said: “He started out as a professional rugby player but that ended. He has references which speak of him in high terms, and this was an isolated incident.”

Brooks was jailed for three and a half years and was told to sign the sex offender’s register for life.