Latest Offenders

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A convicted sex offender suggested he and a teenage girl - who turned out to be an adult decoy - watch Harry Potter before embarking on a sexual relationship, a court has heard.

Sean Denniston, who has a previous conviction for a child sex offence, repeatedly messaged who he thought was a 14-year-old on Facebook despite telling her he had a fiancee.

Norwich Crown Court heard the 34-year-old and the decoy exchanged selfies with each other before Denniston went on to suggest they meet up and see a Harry Potter film and also visit "Harry Potter land".

Lynne Shirley, prosecuting, said Denniston told the decoy they should meet up in Walcott where he lived as part of repeated communication which went on for five weeks.

She said Denniston told the girl they should keep their communication a "secret" telling her she should say she was a "friend of his niece" if she was asked by his partner.

Denniston asked her if she would have sex with him and suggested they do it when her mother was not at her home in Norwich.

He asked her if she would be "up for it" and told her he would be "gentle".

Miss Shirley said on July 16 this year members of the paedophile hunter group attended his address and alerted police.  

Denniston, of Ostend Road, Walcott, appeared in court for sentencing on Friday having admitted attempted sexual communication with a child between June and July this year.

He also admitted being in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Jailing him for 30 months, Recorder Paul Garlick said these were "serious offences" made more serious by his previous offences. 

Lori Tucker, mitigating, said Denniston, who deserved credit for plea, had a problem with alcohol - which was at the root of his offending - and has suffered from non-epileptic seizures.

She said as it was an adult decoy Denniston had been communicating there was no actual risk of harm.

But she accepted there must be some harm as Denniston thought he was dealing with a child.

Denniston was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and also put on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

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A man has been jailed after being convicted of historic sexual offences against children.

Philip Tomlinson appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday 23 September where he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The 56-year-old, of HMP Altcourse but previously of Leeds, had been found guilty of three counts of rape of a girl under 16 and two counts of buggery, following a week-long trial in June.

In February 2022, Cheshire Police were contacted by a woman reporting that she had been raped several times in the 1990s.

The victim disclosed being raped on at least three occasions by Tomlinson, once in Winsford and twice in the North Wales area.

Police then received a further report from a male victim, who stated he had been raped by Tomlinson.

This second victim reported the offences took place in the 1980s in the Northwich area.

Tomlinson was subsequently arrested and interviewed in relation to the offences against both victims, but denied the allegations.

Officers then conducted a lengthy investigation to ultimately get charges authorised against Tomlinson, while supporting the victims. 

On top of his custodial sentence, he is subject to asexual harm prevention order and required to sign the sex offender register.

Description

A sick sexual predator who attacked a woman while she slept has been put behind bars.

Yousef Camara, 24, struck after being allowed to stay at the property by two young women. Despite a bed being made up for him, Camara, of Broad Lane, took advantage of their kindness, going on to sexually assault one of them as they slept, Bradford Crown Court heard on Monday.

He was found guilty of assault by penetration following a trial at the court in July. Judge Jonathan Gibson said the victim, who must not be identified for legal reasons, had been particularly vulnerable at the time of the offence because she was asleep.

Barrister Paul Canfield said his client, who was assisted by an Italian interpreter, had suffered trauma in the past as a result of a friend dying and racism. He also revealed Camara had also been attacked while in custody last week.

No victim personal statement was provided for the court but Judge Gibson said the victim had been “incredibly upset” about what had happened. He jailed Camara for five years for the offence, as well as an extra two weeks in custody after he failed to turn up at a previous hearing in January.

As a result of his sentence, Camara, who will serve two-thirds of his jail term, will now have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and he must also comply with an indefinite restraining order which bans him from contacting the woman.

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A paedophile has been jailed for more than 25 years for raping two children

In some instances, Karl Young, 33, offered his victims alcohol and made aggressive threats towards them if they did not comply with his advances.

