Latest Offenders

Description

A fish restaurant manager sent a series of "disgusting and repugnant" pictures and videos to a fake 12-year-old girl after they exchanged intimate and explicit messages on social media platforms Kick and Snapchat.

Mark Collinson used the false name "Fandango" and he jokingly admitted to the decoy girl that he was a "bad man" for talking to her and that he "could get in loads of trouble" for it. He asked her to keep quiet about their X-rated conversations because it was "our secret" and he later sent her a message with a Valentine's Day heart on it, Hull Crown Court heard.

Collinson, 41, of North Cave, admitted attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity during communication between January 25 and February 22, 2022.

Annabelle Coakley, prosecuting, said that Collinson used the false name "Fandango" and he sent a message on the Kick social media site to an undercover decoy, who was posing as a 12-year-old girl. She accepted Collinson's invitation to chat and he also added her on Snapchat.

They began communicating and Collinson sent a number of explicit images of himself, including committing a sex act. "The communication from the defendant was sexual in nature," said Miss Coakley.

The fake girl told Collinson that she was aged 12 and he laughingly replied: "12?!!" before making references to watching pornography and asked her explicit questions. On a couple of occasions, he asked the girl if she was still in school.

He sent a revealing video of himself and asked her if he should "lose" the boxer shorts that he was wearing. He sent a video of himself committing a sex act. "You need a spanking," he said.

Collinson sent intimate images of himself and he told the decoy girl that she was as "cute as f***". He told her: "I'm a bad man for talking to you lol. Could get in loads of trouble. It's our secret."

Collinson sent a further explicit video of himself, filmed while he was watching pornography. He later sent further images of himself and explicit messages. He asked her a picture and asked her what underwear she had on.

On February 14, 2022, Collinson sent her an image of a heart and the message "Happy Valentine's Day". The conversations continued until February 22, 2022. He was arrested on May 7 of that year at his home.

He claimed during police interview that he believed that the decoy was an adult and that he had done nothing wrong. He had no previous convictions.

Ben Hammersley, mitigating, said that Collinson had shown regret and shame and he had difficulty expressing what had happened. He pleaded guilty, acted out of character and struggled to accept what he had done.

"There has been no police involvement in the two-and-a-half years since then," said Mr Hammersley. "He is quite rightly disgusted by his behaviour.

"There is no other word for it. It's disgusting and repugnant." Collinson had worked all his life and he was a restaurant manager in Hull.

Recorder Paul Reid told Collinson: "For some time, you have an unnatural and unlawful sexual interest in children. Kick is well known to be used by children as a social media platform.

"The decoy was posing as a 12-year-old. You invited her to chat and you did so over a period of about a month. This was both on Kick and Snapchat. You went on in the conversation to talk about pornography and sex."

Collinson was given a 14-month suspended prison sentence, 100 hours' unpaid work and 30 days' rehabilitation. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and he must register as a sex offender for 10 years. He was ordered to pay £425 costs.

Description

A former Shetland primary school teacher has been jailed for 30 months after molesting six of his pupils in their classroom more than a decade ago.

Stephen Tait was also added to the sex offenders register for life following a trial that convicted the 41-year-old of six charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour.

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Description

A convicted terrorist who made a chemical weapon has appeared back in court for failing to comply with a notification order, drugs offences and possessing "disturbing" child abuse images.

Ian Davison - who also goes by Ian Deleney - was caged for 44 months after pleading guilty to the following offences in 2023:

• Five counts of failing to comply with requirements under his 10-year Part 4 Notification order, contrary to the Counter Terrorism Act 2008
• Produce a Class B drug (Cannabis), contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
• Possess with intent to supply a Class B drug (Cannabis), contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

As part of a separate investigation led by Cleveland Police, the 55-year-old was also convicted of three counts of indecent images of children, contrary to the Protection of Children Act 1978, and one count of possession of prohibited images of a child, contrary to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. The Longhirst, Middlesbrough defendant is now a registered sex offender and will be subject to a 10-Year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

In May 2010, Davison was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for producing a chemical weapon, preparing acts of terrorism, three counts of possessing material useful to commit acts of terror and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon. When arrested in 2009, searches at his home address found he had manufactured Ricin, which was found in a jar in his kitchen.

