Latest Offenders

Description

A convicted sex offender is back in court after being accused of breaching his sexual harm prevention order 11 times.

Appearing at Swindon Crown Court on June 6, 2025, Alistair Eccleston of Welcombe Avenue, Walcot, explained how he had previously only been made aware of nine charges made against him for breaches of the order.

But since his last hearing in Swindon Magistrates' Court on May 28, 11 charges are now recorded on Eccleston's record.

Each of those relates to the 25-year-old being in the company of or seeking out the company of a young person under the age of 16.

This is forbidden for Eccleston, who is a convicted sex offender and had a sexual harm prevention order imposed on him by Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in February 2021.

All of the breaches are recorded as having taken place between December 2021 and January 2025.

Eccleston's case has now been adjourned until June 11 so that his defence lawyer has adequate time to discuss the new charges that the defendant wasn't previously aware of with him.

The sex offender will continue to be held in custody until this next hearing at Swindon Crown Court.

Description

A pervert is facing jail after sending naked photos of himself to a 'young girl' and asking for them in return.

Logan Thew thought he was messaging a 13-year-old child but she was actually a decoy, which had been created by online vigilante group DANK Dragon.

Despite knowing her age, Thew sent her naked pictures of himself, asked for some of her and told her he wanted to have sex with her, a court heard. However, his details were passed to the police and Thew, of Phoenix Court, in Morpeth, found himself being arrested for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

He pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court this week. Prosecutor, Rehana Haque, said the case should be sent to the crown court for sentence.

She added: "The defendant messaged a decoy from DANK Dragon, who pretended to be a 13-year-old girl. Knowing the age of the decoy, the defendant asked for nude pictures of her, sent nude pictures of himself and said he would like to have sex with her."

Glenn Reardon, defending, said full mitigation would be heard at a later date. He added: "I would invite you to commit this for sentence as, I agree, it would be outside of your sentencing powers."

Magistrates committed the case to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence and released Thew on bail to next appear there on July 4.

Description

A notorious paedophile has been allowed to live just metres from a childrens playground in Heywood without the knowledge of the probation service, the Manchester Evening News can reveal.

Digital maps used by the probation service initially failed to identify the presence of the park directly opposite the home where Todros Grynhaus is living, correspondence shared with the Manchester Evening News shows.

The Probation Service said the decisions around where a sex offender lives are based on 'particular risks an individual poses' and are 'actively monitored on an ongoing basis'.

Elsie Blundell, Heywood's MP, has written to the Probation Service about her 'grave concerns' and said: "Sexual offenders released from custody have no place near settings or local amenities frequented by children or young people."

The Manchester Evening News understands there is another individual residing at the property and has therefore taken the decision not to publish the exact location.

The community where Grynhaus lives is aware of his convictions, and some residents told the Manchester Evening News they no longer allow their children to play in the park, adding they felt 'angry' he had been allowed to live on what they described as a 'family estate'.

Greater Manchester Police says it continually reviews risk assessments, which take place alongside 'statutory partners, including the Probation Service'.

Grynhaus, a successful businessman and father-of-ten who enjoyed high standing in Salfords tight-knit ultra-Orthodox community, was jailed for over 13 years in 2015 after a jury found him guilty of seven sex offences against two young girls between 1996 and 2004.

The court heard he subjected one teenage girl to a campaign of abuse over three years, repeatedly groping her and even taking her to a hotel and molesting her in the jacuzzi.

A second victim, also a teenage girl, was groped by Grynhaus over a three-month period. In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Holroyde said Grynhaus took cynical advantage of his victims vulnerability, adding he believed there was a significant risk he would commit further sexual offences against a girl or girls.

Grynhaus was made to sign the sex offenders register for life, and made subject to an extended licence period of four years following his prison term of 13 years and two months.

He was released in 2022 but was reportedly recalled to prison following a breach of his licence.

He was later authorised to move into his current address following a Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) assessment - a mandatory requirement for all registered sex offenders.

However, the digital maps used during the MAPPA assessment did not pick up the presence of the childrens playground opposite Grynhaus new address.

The Manchester Evening News counted just 24 paces between the gate of Grynhaus' home and the park. Authorities were only made aware of it following a complaint.

In a letter to the complainant seen by this newspaper, Andy Roberts, Assistant Chief Officer at Greater Manchester Probation Service (GMPS), said the decision regarding where Grynhaus could live was made based on digital maps.

