Latest Offenders

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."

Description

A nan now goes to bed every night with a pair of scissors under her pillow after she was raped at knifepoint by a man she met at a bus stop.

Alex Belay appeared to be a "nice lad", and the nan agreed to go back to his flat in the belief that she had missed the last bus home. But he instead snatched her phone from her as she spoke to her son, held a knife to her stomach and throat and subjected her to a horrific sexual assault.

She was left "genuinely believing" she was going to die during the attack. A remorseless Belay then "smirked" after finally bringing the ordeal to an end.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this week the victim had been visiting a friend before leaving to get the bus home at around midnight. She encountered the defendant at the bus stop but, believing they had missed the last service of the evening, they then began walking away together while chatting, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Olivia Beesley, prosecuting, described how Belay then invited the woman into his flat on Sefton Moss Villas in Litherland. She agreed as she "thought she would be safe and wasn't in danger because he was much younger than her".

But, having returned from the toilet, she "felt that something was wrong" and told him that she was going to leave. Belay, an asylum seeker who was born in Eritrea and came to the UK in 2020 after fleeing civil war in Sudan, responded by turning the lights out and pushing her.

When she answered an incoming call from her son, the 26-year-old took her phone from her and locked the front door. He then grabbed a knife and held it to her stomach and pointed it at her throat "every time she began to speak".

Ms Beesley said: "She thought she wasn't going to get out of there alive."

Belay then pushed the woman onto his bed, pulled her trousers down and raped her. When the assault finished, she asked "can I go?" before escaping and phoning a family member.

A trial previously heard that she was able to describe her attacker's clothing and flat "in great detail", while she was found to have left her cigarette lighter in his bathroom. Belay's DNA was also discovered in her underwear, but he denied having even met her.

In a statement which was read out to the court on her behalf during his sentencing on Thursday, she detailed how she had "tried to kill herself numerous times" since and added: "Before this happened, my life wasn't perfect but I was a jolly person. I was happy and always had a smile on my face.

"I felt like I had everything to live for. I would do anything for anyone. Since the day this happened to me, I have been so angry and depressed. I just feel numb.

"I feel so dirty and I have no self respect. I am so angry for being so stupid. I never thought for one second that my life would be ruined by this. This has consumed me.

"It's all I think about. The day this happened to me, my world ended. When I go to bed, I keep a pair of scissors under my pillow. I don't feel safe any more, not even in my own home.

"I didn't do anything wrong. I'm paying for what he did to me. I just don't understand how he could do this. I go over what happened to me every day.

"What has happened to me has scarred me for life. I sometimes think, why didn't he kill me? I just thank god for letting me live so I can see my kids again. I will never be the same again.

"I am scared of my own shadow all the time. I just can't carry on this way. I just want to forget everything and get on with life, but I just can't. It's always there, every minute of the day."

Stella Hayden, defending, told the court: "This is plainly a particularly grave example of an offence even this serious in nature. It is very difficult to realistically advance that this is not a case where there has been severe psychological harm.

"It seems to have been a chance encounter when at the bus stop late at night. It is his first conviction. He is still a relatively young man. I understand that, given his status, he is likely to be deported in any event."

Belay was found guilty of rape by a jury. He was jailed for 12 years, a term of which he must serve at least two thirds before becoming eligible for release.

Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "She saw no danger in you. She described you as being what she thought was a nice lad.

"She was a chatty person and you invited her back to your flat. Once she got into the flat, she got the feeling that something wasn't right. She said she wanted to leave, but you wouldn't let her. You turned the light off and locked the door, and you took her phone off her.

"At the time, she was speaking to her son. It is clear from the evidence that he was left distraught, having heard something of his mother's panic and the phone then being turned off.

"She pleaded with you to let her go. You picked up a large knife and put it to her stomach and then, when she tried to speak, put it to her throat. You dragged her to the bedroom, taking the knife with you. You pulled her lower clothes off and forced her onto the floor, where you then raped her."

"She was petrified. She genuinely believed you were going to kill her. It was her account that, as you got off her having raped her, you smirked. She left that flat traumatised.

"The evidence against you in this case was, in my judgement, overwhelming. You denied that you had ever met her, ever had any contact with her or that she had ever been in your flat. You have shown no remorse and continue to deny that you ever even met her. Your attack on her has had a devastating effect.

"She is still suffering greatly. Her mental health has been seriously damaged. She has made numerous attempts to take her own life. She is left feeling angry with herself for trusting you.

"You have, in her words, wrecked her life. She feels that she will never get over what you did to her. I accept that your time growing up in a war torn country would have been extremely traumatic for you. I take into account your age and that you have no previous convictions."

Judge Pierpoint also said of the victim: "I want to say that she is a strong woman who should be commended for her bravery in standing up against you."

