Latest Offenders

Description

A teenage prisoner, Ethan Rowley, threw boiling water over a fellow inmate's groin in the shower block at HMP Nottingham, leaving the victim with blistered skin peeling from his genitals and legs.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Rowley, then 19 and on remand for serious sexual offences, carried out the unprovoked attack on November 8, 2024. He later received a 21-year sentence at Derby Crown Court last summer and will now serve an extra nine months.

Judge Michael Auty KC said:

"You are currently serving a sentence of 21 years which for someone of your age is exceptional... The circumstances surrounding this offence are that whilst serving at HMP Nottingham in the shower block you threw scalding, if not boiling, water over the victim. It caused his skin to blister, some of the skin was left hanging off his legs and groin area and caused damage to his genitalia. It is not entirely clear what the overall effects were because, as often happens with prisoners, he did not comply with the prison or give a victim personal statement,"

Prosecutor Samantha Warner explained: The victim entered the shower area where Rowley was; the defendant left, returned with a blue mop bucket, and threw its contents at the victim's groin and legs, causing immediate excruciating pain and blistering. Other prisoners doused him in cold water, and he was treated at QMC for burns to his chest, thighs, right arm, and genitalia.

Rowley, now 20 and at HMP Swinfen Hall, admitted throwing a corrosive substance with intent to burn, maim, disfigure, disable, or cause grievous bodily harm. He has prior violent convictions and was sentenced last July for raping two women in Derbyshire.

Defence barrister Gregor Purcell stated:

"I have no doubt it would have been pretty unpleasant blistering and it is undoubtedly painful and deliberate harm caused by him. He is a young man who is already facing an extremely long period inside for someone of his age."

Description

A rapist who sexually exploited teenage girls and threatened a 12-year-old girl into sharing indecent images has been jailed.

Gurpreet Randhawa carried out the vile sex attacks on two 15-year-old girls he’d persuaded to meet with him.

He raped one girl on three separate occasions between August and September last year.

On the last occasion he drove her to a car park in Wolverhampton before raping her in the back of the vehicle. When she tried to resist his advances he grabbed her by the throat.

The girl showed real courage to inform her school of the attack who then alerted us. We were quickly able to identify Randhawa – who went by the name of Ziggy - and he was arrested the same day.

We established Randhawa had used other aliases and contacted a 12-year-old girl through social media and engaged in sexualised conversations.

He sent inappropriate videos and pictures of himself and threatened to harm the young girl if she didn’t too. He even encouraged her to ask friends to do the same.

Randhawa shared with her live footage of him having sex with another girl, who he knew was aged just 15.

He smoked drugs with her, and forced himself upon the girl. She was also completely unaware the attack was being filmed.

It was through the courage of the girls in recalling what happened to them, that we were able to present a strong case against Randhawa.

He pleaded guilty to four offences of rape, two of taking indecent images of a child, a further two offences of sharing indecent images and engaging in sexual communication. These all took place between July 2024 and September 2025.

The 21-year-old, from Wellington Road, Wolverhampton, was jailed for 18 years at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday (12 February).

DC Mark Tallis, from our public protection unit, said:

“Randhawa targeted and exploited these young girls for his own sexual desires. He persuaded two of the girls to meet him and raped them.

“These were horrific experiences for the girls, as it was for the 12-year-old girl who was threatened if she did not reciprocate his appalling actions in sharing indecent images.

“It was through the courage of the girls in coming forward and telling us about these awful crimes we were able to convict Randhawa for his deplorable behaviour. Their bravery has taken a dangerous man off the streets and prevented others from being targeted.”

Description

A man who sexually abused a child over the course of six years is now behind bars following an investigation by specialist safeguarding detectives in Leeds.

David Lawn, 62, of St Johns Garth, Aberford, began sexually assaulting the victim in the 1990s. 

She then came forward to disclose the abuse as an adult, and in 2021 the Leeds Safeguarding Unit launched a detailed investigation culminating in Lawn being charged with multiple sexual offences.

