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A man from Jersey who was found working in a Newport convenience store before being arrested by local Police has been handed 5-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of 8 sexual offences on his home Island.

As exclusively reported by Island Echo, 57-year-old Vincent Charles Roberts was found guilty at trial back in February of 8 counts of committing a prohibited act with someone suffering from a mental disorder.

Roberts, who was working as a healthcare assistant at a psychiatric facility on the island of Jersey, had begun communicating with a female patient via text message in June 2020. He soon switched to Snapchat to talk to the woman, knowing that messages would disappear. Over time the communications became more inappropriate and things then became physical, with the 57-year-old kissing the mentally unwell patient on more than 1 occasion.

Later on, in 2020, Roberts began more communications with a 2nd female patient through TikTok, before again moving the conversation to Snapchat. Over the following weeks and months Roberts then engaged in sexual activity with this female.

The offences were initially disclosed to a member of staff, who raised a Safeguarding Adult Alert to the Adult Safeguarding Team. Roberts was then arrested in January 2021.

Throughout the investigation Roberts refused to engage with the process and left Jersey, fleeing to the Isle of Wight. He was located by Hampshire Constabulary in August 2022 before being arrested and handed over to States of Jersey Police officers in Southampton, who took him back to Jersey where he appeared in court the next day.

Roberts was working as the store manager at Central’s convenience store on Hunnyhill in Newport.

Detective Constable Carla Garnier said:

“This was a long and complex investigation into how Roberts abused his position of trust with vulnerable people for his own gratification. He tried to evade justice by leaving the Island, and I am thankful that he was apprehended, brought back to Jersey and was found guilty.”

“Roberts’ actions have had a hugely negative impact on both victims in this case. They have both been and continue to be supported by Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (IDSVAs) and Adult Mental Health.

“We are committed to investigating and prosecuting all sexual offenders and want to assure victims that there are a number of agencies who are in a position to offer support and guidance through all stages of the criminal justice process.”

In addition to the jail sentence, Roberts was placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for 10 years and handed a restraining order for an indeterminate amount of time.

Description

A husband and wife have been jailed for a combined total of 28 years for non-recent child sex offences against three victims.

Claire Moores (15/03/1977) was sentenced to 13 years and her husband, Craig Moores (25/07/1971) received 15 years imprisonment today, (Tuesday 13 June 2023) at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for a number of child sex offences against two girls between 2002 and 2008.  

The couple, from the Stockport area, were arrested and charged on August 2020 and found guilty at trial of 15 charges put before them.

Craig Moores was charged with four counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 18, two counts of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 18 and one count of indecency with a child under 18 by penetration.

Claire Moores was charged with three counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 18.

The couple were jointly charged with two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 18. Against a third victim they were charged with one count of cruelty to a person under the age of 16.

They were also charged with causing a boy under the age of 15 to engage in sexual activity and administering a substance with intent to stupefy to allow sexual activity but were found not guilty.

Police were informed in May 2019 of non-recent sexual offences concerning two girls in Stockport.

The court heard how two girls, who have not been named due to legal reasons, reported being given substances prior to being sexually abused by the husband and wife. The third victim was exposed to the presence and consumption of controlled drugs and sexual activity.

Description

James Hirst, 32, was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely in 2015 after he was jailed for six years for sexual assault, prosecutor Sian Cutter told Swansea Crown Court.

As part of this, he had to notify the police of any address he stayed at for seven days or more within a 12-month period, or where he stayed for at least 12 hours when an under-18 year old also lives or stays, and had to update police annually with his contact information and address.

James Hirst, 32, was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely in 2015 after he was jailed for six years for sexual assault, prosecutor Sian Cutter told Swansea Crown Court.

As part of this, he had to notify the police of any address he stayed at for seven days or more within a 12-month period, or where he stayed for at least 12 hours when an under-18 year old also lives or stays, and had to update police annually with his contact information and address.

