Latest Offenders

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Gavin Morrison (44) was sentenced today, Monday, 23 September 2024 at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court in connection with a series of sexual offences committed in the Kirkcaldy area.

He was found guilty on Wednesday, 28 August 2024 at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

 Detective Constable Carol Fraser at Glenrothes said:

 "Gavin Morrison is a predatory sexual offender who preyed on young females whilst they were walking or playing in their local communities.

  “He has shown no remorse for his deplorable actions that were committed over a period between 2015 and 2022.

   “I would like to thank those involved for their strength in coming forward during this investigation and criminal trial. I hope the conviction and sentencing provides them with some sense of closure and allows them to move on from this horrendous ordeal.

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A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison and a further four years on extended licence after being convicted of child sex offences.

Ben Haymes, previously of Bodmin and Bude, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence on Friday 20 September having pleaded guilty to assaulting a boy under 13 by touching, seven making indecent images of children charges, two counts of possessing extreme pornography, voyeurism, two possessing a prohibited images of a child charges and two counts of showing an indecent photograph.

Haymes was also made subject of a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The court heard how in July 2019 at an address in Bude, police executed a search warrant after receiving information an indecent image of a child had been uploaded to the internet by someone at the location.

A digital examination revealed that a folder linked to Haymes contained a number of indecent images of children. In one clip Haymes could be seen touching the groin area of a child over clothing.

The video was sent to another male along with messages in which Haymes stated his sexual intentions for the child.

Examination of Haymes’ devices revealed hundreds of further indecent images, spanning all three categories, some of the Category C images featuring another child known to Haymes, with Haymes again setting out his intentions for the child.

Haymes also possessed extreme pornography showing sex acts involving his own dog. 

Data extraction showed a number of secret recordings of boys using a toilet. There were also further conversations in which Haymes stated his sexual preference for young children and animals.

Officers in the case DC Charlotte Norris said: “I welcome the sentence issued to Ben Haymes after a lengthy complex investigation.

“I praise the family of the victim for putting their faith in the police Investigation and acting with dignity throughout.

“Ben Haymes is a dangerous sex offender who was in possession of horrendous child abuse images of young children and spoke freely about his desires.

“I hope this case sends out a strong message to those committing child sex offences and viewing child abuse material that we will find them and bring them to justice.”

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A teenage predator who sexually assaulted a woman who was "in a state of sleepiness" has been locked up.

Liam Short, 22, was 19 when he attacked the woman who had gone to bed after taking a sleeping tablet. Bradford Crown Court heard on Friday that the woman believed Short had filmed the incident after noticing "flashing" of a light during it. It was said police have not recovered any video of the incident.

The court heard Short also told her in messages the next day he felt "awful" about what had happened.

Short was found guilty of sexual assault by penetration following a trial at the court. He was acquitted of four counts of rape and a sexual assault charge. His brave victim faced him in court as she read her victim personal statement. In it, she said: "Emotionally, I have anxiety in situations where there are males of a similar age to me. I suffer sleeplessness and wake up sweating and short of breathe...I'm in fear of being alone, despite having cameras installed.

"I have a fear of going out alone and being in small spaces and a fear of showering or bathing unless a female friend is in the house in case someone breaks in and attacks me. I am a shell of myself...I have developed an unhealthy relationship with food and have lost a significant amount of weight. I struggle to perform some day to day tasks due to feeling faint."

The woman said her relationships have suffered due to the attack, and she has moved jobs a number of times because of the number of males working with her or the lack of accessible exits or CCTV. She added: "I can go weeks with no contact with family or close friends in case they pressure me to leave the house."

Mitigating, Jayne Beckett said in relation to the messages exchanged, Short was "admitting doing something wrong and the jury found that he did something singular wrong."

She added: "It is difficult to read anything more than that because there are no specifics of what he was admitted."

The court heard there was no evidence that Short knew the woman had taking sleeping medication. Ms Beckett said a pre-sentence report author found Short has a lack of insight into his offending which say they could be due to a "lack of maturity."

She said: "They think that he is not, and probably never has been, the mot sophisticated individual adult. He presents as looking younger than his years. He is someone who has engaged very well in terms of cooperation with the report and he has on more than one occasion expressed willingness to look inwards and seek self improvement..."