Detective Constable Dave Medd from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) at Cleveland Police said: “This was one of the worst cases I have dealt with due to the disturbing nature of the images. The victims in these images suffer horrendous ordeals, and as a force we’re committed to doing everything possible to bring those who access such images to justice.”

Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said: “Those subject to notification orders are strictly monitored, and breaches of any kind are taken extremely seriously and will be prosecuted. We continue to work tirelessly alongside our partners to identify any further offending and ensure that individuals are brought to justice.”

Description

A sex offender was warned he is a "marked man" after breaching a court order aimed at controlling his deviant behaviour on Valentine's Day.

Paul Carmon was made subject to a community order for an attempted child sex offence in 2018. As a result of that he was made subject to sex offender registration with one of the requirements being he was not to use pseudonyms.

But on February 14 this year, he used the names Paul Nook and Paul Smith while talking online to what appeared to be a 12-year-old girl but was actually a decoy profile being run by a law enforcement officer. The conversation took place on Chat Avenue and Snapchat.

Carmon, 43, of Wynyard Drive, Bedlington, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements by using the aliases but there was no suggestion he had communicated sexually with the profile. Recorder Tony Hawks, at Newcastle Crown Court, said: "He is doing his best to get locked up."

The judge sentenced him to six months suspended for two years with rehabilitation and he must sign the sex offenders register for seven years. Recorder Hawks told him: "You have a serious problem. Unless you address it, it's going to end up with you going to prison, do you understand?

"I've read a report about you that says you did well on your community order but the fundamental purpose of that order was to stop you trying to communicate with underage girls. You have done it again.

"You are a marked man Mr Carmon, do you understand that? You are not going to get away with doing it so you are going to have to sit down with the professionals and work out some strategy to stop doing this, unless you want to go to prison.

"I'm not going to tell you how to live your life but the next time this happens it's bound to be immediate custody."

Vic Laffey, defending, said: "He is an intelligent man and has acted a bit recklessly."

Description

A man has been sentenced to almost four years in jail after CAIT detectives were able to link him to the sexual assault of a young girl in Harlow.

Officers were alerted to an incident on Wednesday 15 June 2022 at Oakwood Pond.

During the incident, a teenage girl was approached by a man shortly before 4.20pm and sexually assaulted her.

Thankfully, she was able to get away and seek help.

We then launched an investigation into the incident and used the description given to us by the victim in order to locate Luis Palma.

His distinctive clothing, a blue t-shirt, blue denim shorts and Vans-style trainers, allowed us to identify him using CCTV. His description and images of him were then circulated amongst officers who were patrolling across Harlow.

On Friday 17 June, officers passed a man who was holding a Nike bag which appeared to be similar to one being carried by the man in the CCTV footage. He was then followed and paused to look back at officers before walking into two waiting officers ahead of him.

He was then arrested and during a search of his home, each of the distinctive items of clothing were all found.

As the investigation progressed, officers also uncovered sexually explicit messages on Instagram between Palma and a 14-year-old girl. Throughout the messages, the girl had made it clear that she was aged 14 but Palma pursued the conversation.

Palma, 31, of Fold Croft, Harlow, was subsequently charged with sexual assault and sexually communicating with a 14-year-old girl between April 2022 and June 2022.

Palma appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court in February and admitted both charges.

He was sentenced at the same court on Wednesday 10 April to 44 months in jail. He will remain on the sex offender’s register for life and will be deported at the end of his sentence.

Officers were also successful in applying for a sexual harm prevention order and he has been banned from entering Harlow indefinitely.