He went on trial at Leeds Crown Court last month where he was found guilty of all 16 charges including three counts of raping a female under the age of 16.  

On Friday 13 February Lawn was given an extended sentence of 20 years in prison plus one year on license, and he will be added to the sex offenders register for life.  

In a lengthy and extremely powerful victim impact statement, the woman described how the abuse had affected every part of her life – you can read a summary of her words below:

“As a young child, I learned fear long before I learned safety. I should have been learning to read, to play, to trust — instead I was learning how to disappear inside myself, how to make my body small and my voice smaller.  

“As I grew older, the confusion hardened into something heavier. I learned to split myself in two — the girl who smiled and played and went to school, and the girl who carried a secret so heavy it bent her spine.

“As a young adult, I carried the weight of my childhood like an invisible rucksack filled with stones. I was already exhausted, already living a life shaped by survival rather than possibility.  

“Adulthood, so far, has been a long lesson in learning how to live with a nervous system that never learned to rest. I check doors and windows repeatedly, I plan every outing with escape routes. Even in my own home, I am scanning for danger, waiting for it.

“For decades, I lived as two people inside one body — the terrified little girl who learned to freeze, to hide, to survive and the adult who learned to function while carrying wounds no one could see. I wore a mask so well that even I sometimes believed it. But underneath it all, the child inside me was still waiting to be heard.

“This statement is her voice. This process is her truth. This moment is her justice.

“She finally has someone standing up for her. She finally has someone telling the truth she was never allowed to speak. I hope she can look at the woman I am now and feel proud. Proud that I didn’t stay silent. Proud that I fought. Proud that I survived long enough to tell her story.

“And now, for the first time, I know he cannot reach me. That knowledge is a kind of freedom I have never felt before.  

“I cannot change what happened to me. But I can choose what happens next. I can choose to speak, to stand, to reclaim the parts of myself that were taken.  

“I have a voice now. I have truth now. I have strength now.

“She is scared. I am not.”

Detective Constable Christine Walkin, who led the investigation, said:

“Lawn subjected a vulnerable young girl to a campaign of sickening abuse and this has understandably had a significant impact on her life.  

“Following a lengthy investigation we were able to obtain enough evidence to secure an extensive list of charges against Lawn, all of which he has now been convicted of.

“I would like to recognise the immense courage shown by the victim throughout the investigation and court proceedings. I hope the knowledge that Ward will now spend a substantial amount of time behind bars will provide some comfort as she works hard to move on with her life.

“I also hope the successful outcome in this case might encourage any victims of similar offences to please come forward and report them to us.  

“We treat all sexual offences, recent or not, extremely seriously. We have specialist officers who can support you through the process and will do everything we can to get justice for you.”

Description

A registered sex offender who made a determined effort to hide his internet activity from Police has been jailed for 21 months.

Peter Ash, 52, of Kenwyn Hill Caravan Park, Truro, was also found to have an image of a dog being sexual abused on an electronic device.

Ash appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence on Friday 13 February after pleading guilty to three breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention order, possession of extreme pornography and a breach of his notification requirements as a sex offender.

As part of the sentence defendant must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years.

The court heard how in 2022 Ash was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse images and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order as part of his sentence.

In September 2025, Devon & Cornwall Police received intelligence that a user of an online platform had communications discussing child abuse

Ash was identified and arrested at his home in Truro.

Upon arrest it was discovered that Ash had attempted to conceal a mobile device within his home address and therefore committed several breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The breaches were a result of Ash failing to notify Police of a new electronic device, installing encrypted applications and using a virtual private network (VPN) to mask his IP address and attempting to prevent Police from tracing his internet history

An examination of a device found an image of a person carrying out a sex act on a dog, this forming the possession of extreme pornography charge.

Police Constable Dean Martin from the Paedophile Online Investigation Team, said:

“I welcome the sentence given to Peter Ash at Truro Crown Court.

