Latest Offenders

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An online pervert who was caught with sickening indecent images of children realised that he could be in big trouble and made an internet search: "What do HM Prison cells look like?"

Shane Silby found himself in hot water after police discovered that he had been been downloading images of children as young as three years old, Hull Crown Court heard.

Silby, 51, of Bransholme, Hull, admitted three offences of making indecent images of children on March 30, 2023.

Ben Hammersley, prosecuting, said that police were given information that indecent images of children had been downloaded from the internet from an identified IP address and postal address. A search warrant was issued.

Police found that the regular occupant of that property was on holiday and that Silby was looking after it. He was arrested from his home on March 30, 2023.

A laptop was found to have indecent images of children, including 30 in the most serious Category A, 26 in Category B and two in Category C. They featured children as young as three years old.

Silby had made an internet search for "What do HM Prison cells look like?" During police interview, he made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 11 previous offences, most recently in 1996 but none of a similar type.

Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that Silby had worked for most of his life but he had recently not been able to work because of illness. He pleaded guilty to the offences.

Judge Tahir Khan KC told Silby: "You downloaded indecent images of children and you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity."

Silby was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence and 25 days' rehabilitation. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and he must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

"If you don't do what's required of you by the probation service, that will bring you back before the court and you may have to serve out the 16 months," said Judge Khan.

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A taxi driver who sexually assaulted a young woman on her way home from a night out has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Jaswinder Singh, 51, attacked the 18-year-old in the Falkirk area on Sunday 4 February 2024.

Sheriff Maryam Labaki branded his behaviour a "grave breach of trust".

She added: "People order taxis to get home safely. Your victim expected to be delivered home without incident.

"Given the seriousness of the offence, I am satisfied that there is no alternative than that of a custodial sentence."

Singh was jailed for 30 months at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

He was additionally placed on the sex offenders' register and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for a period of 10 years.

Detective Sergeant Stewart Walton said the teenager trusted Singh to get her home safe.

He added: "He abused that trust and his actions are sickening.

"I would like to commend his victim for her strength in coming forward. Her information was essential in helping us build the case against Singh and our thoughts remain with her.

"I hope this outcome provides some sense of closure."

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Connor Pennell (05/10/1997) of Vines Cross Way, Skelmersdale was yesterday (Tuesday 25 March 2025) sentenced to 9-and-a-half years at Bolton Crown Court after being found guilty of breaching his restraining order, rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, non-fatal strangulation and three counts of voyeurism.

He will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register and has an indefinite restraining order on the victim.

He was found guilty after our detectives uncovered footage through a baby camera monitor that was saved to his phone showing the horrific rape of a woman who was trapped in a controlling relationship with him.

Concerns were raised back in July 2024 in Wigan, when officers spoke to the victim who bravely came forward. He was previously charged for battery and strangulation when a protection from harassment order was also put into place. This didn’t stop his offending days, weeks and months later and following the retrieval of further evidence he was later charged with the above offences in July 2024.

He used controlling and coercive behaviour as well as threatening behaviour to release intimate images if it was shared that he had breached his order. This was over a long period of time where his attitude towards the victim, despite her not wanting to be in a relationship with him anymore and no consent being given, became violent and abusive in person and over text.

Once arrested and interviewed Pennell pleaded his innocence and told another version of events, stating to officers that his phone would back up what he was saying. This couldn’t have been further from the truth as when they began to retrieve the data the opposite came to light of the deliberate attempts to record footage on the baby monitor of the offences which the victim was unaware of.

On one occasion, the victim thought she was going to die after Pennell strangled her. Prompting her to report it due to the fear she had on her life.

After bravely disclosing the incidents in confidence to our officers, at court the victim in her impact statement highlighted the struggles she has been through: "Before I met Connor, I was a funny, bubbly, confident, loyal, young girl, and I had many friends who I loved, and a whole family who I loved with all my heart and who loved me, I had a life and a future to look forward to. He stripped pretty much every aspect of my life away and has changed the course of my future. I’m not the same person I was.

"Connor made me re-live it all, sitting in this court, surrounded by strangers watching videos of myself in an extremely personal state that haunts me. I have flashbacks of everything he has done to me and flashbacks of the trial.

"I hope that sentencing will help other Victims of Domestic violence and sexual crimes come forward and show them that their voices will be heard, and that justice will be served.

"It’s a long road to recovery because once the abuse stops it doesn’t mean it’s over, survivors always say the bruises disappear but the mental aspect of it takes much longer and they are right, so I am relearning to love myself. I will not let him take any more of me. Connor is a danger to women and children, and I pray that today’s sentencing reflects how powerful it is what one man’s damage can cause."

On Pennell being put behind bars, Detective Constable Amy Stewart from our Wigan district said; “Pennell had a complete disregard for women and is an extremely dangerous individual.