Police attended the address on February 13, and Hirst was arrested.

The owner of the address said she and the defendant were just friends and that she was aware he was a sex offender. She said she had invited him to stay at the house – where her 13, nine and six year old children live – on February 11 and 12.

Ms Cutter said Hirst later told police he believed he was still within the three days allowed before having to notify the police.

He was arrested again on April 20, after he failed to attend an appointment with the police to update his contact information.

His mobile phone was seized, and officers used data from the phone to find Hirst had stayed at the address on Ffordd Aneurin from January 15 to 26, and on January 30.

Hirst, of High Street in Narberth, has eight convictions for 14 previous offences – including one breach of the sex offenders register notification requirements in 2019.

Mr Griffiths, defending, said: “It’s simply the case he believes these requirements are interfering with his ability to develop normal friendships and relationships.”

He said this offending was a case of Hirst “taking it upon himself” to see if the relationship with the woman would develop.

“These measures are in place as safeguarding measures to protect future partners,” said Mr Griffiths. “He needs to develop a change in attitude and a change in his behaviour.”

“Or to put it another way, he needs to grow up,” Judge Paul Thomas said.

“There’s a song from many years ago, Mr Griffiths, ‘I fought the law and the law won’. The law will win.”

Judge Thomas described the breaches as “blatant”, and added that Hirst’s partner was “lucky not to be facing a prison sentence” for attempting to pervert the course of public justice.

For the first two breaches, Hirst was jailed for 12 months, running concurrently. He received a three-month sentence – running concurrently – for not attending the appointment with police.

There was no separate penalty for breaching the community order, which the judge revoked, having sent Hirst to jail.

Description

A man has today (Monday 12 June) been jailed for attempting to rape a woman and assaulting another after a night out in Basingstoke.

Costache-Flaviuis Ruset, 30, has been sentenced to nine years in prison, with an extended licence period of six years, after pleading guilty to attempted rape, assault by penetration, attempted GBH and ABH at Winchester Crown Court at a previous hearing.

The court heard that at 4.31am on Saturday, 18 February, a CCTV operator, monitoring the town’s CCTV cameras, became aware of a suspicious incident involving a man and two women on Timberlake Road.

The CCTV operator immediately alerted police directly through the police radio link when he saw the man pull one of the women to the ground and start assaulting her.

The court was told that two women, both in their 20s, had been walking home from a night out in Basingstoke when one of the women went to look for an item they had dropped.

Whilst waiting for her friend on Timberlake Road, the other woman was approached by a man unknown to her. The man, Ruset, pushed the woman to the ground and then attempted to rape her.

The woman’s friend returned moments later which caused Ruset to get up.

Both women started to walk away when Ruset ran up behind them and kicked the friend on her back, causing her to fall to the ground. He then stamped on her head and punched her several times while she lay on the ground.

He then turned to the first woman and assaulted her, causing her to fall to the ground.

Upon hearing police sirens and seeing blue lights, Ruset ran off.

Police officers gave chase whilst the CCTV controller continued to follow Ruset on the CCTV cameras, giving the officers direct commentary as to Ruset’s locations and direction of travel.

The CCTV controller watched Ruset hide behind some commercial bins in Feathers Yard and informed officers.

Ruset was arrested at 4.36am and subsequently charged.

Ruset, of Marks Lane, Basingstoke admitted the charges when he appeared at Winchester Crown Court on 22 March.

Appearing at the same court today, he was jailed for nine years, with an extended licence period of six years, taking the total sentence to 15 years.

Detective Inspector Mike Higgins from the Northern Investigation Team said “This was a terrifying incident that has had a significant impact on both the women involved.

“I would like to praise them for the strength they have shown during this fast paced investigation. I hope that now Ruset is in prison this will go some way to helping them move forward and begin to rebuild their lives.

“I would also like to commend the CCTV controller for his quick response to the incident and calling us when he noticed something wasn’t right.