“The conditions of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order are strictly imposed to manage risk and protect the most vulnerable members of our community in Devon and Cornwall.

“We take any violation of court-ordered conditions extremely seriously and this investigation highlights our commitment to proactive monitoring and our refusal to tolerate any behaviour that undermines public safety or the welfare of those - human or otherwise - who cannot protect themselves.

“Peter Ash made determined efforts to mask his internet history, showing no regard to the order previously given to him to curb his offending and protect others.”

Description

Met police officers have commended the bravery of seven survivors after a dangerous sexual offender was convicted on Friday, 13 February at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Abdul Halim Khan, 54 (26.01.72) of Old Ford Road, E3 was found guilty of 21 offences including nine counts of rape.

The offences took place over a 11-year period between 2004 and 2015, where Khan abused his position as a respected faith leader within the local community to abuse multiple women and girls.

Khan abused his position as a faith leader by pretending to have spiritual powers to coerce and sexually abuse girls as young as 12. He manipulated the victims, threatening harm on their families in an attempt to continue his extensive offending.

Yesterday’s conviction signifies the dedication of investigators, who did everything in their power to support the survivors and achieve justice on their behalf.

Detective Sergeant Sara Yems, who led this investigation, said:

“It shows remarkable strength for anyone to report abuse, especially when the abuser is believed to be a trusted figure. The seven woman who came forward have shown extraordinary courage in speaking with police and I hope they serve as inspiration to other victims and survivors.

“While nothing will undo the harm suffered by these women – yesterday’s conviction will hopefully offer a small measure of comfort. I’d like to thank the dedicated team of Met officers who left no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice.

“We remain absolutely committed to tackling violence against women and girls, targeting dangerous offenders and removing them from London’s streets.”

Follow the verdict one of the survivors of Khan's abuse thanked the Met’s investigation team for restoring their trust. She said:

“The abuse I suffered as a child has had a profound and lasting impact on my life. What happened to me did not end when the abuse stopped, it affected my sense of safety, my ability to trust others, and the way I understood relationships and authority.

“Someone who should never have harmed me violated that trust, and the effects of that betrayal have stayed with me for many years and I continue to carry that trauma with me.

“Like many survivors of childhood sexual abuse, I lived with shame, fear, and confusion that were not mine to carry. The loss of trust, in people, in systems, and at times in myself, shaped much of my adult life.

“Coming forward was an extremely difficult decision. Speaking about what happened meant revisiting painful memories and facing emotions I had tried to suppress for years. However, being listened to, believed, and treated with dignity throughout the investigation helped restore some of the trust that had been taken from me. I am grateful to the Metropolitan Police officers who handled my case with care, professionalism, and sensitivity.

“I hope this outcome acknowledges not only the abuse itself, but the deep and lasting harm it causes. I also hope it encourages other survivors of childhood sexual abuse to know that they are not alone, they are not to blame, and that what happened to them matter, regardless of how much time has passed.”

The investigation

Police first became aware of Khan’s offending in February 2018 when the youngest victim reported Khan to a teacher at her school.

Following the allegations, Met detectives began to build a case against Khan.

As part of their investigation, officers interviewed over 50 witnesses and examined ten mobile phone devices.

In his interview’s Khan repeatedly denied the allegations stating it was a conspiracy, and the victims had concocted a story for revenge.

Khan was charged on Thursday, 16 March 2023.

Abdul Halim Khan was found guilty of the following offences:

• Nine counts of rape
• Four counts of sexual assault
• Two counts of sexual assault of a child under thirteen
• Five counts of rape of a child under thirteen
• One count of assault by penetration

He has been remanded into custody ahead of sentencing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, 14 May.

Description

A woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for offences involving the sexual abuse of children, as part of a broader case involving multiple offenders.