“The bravery of the victim in coming forward and then having the confidence and belief in us to be able to support a prosecution will hopefully help her as she tries to rebuild her life after what was a horrific time for her, with Pennell now facing the consequences.

“His misogynistic attitude towards women was clear for all to see in the end once we uncovered the shocking and disturbing evidence.

“I want to stress the importance to anyone out there who may be a controlling relationship to please, when possible, to reach out and speak to us as we can help and ensure you receive the necessary support. No life should be overshadowed by those who are intent on causing unnecessary and traumatic abuse.”

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A man has been jailed for sexually abusing children in Congleton.

Philip Rigby, previously known as Philip Benson, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday 24 March where he was sentenced to 13 years and 3 months in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

The 55-year-old of River Street, Congleton, had earlier pleaded guilty to indecent assault on a girl under 14, and five counts of buggery.

The court heard how Rigby sexually abused three children between November 1982 and November 1988.

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A 54-year-old man has been jailed after admitting to having sexual relations with a minor.

Paul Collins, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 21 March for seven counts of sexual activity with a child.

He was jailed for five years and seven months by the judge. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Collins approached a vulnerable teenager in the street and gained her trust. He took advantage of her, plied her with drugs and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions over several days in 2022.

Officers attended Collins’ bedsit to arrest him for an unrelated matter, when they found the teenage girl with him.

The victim came to a police station a few days after Collins was convicted of the unrelated matter and told officers she had been raped and assaulted by Collins.

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Andrew Shore (05/09/1987) of Croome Gardens, Bourton On The Water, Gloucestershire, was sentenced to seven years and three months at Manchester Crown Square Court today (Wednesday 26 March 2025).

On Thursday 27 February 2025, Shore was found guilty by a unanimous verdict of raping a female aged under 13 and indecent assault at the same court.

The offences took place in Rochdale in the early 2000s when the victim was only 11 years old and Shore was in a position of trust. Shore was 16 years old at the time of his offending.

He was also given a restraining order against the victim and lifelong sex offender requirements.

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A Winchester man who had more than 300 indecent images of children on his mobile phone, has been jailed.

Phillip Peach, 35, was arrested at his home address on Drayton Street on 25 June 2024 after police received information that he had been accessing indecent images of children.

Following his arrest, police examined his digital devices where 308 images were recovered with 43 being graded as Category A – the most serious category.

A further 24 were graded as Category B and 241 as Category C.

Peach had served prison time for similar offences and had previously been handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by the courts. During the investigation it was found he had breached his SHPO by continuing to communicate with children, deleting data and having electronic devices not registered with police.

He was subsequently charged with three counts of making indecent photographs of children and six counts of breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court on 3 March, Peach admitted all of the charges and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

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A former maths teacher has been spared jail over sexual abuse he committed on a pupil more than 40 years ago, due to his age and infirmity.

Michael McCue indecently assaulted a number of students at the former Page Moss School, later Bowring Community Sports College in Huyton, Liverpool, over the course of several decades. Fresh allegations surfaced last year after another victim came forward.

The now 91-year-old has been put behind bars on several occasions previously as a result of his crimes - but he was spared the same fate this time, the Liverpool Echo reported.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday (March 24) that McCue "abused his clear position of trust" a the school, which closed in 2009 after merging with Knowsley Hey High School to form the Lord Derby Academy, in order to sexually assault the then teenage boy in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

This included him touching and stroking the complainant's legs before putting his hands into his pockets and waistband and touching his penis while commenting "you like that" and "you know what I want".

David Polglase, prosecuting, outlined how the defendant, of Dolphin Road in Currie, near Edinburgh, would also take hold of the pupil's hand and place it onto his own penis.

McCue was initially said to have "befriended" his student by speaking of his "adventures to the mountains, Scotland and skiing", offering to pay for him to go on school trips and inviting him to play billiards at his home address while "comforting him" when he was targeted by bullies.

However, he then went on to assault the boy in his classroom while "positioning himself so as not to be seen by other pupils". Mr Polglase described how the victim "couldn't believe what was happening", but said that his "age and vulnerability prevented him from speaking up".

McCue would also abuse the boy after giving him detention. The pensioner was interviewed by detectives in May last year after the complainant disclosed the attacks, but denied the allegation and stated that he "must have got the wrong teacher".

The victim of the assaults told the court from the witness box: "From a young age, I was subjected to manipulation from someone who I was supposed to trust. This has driven me to attempt to take my own life on several occasions. In moments of despair, I feel like there is no escape from the pain that haunts me daily.

"The journey to recovery is long and fraught with challenges. Each day is a battle against the shadow of my past. I'm constantly reminded of the innocence that was stolen from me. He stole what should have been the formative years of my life, shaping me to being a responsible and normal man.