Description

An evil sex abuser made his child victim so fearful she even dreaded her beloved dad tucking her into bed at night. William Stuart James, now 86, first attacked his victim when she was under 10 years old and ignored her pleas begging him to stop.

James, of Waun y Felin, Penclawdd, Swansea, repeatedly assaulted his victim during a period of time in the 1970s. His abuse included digital penetration, kissing and touching parts of her body until she felt pain. He also forced her to touch his penis.

A second campaign of abuse happened in the 1980s when the victim was a young teenager. By this point, James' actions escalated to rape. He also forced her to touch his body and masturbate him.

After evading justice for more than four decades while his victim lived, silenced by fear, James was found guilty on March 22 at Cardiff Crown Court following a trial. He faced eight counts of indecent assault and one of rape before being sentenced to 14 years in prison.

In a powerful victim impact statement read out to the court, his victim - who has automatic lifelong anonymity - described how James' actions permeated every part of her life and even made her fear the people she loved.

Now in her 50s, she told the court: "You put me in impossible situations where I had to endure things that made me feel broken, dirty and deeply distressed. From the first incident I felt terrified of you and increasingly of all men, even my precious dad as he tucked me into bed. You robbed me of growing into a person who trusts men and can eventually have a normal sexual relationship.

"I cannot do certain intimate things and have anxiety in the middle of them and at times even kissing puts me straight back into the past. Because of what you did I struggled to breastfeed my precious babies and having simple things like a bath cause me anxiety as I want to cover up as quick as possible."

She explained how she had always struggled with understanding her identity as a direct result of James' actions and resented parts of her own body. "[I] have always felt immense guilt and thought something was wrong with my body and it always felt dirty. I grew up believing my body was ugly and deformed," she said.

Despite being a "naturally happy" person, she described how James' actions caused her intense anxiety and fear throughout her life. She tried to speak out about what happened, but said the fear would stop her in her tracks. She added: "Your insistence of me promising never to tell anyone caused me immense pressure and silent worry. I felt forced to act in a certain way in front of everyone and not show anything was wrong. I carried the heaviest burden whilst you lived your successful life.

"My life has been far from successful, after what you did to me, my ability to learn was ruined as I couldnt ask for help or explain myself at all as I was full of nerves. I never caught up or felt I achieved in education. I was robbed of my confidence and voice and have always struggled to say what my needs are and ask for help

"Even my school reports said I was a nervous and anxious child. I felt totally alone at school and growing up was made worse after Id gone through puberty and another dreadful time where Id endured repeats and escalations of sexual abuse by you.

"I felt manipulated and whilst you insisted everything was ok and just as it should be, my inability to understand what was happening to me made me feel worthless. The things you whispered in my ears play over and over again when I least expect them, and flashbacks of the incidents have plagued my mind til this day. I have struggled to regulate my feelings and often turned to alcohol and struggled with eating problems

"I find it hard to express myself at times and often feel insecure and misunderstood. Naturally I am a happy, friendly person, but the silent pain that I as a young child began to carry has overshadowed all of my life to this day. For many years it felt like a little person inside was crying out please help me but I could never speak that out."

Addressing James, she said: "Can you for one minute think about what it was like for me to be forced to do sexual stuff with you and then walk out of those rooms and immediately act as if everything was okay. The immensity of anxiety to try to hide what had just happened in those rooms was deeply distressing. Equally, the desperation to tell someone was soul destroying as I knew I couldnt."

She asked him if he had "any idea how gut wrenching my cries were" for her mummy and daddy to take her away from him. "No-one heard and no-one helped me or comforted me. You were solely responsible for all of that."

She thanked friends and family for supporting her and giving her the courage to report James' crimes to the police in 2021. She said: "I have tried throughout the years to talk about what happened and to get help but Ive found this difficult. It is through friends and family that I've had the strength to talk to the police now. I have felt guilt over this as I never wanted to hurt anyone, but I decided that this deep pain must come to an end and speaking the truth out loud will help me finally start to heal."