In relation to granting permission of a registered sex offender to reside opposite a childrens park. As I explaineddecisions like this are made on a multi-agency (MAPPA) basis and not solely by probation, he wrote.

The case at the time was also managed by a different PDU (probation delivery unit) and the decision was based on electronic information (map) made available. This did not identify the presence of the park. The learning from this has been shared.

Later in the letter, Mr Roberts said the complaint regarding Grynhaus housing had not been upheld, adding: but I would state there is learning to be gained.

Neighbours spoke of their shock when they discovered Todros grim past and said they felt scared and angry about him living opposite the playground.

When they first moved in everyone was really welcoming, we welcome any culture, one neighbour told the Manchester Evening News.

But then word started going round about who he was and it was like, wow.

His house is literally in front of a park. It really worries me that he has been allowed to live there. At the end of the day he is a dangerous man.

She added there are parents in the area who now refuse to take their children to the park.

I know one mum who was just starting to let her little girl go by herself and now she wont, she said.

She has had to take that away from her.

Were paying money to maintain it (the park) and now people cant use it, she said.

People have bought their family homes here. I think at first a lot of people were really scared, but now they are angry.

She said she felt disheartened by the Probation Services failure to identify the park in their assessment.

Theyre supposed to protect us - they didnt do that and now theyre telling us they cant make him move, she continued. We want him gone. Its not fair.

Elsie Blundell, the MP for Heywood and Middleton North, said she was extremely disappointed the Probation Service has not carried out checks sufficiently, adding that sexual offenders released from custody have no place near settings or local amenities frequented by children or young people.

The safety and security of my constituents especially of children is my highest priority as the Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton North, Elsie Blundell MP told the M.E.N.

I am clear that sexual offenders released from custody have no place near settings or local amenities frequented by children or young people and I wrote to the Probation Service to raise my grave concerns as soon as I was made aware of this particular case.

The onus is on the Probation Services to carry out thorough and rigorous checks to ensure that the location of these offenders, upon release, is predicated on the nature of crimes they have committed.

I am extremely disappointed that the Probation Service, in this instance, has not carried out these checks sufficiently and that a presence of a childrens park was not identified in the location of this particular offender.

In representing my constituents concerns in this area, I wrote to Lord Timpson, the Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, who has agreed, in turn, to conduct a review of the Address Checks (Post Custody) Policy Framework. I have been assured that the Ministry of Justice will publish this updated guidance in July this year.

I understand that the proposed updates within the review include changes to clarify and strengthen the particular arrangements for checking addresses proposed by sex offenders. This will ensure that probation officials can make a fully informed decision when determining whether to approve a proposed address something which has not happened in this instance.

All families should have the confidence that their local parks, green spaces and play areas are safe and secure for their children to enjoy.

I will be actively monitoring developments in relation to the Probation Service and will also be following the action taken by the Ministry of Justice in the coming weeks.

A Probation Service spokesperson said: "Special consideration is given to where registered sex offenders are allowed to live by a range of agencies including the Probation Service, police and local authority as part of dedicated procedures to protect the public.

These decisions are informed by the particular risks an individual poses and are actively monitored on an ongoing basis.

All offenders released on licence are supervised by probation staff and can be recalled to prison if they breach the strict conditions they are subject to."

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson added: "GMP work with our statutory partners, including the Probation Service, to appropriately manage the individuals and their conditions, taking into account all the necessary circumstances and arrangements to ensure the safety of the community.

"All risk assessments are continually assessed and reviewed."

Description

An obsessed paedophile carefully catalogued more than 10,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse, a court heard. Nigel Miller, 38, blamed a lack of self-esteem, a difficult childhood and lockdown for his sick behaviour.

Police raided his address in Barnstaple and found he had a massive collection of indecent images he had found on the internet. Most were of real children but some were computer generated.

Miller was already a convicted paedophile and had previously completed a course designed to change his ways. The judge said his behaviour was a warning to others about the dangers for people who spend their lives in the twisted virtual world.

He admitted five offenses of having indecent, prohibited and extreme images and was jailed for 18 months.

Police raided his address in August 2022 and seized a number of devices. They were alerted over concerns he had been using a file sharing platform called MegaNZ to collect and store images on the cloud.

