Latest Offenders

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A man has been jailed after attempting to kidnap two women in Walsall earlier this year.

On 28 February, a woman in her 20’s, was walking on Scarborough Road in the early hours of the morning when she was grabbed from behind by a man.

The man tried to get the woman into his car but she resisted his force.

During the struggle she was punched in the face and received swelling and bruising. She managed to break free and ran to the nearest home for help.

Four days later, on 2 March, a 17-year-old girl was walking along Hawes Road shortly before 11pm when she was approached by a man in a vehicle who attempted to coax her into it.

When she refused he got out of the vehicle then punched and kicked her and sexually assaulted her. She managed to escape and run to a nearby home for help. The girl alerted police by activating her emergency call feature on her mobile phone.

Both victims sustained facial and head injuries.

Officers obtained CCTV footage from both incidents which showed a black Audi pulling up beside both women.

We then linked this vehicle to Rambo Baeram, aged 25 and he was subsequently arrested.

During interview, he claimed he didn’t own the vehicle at the time of the offences and said he was at home sleeping.

However, both victims took part in an ID parade and identified Baeram as their attacker.

Baeram of Forrester Street, Walsall was then charged with two counts of attempt kidnap, two counts of assault and one count of sexual assault.

He was found guilty by a jury at an earlier trial and was sentenced to five years in prison at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 15 November.

He will also be placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Sergeant Carrie Stimpson from our Public Protection Unit said: “Baeram had no relationship to either of the victims - they were strangers, attacked on the streets when they should feel safe.

“These incidents were deeply concerning and we worked extremely hard to bring Baeram to justice.

“The women have been very brave throughout the whole process and were even forced to sit through a trial.

“I commend them for their courage.”

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A REPEAT sex offender who sent pictures of his privates to someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl is awaiting sentence.

Gordon Brown, 69, pleaded guilty to two charges of indecent behaviour towards a child aged between 13 and 16, who was in fact an adult, when he appeared from custody at Ayr Sheriff Court.

He admitted to causing an older child to look at a sexual image, as well as communicating indecently with an older child between August 11 and August 13 this year in Cumnock Road, Mauchline, with court papers stating that the conduct was carried out for sexual gratification, humiliating, distressing or alarming the victim.

Brown admitted sending sexual messages and attempting to meet a child in his car.

We previously reported his arrest in the Mauchline area - after he was stung by so-called 'paedophile hunters' online having made contact with a decoy profile posing as a child.

Procurator fiscal depute Craig Wainwright told the court Brown was committed for further examination and remanded in custody after bail was refused when he returned to court last week (November 11).

He said: "The witness is from Protect our Kids Online, the aim of the group is to keep children safe on social media.

"Prior to the dates of offending, he set up a profile on a dating app claiming to be 20 and called 'Rubie'. It used a picture of a female child, who was considerably younger.

"It lay dormant awaiting others to make contact.

"At 8.42pm on August 11 it was contacted by the accused using a profile named Gordon, the profile was of the accused standing topless. It said he was 68 and from Kilmarnock.

"He repeatedly told 'Rubie' 'she' was 'gorgeous'.

"He stated he was going for a shower and he was 'stripped naked' and 'getting cold'.

"During the exchange 'she' said 'she' was really 14-years-old. He stated 'If you weren't so young I could show you'."

The prosecutor added: "'She' said 'she' would not be able to see and didn't want to get in trouble.

"He said 'she' was gorgeous and offered to send a picture in his boxer shorts.

"The conversation moved to WhatsApp. During the exchange, he said he took images of himself after getting out the shower and asked if sending a pic 'would cheer her up'."

Brown replied saying 'it was up to you'. He told the profile 'I will let you see it', then sent an image of his erect penis.

Brown then sent an image of his lower half boxer shorts exposed and sent a further image.

Messages continued, with repeated references to him being naked and in the showers.

The fiscal depute added: "He sent other images of himself with his face visible and [privates] exposed.

"At no point did Rubie invite contact."

Brown was later reported to police and confessed to communicating with 'Rubie' during an interview with officers.

Representing Brown during the hearing, solicitor John Gallagher reserved any plea in mitigation given the nature of the offences ahead of criminal justice social work reports and a risk assessment being completed.