“His actions allowed us to stop Ruset and prevent the women coming to further harm.

“By following Ruset’s movements on CCTV and guiding officers on the ground he allowed us to locate Ruset within minutes from the moment he fled the scene.

“As a consequence, Ruset had no option but to plead guilty and I am pleased we have been able to bring him to justice so swiftly and avoid these women having to relive the ordeal in court.

“Ruset is a dangerous, predatory man and he will now spend a long time in prison for what he did.

“No-one should have to feel in fear of their safety when walking the streets, no-matter what time of day or night it is. Everyone should feel safe and protected within our communities and violence of any kind will not be tolerated.

“I hope this case sends a clear message to those who predators and those who commit sexual and violent offences, you will be pursued, we will catch you and you will be dealt with robustly.

“I also hope this sentence demonstrates our commitment, and partnership work, in tackling violence against women and girls and keep everyone safe.”

Rape and serious sexual offences are one of the most devastating crimes a person can survive and that’s why we prioritise it.

We are fully committed to focussing on perpetrators because rape is often a serial offence where offenders continue to commit crimes until they’re stopped.

The Operation Amberstone team is made up of specially trained officers who work incredibly hard to target perpetrators of rape, and provide specialist support to survivors who have been affected.

If you have been affected by sexual abuse, you can report this to police by calling 101. You will be treated in the strictest of confidence and we will provide you with the help and support you need.

Description

A foster carer who subjected two little girls to repeated serious sexual assaults has been jailed for 10 years.

Rhoderick McGregor, 59, subjected the two children to sexual abuse ordeals in Kirkcaldy, between January 2006 and February 2014.

Description

An RAF cadet group leader from Carterton molested one of his young charges while on a radio course with the air force.

Corporal Gary Larner, 28, who has been decorated for his service overseas, was described as having groomed two 15-year-old female cadets in 2018 and 2019.

The married airman touched both girls, tried to kiss one while they were on a cadet course with the Royal Air Force, pestered them over social media, and got both to send him explicit photographs of themselves.

One of his victims told detectives that Larner told her she owed him. She was unsure what he meant, she said, but thought that she might have got on courses through the cadets as a result of entertaining his communication.

The second girls dream of a career in the RAF as a medic had been abandoned, the court heard. The girl suffered from anxiety and nightmares following the defendants abuse of her.

Jailing him for 40 months at Oxford Crown Court on Friday (June 9), Judge Maria Lamb told the disgraced serviceman: You had a position in the RAF that gave you significant responsibilities in terms of your behaviour towards the young cadets under your leadership and that position you sorely abused.

You abused too the trust of the parents of those two girls, who must have assumed that when they were attending the meetings that they did with you that they were attending meetings with somebody who bore in mind the safeguarding of their daughters.

Because you seriously undermined the safeguarding provisions which had been put in place by the RAF, not least by persisting in contacting them over social mediadespite having been warned not to do so.

Prosecutor Gabrielle McAvock told the court that Larner, then around 23 years old, met both his victims through his voluntary work with the air cadets.

Both girls were 15 when they were touched sexually by the RAF man and sent him explicit photographs at his request.

She sent him photographs of her body at his request, the court heard. He also went to her home while her mother was at work, removing her trousers and touching the girl.

The second victim was also 15 years old when, in September and October 2019, she was targeted by the cadet leader.

In September 2019, while on an RAF radio course, he slipped his hand beneath a table and touched the girls thigh over her combat trousers. He tried to kiss her later the same day.

On other occasions, the pair were said to have kissed in a field near the girls home. Like the first victim, she sent Larner images of herself at his request.

Ms McAvock said the offending was aggravated by the fact Larner had failed to respond to previous warnings by his bosses in the RAF after it was found he was talking to the cadets on social media.

Interviewed by the police in 2020 then again the following year, Larner denied the allegations and claimed not to have met the girls outside cadets.