Concluding her statement, she told the court how James had said "sorry" twice during phone calls, but never showed "any remorse or acknowledgement of the pain he made [her] endure".

She added: "You have always spoken with convincing words and it has been said many times what a good man you are. You convinced everyone around you to believe it. But now, finally, the truth of your total lack of morality, self-discipline and real love is evident for all who are here to see. Everything in your life has always come down to you having your own way and your sexual appetite being gratified. The boundaries that stop normal people crossing, you cross with ease."

Description

A man has been jailed after kidnapping and attempting to rape a woman in a van in North London. Tyrone Allert, 37, has been described by police as a 'violent predator'.

The Met was called at around 11.40am on Sunday (July 24) to reports of a man standing at the back of a white van in Marsh Lane, Haringey, with his jeans pulled down and sounds of a woman from inside the van shouting ‘help me’. Another call to police reported that the same vehicle, driven by Allert, had collided with six vehicles at Warwick Road, N11, and had been driven at a man who narrowly escaped injury.

Multiple police units were notified and an ANPR tracker was placed on the vehicle. The victim was then located at an East London hospital. She had suffered multiple injuries consistent with beating, police found. Thankfully, they weren't life-threatening.

Allert was arrested at his home address that same day on suspicion of kidnap and assault, and taken into custody on July 26. He was charged with attempted GBH with intent, assault ABH, attempted rape, rape, kidnap, racially aggravated harassment, assault of an emergency worker, possession of an offensive weapon (a knife) and dangerous driving.

The court heard how on July 24, 2022, the 28-year-old female victim had been drinking with friends and at some point had been picked up by Allert, who, seeing that she was intoxicated, had given her more alcohol and driven around with her in the back of his van. He then repeatedly pulled over trying to have sex with the victim, attempting to 'beat her into submission'.

When he was taken into custody Allert racially abused an officer before eventually assaulting him and causing injuries that required hospital treatment. The officer has since made a full recovery, the Met says.

Victim 'clearly heard to say that she didn’t want to have sex'

Allert claimed that the victim had consented to getting into the van and to having sex with him. But, when his mobile phone was examined, officers found clips of himself verbally abusing and assaulting the victim.

The victim in the footage was clearly heard to say that she didn’t want to have sex and at one point she said ‘this is rape’. The footage also showed her attempting to escape from the van, but Allert continually pushed her back inside.

Allert appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday (April 9) where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. This would be followed by five years on extended licence for the false imprisonment and attempted rape of a woman.

He was previously convicted at the same court following trial on November 14, 2023, where he had pleaded guilty to assault (ABH), racially aggravated harassment, assault on an emergency worker, possession of an offensive weapon and dangerous driving.

Detective Constable Iain McDonald, investigating, said: “The victim-survivor in this case has been incredibly brave. Realising the danger she was in she fought tirelessly to escape Tyrone Allert who is a violent predator.”

He added: “We are dedicated to protecting women and girls, eradicating sexual violence caused largely at the hands of predatory men such as Allert, and to supporting those who are impacted by sexual assault and/or rape. The effects of sexual offences can be long lasting, but I sincerely hope that the victim can move forward with her life leaving Allert and his despicable actions behind her.”

Description

A "sneaky" sexual "predator" set up a hidden camera to film women inside a toilet cubicle.

The "obnoxious" and "distasteful" filming was discovered when a woman discovered to her horror and shock that there was a camera hidden inside a bin. Thomas Day, 25, of Grafton Street, Hull, admitted voyeurism involving three women and other offences of making indecent images of children.

"It caused her to panic," said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse. Police were alerted and CCTV showed that it was Day who had put the camera there.

Day was arrested. Two other women who had been filmed were also identified. There were also images of "upskirting" of one of them. During police interview, he made no comment to questions.

The woman who discovered the camera later said that she regarded Day as a "predator" because of what he had done and what he could potentially do to others. "What he did to me really hurt and has changed the way I view things and people," she said.