The found more than 12,000 in the most serious category involving the abuse of very young children. There were also CGI images and 60 showing people having sex with animals.

Prosecutor Zoe Kuyken said Miller was convicted in 2014 for similar offences and had a caution from 2018. He had previously completed a sex offender treatment programme.

Nick Lewin, defending, said Miller was now a different man. He said the sex offender programme was now more sophisticated than it was decade ago and he would respond better to it.

Judge David Evans said the offences had happened over a period of two years. He accepted unemployed Miller was genuinely remorseful and was socially isolated, suffered with anxiety and depression and had not tackled difficult childhood experiences.

"You admit you are sexually attracted to underage children," said the judge. "You warn you may well reoffend and you do not know what there will be to stop you."

He said Miller had had spent most of his life jobless, drawing benefits and spending his time in the virtual world.

"You are standing warning to others of the potential corruptions of life spent in that way," added Judge Evans.

Miller, of Bear Street, was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. He must serve 40 per cent of his sentence before being released.

Description

A man who forced his way into a woman's home and raped her on two occasions has been jailed for 14 years.

Peter Stone, of Thirlmere Gardens, Doncaster, denied two charges of rape and one of controlling or coercive behaviour.

But following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court in May, during which his victim testified against him, a jury found the 52-year-old guilty on all counts and he was jailed at the same court on Wednesday.

Following the sentencing, Det Con Cameron Vernon, from South Yorkshire Police, said:

"Stone is a dangerous individual who caused this woman immeasurable pain."

Stone had carried out a "campaign" of controlling behaviour towards his victim, during which he raped her twice at her own property in 2024, according to police.

His victim reported the rape offences on 9 November, and officers arrested him on 14 November.

Det Con Vernon said he wanted to recognise Stone's victim's "incredible bravery" in facing him in court, and providing evidence "crucial in convicting him of these despicable crimes".

"I am very happy to see Stone jailed for 14 years, and I hope this sentence encourages other victims of sexual violence to report these crimes to police," he said.

"We will investigate every report and take action to see justice done."

Description

A sex offender from Sittingbourne who raped his victim in a hotel room after a night out has been jailed.

Daniel Holdaway was found guilty following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Investigation

Kent Police launched an investigation after a woman was assaulted in the Gravesend area on 29 August 2021. Holdaway, 24, spent time with his victim during the evening before taking her to pre-booked accommodation.

The two entered a hotel room together. Despite the woman repeatedly stating her wishes to Holdaway, he ignored them and raped her.

While the offender slept, the victim was able to leave the premises and reported what happened soon afterwards.

Officers attended and initial enquiries were completed. Holdaway was arrested on 31 August 2021 and was later charged with rape.

Jailed

Holdaway, from Burnham Close, Milton Regis, pleaded not guilty. On Friday 30 May 2025, after being convicted by jury, Holdaway was sentenced to five years in prison. He will have to comply with strict sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.

Description

A young victim has been praised for her bravery in providing information that has led to a child sex offender being jailed.

The abuse committed by Karl Rose was brought to the attention of police on 3 January this year.

When speaking to officers, the victim – who is a child – told them Rose had also committed other offences against her in the East Leicester area in October and November 2024.

When the report was made to police, Rose’s whereabouts were unknown but he was arrested by police on 8 January. Detectives found that despite initially denying his crimes, 27-year-old Rose had sent messages to the victim’s family apologising for what he had done.

Yesterday (Thursday 5 June) he was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual assault on a girl under 13, one count one count of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault.

Rose, of no fixed abode, was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and an indefinite restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.

Description

A Bedworth man who breached a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by hiding a device from us has been jailed for more than three years.

Shane Jaques, 34, was previously convicted for possessing indecent images of children.
 
As part of his sentencing, he was handed an SHPO which forced him to tell us about any and all digital devices he had so we could monitor his use.

Last year we caught Jaques with a phone that he hadn’t declared - so we arrested him and sent it for forensic analysis.
 
When that analysis came back it showed that he had indecent images of children on the phone.
 
We re-arrested him and he was charged with possessing indecent images of children and breaching his SHPO.
 
He was held in custody and at Warwick Crown Court on Wednesday, 4 June, he was sentenced to three years and three months in prison.

Description

A man who subjected a child to years of horrific sexual abuse has been jailed for more than two decades.