The defendant, of Robinson Close, Carterton, initially denied any wrongdoing but eventually pleaded guilty in April to six charges of sexual activity with a child, sparing the girls from having to give pre-recorded evidence.

Although not charged with further offences, the court heard in April that detectives had uncovered text messages between Larner and a third cadet unconnected to the two victims in which they spoke in graphic, sexual terms.

The prosecution had hoped to put the texts in front of the jury at Larners trial as evidence of the RAF mans alleged bad character, but the Crowns application was refused by the judge.

Alistair Grainger, mitigating for Larner on Friday, said his client was a decorated airman with a number of restricted honours awarded by senior RAF officers that were so secret the judge was not entitled to have sight of them. Among the character references provided in his support was one from a Squadron Leader Parry.

Larner had been commended for his involvement in humanitarian efforts, including in the wake of the 2015 terrorist attack on a beach resort in Tunisia, the court heard.

The barrister pointed to his clients remorse, quoting Larners words that he had disgraced himself.

The airman will remain on the sex offender register for life.

Description

A paedophile who sexually assaulted four children - including one who was just two years old - has been sent to prison. During a sentencing hearing at Taunton Crown Court yesterday (June 8), Karl Pitcher was jailed for 10 years and four months after being found guilty of 11 counts of indecent assault of four children in the 1990s and 2000s.

The 54-year-old of Great Orchard, Ilchester, has also been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He has also been ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

During proceedings, the court heard how Pitcher - who has been described as a "predator" by Recorder Judge Millard - had abused four girls between the ages of two and 14 on a number of occasions. Avon and Somerset Police said the force was approached by two of his victims in 2020, leading to an investigation.

Police enquiries led to two more cases being unearthed from the early 2000s which had been investigated at the time. However, police said they were "unfortunately unable to prosecute" at the time.

Two of Pitcher's victims spoke about the impact his sexual abuse had on them. One victim said: "I was a vulnerable young girl all those years ago and he knew it. He used that to his advantage to be able to behave how he wanted towards me.

"He destroyed my confidence. I spent all those years rebuilding my life and was then made by him to relive it all again during a trial.

"I wanted to say thank you to the police for all their hard work and for the result we got. It’s been such a relief to know, after all this time, I have been believed by you all."

Another victim said: "The day we found out the jury had reached a guilty verdict, I cried with relief. Relief that the truth had been told and heard and that, as victims, we were finally getting the justice we deserved.

"I hope that, by me going through the process of this trial, it will help and support other victims with coming forward and having their story heard."

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, investigation officer PC Victoria Doble said: "The victims have shown incredible strength to report these incidents and support the police investigation. They have shown such courage throughout the trial and have bravely taken the stand to get the justice they so rightly deserve.

"Pitcher is a horrendous criminal, who has taken advantage of young children and impacted their lives, even beyond his offending. I hope more victims of recent and non-recent sexual offences read about this conviction and are encouraged to come forward and seek justice, and I hope this sentence will give Pitcher’s victims some closure."

Recorder Judge Millard also commended the "strong women" who came forward to give evidence against Pitcher. He also blasted the paedophile for his actions and lack of empathy towards his victims.

"You are a predator of young girls," Judge Millard said. "Over 10 years, you demonstrated a long-term commitment to abuse young girls. You’ve displayed no victim empathy in this case. They are strong women.

"It takes strength and courage to report the offences and come to trial. I commend them for it. They do not deserve to hear your continual denial."

Description

A MAN committed lewd sex acts under his clothing in front of three distressed teenage school girls in Carlisle during a spate of perverted offending while on bail.

Samuel Ramos, 27, was first witnessed by a care worker in a city building on February 20 to be exposing himself through the window of a nearby upper-storey property.

“She was particularly concerned,” prosecutor Brendan Burke told Carlisle Crown Court, “that during the course of that he appeared to be fixing his attention looking up the street towards a primary school.”