Sheriff Shirley Foran said: "You will be remanded in custody in the meantime.

"Regarding the nature of the offence you will be subject to the registration requirements of the sex offences legislation.

"The extent will be made known to you at final disposal."

He was returned to custody and is due to return to Ayr Sheriff Court at a later date.

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A "predatory" former Church of England vicar faces spending the rest of his life behind bars after he was sentenced for a third time for child sex offences.

Ifor Whittaker, 80, previously admitted rape and gross indecency of a young boy in the vestry of St John The Baptist Church in Sedlescombe, East Sussex, in the 1990s, where he served as a priest at the time under the name Colin Pritchard.

Whittaker was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of eight years, at Hove Crown Court on Tuesday 19 November.

He is already serving a 16-year-sentence for abusing a boy between 1987 and 1991 following a trial in 2018, and had previously been jailed for five years in 2008 for the abuse of two children in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, between 1979 to 1983.

The court previously heard that Whittaker had baptised the boy whom he later went on to abuse in the incident at the church.

Prosecutor Beverly Cripps previously told the court that the victim described to police being terrified during the attack and that he tried to bury the memories of what happened to him there but "it had come back to him in pieces over the years".

Sentencing him to a discretionary life sentence on Tuesday, Judge Gary Lucie said: "You are a predatory paedophile and have been for many years.

"I doubt that you will ever cease to be a serious danger to young boys but that risk cannot be reliably estimated at this time.

"In my judgment, the combination of offences is so serious that only custody can be justified, and for the reasons that I have already given the appropriate sentence in this case, on count 1, is a sentence of life imprisonment."

Judge Lucie told Whittaker: "You have been responsible for committing serious sexual offences against four young boys over a long period whilst abusing your position as a trusted member of the community as a vicar.

"This offending is of the most serious kind."

In a statement, the Diocese of Chichester, said: "The sentence passed today on Ifor Whittaker, formerly the Reverend Colin Pritchard, reflects the terrible nature of his crimes.

"The victim in this case has shown extraordinary courage in coming forward to report Whittaker’s crimes. We apologise unreservedly to him for the appalling abuse he suffered.

"We wish to acknowledge the excellent work of Sussex Police in this case. Our Safeguarding Team have been working closely with their detectives on this matter since it was reported.

"Mr Whittaker was convicted of child sexual offences in 2008, receiving a five-year prison sentence. He was sentenced again in 2018, again for child sexual offences, receiving a 16-year sentence. He is still serving that sentence in custody.

"Mr Whittaker’s offending, and the history of the Diocese of Chichester’s dealings with him, has been covered in numerous published reports including the Case Study for the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

"That history makes clear that there were a number of serious safeguarding errors made prior to his 2008 conviction, for which this Diocese has offered unreserved apologies and from which we continue to draw lessons for our current safeguarding practice.

"This case should remind us of the vital importance of prioritising the safety of children above any other consideration, listening to survivors of abuse, and ensuring that every concern is reported to the statutory authorities without delay."

The Diocese of Chichester referred Mr Whittaker to the Disclosure and Barring Service following his conviction in 2008. He was also barred for life from ordained ministry in the Church of England.

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A man who sexually abused children as young as six over a 35-year period has been jailed.

Steven Lee, 66, described by police as a "dangerous individual", was found guilty of abusing three girls between 1987 and 2022.

Lee, of Carlton Street, Featherstone, was jailed for 11 years at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.

Det Con Alison Hibbert said the victims and their families were "continuing to live with the mental toll of the abuse they have suffered".

Lee was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14, two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and two counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.

Lee was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A "warped" teenager has been jailed for raping two 16-year-old girls who were both walking home at night.

Nathan John, 19, attacked the girls 19 months and ten miles apart.

John was found guilty of three counts of rape and sexual assault at Swansea Crown Court.

He was sentenced to a 20-year extended sentence, made up of 16 years in custody in a young offenders institute and four years on licence.

The court heard he launched a "frenzy of sexual violence" in the darkness after the girls, who were making their way home after a night out, rejected his advances.

John denied the first rape in October 2022 in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, and the second in Haverfordwest in May 2024.