Both victims bravely raised the alarm about Young to those around them who informed Northumbria Police, and he was arrested in December of last year.

Following a thorough investigation by specialist officers from the force’s safeguarding department, he was charged with a string of sexual offences including rape.

While initially denying any involvement, Young, of St Marks Way in South Shields, later pleaded guilty to nine offences including assault by penetration, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault, and four counts of rape of a child at Newcastle Crown Court on May 7.

He was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

On Friday, Young appeared before the same court where a judge sentenced him to 25 years and six months in prison, and a further year on licence.

He will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register, and was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Leading the investigation for Northumbria Police was Detective Constable Gavin James.

Speaking after Young’s sentencing, he said: “Young is a calculated predator, who used alcohol and aggression to coerce his victims into sexual activity.

“I would like to commend both of the survivors in this case for the immeasurable bravery they have shown throughout the whole process.

“From coming forward and raising the alarm to those around them, and then having to re-live their pain speaking about Young’s horrific actions towards them.

“Ultimately, their unwavering support has allowed us to bring a vile offender like Young to justice – and I hope the survivors and their loved ones are able to find some closure in today’s outcome knowing he is now behind bars.”

Det Con James added: “I hope this sends a clear message to those who have committed these types of crimes – you won’t get away with them and we’ll do everything in our power to put dangerous offenders like Young before the courts.

“Most importantly, this result is an example of what we can do when we work together to support survivors of sexual offences and hold their abusers to account.

“If you’ve been a victim of sexual abuse, please know that we can help you – and we will listen to you.

“Please come forward and report anything of concern today.”

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Gavin Morrison (44) was sentenced today, Monday, 23 September 2024 at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court in connection with a series of sexual offences committed in the Kirkcaldy area.

He was found guilty on Wednesday, 28 August 2024 at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

 Detective Constable Carol Fraser at Glenrothes said:

 "Gavin Morrison is a predatory sexual offender who preyed on young females whilst they were walking or playing in their local communities.

  “He has shown no remorse for his deplorable actions that were committed over a period between 2015 and 2022.

   “I would like to thank those involved for their strength in coming forward during this investigation and criminal trial. I hope the conviction and sentencing provides them with some sense of closure and allows them to move on from this horrendous ordeal.

Description

A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison and a further four years on extended licence after being convicted of child sex offences.

Ben Haymes, previously of Bodmin and Bude, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence on Friday 20 September having pleaded guilty to assaulting a boy under 13 by touching, seven making indecent images of children charges, two counts of possessing extreme pornography, voyeurism, two possessing a prohibited images of a child charges and two counts of showing an indecent photograph.

Haymes was also made subject of a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The court heard how in July 2019 at an address in Bude, police executed a search warrant after receiving information an indecent image of a child had been uploaded to the internet by someone at the location.

A digital examination revealed that a folder linked to Haymes contained a number of indecent images of children. In one clip Haymes could be seen touching the groin area of a child over clothing.

The video was sent to another male along with messages in which Haymes stated his sexual intentions for the child.

Examination of Haymes’ devices revealed hundreds of further indecent images, spanning all three categories, some of the Category C images featuring another child known to Haymes, with Haymes again setting out his intentions for the child.

Haymes also possessed extreme pornography showing sex acts involving his own dog. 

Data extraction showed a number of secret recordings of boys using a toilet. There were also further conversations in which Haymes stated his sexual preference for young children and animals.

Officers in the case DC Charlotte Norris said: “I welcome the sentence issued to Ben Haymes after a lengthy complex investigation.

“I praise the family of the victim for putting their faith in the police Investigation and acting with dignity throughout.

“Ben Haymes is a dangerous sex offender who was in possession of horrendous child abuse images of young children and spoke freely about his desires.

“I hope this case sends out a strong message to those committing child sex offences and viewing child abuse material that we will find them and bring them to justice.”

Description

A teenage predator who sexually assaulted a woman who was "in a state of sleepiness" has been locked up.