Caetano Mauricio Vas, 54, formerly of Lady Margaret Road in Southhall, was sentenced to 25 years in prison at Swindon Crown Court today (05/06).

A jury found Vas guilty of four counts of rape of a child under 13, two counts of sexual assault by penetration, one count of inciting a girl under the age of 13 into sexual activity and one count of sexual assault. 

Vas sexually abused his victim from when she was just eight years old which massively impacted all aspects of her life and left her feeling suicidal.

He instilled fear in her by claiming he'd release inappropriate photographs of her if she told anyone about his vile abuse.

The offences took place in Swindon between 2014 and 2016 but the victim bravely broke her silence in 2021.

Vas denied the offences and the case went to trial in March. During this, the victim recalled her traumatic abuse to a jury who found the defendant guilty on March 17.

In a statement read to the court, the victim said: "It is hard to understand how one person could have such an impact.

"His actions have affected me in so many ways, which I have to cope with daily and I will probably have to cope with for the rest of my life.

"I always knew Mauricio wasn’t going to admit what he did. I was always prepared to give evidence. I was nervous but I hope that I am becoming stronger, even though at times I feel so weak.

"Mauricio ruined my childhood. Even though I am an adult now, I still feel like I want that childhood that I missed out on.

"No matter what happens to Mauricio now, I will never get all those years back that I lost because of what happened."

Detective Constable Chloe Smith, from Wiltshire Police's Child Abuse Investigation Team, supported the victim from when she first reported the abuse up to the day Vas was sentenced.

DC Smith said: "I would like to commend the victim for her immense courage and patience throughout the process of bringing Vas to justice.

"Child predators like Vas have no place in our society and we will do our utmost to deal with them robustly while supporting the victims who are left with life-long trauma as a result of their heinous actions."

Description

A REGISTERED sex offender is behind bars after being found lying naked next to a towpath on the Trent and Mersey Canal in Middlewich.

Christopher Higgins was in the nude next to the towpath near to Leadsmithy Street in the town on May 21.

Cheshire Police attended and arrested the 49-year-old, of Holmes Chapel Road, Middlewich, advising him to put on clothes while officers conducted their checks.

At Chester Magistrates Court the following day he pleaded guilty to one count of exposure and one count of outraging public decency.

He was sentenced to eight months in prison as, according to court documents, he is a 'repeat offender' causing 'anxiety against women'.

He is to be subject to the requirements of the sex offenders register for another decade.

Description

A convicted sex offender who breached his restrictions to become administrator of an online paedophile ring has been sentenced.

Michael Hyde, 53, from Grays in Essex, was active on online chat forums where users shared indecent images and video of children and discussed child sexual abuse material.

NCA officers were alerted to the site by the FBI in the US, with intelligence that indicated users were utilising an encrypted platform to create and share livestreamed child sexual abuse images and videos.

Users of the site were either 'hunters', who would enter chatrooms and engage with children and share their targets, or 'cappers' who would groom child victims and covertly record sexual activity of them to share within the group.

Within the group, the organisers would set rules, add and remove users and discuss how they could best hide their crimes to avoid detection by law enforcement.

NCA officers worked with partners overseas to infiltrate the group to identify offenders in the UK and around the world.

Hyde was identified as a top moderator of the site and was involved in the vetting of other paedophiles wishing to enter the group.

Hyde was arrested at his home by NCA officers in May 2024. A small amount of cannabis and cocaine was also found at his address. He answered no comment to all questions at interview.

He was charged with a number of offences and appeared at Basildon Crown Court where he pleaded guilty.

Hyde was sentenced to 12 years and four months in prison at the same court today.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Daniel Waywell said: "Michael Hyde was already a convicted paedophile but continued his horrific crimes, using virtual private networks to hide his offending and work with other child sexual abusers on an online secure private group.

"Their depraved chat room discussed the best tactics to prey on their vulnerable child victims and how they could get away with their offending.

"Hyde was a high ranking and valued member in the online paedophile ring and is a significant threat to children.

"The NCA, working with international partners, will continue our work to pursue offenders who put children at risk."

Description

A paedophile threatened to hide the ashes of his partner’s dead child when she left him after finding out he was a child sex offender.

Robert Knight made the despicable threat to dispose of the urn containing the remains of the child “in a bush” after the woman had packed her bags and fled the family home.