"My sleep has been affected and I wake up. I dream of cameras being on my walls. I should not have been made to experience this. Anyone should feel safe using the toilet and should not have to look out for cameras."

Another of the women said that she felt "violated" by what happened and it had left her "anxious and paranoid" about possible cameras in public buildings. She felt "uncomfortable" and "very angry" about what Day had done and it had affected her day-to-day behaviour.

"I am now constantly looking out for cameras, regardless of where I am," she said. She felt as if she was being watched in toilets "despite this being unlikely".

The third woman said that the filming made her feel "so angry and anxious" and it made her "shake from the inside" because she felt that her private space had been invaded. She was shocked and found the behaviour disgusting and hurtful," said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse.

Day's electronic devices were searched and 935 images of children in the most serious Category A were found, as well as 987 in Category B and 12,789 in Category C. There were 471 prohibited images of children and three extreme pornography images. The images had been downloaded over a number of years.

Nigel Clive, mitigating, said of the voyeurism: "This is reprehensible, sneaky behaviour. This offending is indicative of a man with extremely damaged thought processes. The defendant would wish to apologise to the victims of his offending."

Day had "poor emotional regulation" of his sexual needs and he had been very open about his motivation for his "terrible" behaviour. "He knows what he has done and it's worthy of prison," said Mr Clive.

It was a "sexually predatory course of conduct" and Day's sexual preoccupation showed "distorted thinking" over the "distasteful" offences. "There has been no offending since," added Mr Clive. Day had no previous convictions.

Recorder Paul Reid told Day: "You have led a solitary existence, which you have misspent over a number of years." Of the women who were secretly filmed, the recorder said: "What they are left with is a feeling of complete insecurity because nobody expects this sort of thing to happen to them in a private place and, rightly, they don't expect this because they are entitled to assume that a private place like this is private and they are not going to be looked at like this by anyone.

"They have been very badly affected by this. You didn't at any stage attempt to minimise what you did." Day had later "given thought" to his "obnoxious activity" and had sought help. The images of children that were found were "appalling".

Day was given a 22-month suspended prison sentence, 100 hours' unpaid work, a 90-day sex offenders' treatment programme and 20 days' rehabilitation. He was ordered to pay 750 compensation 250 to each woman and he was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will have to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Description

A Blairgowrie man who induced a 14-year-old schoolgirl to perform a sex act on him has been sentenced.

Jamie Stewart, 31, admitted a campaign of sexual misconduct towards the girl, starting almost seven years ago.

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Description

A paedophile found in possession of cocaine tried to hide a mobile phone from police who attended his address in Crawley.

Jonathan Price downloaded multiple indecent images onto his phones.

He was initially arrested, and strict bail conditions were imposed so digital forensic work could be completed. But while on bail he continued to download and distribute sexual images of children.

The 35-year-old also downloaded extreme pornographic images. When officers went to arrest him again for new offences, he tried to hide a mobile phone and resisted arrest.

At interview he claimed that the phones belonged to friends, despite evidence which showed his direct use of the devices.

Police were able to also show how he had attempted to engage in sexual communication with children online.

Price, formerly a motor mechanic of an address in the Tilgate area of Crawley, eventually pleaded guilty to all 16 offences and at Lewes Crown Court on March 28 he was sentenced to four and half years in prison.

The court was told how Price was first arrested in December 2022, and found to be in possession of indecent images of children, extreme pornography, and cocaine.

While on bail for those offences, officers received further information that he was continuing to view and distribute paedophilic images of children.

So Price was arrested again in August 2023 and remanded to prison pending court proceedings.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Sophie Alderson said: “Price was initially arrested and strict bail conditions were imposed while digital forensic work was undertaken.

"But he continued to possess and download appalling images of child sexual abuse. When officers arrested him on the second occasion, he was found intoxicated on cocaine and he fought to prevent officers from seizing his new mobile phone.

"In his interviews, he concocted bizarre claims about the devices that he was clearly using. He blamed fictitious acquaintances and claimed he was being threatened to hold onto devices for other paedophiles.