He met the first girl at Circles nightclub in Milford Haven where he kissed her but she "wasn't interested in anything else".

But he walked her home, before throwing her onto the ground, taking his trousers off and carrying out "a frenzy of sexual violence".

John was arrested and told police in interview that the girl had consented and was released under investigation.

But he was caught out when he launched the same attack on another girl 19 months later.

'Doesn't take no for an answer'

The victim was out with friends when John offered to walk home together.

He told her: "If you don't do it I'm going to kill you." He then raped her.

John again claimed the sex had been consensual.

Prosecutor James Hartson asked the jury to consider "the striking similarity between these two allegations, ten miles and 19 months apart, made by two young women who do not know each other".

"He's a man who is powerfully built," he said.

"When he decided he wanted sex, these two girls - isolated and alone - didn't stand a chance.

"This young man doesn’t take no for an answer."

John was further charged with two offences of making indecent images of children - one Category B and one Category C image and possessing an extreme pornographic image between July and September last year.

Judge Huw Rees told him: "These are undoubtedly serious offences. Two offences which included features of degradation and violence.

"Both were 16 years old. Both were lured in to isolation.

"You demeaned both of these girls and in the process you demeaned yourself as a human being," he said.

"You have a warped interest in sex.

"I readily find that you pose a danger to young girls and young women."

John must register as a sex offender for life. Both victims were granted lifelong restraining orders against him.

Description

A 20-year-old man has been handed a five-year custodial sentence after attempting to rape a woman in a car park.

Police received a call just after 03:15 BST on 22 June this year from a member of the public reporting that a woman in her 20s had been attacked in Boston and was at a McDonald's in Queen Street.

Officers attended and the victim confirmed the incident had taken place in the long stay car park on George Street.

Keith Lindop, of Station Street, Boston, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted rape and a separate charge of actual bodily harm. He was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on 15 November.

'Excessively violent'

Lindop will serve his sentence in a young offenders' institution. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offender's Register for life.

He was also handed a 24-week sentence for the charge of actual bodily harm, to run concurrently.

DC Sarah Oliver, the officer in charge of the case, said: "Lindop is a predatory and dangerous individual in the way that he watched and followed the victim.

"He was excessively violent during the attack. It was down to the courage and determination that the young woman showed in standing up to him that she managed to escape."

Boston Neighbourhood Policing’s Insp Ian Cotton said: "This really was excellent work from our officers, working all hours to bring this dangerous offender to justice.

"No woman should go through what this survivor did.

"Tackling violence against women and girls is a priority and there should be no hiding place for those who prey on women."

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A former teacher who failed to tell his school about his colleague's inappropriate relationship with a pupil, and was later convicted in court of having sex with an underage girl himself, has been banned from teaching for life.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing was told that Lian Laidlaw, previously known as Ian Featherstone, 44, did tell another pupil about the relationship between his colleague and a pupil but did not report it to Abbotsholme School, in East Staffordshire on the Derbyshire border, as a safeguarding concern.

In a statement of agreed facts, Mr Laidlaw admitted the allegations, which it was decided amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that could bring the profession into disrepute.

Mr Laidlaw was employed as a teacher and head of department at the Rocester school from September 2017 to July 2022. He attended a disciplinary meeting in respect of allegations that he disclosed confidential matters to a pupil related to his employment at the school on July 18, 2022, and was dismissed on July 28, 2022.

The hearing panel heard that Mr Laidlaw could have filed a safeguarding report about his suspicions about his colleague's inappropriate relationship as early June 2022, which he would be likely to know about because he had spent time with both the fellow teacher and the pupil and had a close relationship with the teacher. He also told another pupil about the relationship.

Mr Laidlaw had previously denied knowing anything about the relationship between the pair but later admitted he had lied at his disciplinary hearing in July 2022.

He himself was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a pupil on November 2022 at Derby Crown Court. He was sentenced to a total of:

• 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years
• rehabilitation activity for 55 days
• electronic monitoring for six months
• 200 hours of unpaid work
• 45 days on the sex offender programme
• 10 years on the sex offenders register
• A £156 surcharge

The hearing accepted the certificate of conviction as conclusive proof of the commission of these offences by Mr Laidlaw.