The victim moved away with her young son after 38-year-old Knight had been outed on social media as a pervert by a paedo hunter group in 2023.

Knight also sent the woman death threats, texted an image of him holding a handgun and threatened to pour petrol through the door of a relative.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the pervert bombarded the terrified victim with texts, emails and social media messages on Snapchat and WhatsApp in an attempt to speak to her.

The court was told Knight made 107 phone calls and sent 29 emails threatening her family members and demanding she give him money over a 48 hour period in August 2023.

Knight also sent letters, turned up at the woman’s new Edinburgh home and even left messages after hacking into her BBC iPlayer and Netflix accounts in a bid to contact her.

Prosecutor Eilidh Grant read out a prepared written narrative on Tuesday, July 3, stating Knight had made numerous threats to harm the woman and her family including the vile threat to hide the ashes of her dead child.

Ms Grant said: “On February 23, 2023, the accused sent text messages which read ‘Your family will pay. I (sic) make sure you have to move far away from your family for them causing this.

‘If you don’t call in five I gonna put [child’s name] in a bush hidden in case you called the police you won’t get him back. Hope your happy.’

“The reference to [the child] is a reference to [the woman’s] son who had passed away several years prior and who’s ashes she kept in her home with the accused.

“As a result of this comment she sought to end all contact with the accused. The following day she contacted police to report these various threats made by the accused.”

The court also heard Knight had deliberately driven his car at a male friend of the woman and knocked him over before shouting “I’ll come back and I’ll you” at the terrified victim.

Knight was arrested and appeared in court in September 2023 and after being released on bail he posted a picture of a black handgun to the family group chat before panicking and deleting the image.

The thug, from South Queensferry, then sent a picture of him holding the gun to a relative and stated he “had plans” for his ex-partner.

He added: “If I don’t get to see my son, then she won’t either. I’ll plead guilty, I’ve nothing to lose.”

Police were alerted to the threats and armed officers raided Knight’s home where they found “a black imitation handgun” during a search of the property on October 10, 2023.

Knight appeared from custody at the capital’s sheriff court for sentencing on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to the offences.

Sheriff Fergus Thomson jailed Knight for a total of three years and seven months and issued him with a 10 year non-harassment order that bans him from any contact with the victim.

Knight was caught sending a series of disgusting sexual comments and images of his penis to who he believed was a 12-year-old girl in August last year.

He was in fact in contact with an adult decoy from a paedo hunter group and was jailed for 340 days and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely after pleading guilty in January this year.

Description

A serial sex offender has been jailed for 18 years.

Paul Willby, 64, of Axminster Close, Bransholme, Hull, admitted a string of sexual offences, including raping a child and others of possessing prohibited images of a child and possessing extreme images of bestiality.

Julia Baggs, prosecuting, said that Willby was arrested and computer equipment was seized from him. Indecent images of children were found. They included 98 in the most serious Category A, 16 in Category B and 292 in Category C.

A laptop was also searched and other images found included 17 in Category A, 11 in Category B and 201 in Category C. There were also two prohibited images and 33 of bestiality. During police interview, Willby made no comment to all questions, Hull Crown Court heard.

Connor Stuart, mitigating, said that there had been no further offences while he had been on bail until May 9 before being remanded in custody. He had no previous convictions.

Willby was given a sexual harm prevention order for life and he will have to register as a sex offender for life.

Description

Registered sex offender has been jailed after twice breaching a strict court order.

Michael Jordan, 33, handed his Samsung mobile phone to police officers during a meeting with them and Probation on 21 March in Peterborough.

An officer discovered the photo gallery on the device only displayed images since 1 March but Whatsapp messages, including pictures and videos, predated these.

There were also sexual photos and videos in chats which were showing up as deleted and put Jordan in breach of his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). 

The order, imposed following a conviction in March 2020 for breaching a previous SHPO, forbade him from using any device capable of connecting to the internet, unless he didn’t delete any internet history.

It also prohibited use of any device capable of storing digital images unless no content was deleted.

Further examination of the phone found he had deleted Whatsapp conversations and pictures along with TikTok messages.

On Wednesday (4 June), at Huntingdon Law Courts, Jordan, of Langley, Bretton, Peterborough, was jailed for 30 months for breaching a suspended sentence and two breaches of a SHPO, which he admitted.