"Our evidence showed he had downloaded indecent images and also showed his personal use of the phones, which included having his personal contacts saved as well as having access to his own personal accounts.

"Possession of and downloading indecent images causes huge harm to those shown in the images and downloading them continues the appalling trade in these indecent images. This case shows we are determined to prevent these offences and to stop offenders from causing further harm to children.”

In total, Price was convicted of six counts of distributing indecent images of a children of all categories, two counts of possession of extreme pornographic images depicting sex with animals, three counts of making indecent images of children, three counts of attempting to communicate with children under the age of 16 for sexual gratification, and two counts of possession of cocaine.

The Sexual Harm Prevention Order forbids Price from owning electronic devices, mobile phones and computer devices without police permission. He is not allowed to have a social media account except in his own name and with prior police permission, and he is not allowed to use social media apps which use live streaming. Any computer equipment must have monitoring software installed and passwords and usernames must be given to the police before he can access them.

The order also requires him to inform parents and guardians of children before he is allowed to be in contact with them. He is now also a registered sex offender.

Description

Pervert Martin Rhodes has been jailed after he tried to encourage a 14-year-old 'girl' to perform a sex act. The 52-year-old, who was jailed for similar matters in 2017, was in fact communicating with a paedophile hunter.

But Rhodes asked the 'girl' to send pictures of herself and he sent intimate pictures to her. The police were called in and he had deleted the conversation on his phone, which he was banned from doing under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed seven years ago.

Now Rhodes has been jailed for four-and-a-half years at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson said the police were contacted by a member of a paedophile hunter group in February who said he was speaking to the defendant online.

Mr Dickinson said: "He was posing as a 14-year-old girl. The decoy was using an app which made it appear she looked like a 14-year-old child.

"The defendant initiated the communication by sending a Facebook friend request. The decoy made clear her age was 14.

"The conversation quickly turned sexual. The defendant asked to send pictures of herself. He explained how to perform a sex act on herself.

"He also sent her videos of pornography. He sent pictures of his private area and the private area of an adult woman. He encouraged her to buy a sex toy.

"He sent her his phone number, images of his car and himself. A police officer was able to identify him. There was a conversation about meeting up but it did not go far enough.

"The communication stopped on February 18. Police attended his address three days later. He was arrested. A number of devices were seized for examination. His phone did not have the conversation with the decoy on it. He must have deleted it. That placed him in breach of a SHPO he received in July 2017 when he was jailed for four years for attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity."

Rhodes, of Knights Croft, Keele, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child; two charges of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity; attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and two charges of breaching a SHPO.

Martin Bloor, mitigating, said Rhodes, a dad-of-four, knew he would receive a significant sentence. He added the defendant has a number of health issues.

Judge Graeme Smith said: "You have convictions in 2017 for offences which followed a very similar pattern where you contacted someone online through Facebook and WhatsApp who you believed to be a child. In that case the child was 11, in this case a 14-year-old. In both cases there was no actual child.

"You sent a number of sexual photos and videos. You also tried to get the same from the person you were communicating with. You also discussed sexual matters and encouraged her to perform a sex act.

"There was no real child. It was people who deliberately set up profiles to ensnare people like yourself who look for young girls on the internet."

Rhodes remains subject to the SHPO and is on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Description

A PERVERT was caught in possession of hundreds of depraved images of a sexual nature involving animals.

Police also found vile indecent images of children on electronic devices belonging to Martin Bartrop.

The 35-year-old, of Runcorn, was later charged with two counts of possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals, three counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing indecent images of children.

He admitted all of the offences before being sentenced at Chester Crown Court.

Detailing the facts of the case, prosecutor Mark Connor informed the court how in January 2021, police seized Bartrop’s Dell computer and mobile phone.

These were sent off for a forensic analysis, and this confirmed the presence of indecent images of children.