In banning Mr Laidlaw from teaching indefinitely, decision maker Sarah Buxcey said: "The findings of misconduct are extremely serious as they include a finding of failing to report a safeguarding concern, conduct found to be dishonest and to lack integrity and an offence involving sexual activity with a child. This was conduct that was, very clearly, at the most serious end of the spectrum, amounting to a breach of the trust placed in him as a teacher.

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

Mr Laidlaw has a right of appeal to the King’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days from the date he is given notice of this order. Derbyshire Live has approached Abbotsholme School for comment.

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A bus passenger caught a man performing a sex act behind her between Lochgelly and Cowdenbeath.

Jordon Morris, 24, made the woman “jump out of her seat” when she turned to see him with his trousers pulled down.

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A man caught by paedophile hunters in Shropshire has been locked up after trying to meet a ‘13-year-old’ he spent weeks grooming for sex on WhatsApp.

Anthony Allen, 30, of Cae Daniel, Rhosllanerchrugog, committed the offences in 2018 when he lived in Whitchurch.

Simon Parry, prosecuting, told Shrewsbury Crown Court that Allen had eventually been confronted by members from the paedophile sting group ‘Decoy Central’ outside an Indian restaurant in Whitchurch - when he was expecting to meet a 13-year-old girl called ‘Ruby’.

Allen pleaded guilty to four charges - attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence, and two counts of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity. 

Mr Parry told the court that Allen had sent an unsolicited message to a dormant profile for 13-year-old ‘Ruby’ on a social media app at 1.53am on August 7, 2018.

The court was told how the adult woman behind the account had immediately messaged back to tell Allen she was 13 - he replied saying he was 24.

Mr Parry said Allen had asked for a picture of the girl, and replied telling her she was ‘cute’ after one was sent.

Description

A SEX offender from Anglesey breached his notification requirements and sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) by running a Bangor hotel under an alias and by walking alongside a woman in the street in the city.

Bakhtor Singh was issued with the notification requirements and SOPO in 2007 after being convicted of causing a female to engage in sexual activity without consent.

But having admitted these breaches, Singh, 45, of Trem Arfon, Menai Bridge, was today (November 19) jailed for a year at Caernarfon Crown Court (sitting at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court).

Prosecutor Emmalyne Downing said that, in October 2023, police were informed that Singh was running the Baytree Lodge in Bangor, which was being used to house vulnerable individuals temporarily, under the alias “Dee”.

Officers attended on October 27, and Singh, who should have disclosed this alias per the terms of notification requirements, was arrested.

He was released under investigation, but then on January 3, 2024, a woman was walking to Bangor railway station when Singh parked his van alongside her.

Singh got out of the van and started walking beside the woman, which made her feel “uncomfortable”.

After asking her for directions, the woman walked off at a “fast pace”, having not liked how Singh made her feel by walking so close to her when she was alone.

Police later located the woman, who provided a statement.

Defending Singh, who had previous convictions for 10 offences and had breached his SOPO before, Ember-Jade Wong said he has complied with his “extraordinarily onerous order” for a significant number of years”.

Ms Wong added that Singh is a father-of-four who also has the “bulk of caring responsibilities” for his wife, and who “assists fairly significantly” in the care of his elderly mother.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts told Singh: “I’m very concerned you would commit such a flagrant breach of your order while you were under investigation for breaching your notification requirements.

“The fact it was an onerous and indefinite order isn’t a defence. Until the order is changed, you have to comply with it.

“In the circumstances, only immediate custody will do.

“I don’t think there’s a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. You need to learn a lesson, and I don’t think you’ve learnt it yet.”

Description

A convicted Derbyshire sex offender who thought he was messaging a teenage girl online – sending her naked photos and asking for them in return – has been jailed.

Daniel Stout began messaging who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl on an online chat app, sending her naked photos and asking for her to send the naked photos back.

However, the girl was actually a decoy from an online child abuse activist group. Having arranged to meet the ‘girl’ in his home town of Buxton, Stout was arrested.

The 28-year-old, who has a previous conviction for a similar offence, was the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order at the time of the offence – which banned him from having contact with any girl under the age of 16.

Stout, of Fairfield Road, Buxton, was subsequently charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He admitted the offences and appeared at Derby Crown Court for sentence on October 22, where he was jailed for two and half years.