Liam Short, 22, was 19 when he attacked the woman who had gone to bed after taking a sleeping tablet. Bradford Crown Court heard on Friday that the woman believed Short had filmed the incident after noticing "flashing" of a light during it. It was said police have not recovered any video of the incident.

The court heard Short also told her in messages the next day he felt "awful" about what had happened.

Short was found guilty of sexual assault by penetration following a trial at the court. He was acquitted of four counts of rape and a sexual assault charge. His brave victim faced him in court as she read her victim personal statement. In it, she said: "Emotionally, I have anxiety in situations where there are males of a similar age to me. I suffer sleeplessness and wake up sweating and short of breathe...I'm in fear of being alone, despite having cameras installed.

"I have a fear of going out alone and being in small spaces and a fear of showering or bathing unless a female friend is in the house in case someone breaks in and attacks me. I am a shell of myself...I have developed an unhealthy relationship with food and have lost a significant amount of weight. I struggle to perform some day to day tasks due to feeling faint."

The woman said her relationships have suffered due to the attack, and she has moved jobs a number of times because of the number of males working with her or the lack of accessible exits or CCTV. She added: "I can go weeks with no contact with family or close friends in case they pressure me to leave the house."

Mitigating, Jayne Beckett said in relation to the messages exchanged, Short was "admitting doing something wrong and the jury found that he did something singular wrong."

She added: "It is difficult to read anything more than that because there are no specifics of what he was admitted."

The court heard there was no evidence that Short knew the woman had taking sleeping medication. Ms Beckett said a pre-sentence report author found Short has a lack of insight into his offending which say they could be due to a "lack of maturity."

She said: "They think that he is not, and probably never has been, the mot sophisticated individual adult. He presents as looking younger than his years. He is someone who has engaged very well in terms of cooperation with the report and he has on more than one occasion expressed willingness to look inwards and seek self improvement..."

Recorder Mullarkey jailed Short, of Burns Hill, Addingham, for three years and referred to the messages sent after the offence when he said: "I am sure to the criminal standard that these were messages exchanged between the two of you. You say you felt awful and hate yourself for what you did and it was disgusting...You accepted when interviewed there was consensual sexual activity but denied filming her.

"In her victim impact statement, she described the profound impact your offending had on her."

The judge said Short had attacked the woman when she was "in a state of sleepiness" before jailing him and making him the subject of sex offender notification requirements for life. He also made Short the subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim for 10 years.

Description

Cowardly Musabwe Murama, aged 37, refused to acknowledge his guilt, forcing the young woman he abused as a teenage girl to give evidence in court and endure the ordeal of a trial. 

In a statement read to Sheffield Crown Court on the complainant’s behalf, she revealed the continuing psychological impact of Murama’s abuse, and the way in which it has drastically changed her personality.

“Before this happened, I used to be very loud, I was confident and outspoken…I became quiet, it affected how I speak to people.”

“I didn’t have any confidence, so I didn’t want to talk…I didn’t want to do anything because my mood was so low, I just felt so filthy,” the complainant said. 

She detailed how, prior to Murama carrying out the abuse, she enjoyed and felt really engaged with school; but afterwards, she became withdrawn and did not perform as well as she could have during her exams. 

Although Murama’s heinous crimes have resulted in the complainant deviating from her chosen career path and taking a break from education, she said she is now looking to the future, and hopes to attend college and university. 

“I want to build a life with someone and have kids and a house, I just want to be okay,” she said. 

Jurors found Murama, of Walling Close, Wincobank, Sheffield, guilty of one count of attempted rape and four counts of sexual assault at the conclusion of a trial at the same court. 

During a hearing held on September 19, 2024, Murama’s barrister, Kieran Galvin, acknowledged there was ‘very little to say’ in terms of mitigation, but told the court that Murama is someone who, prior to committing these offences, had a clean criminal record, and thus, had previously been of ‘good character’. 