Officers found 11 photos in total, of which six were graded as category A – the most severe involving child rape.

Of the remaining five, two were categorised as category B and three as category C.

Further searches also found 525 extreme pornographic images.

These portrayed, in an ‘explicit and realistic way’, a person performing an act of intercourse with an animal.

The charge describes them as ‘grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character’.

A later search found a further eight disgusting images of this kind.

Before sentencing, judge Steven Everett confirmed that the custody threshold had been crossed, but he opted to draw back from making the jail term immediate.

Bartrop, of no fixed abode, but of Runcorn, was sentenced to 16 months in prison suspended for two years.

This will include 35 days of the Horizon sex offender rehabilitation programme, 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He must also sign the sex offender register for the next 10 years and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for the same length of time.

In addition, the court approved an application for the forfeiture and destruction of the Dell computer and mobile phone seized by police during the course of the investigation.

Description

A predator who set up a bogus market research business for high street fashion companies to sexually assault seven female models has been jailed.

Connor Morris, 26, created the company with fake employees and even hired premises at great financial expense to carry out the elaborate and disgusting scam.

He lured his victims to the hired work space by advertising on Facebook and Snapchat for models aged 18-30.

He paid them £150 each to take part in 'data research' he said was to improve sizing for companies like Asos, Pretty Little Things, Boohoo, Oh Polly and Love Honey.

His victims could earn an extra £50 if they agreed to a 'muscle analysis' which required them to strip and let him measure their bodies.

It was an 'elaborate confidence trick' just so he could grope their breasts and touch their bottoms.

Morris, who worked as a leisure centre lifeguard, also set up hidden cameras in the Branksome Consulting Centre in Poole, Dorset, to film the women in a state of undress.

Two of the victims came out of the meeting and agreed the experience had been 'really weird' and decided to go to the police.

Devices were seized from Morris' home and 32 images of young women taken without their knowledge were found.

Police tracked down seven different victims who had been 'violated' by Morris.

He initially denied taking any sexual gratification out of the process and told police he had planned to contact the companies and see if they wanted to purchase the data he had obtained.

He eventually admitted nine charges of sexual assault and three counts of voyeurism between June and July 2020.

He was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Bournemouth Crown Court, a sentence described as 'absolutely disgusting' by one of his victims.

Charles Gabb, prosecuting, said Morris told the owners of the business centre that he needed space for legitimate purposes, namely lifeguard refresher training.

He said emails were sent to his potential victims from a fictitious Sophie Parnell representing Connor Morris Group Ltd.

Mr Gabb said: "The defendant used pseudonyms, creating a fake business with fake members of staff and said he was working in partnership with companies like Asos, Pretty Little Things, Boohoo, Oh Polly and Love Honey.

"It was a truly elaborate set up of deception. He said he was carrying out research and offering them money to have various body measurements taken.

"He also asked if they would agree to be paid extra for him to apply pressure to various body parts for muscle analysis.

"Emails were sent from a Sophie Parnell at Connor Morris Group Ltd - she was fiction, she never existed. It was all done to give the air of credibility.

"He touched the breasts and/or bottoms, often skin-to-skin and observed them topless.

"These companies have all been contacted and it is all rubbish, quite simply nothing like that ever existed, the whole thing was a complete scam."

Speaking of one victim, Mr Gabb said: "She said she felt he had dragged the process out to keep her topless for longer. She felt uncomfortable throughout but trusted the defendant and thought of him as a close friend."

Reading from victim impact statements, the young women described feeling sick and disgusted, suffering trust issues and even PTSD, with some undergoing counselling.

One said: "It mortifies me to think the level of thought he has gone through to carry out this assault on me."

The court heard Morris, who was 22 at the time the offending started, had no previous convictions.

Lauren Hebditch, defending, said Morris, of West Street in Wareham, led a 'fairly isolated life', only had a small circle of friends, had been bullied at school and had only ever had one relationship.