Recorder Mullarkey jailed Short, of Burns Hill, Addingham, for three years and referred to the messages sent after the offence when he said: "I am sure to the criminal standard that these were messages exchanged between the two of you. You say you felt awful and hate yourself for what you did and it was disgusting...You accepted when interviewed there was consensual sexual activity but denied filming her.

"In her victim impact statement, she described the profound impact your offending had on her."

The judge said Short had attacked the woman when she was "in a state of sleepiness" before jailing him and making him the subject of sex offender notification requirements for life. He also made Short the subject of a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim for 10 years.

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The daughter of a man stabbed to death by an on-the-run killer and rapist has hit out after he was released from prison.

Rikki Stewart, 48, has been allowed out on temporary licence while serving a life sentence for the murder of Philip Haselip in 2003, reports the Daily Record.

The 52-year-old musician was battered with a roll of wallpaper and knifed at his home in Corby, East Midlands in November 2003 with his body discovered wrapped in a duvet by his son Christopher.

The Dumfries Killer, Stewart, has also been serving time following the death of his mum's boyfriend, Donald Nicholson in 2001 and the rape of a 53-year-old Dumfries grandmother in his hometown in 2003.

Philips daughter Lynette, 39, told how the family feel they have been failed by the authorities right from the start and believes Stewart will go on to offend again.

She said: The whole family is shocked that this can happen. Hes never shown any remorse for what hes done. Its just not acceptable, its dangerous and he will offend again, Im absolutely certain of that.

I dont think he can ever change. He murdered my dad when he was on the run from the other killing and the rape. So weve been let down continuously right from the start, not just now. The Ministry of Justice has made a huge mistake.

Im disappointed. You think people will make the right decisions to protect the public. I never thought I would have to explain what happened to my children, let alone the fact that hes out.

Stewart was wanted over the violent rape of the grandmother at the time he was convicted of Philip Haselip's death. He had also been a suspect in the murder of his mums infirm and defenceless partner during a row, but police were forced to let him go due to a lack of evidence.

He only confessed to the homicide of Mr Nicholson - who had been attacked 10 times with scissors and a knife - after he was handed a life sentence with a minimum of eight years for the murder of Philip. Philips twin brother Tony, 72, also slammed the decision to release Stewart.

He added: Its not a life sentence, is it? We are the ones who have been given the life sentence. Life should mean life - he should never have been let out.

To date he has had seven parole board meetings and on every occasion theyve not recommended him as suitable for release.

Lynette recalled meeting Stewart in the days leading up to her dad's murder. She was just 19 at the time. She said: "I was visiting dad's apartment and Rikki Stewart actually answered the door to me. I asked him who he was and he said he was just there to have a drink with my dad.

Lynette asked her father if he wanted anything from the shop but he declined, saying that they would see each other that weekend. She added: That was the last time I saw my dad.

Lynette returned to the property every day for the next three days but there was no answer. She then received a strange text message from her fathers phone.

The text message said How are you?, but it wasnt how my dad would normally message, Lynette said. She went round after work later that day and noticed the front door had been bolted shut from the inside and sounded the alarm.

The door wasnt right when I was knocking on it, she said. I tried the handle and I could see it was locked from the inside with a bolt, and I couldnt see in the windows.

Her brother then visited the property and bumped into Stewart as he was leaving - who told him: Your dads inside. Philips battered body was then found wrapped in a duvet in the laundry room of the building, having been stabbed three times in the chest. The rest is a bit of a blur for me after that point, Lynette said.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: Rikki Stewarts crimes were horrific and our thoughts remain with his victims families and friends. Prisoners only go on day release after being carefully risk-assessed, must abide by strict rules and face extra time behind bars if they dont comply.

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An apprentice from Dundee has been placed on the sex offenders register after taking hold of a woman’s face and kissing her against her will.

Lewis Sivewright admitted carrying out the sexual assault last October.

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Cowardly Musabwe Murama, aged 37, refused to acknowledge his guilt, forcing the young woman he abused as a teenage girl to give evidence in court and endure the ordeal of a trial. 

In a statement read to Sheffield Crown Court on the complainant’s behalf, she revealed the continuing psychological impact of Murama’s abuse, and the way in which it has drastically changed her personality.

“Before this happened, I used to be very loud, I was confident and outspoken…I became quiet, it affected how I speak to people.”

“I didn’t have any confidence, so I didn’t want to talk…I didn’t want to do anything because my mood was so low, I just felt so filthy,” the complainant said. 