“He was highly regarded,” said Mr Galvin.

He asked the judge, Recorder David Brooke KC, to bear in mind the principle of totality in mind. 

Totality consists of two elements, with the first being to pass a just and proportionate sentence which reflects all of the defendant’s offending behaviour, while the other requires a judge to avoid arriving at such a sentence by simply adding together what may have been the appropriate length for a single offence. 

“Please keep the sentence as short as you can, commensurate with your public duty,” added Mr Galvin. 

Recorder Brooke jailed Murama for eight years, and told him: “I dread to think of the terror she must have had, thinking of what you were going to do.”

Referring to the complainant’s composure in court, Recorder Brooke continued: “She was a very compelling witness…she is still feeling the effects of what you did, despite the fact it was years ago…that’s why it is so serious.”

He also said he regarded there to have been a ‘grooming aspect’ to Murama’s criminality. 

As he sent Murama to begin his prison sentence, Recorder Brooke told him he must remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. 

Recorder Brooke also praised the complainant and her family for the ‘dignity with which they have conducted’ themselves throughout proceedings. 

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A 60-year-old man who sexually abused an underage girl has been jailed today, 19 September.

Paul Hemmings, from Newton Abbot, appeared at Exeter Crown Court where he was sentenced to nine years in prison. He will sign the Sex Offenders Register for Life and the court also granted a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Hemmings pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual activity with a child on the first day of trial in July and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

The court heard that the offences against the 15-year-old victim took place over a period of three months.

Hemmings initially denied the offences and told Detectives that it was ‘fictitious’ and ‘made up’ but he later changed his plea at trial.

On sentencing Hemmings, the Judge told him that he had tried to minimise his conduct in blaming the victim and only felt remorse for himself.

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Tamsyn Dingley said: “Hemmings exploited a young girl, who he knew was under the age of consent, and he knew what he did was wrong. Hemmings groomed and manipulated the victim and justice has been served in his conviction.

“My praise and thoughts remain, as always, with the victim for speaking up and telling us what had happened. I hope that she can now focus on herself and find some closure.”

Description

A WEST Cumbria man who groomed and then repeatedly molested a teenage child has been handed a lengthy jail term by a judge who told him: “You are a paedophile.”

Carlisle Crown Court heard shocking details of Neil Stewart’s sexual abuse of the girl as he was punished on Friday.

Stewart, 41, had earlier admitted a charge of sexual activity with a child. But a prosecutor said there was evidence to suggest he had since demonstrated no remorse for his offending, instead trying to heap blame wrongly on the victim as part of “self-justification”.

In an impact statement, the victim told of her life being “torn apart” and of feeling suicidal in the aftermath.

She spoke of being initially anxious to report what Stewart had done. “I didn’t think there was anything I could do as I didn’t think anyone would believe me over him,” she had stated.

She also described feeling alone and not wanting to leave her house.

The teen’s mother had also penned a moving statement, describing the ordeal as “torturous” and of it taking a “massive toll”.

Isabella Denn-White, mitigating, insisted that Stewart, of Poole Road, Salterbeck, was remorseful. “He knows what happened was unacceptable, knows there is no way to justify it and knows it was completely wrong. He is extremely shameful for what went on. It is his fault,” said the barrister.

Ms Denn-White suggested the looming prison sentence could be suspended, for Stewart to instead carry out work with professionals in a bid to rehabilitate himself and protect the public in future. He had no previous convictions and was backed by several character references.

But Judge Michael Fanning concluded that only immediate imprisonment was appropriate, imposing a term of four years, six months.

Stewart, said the judge, had treated the girl as a “sexual object” in carrying out “deviant” criminal conduct.

“The damage to somebody who has been abused in this way, well, it’s irreparable. She won’t get over it,” Judge Fanning told Stewart.