 
It had been half-term that week, and no children were reported to be in the area.

But Ramos was caught as he committed further similar offending inside Carlisle’s Primark store on two different dates. On February 28 he was spotted by a shocked 15-year-old girl who was with a friend after both had been followed around by Ramos.

In an impact statement the girl said she was on the shopping trip to regain independence after suffering difficulties, but told how the incident in the shop had “really set her back”.

On March 2, Ramos was back in Primark and seen on CCTV engaging in similarly lewd conduct near obvious other shoppers by a security guard monitoring footage.

And a week later there was a further incident on a Carlisle street with Ramos carrying out a copycat crime in front of two 13-year-old girls walking to school. “They ran into the school in an immediately distressed state and crying, and reported the matter,” said Mr Burke.

Ramos had been arrested after the first incident, and committed the next three offences while on police bail. He admitted one charge of exposure and three of committing acts outraging public decency.

Anthony Parkinson, giving mitigation, said Ramos had served the equivalent of a six-month prison sentence on remand. He had completed a raft of courses in custody but none of these were aimed at reducing the risk of further sexual offending.

If sent to prison and released on post-sentence supervision, any work done with him would not come close to that being proposed by the probation service if he was allowed to return to the community.

Intense rehabilitation work would best serve Ramos and the public in general, suggested Mr Parkinson. He added: “It is clear he acts on impulse. It is clear he was unable to resist the impulse on these four occasions. This is a case that is crying out for rehabilitation-based work with him so that the next time these impulses arrive he has a better and lawful way of dealing with them.”

The judge, Recorder Mark Ainsworth, said he was presented with a “very difficult” decision. But in view of Ramos’s “very concerning” conduct he concluded that appropriate punishment could only be achieved with an immediate 18-month jail term.

Ramos, of London Road, Carlisle, was made subject to the sex offender notification requirements and strict terms of a prevention order, both for 10 years.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, PC Rebecca Lynch, of Cumbria police, said: “We take all reports of sexual offences seriously and work hard to do our best for all victims of such crimes.

 “I hope that this case encourages victims of such crimes to report incidents such as these to the police. Victims will receive support from sensitive professionals.”

Description

A sex offender phoned the police to confess to years of abuse against two young girls – minutes after denying the offences in a formal interview.

John Morrell, aged 73, was arrested by Nottinghamshire Police after one of his victims told a school friend about his offending.

Police were informed by a teacher and a criminal investigation was started by specialist child abuse detectives.

Morrell repeatedly abused the girls over several years and was finally arrested in March 2021.

At his initial police interview at Mansfield Police Station he denied all the allegations against him and suggested they were being made up.

Shortly after the interview had finished he left a message with detectives asking them to call him back.

He then told them that the allegations were true and later admitted to multiple offences in a second interview.

A forensic examination of his personal computer also uncovered hundreds of child sexual abuse images – some of them depicting the most serious acts of abuse.

Further examination of his internet browsing history confirmed that he had a clear sexual interest in children.

Morrell later pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault and three counts of making an indecent image of a child. The indecent image offences relate to the storage of images on his computer.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (6 June), Morrell, of Milner Street, Newark, was jailed for eight years and added to the sex offenders’ register for life.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order that will closely restrict his future behaviour and access to children once he is released from prison.

Detective Constable Alan Braisby, of Nottinghamshire Police’s child abuse investigation unit, said: “Morrell was responsible for an appalling catalogue of abuse over a sustained period of time.

“When this abuse started his victims were simply too young to understand what was happening to them. As they got older they realised that what had happened was wrong and the truth was revealed.

“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of children, so when cases like are reported to us we will take them seriously, we will follow the evidence and we will do whatever it takes to bring offenders to justice.”

Description

A DOUBLE rapist has been labelled a dangerous offender and given an extended prison sentence of 15 years and six months by a judge at Bradford Crown Court today.