She detailed how, prior to Murama carrying out the abuse, she enjoyed and felt really engaged with school; but afterwards, she became withdrawn and did not perform as well as she could have during her exams. 

Although Murama’s heinous crimes have resulted in the complainant deviating from her chosen career path and taking a break from education, she said she is now looking to the future, and hopes to attend college and university. 

“I want to build a life with someone and have kids and a house, I just want to be okay,” she said. 

Jurors found Murama, of Walling Close, Wincobank, Sheffield, guilty of one count of attempted rape and four counts of sexual assault at the conclusion of a trial at the same court. 

During a hearing held on September 19, 2024, Murama’s barrister, Kieran Galvin, acknowledged there was ‘very little to say’ in terms of mitigation, but told the court that Murama is someone who, prior to committing these offences, had a clean criminal record, and thus, had previously been of ‘good character’. 

“He was highly regarded,” said Mr Galvin.

He asked the judge, Recorder David Brooke KC, to bear in mind the principle of totality in mind. 

Totality consists of two elements, with the first being to pass a just and proportionate sentence which reflects all of the defendant’s offending behaviour, while the other requires a judge to avoid arriving at such a sentence by simply adding together what may have been the appropriate length for a single offence. 

“Please keep the sentence as short as you can, commensurate with your public duty,” added Mr Galvin. 

Recorder Brooke jailed Murama for eight years, and told him: “I dread to think of the terror she must have had, thinking of what you were going to do.”

Referring to the complainant’s composure in court, Recorder Brooke continued: “She was a very compelling witness…she is still feeling the effects of what you did, despite the fact it was years ago…that’s why it is so serious.”

He also said he regarded there to have been a ‘grooming aspect’ to Murama’s criminality. 

As he sent Murama to begin his prison sentence, Recorder Brooke told him he must remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. 

Recorder Brooke also praised the complainant and her family for the ‘dignity with which they have conducted’ themselves throughout proceedings. 

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A 60-year-old man who sexually abused an underage girl has been jailed today, 19 September.

Paul Hemmings, from Newton Abbot, appeared at Exeter Crown Court where he was sentenced to nine years in prison. He will sign the Sex Offenders Register for Life and the court also granted a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Hemmings pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual activity with a child on the first day of trial in July and was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

The court heard that the offences against the 15-year-old victim took place over a period of three months.

Hemmings initially denied the offences and told Detectives that it was ‘fictitious’ and ‘made up’ but he later changed his plea at trial.

On sentencing Hemmings, the Judge told him that he had tried to minimise his conduct in blaming the victim and only felt remorse for himself.

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Tamsyn Dingley said: “Hemmings exploited a young girl, who he knew was under the age of consent, and he knew what he did was wrong. Hemmings groomed and manipulated the victim and justice has been served in his conviction.

“My praise and thoughts remain, as always, with the victim for speaking up and telling us what had happened. I hope that she can now focus on herself and find some closure.”

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A WEST Cumbria man who groomed and then repeatedly molested a teenage child has been handed a lengthy jail term by a judge who told him: “You are a paedophile.”

Carlisle Crown Court heard shocking details of Neil Stewart’s sexual abuse of the girl as he was punished on Friday.

Stewart, 41, had earlier admitted a charge of sexual activity with a child. But a prosecutor said there was evidence to suggest he had since demonstrated no remorse for his offending, instead trying to heap blame wrongly on the victim as part of “self-justification”.

In an impact statement, the victim told of her life being “torn apart” and of feeling suicidal in the aftermath.

She spoke of being initially anxious to report what Stewart had done. “I didn’t think there was anything I could do as I didn’t think anyone would believe me over him,” she had stated.

She also described feeling alone and not wanting to leave her house.

The teen’s mother had also penned a moving statement, describing the ordeal as “torturous” and of it taking a “massive toll”.

Isabella Denn-White, mitigating, insisted that Stewart, of Poole Road, Salterbeck, was remorseful. “He knows what happened was unacceptable, knows there is no way to justify it and knows it was completely wrong. He is extremely shameful for what went on. It is his fault,” said the barrister.

Ms Denn-White suggested the looming prison sentence could be suspended, for Stewart to instead carry out work with professionals in a bid to rehabilitate himself and protect the public in future. He had no previous convictions and was backed by several character references.