"He stole these opportunities from me for his own sexual gratification. I seek justice not only for myself but for all of the victims of abuse who have suffered in silence."

McCue has previously appeared before the law for sexual offences on four occasions. This saw him receive 15 months for three counts of indecent assault in 2001, six months for similar counts in 2004, a suspended prison sentence in 2006, two years in 2014 for a total of 12 offences and a further suspended jail term in 2016.

David Watson, defending, said on his behalf: "He is 91 years of age. That goes hand in hand with his health. There was a hospital admission relatively recently, in August and September last year, for a period of two weeks due to stomach issues.

"The defendant suffers significant issues with incontinence. He wears a pad for these purposes. He cannot be far from a lavatory at any time. He has significant mobility issues.

"The defendant is effectively housebound. He leaves his house very rarely. Sometimes, a neighbour will take him to withdraw cash and matters of that sort. Under his own steam, he is not able to leave the house. He would be significantly vulnerable in a custodial setting through his age and infirmity.

"He has not offended since his very first conviction. The court can be confident that he will not offend again. Justice has been served on this defendant with suspended sentences, and, in my submission, given his age and infirmity, should be again."

McCue admitted 10 counts of indecent assault. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey coat and glasses and walking with the aid of two sticks, he was handed a 24-month imprisonment suspended for two years.

Sentencing, District Judge Gwyn Jones said: "You were a teacher at that school in your mid-50s, where the public and students alike would look up to you. However, behind that respectable façade, you were a sexual deviant who used his position to take advantage of those who you felt were vulnerable.

"You had an unhealthy desire to satisfy your own sexual needs, having no regard whatsoever to the pain and trauma of those victims who you have offended against. By targeting these students, you took away their innocence and the opportunity to grow up without the trauma we have heard of in court today.

"You were betraying your profession. He felt he was powerless and that he could do very little. It has had a significant adverse impact on his life to date.

"The past is catching up. You are now 91 years of age. You are not in the best of health. You are living a solitary life in your own home. You have little, if any, social life.

"I am satisfied, for the reasons I have outlined, that the risk you pose can be managed in the community. You have a home that may be lost if you were given a lengthy custodial sentence and any work that could meaningfully be done within a prison environment may not be capable of being concluded in that period of time."

McCue was also told to pay court costs of £1,000 within 28 days and will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years. He then stood at the conclusion of the hearing and said: "Your honour, thank you very much."

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A twisted sex offender who sexually abused children in Perthshire over a 15-year period – including attacking one while on bail – is behind bars.

Corey Fair’s perverted behaviour began before he turned 14, preying on a girl who was still in primary school.

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A child-abusing pensioner may not be alive by the end of his lengthy prison sentence.

That was the stark message given to Alec Calvert after he received prison terms totalling 24 years at Durham Crown Court for offences on which he was convicted earlier this year.

The 77-year-old defendant of Northbridge Park, St Helen Auckland, who has no previous convictions, denied an 11-count indictment, including seven charges of sexual assault and one each for rape, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child and attempted sexual assault.

He accused all three victims of fabricating the allegations and telling lies to the police and court.

But on the ninth day of his trial, in January, unanimous guilty verdicts were returned on all 11 counts by the jury.

Calvert had already admitted two counts of making indecent images of a child and one of possessing extreme pornography.

He appeared at the court for sentence via video link from Durham Prison, where he has been on remand.

The court was told Calvert was under investigation for offences committed against two of the victims, when he was involved in grooming-type behaviour with an older girl who he bought alcohol for, persuaded to send him intimate images of herself and drove to secluded areas to sexually assault.

When he was arrested by police last summer, he was found nearly naked with the girl in his car, parked in a disused docks area.

Impact statements were read to the court on behalf of all three of the victims.

One said she has since struggled to trust older men and distances herself from them in public places, while she had worried that she would bump into the defendant until he was remanded in custody.

Chris Baker, for Calvert, said there was not a great deal he could say on his behalf, given his denials and the guilty verdicts.

“He’s aware he’s had his trial and lost, and there’s little by way of mitigation which can be put to the court because of that.

“Perhaps the most significant submission I can make over the sentencing exercise is the issue of totality.

“It’s not an adding up exercise.

“He’s a man with no previous convictions."

Judge Nathan Adams said it was repeat offending over a number of years demonstrating the defendant’s "paedophilic proclivities for his own sexual gratification".

Imposing consecutive sentences, relating to each of the three victims, totalling 24 years, the judge said Calvert must serve at least two-thirds, 16 years, before the Parole Board can consider if it’s safe to release him.

But he may have to serve the full 24 years and, should he ever be released, he will be subject to two years’ licence extension.

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A "dangerous" Surrey sex offender has been jailed for abuse that spanned decades. Derek Jinman committed the offences, involving four victims aged 6 to 16, over a period of more than 11 years.