Belay began remonstrating in his native tongue with his interpreter in the dock before he was led down to the cells by dock officers, who told him "go, go on". He will be required to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Description

An online predator who pretended to be a 12-year-old girl to encourage other young people to share indecent images has been jailed.

We discovered Dominic Woodcock had used a fake profile on various social media channels to befriend young girls between 2021 and 2023.

He claimed to be involved in a gymnastics club and encouraged girls - mainly aged between 10 and 12 - to pursue such a career.

However, once a rapport was established Woodcock would request indecent images of the girls and threatened to expose them on social media if they refused.

After being alerted to his depraved behaviour we quickly identified and arrested Woodcock from Erdington.  We seized his phone and found concerning images and messages.

The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images and engaging children into sexual activity.

He was jailed for four years and eight months at Birmingham Crown Court last Wednesday (3 April) and put on the sex offenders register for life.

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A PAEDOPHILE has been put behind bars after sexually assaulting a teenager – then returning to try again.

A judge said that Dean Redmond ‘violated’ the girl to ‘satisfy his perverted desires’, before blaming the victim and ‘attempting to conceal evidence’.

The 27-year-old only came clean when scientific evidence exposed his actions, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

He appeared there after admitting four counts of sexual assault and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place in the form of a knuckleduster.

Frank Dillon, prosecuting, informed the court how the defendant was alone with the victim in Warrington and asked if she wanted to be treated ‘like a kid or her age’, before kissing her.

He then ‘got on top of her’ and again started to kiss and grope her, before lifting her clothing and touching her in an inappropriate, sexual and unwanted manner.

He left her alone when she said she did not want to keep going – but Redmond returned later and again tried to remove here clothing.

The victim reported the incident to an adult and the police were informed.

Officers attended his Hood Manor home and arrested him, and during a search of the address, they found a knuckleduster.

The court heard that Redmond ‘recently showered’, and that this was an ‘attempt to conceal evidence’.

He denied sexual assault, telling officers that the victim had ‘accused him of being a drug dealer’ and that if he did not leave, ‘she would say he had touched her’.

The court heard an impact statement prepared by the victim, who said she suffers ‘constant flashbacks, cannot get the incident ou of her head and does not feel herself anymore’.

“My whole life has been turned upside down. I no longer feel safe anywhere,” she said.

"My mum said she cannot remember the last time she saw me smile or laugh. I just constantly feel down.

"I have felt empty inside ever since it happened. At night when I close my eyes and when I'm awake, it's all I think about.”

Mr Dillon detailed to the court Redmond’s previous convictions, including a suspended prison sentence for being concerned in the supply of cannabis in 2015 and a fine for battery in 2018.

Defending his client, Julian Nutter, highlighted the defendant’s ‘good employment’, and the fact that the ‘inevitable’ custodial sentence will ‘destroy his capacity to support his family’.

Before sentencing, recorder Richard Pratt said: "You began a series of sexual assaults upon her by forcibly trying to kiss her.

“She sought to escape your attentions, but you were undeterred.

"I am entirely satisfied that she did not give you the slightest indication that she wanted you to touch her sexually.

“She was plainly in deep distress, and that distress has continued.

"She has, on any view, been significantly affected psychologically by your actions. It has disrupted her upbringing significantly, in my view.

"You have, in so many ways, violated her. Despite the fact that she was a child, you found her sexually attractive and wanted to satisfy your perverted desires there and then despite her age.

"To add insult to injury, you accused her of making false allegations. You persisted with that lie.

"Scientific evidence exposed your case once and for all. Only then did you own up.

“The reality is that your actions have shown very little remorse at all, trying to avoid responsibility for what you did."

Redmond, of Sycamore Lane in Hood Manor, was sentenced to four years and two months immediate imprisonment.

He was also told he must sign the sex offender register for life and was handed an indefinite restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim.

Description

Stephen Morgan, of North Cliff Road, Doncaster was caught when a police operation was carried out, resulting in the suspect believing he was speaking to a 12-year-old and wanting to meet up with them.

In February 2024, the 38-year-old engaged in conversation online with a child profile. During their communications Morgan asked for photos and made explicit comments about engaging in sex acts.

Morgan attempted to arrange a meeting, offering to pick them up from school, he also suggested going swimming with him in a pond.

He was arrested from his vehicle on 29 February 2024 as he arrived at his home.

Morgan, a registered sex offender, was found guilty of one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child, and one count of attempting to arrange or facilitate commission of sexual activity with child, at Sheffield Crown Court on 25 March 2024.

On Friday (5 April) he was sentenced to 11 months imprisonment and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Please remember victims of sexual offences are granted anonymity for life. Identifying them is a criminal offence and police will take action.