But Judge Michael Fanning concluded that only immediate imprisonment was appropriate, imposing a term of four years, six months.

Stewart, said the judge, had treated the girl as a “sexual object” in carrying out “deviant” criminal conduct.

“The damage to somebody who has been abused in this way, well, it’s irreparable. She won’t get over it,” Judge Fanning told Stewart.

The judge highlighted one character reference author who had expressed incredulity that Stewart’s name was now on the sex offenders’ register. Judge Fanning concluded: “You preyed on her. You are a paedophile and you are rightly on that (register).”

Stewart must comply with sex offender register notification requirements indefinitely. He is also likely to be banned from working with children and vulnerable people in the future, and will be the subject of a future application for a prevention order placing strict conditions on his liberty.

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A 53-year-old man has been jailed for nine years and six months after he was convicted of sexual offences against five victims.

Sean Richmond, of Hillyfields in Loughton, Essex, pleaded guilty to 14 offences included attempted rape.

He was first arrested in 2015 after reports he had sexually assaulted two victims between 1985 and 1991. Following his arrest, three more victims contacted Essex Police to report that they had been sexually abused by Richmond over 30 years ago.

Richmond was jailed on Wednesday at Chelmsford Crown Court and after the sentencing Det Con Matthew D Edson, said: "Richmond is no doubt a danger and he has spent decades thinking he could get away with abusing children."

The trial began at Chelmsford Crown Court on 28 May and Richmond entered a guilty plea to 14 offences on the second day of the trial.

He was convicted of 10 counts of indecent assault, three counts of indecency with a child and one count of attempted rape.

Alongside his sentence, he has made subject to an indefinite restraining order and will be on the Sex Offender Register for life.

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Mark Regan took advantage of the victim's 'quite drunk' state in an 'appalling' incident that took away her 'joy, energy and sparkle' in life, Hull Crown Court heard

A woman's New Year's Eve celebrations turned into a "nightmare" when another reveller cynically spotted a good opportunity to assault her sexually because of the large amount of alcohol that she had drunk.

Crafty and brazen Mark Regan took advantage of the "quite drunk" state that she was in and he made the "appalling" decision to touch her intimately when she was later drifting in and out of sleep at a flat.

 The shocking incident had "shattered" the woman and it had taken away her "joy, energy and sparkle" in life so that she no longer even recognised herself in the mirror, Hull Crown Court heard.

Regan, 55, of Holderness Road, east Hull, admitted an offence of assault by penetration on December 31, 2022.

Hannah Turner, prosecuting, said that Regan and others were celebrating New Year's Eve with drinks at bars in Newland Avenue, west Hull. "They got there at approximately 7.30pm and went to a bar where they all consumed alcohol," said Miss Turner.

"At around 9 to 9.30pm, they went to Vox Box, another bar located on Newland Avenue."

A woman in her 30s, who was at the bar, described herself as being "merry" when she and others arrived at Vox Box but she said that she was not "drunk". The people there were having a "normal" night and were laughing, joking and drinking.

She later became nauseous after drinking shots of Tequila and she was sick in a toilet. "As a result of this, she was asked to leave the premises by security staff," said Miss Turner.

She got into a taxi outside the venue and the defendant got into the taxi with her." The woman later fell asleep after she arrived at a flat and lay on a bed.

She heard Regan tell her: "You're a silly girl. Do you need an ambulance?" He touched her chest and told her: "Oh, you're breathing but you're really shallow breathing. I can't leave you."

She felt Regan kiss her. He then intimately touched her for about 30 seconds. He took his hand away but began kissing her and intimately touching her again. She became more alert and he stopped what he was doing. "She describes feeling that she was present in the room but that she wasn't there and wasn't able to move or say anything to the defendant," said Miss Turner.

Regan left the flat and the woman contacted the police. About 45 seconds later, Regan let himself back in to the flat and he asked the woman if she was okay. "She asked him to leave her alone and he left the flat again," said Miss Turner.

Police attended and the woman was seen to be severely shaken up, distraught and crying a lot. She was taken to the home of friends, where she stayed the night.

Regan claimed during police interview that he and the woman started kissing when they arrived at the flat and one thing led to another. He confirmed that the woman was falling in and out of sleep.

"He stated that he realised that what he was doing was wrong so he didn't go any further and left," said Miss Turner. Regan had convictions for four previous unrelated offences between 1999 and 2022.