The judge highlighted one character reference author who had expressed incredulity that Stewart’s name was now on the sex offenders’ register. Judge Fanning concluded: “You preyed on her. You are a paedophile and you are rightly on that (register).”

Stewart must comply with sex offender register notification requirements indefinitely. He is also likely to be banned from working with children and vulnerable people in the future, and will be the subject of a future application for a prevention order placing strict conditions on his liberty.

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A 53-year-old man has been jailed for nine years and six months after he was convicted of sexual offences against five victims.

Sean Richmond, of Hillyfields in Loughton, Essex, pleaded guilty to 14 offences included attempted rape.

He was first arrested in 2015 after reports he had sexually assaulted two victims between 1985 and 1991. Following his arrest, three more victims contacted Essex Police to report that they had been sexually abused by Richmond over 30 years ago.

Richmond was jailed on Wednesday at Chelmsford Crown Court and after the sentencing Det Con Matthew D Edson, said: "Richmond is no doubt a danger and he has spent decades thinking he could get away with abusing children."

The trial began at Chelmsford Crown Court on 28 May and Richmond entered a guilty plea to 14 offences on the second day of the trial.

He was convicted of 10 counts of indecent assault, three counts of indecency with a child and one count of attempted rape.

Alongside his sentence, he has made subject to an indefinite restraining order and will be on the Sex Offender Register for life.

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A man has been jailed after he sexually assaulted a young woman.

Gary Wilkinson, 53, touched and licked the woman's neck, before trying to undress her and touching her breasts, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Wilkinson, of Mark Avenue, Horncastle, admitted a charge of sexual assault.

He was jailed for 17 months and must also register as a sex offender for ten years.

Neil Sands, prosecuting, told the court the sexual assault happened after Wilkinson had visited a beer festival.

Wilkinson pulled down the victim's vest top and also tried to pull down her shorts, he said.

The assault continued even when the woman began crying, Mr Sands added.

The court heard that Wilkinson had apologised to his victim and asked her not to say anything.

He gave a false account to police and maintained his innocence during an interview with the probation service, the court was told.

Mr Sands said the disparity in age between Wilkinson and his victim was an aggravating feature.

'No remorse'

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said she had "felt terrible" since the incident, which had affected her mental health and left her distrustful.

Sam Jones, mitigating, told the court Wilkinson had suffered hate mail, a downturn in his plastering business and the tyres of his car had been slashed.

He was no longer in a relationship with his partner.

Passing sentence, Recorder Graham Huston said Wilkinson had shown no remorse or empathy for his victim.

He said the victim did everything she could to protest, but Wilkinson had continued his assault.

Wilkinson was made the subject of a five-year restraining order.

Description

A convicted paedophile who was found with more than 8,000 indecent photos and videos of children on his phone, including videos of babies being raped, has been jailed.

Peter Barber, 71, from Norburn in Bretton, Peterborough, was handed a 13-year sentence at Peterborough Crown Court on Tuesday (September 17).

Barber had already been convicted of indecent exposure, as well as making, distributing and possessing indecent images of children. Police officers attended his home after receiving information that an indecent image of a child had been uploaded to the internet.

They found a phone with what was described by Judge Grey while sentencing on Tuesday as an “extensive library of indecent images of children”. This included over 3,700 ‘category A’ images and videos, the worst category; nearly 1,900 files in category B and just under 2,700 in category C.

The footage had been categorised under names including “10yo and fat man” and “rape”. Barber also admitted to buying and accessing indecent images online on another phone, which he had thrown away.

Judge Grey described the most serious individual offence as arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child under 13. He continued: “You communicated with a woman online who told you she had a 12-year-old daughter.

"You asked the woman to take indecent images and videos of her daughter. She sent you the material you had asked for.”

Barber also informed police that he had been having sexual conversations with three 12-year-old children via Telegram, and receiving indecent images and videos from all of them. He sent indecent images of children and of himself back to the 12-year-olds.

