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Description

A 63 year old man has been sent to prison for 24 years after being found guilty of eight non-recent child sex offences that took place in Shanklin.

We received a report in August 2021 that a girl under the age of 10 had been sexually abused between June 2005 and March 2006. Following a thorough investigation Keith Heselton of Mulberry Mead in Whitchurch was charged with nine offences.

On 3 April Heselton was found guilty at Newport Crown Court of eight offences following a trial:

• Two offences of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13.
• One offence of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.
• Two offences of raping a girl under 13.
• One offence of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration.
• Two offences of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity - no penetration.

On Monday 12 June Heselton was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court to 24 years in prison, with a minimum term of 16 years, an additional five year license order, and a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Police Staff Investigator Louisa Parkin said: “The victim in this case, now a grown woman, has lived with the memory of this awful abuse for decades, I’m pleased we can give her the outcome the case deserved and finally some closure. I’d like to commend her bravery for coming forward and sticking with the investigation.

“We take all allegations of sexual abuse extremely seriously. We have specially trained teams that can investigate these kinds of offences and provide support to victims. If you have experienced these kinds of offences we can make a commitment to you that you will be heard and listened to, and your report will be believed. We are determined to put victims first and relentlessly pursue offenders, especially when investigating these kinds of cases”

If you have been affected by child sexual abuse you can contact police on 101 and speak to a police officer in confidence.

Description

A sick sex offender squirted semen and fake semen onto women in a series of horrifying assaults.

Willbert Mukori, from Birmingham, targeted lone “young-looking women” wearing athletic clothing to fulfil his "disturbing sexual perversion".

Police say he then sprayed fake seamen from a burger sauce bottle onto their buttocks in public and in broad daylight – in one case he used his own semen.

The force branded his crimes as “methodical and premeditated” as he gained a “sexual thrill from praying on strangers.

Some of the women were targeted by Mukori, of Elswick Grove, Kingstanding multiple times.

Judge Paul Farrer KC, branded him a "predatory sex offender" as he sentenced him to four and a half years in jail - and added him to the sex offenders register for life.

Mukori will also face a four-year licence extension and a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard how lone victims - nine of whom were students - were singled out, followed and sprayed; leaving them embarrassed, scared and in one case, fearing rape, as reported by Birmingham Live.

Two of the student victims "felt compelled to move out of Birmingham" as they were so scared after their assaults, the court was told.

Mukori previously admitted 16 sexual assaults on women - 13 in Lancaster Circus, Birmingham, two in Selly Oak and one in Chesterfield seven years ago.

He was rumbled when police were able to trace his DNA back to his first crime in 2016, in Derbyshire - where he decanted and used his own sperm.

Years after the initial offence, between 2021 and 2022, he created a replica semen and began targeting women in Birmingham.

Dominic Wallis, prosecuting said one victim was "frightened she was going to be raped" as she realised she was being stalked.

When some of the women clocked him stalking them, Mukori would bend down and pretend to 'scratch his ankle' or 'tie his shoe', the court heard.

"This defendant has a very disturbing sexual perversion," Mr Wallis added.

Defending, Graham Henson told the court Mukori - a former carer - "obviously does need help".

He said: "He is a young man, he has - apart from a conviction for failing to pay a rail fare - an unblemished record. He pleaded guilty.

"His family and friends are present in court today. They are bewildered by his behaviour. It may well be that the defendant is bewildered to an extent by his behaviour, but he does need help."

Judge Paul Farrer KC said: "Many of your victims suffered significant and enduring harm,".

He told Mukori the crimes "enabled you to get an erection and thereafter you would masturbate." It was said to be the only way he could "achieve sexual gratification".

Sentencing, he told him: "You are a predatory sexual offender who targeted lone women...whatever your motivation, this is entrenched behaviour."

Judge Farrer praised West Midlands Police for their work on the complex investigation. Police strongly believe Mukori could have committed more offences. Appealing for further victims to come forward, the force launched a public portal to report crimes.

Description

A persistent sex offender who got away with his crimes against two young girls in Calderdale has finally been jailed after he went on to rape another child.

Daren Skillings, now 57, was interviewed by police almost a decade ago about his abuse of the first two complainants, but he denied any offending at the time and no further action was taken.

Prosecutor Jayne Beckett told Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday that the case was only reopened after Skillings, now of Sticker Lane, Bradford, was accused of abusing and raping a third young girl several years later.