Matthew Wilson, 43, was jailed for ten years in 2005 for raping a sex worker when he began strangling his terrified victim.

He was released from that sentence in 2014 and went on to rape a second woman in the Calderdale area.

At the time of the second rape, he was on bail for an assault on another woman during which he had put her in a stranglehold.

Judge Colin Burn said Wilsons second rape victim had been subjected to a sustained piece of violence before the attack.

He had punched her, dragged her across the floor and bashed her head against a wash basin, rendering her either fully or semi-conscious.

Wilson, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and a personality disorder, was remanded in custody following his arrest in 2017. He was later transferred to Rampton high security hospital because of his mental state.

At a hearing at Bradford Crown Court earlier this year, he admitted charges of rape, assault and making threats to kill after he was assessed as being fit to plead.

Formerly of Sowerby Bridge, he appeared in court today via a video link to a medium secure hospital in Stevenage where he is currently being treated.

I find that you are a dangerous man, particularly when mentally or emotionally unwell, Judge Burn told Wilson. His victim was traumatised by the offending and had been in survival mode for years.

The judge said Wilson posed a high risk of serious physical and sexual violence towards women as demonstrated by his previous convictions.

He was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison with an extended licence period of six years.

Wilson will remain at the hospital unit but he could be moved to prison depending on his mental state.

Judge Burn said he would have to serve two thirds of the custodial term before he could apply for parole but he would not be released automatically at that stage.

He will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and comply with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to protect women from him in the future.

Description

A man who spent years subjecting a schoolgirl to sexual assaults has been jailed still protesting his innocence.

Alan Owens abused the girl in the 1990s and then intimidated her into not reporting the offending. The victim has been left suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and night terrors, but in a statement read to the court she said she was grateful to the 12 strangers on the jury who believed her at trial adding: "The best thing I have ever given myself is the courage to speak up".

Owens had denied indecent assault of a child and attempted rape of a child but was convicted at trial at Cardiff Crown Court. The 52-year-old returned to the dock on Thursday to be sentenced.

The court heard the offending happened in the 1990s when the victim was of primary school age, and involved repeated sexual assaults over the course of around four years. The offending also included the attempted rape of the child. The court heard Owens intimidated the youngster into not revealing what was going on, and it was not until she was an adult and a mother to a daughter that she felt able to report him.

In an impact statement which was read to the court by prosecution counsel Julia Cox, the victim said she had spent years wondering "why me?" and wondering about what she had done to deserve what happened to her. She said Owens "tainted and took away my childhood" and left her with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and night terrors, and needing medication to allow her to get on with her life. She said she was grateful that 12 strangers had believed her story and given her justice after so many years of suffering, adding: "The best thing I have ever given myself is the courage to speak up".

Alan Roy Owens, of Maple Avenue, Brackla, Bridgend, had previously been convicted of seven counts of indecent assault of a child and one count of attempted rape of a child when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has two previous convictions for unrelated offending - a public order matter, and driving with excess alcohol.

Description

A man has been jailed for 12 years for multiple offences including rape and sexual assault.

John Crawford, 35, of St Vincent Street, Barrow, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court for:

• Rape of a female
• Sexual assault by penetration on a female
• Committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence
• Sexual assault
• Common assault

The offences relate to incidents against two women which occurred between February 2015 and February 2020.

Crawford will serve a minimum of two thirds of his sentence before being eligible for release on licence. He is considered a dangerous offender and will be subject to the sex offenders register for life.

Investigating officer Sergeant Kerry-Anne Travis said: “I would like to thank the two victims for their bravery in reporting these offences.

“Sexual violence can have a devastating impact on victims and their families.  We would encourage any person who may have experienced such incidents to report the matter to police. We have specially trained officers to investigate and support you throughout.

“I would like to give special thanks to the Bridgeway Sexual Assault Referral Clinic (SARC). They provide an invaluable service to victims of sexual offences who may not wish to report sexual offences directly to police. Victims can self-refer to the SARC and will be supported by a specialist team.”