He was found guilty of 15 counts of serious sexual abuse, including rape. The 73-year-old, of Woking, has now been sentenced to 22 years in prison. Jinman was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Monday (March 24).

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A Lincoln man who sent sexualised messages and graphic images to a 13-year-old girl says he went on a 'drug binge' and couldn't remember his actions.

Jack Trollope, formerly of Fairfax Street, admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child and sending a photograph of his private area to cause alarm, distress or humiliation.

The 37-year-old had pleaded guilty to two charges at an earlier hearing ahead of sentencing at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, March 21. Trollope, who was already a registered sex offender when the offences took place, was remanded until he was dealt with.

It was heard in court how Trollope evaded police for a week after he committed the crimes and was classed as a high-risk missing person, before handing himself in at Mansfield House Police Station in Leicester. He made a full admission to officers in an interview, claiming he had been on a drug binge over the last week and could not remember any of his actions.

Trollope was sentenced to two years behind bars and handed a sexual harm prevention order. He was given a 12-month sentence for the aforementioned offences, and this triggered the activation of a suspended sentence given to Trollope after he pleaded guilty to sending a photo or film of his private area to cause alarm, distress or humiliation in December

Case officer Bethany Wright, from Lincolnshire Police, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who was involved in this investigation and helped compile the evidence to bring this case to court. Trollope sent inappropriate messages to his victim that no child should have to see."

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A man who sexually assaulted a woman and stole her underwear has avoided a prison sentence.

Sean Raven, 26, "violated" his victim's body, the woman said, and made "lewd" comments towards her.

Prosecuting, David Fosler told Southampton Magistrates’ Court that Raven touched her inappropriately over her clothing which made her feel “shocked and uncomfortable”.

In a separate incident, he said to her: "I want to see what underwear you are wearing."

This "again made her uncomfortable," Mr Fosler said.

The court heard how Raven also stole the woman’s underwear from her car.

In a victim impact statement read to the court by Mr Fosler, the woman said: “I told him there is help out there he can get.

“Sean took advantage of my understanding nature, and it is only now I realise his actions are dangerous.

“He violated my body by touching me and invading my personal space, and making lewd comments towards me.”

Mitigating, Oliver O’Connor said Raven did not take advantage of the woman, rather, “misunderstood" due to his autism.

He said: “Mr Raven has quite severe autism and work needs to be done so we can make sure this behaviour does not happen again.”

Raven, of Adey Close, Southampton, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault, theft from a motor vehicle and assault by beating.

Deputy District Judge Paul Booty told Raven he is “very lucky” because the touching was done over the woman’s clothing.

“Otherwise, you could be facing a prison sentence," he said.

Raven was handed a two-year community order and must complete up to 45 rehabilitation activity requirements and 100 hours of unpaid work.

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A Sandwell man who arranged to meet a 12 year-old girl for sex has been jailed.

Gary Jefferis was jailed for four years at Wolverhampton Crown Court after he admitted sending messages online in November last year.

Jefferis, 65, used online chat platforms to send explicit messages, asking the age of the girl he was speaking to.

When he was told he was speaking to a 12-year-old, he said that wasn't an issue.

Over the course of the messages, Jefferis repeatedly asked to meet the girl and sent sexual messages and photos.

Jefferis arranged to meet the girl at Sandwell and Dudley train station with the intention of having sex.

When Jefferis arrived at the station, however, he was arrested by officers.

In interview, Jefferis said he hadn't intended to go through with his plan and that he was not really interested in girls.

Despite this, the extensive record of messages he had sent showed his intentions.

Jefferis, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison on 14 March this year.

He was also given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

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A predator booked a hotel to meet with who he thought was a 12-year-old girl for sex. Police officers were alerted to Ciaran Clark, from Ross Street in Widnes, after he was caught in the act by an undercover officer pretending to be a 12-year-old child in an online chatroom.

The 46-year-old had even booked a hotel room in anticipation of meeting the child. Detectives immediately arrested the 46-year-old on December 31 last year and he was charged and remanded on New Year's Day.

Clark appeared at Chester Crown Court on March 17 to be sentenced after pleading guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence - rape / assault by penetration of child under 13, and being an adult attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He was jailed for 10 years.

As well as the jail term he was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. DC Faye Taylor from Cheshire Constabulary’s OCAIT team said: “Clark was unaware he was sending his warped messaging to an undercover officer. He’d even booked a hotel room in anticipation of meeting the child.

“This is what makes us so determined to catch these people and stay on duty to make sure they are remanded into custody. Even though he was talking to an adult, he was unaware, and the intent was there - his messages were despicable.

“As a team we are driven to stop people like Clark in their tracks and we will do all we possibly can to protect children at risk from these predatory paedophiles.”