The woman later said in a statement that she had been celebrating an exciting new chapter in her life at the time and she had been hopeful for the future while at the New Year's Eve event.

"My life, so full of promise, is now a blur," she said. "It turned into a nightmare. It has shattered me and left me broken.

"I used to be a bubbly, outgoing person and I loved meeting people but now I do not recognise myself. My joy, energy and sparkle feels lost. My world has shrunk."

The woman said that the incident had caused an impact on her career. "I have lost the ability to trust people and suffer from anxiety and depression," she added.

"When I look at myself in the mirror, I don't recognise myself but see a stranger whose life has been turned upside down."

Michael Masson, mitigating, said that the offence happened nearly two years ago. "There has been no hint of this behaviour since or before," said Mr Masson.

"He has made appalling choices. He offers his sincere remorse for the impact on the complainant. It was a relatively short-lived incident."

Regan had not been to prison before and sending him there now would have an immediate impact on his elderly parents, for whom he cared. There was a positive pre-sentence report on him.

Judge John Thackray KC told Regan: "She was socialising and drinking alcohol and got quite drunk, as she is entitled to do. You saw that as an opportunity to sexually abuse her."

The incident lasted about 30 seconds. "It is the violation that is significant, not the length of time," said Judge Thackray." The woman had shown tremendous courage in contacting the police but she might never recover from the offence.

Regan, who had been on bail, was jailed for three years and nine months. He will have to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

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A man has been jailed after he sexually assaulted a young woman.

Gary Wilkinson, 53, touched and licked the woman's neck, before trying to undress her and touching her breasts, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Wilkinson, of Mark Avenue, Horncastle, admitted a charge of sexual assault.

He was jailed for 17 months and must also register as a sex offender for ten years.

Neil Sands, prosecuting, told the court the sexual assault happened after Wilkinson had visited a beer festival.

Wilkinson pulled down the victim's vest top and also tried to pull down her shorts, he said.

The assault continued even when the woman began crying, Mr Sands added.

The court heard that Wilkinson had apologised to his victim and asked her not to say anything.

He gave a false account to police and maintained his innocence during an interview with the probation service, the court was told.

Mr Sands said the disparity in age between Wilkinson and his victim was an aggravating feature.

'No remorse'

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said she had "felt terrible" since the incident, which had affected her mental health and left her distrustful.

Sam Jones, mitigating, told the court Wilkinson had suffered hate mail, a downturn in his plastering business and the tyres of his car had been slashed.

He was no longer in a relationship with his partner.

Passing sentence, Recorder Graham Huston said Wilkinson had shown no remorse or empathy for his victim.

He said the victim did everything she could to protest, but Wilkinson had continued his assault.

Wilkinson was made the subject of a five-year restraining order.

Description

A convicted paedophile who was found with more than 8,000 indecent photos and videos of children on his phone, including videos of babies being raped, has been jailed.

Peter Barber, 71, from Norburn in Bretton, Peterborough, was handed a 13-year sentence at Peterborough Crown Court on Tuesday (September 17).

Barber had already been convicted of indecent exposure, as well as making, distributing and possessing indecent images of children. Police officers attended his home after receiving information that an indecent image of a child had been uploaded to the internet.

They found a phone with what was described by Judge Grey while sentencing on Tuesday as an “extensive library of indecent images of children”. This included over 3,700 ‘category A’ images and videos, the worst category; nearly 1,900 files in category B and just under 2,700 in category C.

The footage had been categorised under names including “10yo and fat man” and “rape”. Barber also admitted to buying and accessing indecent images online on another phone, which he had thrown away.

Judge Grey described the most serious individual offence as arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child under 13. He continued: “You communicated with a woman online who told you she had a 12-year-old daughter.

"You asked the woman to take indecent images and videos of her daughter. She sent you the material you had asked for.”

Barber also informed police that he had been having sexual conversations with three 12-year-old children via Telegram, and receiving indecent images and videos from all of them. He sent indecent images of children and of himself back to the 12-year-olds.

The paedophile also suggested to one of them that he might meet her in person, in what the judge described as “ghastly examples of an adult setting out to corrupt young children online for his own sexual gratification”.

Judge Grey summed up Barber’s character: “You make claims of a profound Christian faith, which normally works to prevent you from offending. But you say that, when a switch goes in your mind for some reason, lust takes over and you are, in effect, unable to control yourself.