Description

A perverted chef who sexually assaulted a semi-conscious student on Concert Square has been jailed again after groping a girl on a train.

James Owen, who has a shocking record for sex offences, drunkenly attacked the teenager as she travelled on the service with a friend.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, that the 17-year-old victim was on a train in the Wirral area in June 2021 when the stranger began talking to her. David Polglase, prosecuting, described how the 27-year-old then sexually assaulted her as she got up to leave at her stop.

Owen, of Buckingham Road in Wallasey, was arrested the same evening. He has a total of 37 previous convictions for 58 offences including for "fare dodging" on railways, harassment and violent crimes.

The pervert was convicted of indecent exposure in 2015, receiving a suspended prison sentence. Owen was then locked up for 12 months for sexual assault in 2018.

The ECHO previously reported how he preyed on a drunk and defenceless student who had been separated from her friends after a night out in Liverpool city centre in May of the same year. The young woman was unable to stand when he approached and tried to talk to her, ruffled her hair then walked off towards Concert Square.

But Owen, then of Sussex Road in Southport, returned and was shown on CCTV footage standing "uncomfortably close" to the complainant before "tampering" with her handbag and spilling its contents. She held onto a window to try and stay upright before he kissed her, despite the fact that her eyes were closed.

The sex offender went on to rifle through her bag, stealing cigarettes and a lighter. Owen - who was then homeless but working as a chef -subsequently put his hand on her leg and moved it up her thigh, before he was joined by a second man who pinched her mobile phone.

An unknown woman also stole an item from the victim's handbag before passersby intervened. The defendant subsequently received a 17-week imprisonment suspended for two years in April 2021 for failing to comply with notification requirements and battery.

Paul Wood, defending, told the court that his client had "expressed remorse and been abstinent from alcohol". He added: "Very importantly, he has showed insight into what he has done.

"He does want to change his way. He has lived somewhat of a chaotic life."

Owen admitted sexual assault shortly before he was due to stand trial, as well as a further charge of failing to comply with notification requirements after neglecting to inform the police of a change of address. He was jailed for two years and told to sign the sex offenders' register for a further 10 years, as well as being handed an indefinite restraining order.

Sentencing, Judge David Hale said: "You didn't know her from Adam, but you struck up a conversation. When she gets up to leave, you stuck your hand out and groped her in the crotch without any thought for the consequences.

"She has been extremely badly affected by it. You have troubling previous convictions, some of them trivial and some of them not - including a previous sexual assault.

"This took place on a train when people were about. Despite that, you felt able to do this."

Description

A former teacher who worked at a Catholic comprehensive secondary school in Westgate-on-Sea has been “indefinitely” banned from teaching in England after sending sexually explicit messages to a minor.

Lee Startup, 50, who had been employed as curriculum leader for geography at Ursuline College since 2016, was arrested by police in 2021.

In January 2022 he was convicted of engaging in sexual communication with a child and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months. Mr Startup was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and required to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Despite the offence not involving any pupil from the school, he was suspended from work and is "no longer in the employment of the Trust or the school", the college has confirmed. During a professional conduct panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency, it was decided that prohibition was both “proportionate and appropriate”.

The report by the TRA, which was published this week, stated that the allegation against Mr Startup was supported by evidence presented to the panel. Mr Startup was not present at the hearing nor represented. The panel concluded his absence was voluntary and he was aware that the matter would proceed in his absence.

The panel noted sentencing remarks from the judge that stated Mr Startup had posed "as someone under half his age" and "actively engaged in sexualised communication with a real child". The TRA reports states the judge added during sentencing "The messages were explicit, I'm afraid, and provide a clear indication of you having sexual interest in children of her age. And I'm afraid your protestations to the contrary somewhat dilute your expressions of remorse".