Heidi Ludbrook, 45, of Norman Way, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, was sentenced at a hearing at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 13 February, along with Elliot Jones and two other women.

The sentences came following an investigation by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Major Crime Team.

Ludbrook admitted ten offences, including causing a child to engage in sexual activity and taking indecent photographs of a child.

She was jailed for seven years.

Ludbrook is to be made subject to indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and notification requirements, the court heard.

The abuse was reported by one of the victims when he became an adult, and enquiries identified further victims. A large number of indecent images and videos of children which evidenced the offending were also found on devices seized when Jones was arrested, including phones, USB sticks and a hard drive.

Other evidence of offending was found on devices belonging to the other defendants.

Detective Sergeant Sam Grant, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Major Crime team, said:

“This is an appalling case. The offences spanned a number of years, and had one common theme – Jones’ awful and manipulative behaviour.

“I want to commend the victims for the courage they have shown throughout this process and talking to the police about what happened. Their bravery and telling us what happened to them has brought these four people to justice.“

Description

A woman has been jailed for 11 years after admitting sexual offences against children, in a case linked to a ‘highly manipulative and exploitative’ man.

Sarah Johnson, 57, of Tintagel Close, Andover, was sentenced at a hearing at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 13 February, alongside Elliot Jones and two other women.

The sentences came following an investigation by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Major Crime Team.

Johnson had admitted 18 charges, including taking indecent images of children and distributing them.

She was jailed for 11 years, with an extended licence period of one year.

Johnson is to be made subject to indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and notification requirements, the court heard.

The abuse was reported by one of the victims when he became an adult, and enquiries identified further victims. A large number of indecent images and videos of children which evidenced the offending were also found on devices seized when Jones was arrested, including phones, USB sticks and a hard drive.

Other evidence of offending was found on devices belonging to the other defendants.

Detective Sergeant Sam Grant, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Major Crime team, said:

“This is an appalling case. The offences spanned a number of years, and had one common theme – Jones’ awful and manipulative behaviour.

“I want to commend the victims for the courage they have shown throughout this process and talking to the police about what happened. Their bravery and telling us what happened to them has brought these four people to justice.“

Description

A highly manipulative and exploitative man has been jailed for 26 years after admitting sexual offences against children.

Elliot Jones, 49, formerly of Chantry Lane, Necton, Norfolk, was sentenced at a hearing at Winchester Crown Court on Friday 13 February, along with three women involved in related offences.

The sentences came following an investigation by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabularys Major Crime Team.

Jones had previously admitted 21 charges, which included sexual activity with a child and making indecent photographs of children.

The court heard that Jones abused and encouraged the abuse of a number of children over a period of years, and that the offending took place in different parts of the country.

Jones was given a total sentence of 34 years, which consisted of a custodial sentence of 26 years, with an extended licence period of eight years.

In sentencing Jones, Judge Adam Feest called him a highly manipulative and exploitative individual. He added that the risk Jones presents to others is of the highest order.

Jones is to be made subject to indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and notification requirements, the court heard.

The abuse was reported by one of the victims when he became an adult, and enquiries identified further victims. A large number of indecent images and videos of children which evidenced the offending were also found on devices seized when Jones was arrested, including phones, USB sticks and a hard drive.

Other evidence of offending was found on devices belonging to the other defendants.

Detective Sergeant Sam Grant, of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabularys Major Crime team, said:

This is an appalling case. The offences spanned a number of years, and had one common theme Jones awful and manipulative behaviour.

I want to commend the victims for the courage they have shown throughout this process and talking to the police about what happened. Their bravery and telling us what happened to them has brought these four people to justice.

Description

For more than three years a woman was subjected to malicious communications online at the hands of her former partner.

After a lengthy and complex investigation, Declan Guess was jailed yesterday (Thursday 12 February) for three-and-a half-years at Leicester Crown Court. He was also made subject to a restraining order, a sexual harm prevention order and will be placed on the sex offender register.