“That is simplistic, self-serving nonsense. It might suffice as an excuse for a short-lived or isolated lapse, but what the court is dealing with here is many months during which your overwhelming focus was to obtain sexual gratification by watching young children being raped and otherwise abused in the most degrading and despicable ways.

“Your relationship with Jesus is, in my judgement, nothing but a show for others when you try to persuade them you will not offend again. You are, in my judgement, an irredeemable paedophilic sexual offender.”

Barber admitted three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child; two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child; three counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child; and one count each of: possessing extreme pornographic images, possessing a prohibited image of a child and arranging the sexual exploitation of a child under 13.

His sentence also included a further six counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with Sex Offenders Register notification requirements. The sentence comprises a nine-year custodial period and four years on licence.

PC Emily Heriot, from the specialist management of sexual or violent offenders unit (MOSOVO), said: “Barber went to great efforts to conceal his continued sexual offending, with complete disregard for his sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements, which are in place to safeguard the public. These new convictions reflect the serious risk he poses to children.”

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A Chester sex offender has been jailed after trying to meet an underage girl for the purposes of sexual activity.

Ivan Jones, 35, of Osprey Court, previously pleaded guilty to all charges.

Appearing at Chester Crown Court on Monday, September 16, Jones was jailed for a total of four years.

The court heard that Jones, who already had a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed in January 2022 for previous offences, tried to get a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity in March this year.

Jones also tried to breach his SHPO by arranging to have unsupervised contact with an underage girl in Chester.

The defendant also attempted to send messages to an underage girl requesting images and videos of that girl's breasts, and sent an image of his private parts while trying to request images of another girl's breasts.

Judge Michael Leeming sentenced Jones to a total of four years and extended his SHPO so it was now indefinite.

Jones is now on the sex offenders register indefinitely and, as part of the SHPO, is not allowed to have unsupervised contact with any child under 16, and has restrictions imposed on his internet usage.

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A MAN from South Gloucestershire has been jailed after sexually abusing three girls.

Robert Ponter, of Longwell Green, pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court to three counts of rape of a girl aged under 16.

His victims were aged between 11 and 15 at the time of the offences.

He also admitted three indecent assault charges – two related to one 14-year-old girl and one to another girl of the same age.

The assaults took place in the Bristol area between 1998 and 2007.

In addition to his custodial sentence, Ponter was issued with an indefinite restraining order banning him from ever contacting his victims again.

He was also made subject of a sexual harm prevention order and will be registered as a sex offender indefinitely.

Avon and Somerset Police received reports about Ponter in 2007 and 2008.

Investigations were carried out but at the time there was 'insufficient evidence' to charge him with any offences, police say. 

Detectives received a third report in 2021 and subsequently reapproached victims who’d previously reported Ponter’s abuse.

In July 2024, following the conclusion of this investigation, he was charged with sexually abusing all three victims.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Lucy Heaps said: “Robert Ponter took advantage of three girls over many years, exploiting their young age to carry out his vile crimes.

“All three of his victims have demonstrated great courage by reporting what happened to them and by providing evidence which resulted in Ponter pleading guilty to all the offences during his first appearance at court.

“They continue to have access to specialist support services and I hope the fact he has been jailed for 14 years gives them a sense of closure.”

She added: “No investigation is ever closed and if new information or supporting evidence comes to light, such as in this case when we received the most recent report, we will revisit inquiries and do everything we can to get justice for victims.

“If you have been affected by this inquiry please do contact us, we can provide access to support and look into any reports you want to make.”

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A man has been jailed for sending sexually explicit messages to someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl.

Kevin Rowland, from Sunderland, sent messages and images of himself to a police officer posing as a teenager.

He was arrested at his home on Eastmoor Road, Pallion, in May and later pleaded guilty to multiple offences.

Rowland, 44, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison at Newcastle Crown Court.

Rowland had pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange or facilitate child sex offences, sexual communication with a child, breach of a sexual harm prevention order, and breach of sex offender notification requirements.

Det Con Lee Robertson said Rowland's sentencing had been achieved following a "long and thorough investigation" by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unite (NEROCU).

"This result has meant a predator is now back behind bars and shows our commitment to pursuing anyone posing a threat to children," he said.

"We would always encourage anyone with information about this type of offending, or anyone who thinks they have been a victim to come forward and talk to police."