The report also highlights no evidence was provided to the panel that Mr Startup had demonstrated insight or remorse into his behaviour. However they did note the judge's remarks that Mr Startup efforts to "try to understand what led to his offending of this nature", had "just about" convinced the judge to avoid sending him to prison that day.

During the hearing, the panel had not received any testimonial evidence speaking of Mr Startup’s character, but inferred from evidence that he was a “good teacher”. However, the report added: “There was no evidence that he was an exceptional teacher or has made a significant contribution to the teaching profession.”

The panel considered the public interest in respect of “the protection of pupils”, adding that public confidence in the profession could “be seriously weakened” if such conduct was “not treated with the utmost seriousness when regulating the conduct of the profession”. The report reads: “The panel found that the seriousness of the offending behaviour that led to the conviction was relevant to Mr Startup's ongoing suitability to teach.

“The panel considered that a finding that this conviction was for a relevant offence was necessary to reaffirm clear standards of conduct so as to maintain public confidence in the teaching profession."

“The panel was satisfied that the conduct of Mr Startup in relation to the facts it found proved, involved breaches of the Teachers’ Standards,” it reads. It also mentioned the “effect of alcohol misuse” which may have impacted his behaviour, but there was limited information about this. The panel noted that there is no evidence to demonstrate that Mr Startup “has proactively taken meaningful steps to minimise the risk of repetition of his behaviour”.

'A prohibition order is proportionate'

After considering all evidence put before him, TRA decision maker David Oatley said: “In my judgement, the lack of insight means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils. I have therefore given this element considerable weight in reaching my decision.

“A prohibition order would prevent Mr Startup from teaching. A prohibition order would also clearly deprive the public of his contribution to the profession for the period that it is in force.

For these reasons, I have concluded that a prohibition order is proportionate and in the public interest in order to achieve the intended aims of a prohibition order. I consider therefore that allowing for no review period is necessary to maintain public confidence and is proportionate and in the public interest.”

He added: "This means that Mr Startup is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegation found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Startup shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach."

Executive director of education at the Kent Catholic Schools Partnership (KCSP) Mike Walters said: “KCSP and the Ursuline College were made aware in late August 2020 of a serious allegation of professional misconduct involving Mr Startup. Steps were immediately taken to ensure that Mr Startup was suspended from work and he is no longer in the employment of the Trust or the school. The allegation did not relate to any pupil or staff member in the school, the Trust or the locality.”

Mr Startup has been approached for a comment.

Description

A man has been jailed for child sexual offences following the hard work of a team of officers from Greater Manchester Police. 

Sean Johnson (10/05/1990) of Roundhouse Avenue, Wigan, has today (Wednesday 7 June 2023) been jailed for 16 years and 6 months with a 5 year licence at Bolton Crown Court.

Johnson was found guilty of 27 counts put before him:

• 16 counts of sexual activity with a child
• Six counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13
• Two counts of assault of a child under 13
• One count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
• The court heard how Johnson repeatedly took advantage of the child and would force them to engage in acts with him.

Johnson was also charged with a section 18 wounding in an unrelated case, which he had earlier pleaded guilty to.

In that instance, Johnson attacked a man in a pub in Wigan in July 2022, leaving the man with serious and life-changing injuries.

The sentencing follows painstaking work by GMP detectives and officers, whose commitment has helped secure Johnson's conviction.

Their work now means Johnson is off the streets, behind bars, and away from the public.

In total, he received 14 years for the sexual offences and a further two-and-a-half for the assault. 

Inspector Andy Devine, of GMP’s Wigan division, said: “I firstly want to thank the victims in this case for their bravery throughout the process. Sean Johnson’s crimes were truly horrendous and today marks the culmination of a lengthy investigation.

“I hope that all of those involved can take some comfort in knowing that Johnson is now behind bars and and will be locked away for a long time.

“We encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, or knows someone who has, to come forward and speak to the police. We will listen to you and we will investigate. Your safety is our number-one priority.”