The paedophile also suggested to one of them that he might meet her in person, in what the judge described as “ghastly examples of an adult setting out to corrupt young children online for his own sexual gratification”.

Judge Grey summed up Barber’s character: “You make claims of a profound Christian faith, which normally works to prevent you from offending. But you say that, when a switch goes in your mind for some reason, lust takes over and you are, in effect, unable to control yourself.

“That is simplistic, self-serving nonsense. It might suffice as an excuse for a short-lived or isolated lapse, but what the court is dealing with here is many months during which your overwhelming focus was to obtain sexual gratification by watching young children being raped and otherwise abused in the most degrading and despicable ways.

“Your relationship with Jesus is, in my judgement, nothing but a show for others when you try to persuade them you will not offend again. You are, in my judgement, an irredeemable paedophilic sexual offender.”

Barber admitted three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child; two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child; three counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child; and one count each of: possessing extreme pornographic images, possessing a prohibited image of a child and arranging the sexual exploitation of a child under 13.

His sentence also included a further six counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with Sex Offenders Register notification requirements. The sentence comprises a nine-year custodial period and four years on licence.

PC Emily Heriot, from the specialist management of sexual or violent offenders unit (MOSOVO), said: “Barber went to great efforts to conceal his continued sexual offending, with complete disregard for his sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements, which are in place to safeguard the public. These new convictions reflect the serious risk he poses to children.”

Description

A Chester sex offender has been jailed after trying to meet an underage girl for the purposes of sexual activity.

Ivan Jones, 35, of Osprey Court, previously pleaded guilty to all charges.

Appearing at Chester Crown Court on Monday, September 16, Jones was jailed for a total of four years.

The court heard that Jones, who already had a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed in January 2022 for previous offences, tried to get a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity in March this year.

Jones also tried to breach his SHPO by arranging to have unsupervised contact with an underage girl in Chester.

The defendant also attempted to send messages to an underage girl requesting images and videos of that girl's breasts, and sent an image of his private parts while trying to request images of another girl's breasts.

Judge Michael Leeming sentenced Jones to a total of four years and extended his SHPO so it was now indefinite.

Jones is now on the sex offenders register indefinitely and, as part of the SHPO, is not allowed to have unsupervised contact with any child under 16, and has restrictions imposed on his internet usage.

Description

A MAN from South Gloucestershire has been jailed after sexually abusing three girls.

Robert Ponter, of Longwell Green, pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court to three counts of rape of a girl aged under 16.

His victims were aged between 11 and 15 at the time of the offences.

He also admitted three indecent assault charges – two related to one 14-year-old girl and one to another girl of the same age.

The assaults took place in the Bristol area between 1998 and 2007.

In addition to his custodial sentence, Ponter was issued with an indefinite restraining order banning him from ever contacting his victims again.

He was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and will be registered as a sex offender indefinitely.

Avon and Somerset Police received reports about Ponter in 2007 and 2008.

Investigations were carried out but at the time there was 'insufficient evidence' to charge him with any offences, police say. 

Detectives received a third report in 2021 and subsequently reapproached victims who’d previously reported Ponter’s abuse.

In July 2024, following the conclusion of this investigation, he was charged with sexually abusing all three victims.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Lucy Heaps said: “Robert Ponter took advantage of three girls over many years, exploiting their young age to carry out his vile crimes.

“All three of his victims have demonstrated great courage by reporting what happened to them and by providing evidence which resulted in Ponter pleading guilty to all the offences during his first appearance at court.

“They continue to have access to specialist support services and I hope the fact he has been jailed for 14 years gives them a sense of closure.”

She added: “No investigation is ever closed and if new information or supporting evidence comes to light, such as in this case when we received the most recent report, we will revisit inquiries and do everything we can to get justice for victims.

“If you have been affected by this inquiry please do contact us, we can provide access to support and look into any reports you want to make.”