The victim was in a relationship with 24-year-old Guess, but after their relationship ended, he began sharing intimate photographs of her online, taken when she was a teenager.

In October 2022, the victim’s family reported that strangers were visiting their home looking to engage in sexual activity with her.

When the visitors were challenged, they showed posts that had been published on multiple websites advertising the victim as providing sexual services.

After an investigation was launched Guess was identified as being involved in these malicious posts.

When officers seized his mobile phone they discovered a quantity of intimate images of the victim, indecent images of other children as well as images depicting bestiality.

During the investigation over 500 indecent images of children were discovered across his devices.

Once Guess’s devices were examined, new evidence was uncovered relating to his online offending and he was further arrested again in June 2025 for stalking.

In August 2025 a Stalking Protection Order (SPO) was issued by the courts prohibiting 24-year-old Guess from having any form of contact with the victim, whether in person, online or by third party.

Despite the order being in place he breached the conditions in September 2025 when he started following the victim on Instagram, this led to him being arrested and remanded into custody.

He was subsequently charged with stalking, breach of stalking protection order, possession of extreme pornographic images, three counts of making indecent images of children and three counts of distribution of indecent images of children (IIOC).

Earlier this week Guess was due to stand trial but pleaded guilty on the first day to stalking and distribution of IIOC (category A and C).

Investigating officer, PC Kate Butler from the Artemis team, said:

“The impact these offences have had on the victim are immense. Her whole life was turned upside down. “

In her Victim Personal Statement (VPS), the victim, who is now in her 20s, said: “Men started turning up at my family home looking for me and I found out this was because my name, my intimate photos and my address had been put online advertising me for sex. This was frightening and left me feeling very vulnerable.

“The whole situation has caused me so much stress and upset over the years. I just wanted it to stop. What Declan has done to me has had a very severe impact on my self-esteem and mental health. In many ways it has ruined my life.”

PC Butler added:

“While we can’t turn back time for the victim, we hope that Guess’s guilty plea helps her to put those events behind her. We are pleased his admission of guilt has meant that the victim has not been subjected to giving evidence in court. 

“This has been an extremely complex investigation, and we thank the victim and her family for their courage in reporting what they had been through and we hope this reassures the wider community that we do take these offences seriously and will use our powers to bring people to justice.

“We also believe there may be other victims of Guess, who for whatever reason have not reported offences to us, we would urge you to get in touch. We have specialist officers who can support and guide you through the process and put you in touch with other support agencies.”

Description

A man who masturbated on board a morning train and later claimed he thought he was alone has been jailed for one year and eight months, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Igor Borges, 29, and of Nether Street, Barnet, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Monday 2 February after pleading guilty to Exposure and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He was also ordered to sign sex offenders register for 10 years and pay a victim surcharge.

The court heard how at around 9am on 1 September last year on board a train from London Bridge to West Croydon, Borges was sat across the aisle from the victim when he exposed himself and started masturbating while looking at her.

She noticed in the window reflection that Borges was staring at her, and when she looked over and saw him masturbating, he continued. The victim then called the police on 999, and Borges put his finger to his lips to indicate not to tell anyone.

She stood up from her seat and moved carriages to find another seat, and Borges followed her through the carriage apologising. As she walked through the train, she told other passengers what had happened who intervened and stopped Borges following her.

He left the train at West Croydon and BTP detectives launched an investigation to track him down.

Through their enquiries using the on-train CCTV, Borges was identified as he already had a SHPO in place which he breached in committing the offence that morning. He was arrested at his home address two weeks later.

His existing SHPO had been in place since August 2023 and prohibited him from making any direct or indirect approach to a female not known to him in a public place.  

Upon being arrested he stated it wasn't him that committed the offence and the officers had it wrong, although later in interview he claimed he thought he was alone when he masturbated on-board the train.

Due to the strong case against him built by BTP Detectives, Borges changed his original not guilty plea to guilty.