She said he has been diagnosed as autistic and had taken a number of steps independently to address his offending including sessions with a specialist sexual psychotherapist.

She said: "He wholeheartedly accepts his action, he expresses regret, remorse and shame for all his actions. He said he caused a ripple of harm that spread across many different individuals."

Judge Jonathan Fuller said: "The victims' personal statements all talk of violation, disgust and being exposed.

"They all speak of a betrayal of trust that has had a lasting impact on them.

"This was an elaborate and determined effort (from you) to seek gratification both through voyeurism and sexual assault, under the guise of a legitimate examination.

"The effect on any reasonable person was humiliation."

After the sentencing, one of the victims slammed the judges sentence which they said was 'too lenient'.

The victim said they would consider appealing the sentence so it could be made more severe.

She said: "Connor Morris groomed me and he betrayed my trust.

"He violated our bodies. He is vile.

"The sentence is absolutely disgusting and he will be out of jail in less than two years.

"What kind of message does that send about sexually assaulting multiple women?

"It almost says that it is ok to do it.

"To give such a light sentence with the number of victims shows that the justice system needs addressing.

"We (the victims) are going to appeal the sentence."

Description

A "DANGEROUS" paedophile has been jailed for multiple sexual offences against a child which began when she was eight years old.

Phillip Hull, 28 of Hawtree Close, Southend, appeared at Basildon Crown Court today where he was jailed for more than 10 years after admitting to multiple sexual offences against a child.

Hull was arrested two days after Essex Police's child abuse investigation team received a report of sexual abuse.

The victim reported multiple accounts of sexual assault, which began when she was eight years old.

Following extensive enquiries, Hull was charged with attempted rape of a girl under 13, two counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13, two counts of causing a girl to engage in sexual activity, observing a person doing a private act, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, engaging in sexual communication with a child and four counts of assault a girl under 13 by touching.

In a court hearing, Hull denied attempted rape of a girl under 13, two counts of causing a girl to engage in sexual activity, voyeurism and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

This plea was accepted by the judge and Hull was sentenced today to 10 years and six months in prison.

He has been ordered to serve at least two thirds of that sentence.

He was also issued with a restraining order against the victim for life. As well as this, he was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and issued with a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A paedophile jailed for trying to contact children online says he did it as a form of escapism from his boring job. Alastair Walsh, 49, has been locked up for 18 months after being caught in a police sting.

He was convicted of attempted sexual communication with three online profiles set up by undercover cops. He quickly turned the chat sexual and discussed the possibility of meeting up.

He did not know the profiles were decoys and the children did not exist. Police arrested him at his home in Ilfracombe and seized devices. They found evidence he also liked to chat with other paedophiles about his fantasies online.

Walsh admitted three offences of attempted sexual communication with a child and one of distributing an indecent image.

Prosecutor Paul Grumbar said the three communication offences each followed a similar pattern with Walsh using Kik and thinking he was messaging girls. In one message to a decoy 13-year-old he said he said was a 19-year-old call Al.

He sent photos of a male torso and told the 'child' he wanted to put his hands down her skirt. He also sent a pornographic image via WhatsApp.

Police arrested him in June 2022 and seized his devices. Analysis showed a number of messages, including one where he shared a category B image of a real girl aged 10-12, and others involving long discussions with other paedophiles.

He told police the activity was an escape because he was going through a difficult time and denied any intention to meet the children.

Walsh is now ashamed of his actions and would welcome rehabilitative work. He was drinking a bottle of wine and cider every day at the time and "wasn't enjoying his job," working as a manager for an unnamed firm, said Zoe Kuyken, defending. He now has a new job as a coach driver and is much happier.

Judge David Evans said: "It seems you have a clear interest in underage girls. You engaged with three profiles for young girls aged 12-13 online. You turned things sexual quite rapidly each time.

"You send them partial photos of naked bodies and solicited images from them. You discussed underage girls with other like-minded adults. You clearly pose some risk of reoffending and clearly have an interest in underage girls."