One of Skillings’ first victims faced him in court and finally saw him jailed for 11 years. He was handed an additional extended licence period of one year, to be served at the end of the sentence.

Mrs Beckett read moving victim impact statements from all three complainants, who must not be identified for legal reasons, in which they described the nightmares, flashbacks and trauma they had suffered as a result of Skillings’ offending.

One of his first victims said she was sad it had taken years for her to get justice. She said: “I never got my justice when I first reported it...I wasn’t believed." She said the subsequent rape offence could have been prevented and she now hoped Skillings would never hurt anyone again.

The third victim said she suffered nightmares and flashbacks on a regular basis and every part of her life was difficult.

Skillings, who will now have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, pleaded guilty to the rape and abuse charges involving his most recent victim and was found guilty of abusing the two other complainants by a jury following a trial.

Catherine Silverton, for Skillings, said he had always accepted responsibility for the rape and was deeply ashamed and remorseful. She said he had been a hard-working man who appeared to have been a “functioning alcoholic”.

Jailing Skillings, Judge Armstrong said the victim statements made very moving reading. He said the original case had not been pursued nearer the time and it was only following the more recent matters that it had been resurrected.

Skillings will now have to serve two-thirds of his 11-year prison sentence and he will have to comply with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order when he is finally released on licence.

Description

An ex-soldier sent a teenage girl a naked photo of himself – and asked for one of her in return.

40-year-old Dean Bird pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child and was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court today (Tuesday).

Edward Hetherington, prosecuting, said the defendant had liked and commented on the 14-year-old’s selfies on her Instagram account numerous times in late 2020.

 In January 2021, he sent the girl a flame emoji – which is accepted as meaning you find someone ‘hot’ (attractive). She alerted a family member to the message and he took over the conversation.

Bird, who lives in Swindon and works as a scaffolder, said he needed a shower after a hard day and spoke about his military service.

During the exchange, the girl’s family member confirmed her age to the man. He proceeded to ask for a photograph, saying that he would not tell anyone about it.

Bird was sent a photograph containing the girl’s face. In response, he sent her a photograph of his legs followed by one of his erect penis. He went on to ask her for a naked photograph.

The family member downloaded a photograph of a naked adult woman from the internet and sent it to the defendant – and he responded “wow” with a smiling face emoji with stars in its eyes.

The family member – who knew Bird through a friend – attended his address, banging on his door and making threats. Police were called to the scene, and were shown evidence of his online behaviour.

The court heard that the former soldier, who was shot in the leg by the Taliban in Afghanistan, has previous convictions for dangerous driving and violence.

Chris Smyth, defending, said his client’s “mind was all over the place” at the time of the offending.

Adding that Bird suffers from mental health issues as a result of his military service. On a mission together, his best friend was shot and killed by the Taliban. On another, he was shot in the leg. He was medically discharged from the army more than ten years ago.

Mr Smyth said the defendant works as a scaffolder for various firms and lives alone in a two-bed rented flat after the recent ending of a ten-year relationship.

He also played rugby for Cheltenham up until 2021, has an interest in fishing and played ice hockey for Swindon Rec Wildcats Ice Hockey Team – where he was, at one point, a captain.

Judge Jason Taylor said he was confident Bird would not re-offend, imposing a two-year community order with the requirement to complete 175 hours of unpaid work.

He must also complete the Horizon sex offenders’ programme and 30 rehabilitation activity days with the probation service.

Bird was made subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order with eight terms – one of which prohibits him from communicating with under 18s unless there is a legitimate reason.

Description

A 20-year-old man was told that downloading images of child abuse was not "a victimless crime" as he avoided a sentence of detention.

Michael Fallows, of Friars Street, Inverness was appearing for sentence before Sheriff Gary Aitken after previously admitting possessing 142 images.

Inverness Sheriff Court had been told that 43 of them were of the most extreme kinds of abuse.

The images were found on a Samsung device after police received intelligence that they had been downloaded on March 5, 2021.

Police raided the property at Montrose Mansions, in Corpach, and seized his phone.

Sentencing Fallows to 150 hours of unpaid community work and two years of social work supervision, Sheriff Aitken said: "This is actual abuse of children watched second hand and is not some Hollywood movie.

"It is commercial exploitation of children for sexual gratification and is fuelled by people like you surfing the net. Offending of this kind is by no means victimless far from it."

Fallows was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for two years.

Description

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.