PC Jodie Norris, who led the investigation, said: “The fact that Stout committed this offence while under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order shows what a dangerous predator he is with no regard for the law.

“Thankfully in this case, the ‘girl’ he was messaging was an adult so a child has not been caused mental or emotional harm because of Stout’s depraved urges.

“I sincerely hope that this time behind bars will now give him the opportunity to reflect on his behaviour and realise the error of his ways.”

Description

A convicted double murderer who engaged in a sex chat with someone he thought was an underage girl has been sentenced to a further 22 months.

Eoin O'Toole was caught by a paedophile-hunting group when he used a smuggled mobile phone to send photographs of his genitals from North Sea Camp, an open prison near Boston.

Lincoln Crown Court heard the 58-year-old, who was serving a life sentence, bought a mobile phone from an Asda supermarket in January while on temporary licence release.

He then used it the following month to engage in sexual conversations with a Facebook user he thought was 14, the court was told.

'Pose a danger'

Tom Heath, prosecuting, said O'Toole had initially given the false name Danny Cardiff, but later confessed to his real identity and that he was in jail for murder.

Mr Heath said O'Toole engaged in increasingly sexualised conversations with the user, who was actually a decoy for the paedophile-hunting group.

During the conversations, he asked for photographs, lied about his age and spoke about having "angry sex" with his ex-girlfriend.

Prison authorities were alerted by the group on 15 February, after O'Toole sent two photographs of himself naked from the waist down.

The mobile phone was found during a search of his cell.

O'Toole was jailed for life at Sheffield Crown Court in December 1991 for the murder of his grandmother Mary Goodrich, 92, and her sister Jessie Thomas, 89, by setting fire to their home.

Originally named Ian Kentzer, O'Toole carried out the murders to cover up the theft of more than £30,000, which he stole to fund his cocaine addiction and to keep his failing video business afloat, the court heard.

It was told he had nine previous convictions for more than 20 offences, including gross indecency and sex with an underage girl in 1990.

'Worrying sign'

O'Toole, who has now been returned to closed conditions at a higher security prison, admitted two charges of conveying a listed item into prison and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

In addition to his custodial sentence, he was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Head said he had no doubt O'Toole revealed his background as a murderer to impress the other party.

The resurgence of sexual conduct was also "a very worrying sign", he said.

"You do pose a danger to, particularly young females," the judge added.

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A man from Swindon has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for sexually assaulting a child.

Damian Kinston, 27, of Park North, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court today (18/11) after being found guilty by trial for sexually assaulting a child under 13, multiple counts of rape of a child under 13, multiple counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and multiple assaults of a child under 13 by penetration.

Kinston has also been given a Sexual Harm and Prevention Order, placed on the Sex Offenders register and given an indefinite restraining order.

Description

A sex offender from Sussex who subjected his Kent victim to a campaign of fear and misery while controlling her life has been jailed, following a Kent Police investigation.

Andrew Wilson, formerly of Brompton Close in Brighton, met his victim – who was living in Ashford at the time – in 2023.

Controlling behaviour

As time went on, Wilson’s behaviour turned aggressive and unpredictable, causing the woman to become frightened and isolated.

Wilson, 29, became increasingly controlling and violent - insisting his victim delete social media contacts, dress in different clothes and give in to his sexual demands.

He dictated where she could go and whom she could speak with, subjecting her to sexual assault and suffocation.

The woman told Wilson she wanted no further contact with him, but he persisted in harassing her and making repeated threats.

Arrested

A report was made to Kent Police and Wilson was arrested in Brighton on 19 January 2024, with the support of officers from Sussex Police, before being charged the following day.

Jailed

Following a trial at Lewes Crown Court, Wilson was found guilty of sexual assault, suffocation and coercive and controlling behaviour and, on 12 November, was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Wilson will spend a further two years on licence after that term, and was also given an indefinite restraining order, forbidding him from any further contact with the victim.

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The man behind the viral Willy Wonka Experience has been exposed as a sex pest who left a woman traumatised and is now on the sex offenders register.

William Coull, 36, hounded his victim at a property in Glasgow’s Darnley between March 26 and July 2 2024.