BTP Detective Constable Karim Omer said:

"This is not the first time Borges has been caught for a crime like this, and his far-fetched excuse that he was alone on a train in Central London at 9am did not wash with us.

"It is thanks to the courage of the victim in reporting his disgusting actions that we have been able to bring him before the courts and put him behind bars, and I hope that this sentence provides the victim a sense of closure.

“If you experience or witness a sexual offence on-board a train or at a station, I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016. We take every report seriously and will stop at nothing to bring sexual offenders like Borges to justice.”

Description

He was also subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The 48-year-old of the Winsford area, had previously admitted to four counts of rape of a girl under 13, three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, and four counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The offences occurred between 2023 and 2025.

During the investigation, specialist officers deployed a seminal detection dog to an area where some of the offences took place. The dog subsequently found Huband’s semen on one of the victim’s blankets.

Following the sentencing, the officer in charge of the case, Detective Constable Savy Joshi, said:

“This has been a really challenging case for a number of reasons, and so I’m relieved our hard work has paid off by securing justice for these innocent children.

“In the initial stages of our investigation, Huband dismissed the allegations outright, attempting to weaponise his status as an adult to portray the victims’ accounts as nothing more than childish imagination. But when PD Ebony located his DNA on one of the victim’s blankets, his attempts to deny responsibility fell short.

“Predators like Huband operate on manipulation and control, doing everything they can to silence and discredit those they harm. Thanks to the meticulous evidence gathered throughout this investigation, and the remarkable courage shown by all four victims, Huband has now been stripped of that control. We have exposed his lies, and he is now being held accountable for the atrocities he has committed.”

Detective Sergeant Laura Bradshaw, the Senior Investigating Officer, said:

“Cases of child sexual abuse are always devastating, but this one has been particularly harrowing for everyone involved.

“The children in this case had their lives shattered by the actions of one man who chose to exploit their vulnerability in the most appalling way. The trauma they have endured is unimaginable, yet they have shown extraordinary bravery throughout this entire investigation.

“Their strength has ensured that no other child will be harmed by Huband, no other child will experience what they have experienced.

“I would like to acknowledge the dedication of my team, who have worked tirelessly to build a comprehensive case that left Huband with no option but to plead guilty.

“His sentence reflects the gravity of the horrific abuse he inflicted upon his victims, and whilst they will never be able to forget about what happened to them, I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide them with some closure and enables them to move forward with their lives.

“I also hope this case encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us.

“Any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.

“They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside, and all victims of sexual offences have the right to anonymity.”

Description

Three men who came forward and reported non-recent sexual abuse against them when they were just children, have watched their perpetrator get sentenced to a total of 15 years behind bars, and ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Following an eight-day trial at Hull Crown Court concluding on Wednesday, 5 February 2026, Martin Tidder, 36-years-old, of Brazil Street in Hull was found guilty of four counts of rape, four counts of assaulting a boy by touching, three counts of causing or inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of sexual assault of a child.

He was remanded into custody where he appeared at Hull Crown Court today (Friday, 13 February 2026) for sentencing.

We first received a report from a man in December 2021 who wanted to disclose non-recent sexual abuse against him and someone he knew when they were children. He explained how he had been encouraged to come forward now because someone he knew had recently disclosed similar offences, naming Martin Tidder as the one responsible.

The case was immediately flagged with our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, and a detective immediately launched an investigation and started obtaining video recorded interviews from the man who had come forward.

Initial enquiries established that Tidder would show the man cartoon porn when he was between the ages of 10- and 14-years-old, and on one occasion he was woken up by Tidder sexually assaulting him.

Whilst enquiries into Tidders offending continued, we then received a second report a few weeks later in January 2022, from a man known to the first victim alleging he was raped on a regular basis over around 11 years, starting when he was just 6- or 7-years-old.

After both men had told their close ones they had come forward to the police explaining what Tidder had subjected them to, a third man, also known to them, then came forward with similar reports shortly after.