PC Emily Heriot said: “Michael Jordan showed a complete disregard for his SHPO, despite knowing its conditions.

“I’m delighted he’s faced justice, and it shows how committed we are to managing sexual offenders and ensuring they comply with court orders.”

Description

A man who lied about his age to meet up with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl was found by police at Piccadilly railway station with condoms stashed in his pocket, a court has heard.

Kashif Mahmood, 37, told the social media account, which had the profile of a teenage girl, that he was 25-years-old. He began engaging in sexual communication with the account via Snapchat, telling her he wanted to 'kiss and cuddle' before asking if she 'wanted to do other stuff'.

Mahmood had requested the location of the child and first asked to be friends, before the conversation progressed and he suggested meeting up with her, Minshull Street Crown Court was told.

When arriving at the train station, after booking a train ticket for the account to meet with what he believed to be a teenager, police located Mahmood in his locked car, when he began 'desperately trying to remove content from his mobile phone' before the windows were smashed.

Peter Malone, prosecuting, said following an interaction between the pair, where the 'girl' said she was at school and had to return to class, checks were made and the account talking to the 'girl' "was associated with Mr Mahmood and an address in Rochdale.

Further interactions were recorded again in June and shared with police and the Regional Organised Crime Unit Network (ROCU). The court was then told how Mahmood had sent a train ticket to the account, for the girl to meet him at Piccadilly station on June 27.

"It was suspected that this was done for the purpose of sexual activity," Mr Malone added. "At 11.40, a traffic officer saw a vehicle linked to the defendant near to the pick up point.

"Officers made their way to this area and blocked the BMW. The officer told the defendant that he was a police officer and tried to open the driver's door."

The court was told that Mr Mahmood was ‘trying to do something with his mobile phone’, which officers had suspected was him 'trying to delete information', and so a decision was made to smash the window to arrest him.

Two mobile phones were seized, along with cash. Officers also found two condoms in his back pocket, the court was told. Messages and photos were found on the chat log when police downloaded information from his device.

Mahmood, who had no previous convictions, was bailed on June 29 last year with conditions, but was arrested in October for breaching his bail.

In mitigation, Raj Chopra said that Mahmood, of Royds Street, Rochdale, who had moved to the UK in 2010, had 'fallen into depression' before the incident and was taking medication, meaning that his 'thinking was diminished'.

Mr Chopra said that Mahmood had described the incident as a 'silly mistake' and that he claimed he was dyslexic, adding that family had encouraged him to use social media to improve his social life.

"He said he had never used social media before that," Mr Chopra told the court. "He said this was completely out of character and that his family had suggested he join social media. He is very remorseful for his behaviour and accepts his actions were a silly mistake."

His Honour Judge Jason MacAdam responded: "You described your defending to a probation officer as a silly mistake. That is nonsense.

"In June, using Snapchat, you communicated with a person that made it clear she was 13 years of age. You groomed her, making reference to the two of you being intimate and arranged to meet at Piccadilly.

"You claimed you're dyslexic and that a photo made her look older. If all that is the case, then why would you tell her not to tell her mother who she was meeting?

"When you were arrested you were found to have two condoms in your pocket. The evidence against you is overwhelming from the communications you sent.

"I concur that you don't take responsibility for your offending. Because you continue to minimise your offending, I cannot accept your claim of being remorseful."

Mahmood, 37, appeared at Minshull Crown Court on Monday (February 10) where he was sentenced to two years and seven months imprisonment after pleading guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and attempting to meet a child following grooming.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

NWROCU detectives took over the investigation and arrested Mahmood in Manchester City Centre the following day (27 June 2024) while he was waiting in his car to meet a child he had groomed online.

Detective Constable Adam Cronshaw from the NWROCU said: "When we arrived to arrest Mahmood, his car was locked, and he was desperately trying to remove content from his mobile phone.

"We were forced to smash the window and remove him from the vehicle to seize his phone before he could delete any evidence of his actions. When we searched Mahmood, we seized two condoms from his back pocket which clearly demonstrates his intent.

"Offenders like Mahmood believe they can hide behind a computer or phone screen and avoid conviction, but this is clearly not the case. We collaborate with law enforcement across the country to safeguard children from danger, whether it occurs in person or online.

“I hope this conviction will act as a reminder that there are no borders when it comes to sexual abuse, it can happen anywhere and the impact is devastating. If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to police."