Tidder was subsequently arrested in February 2022 and whilst being interviewed in custody he denied all offences and any knowledge of what the three men had reported.

Detective Constable Rebecca Davison from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said:

“Rape and sexual abuse against boys and men is wildly underreported, and I would like to start by acknowledging and commending the three men for coming forward and reporting what had happened to them as such young children.

“It is never easy to report crimes of this nature, especially as an adult who was subjected to horrific crimes and stripped of innocence at such a young age, but because one of them initially opened up to someone they trusted, this led to a ripple effect of disclosures against Tidder, enabling detectives to build a significant case against him and bring him before the courts, even years after he committed the crimes.”

Speaking after sentencing, one of the men said:

“Martin made me feel complicit without understanding what was happening or why it was bad, and I had to compartmentalise.

“It’s as though I always knew, even then, how wrong it was but without the developed mind and emotional understanding to know how to cope with it.

“Hopefully once this is all settled I can rebuild myself and shape my future to eradicate this black cloud.

“Some men never share their abuse, some reveal it on their deathbed, I want to change that. I want to stand by those boys and tell them it is okay to speak out.

“Lastly, I would also just like to give thanks to my family, my friends, DC Rebecca Davison, the Judge, and most importantly - the jury. I wish I could buy you all a thousand pints.”

Detective Constable Rebecca concludes:

“We wouldn’t be here today without the bravery and strength shown by the men who have not only supported and stuck by each other throughout the entirety of what has been a very lengthy and complex investigation, but despite everything they had been through they were all still willing to give evidence which has ultimately led us to get some kind of justice for them.

“We take reports of rape, and other sexual offences, both recent and non-recent, extremely seriously and will continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of such sordid individuals like Tidder.

“No matter your age or gender, or whether the offences took place yesterday or 30 years ago, we would encourage you to tell someone you trust and report it to the police.”

Description

A man from Swansea has been jailed after he took part in sexual communication with who he believed were three underage girls.

43-year-old Adrian Fine, from the city centre, sent sexual messages to three online accounts in March of 2025. The accounts were in fact decoys being run by a ‘paedophile hunter’ group.

After pleading guilty to three counts of attempted sexual communications with a child, Fine has been sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Detective Constable Kelly Hurley said:

“Adrian Fine was fully of the belief that the accounts he was messaging belonged to children.

“It remains staggering that there are people like Fine out there who will be told that they are talking to a child and yet still persist in attempting to have a sexual conversation.

“He is clearly a threat to children and so it is therefore only right that he is going to prison.”

Description

A man has been jailed for possessing indecent images of children following an investigation led by specialist online child abuse investigators.

In September last year, Durham Constabulary’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) were alerted to suspicious online activity taking place at a property in Spennymoor.

Officers attended and seized electronic devices belonging to the occupant, 21-year-old Joseph Thompson.

The devices were analysed by specialist officers and found to contain 307 indecent images and videos of children.

Of these, 166 were classed as category A images or videos – the most serious. There were also 102 category B images, 39 category C, and six extreme pornographic images.

Thompson was arrested and charged with three counts of distributing indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent images of children, and one of possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals.

He pleaded guilty to the offences and was jailed for 18 months at Durham Crown Court yesterday (February 12).

Thompson, now of Shildon, was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years. 

The investigation was led by the force’s OCAIT unit – a specialist team made up of six police officers and a member of police staff who work to protect vulnerable children from abuse.

Detective Constable Rebecca Lockey, who led the investigation, said:

“Thompson’s behaviour was abhorrent and demonstrates the very real dangers posed online by individuals who deliberately seek to groom and sexually exploit children.

“His devices contained both still and moving images involving the sexual abuse of young children who will now have to live with the trauma they have suffered.

“This type of offending not only affects those children involved, but their families and wider communities too.

“That is why we will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt this type of criminal activity, and keep more children safe from harm.”

Description

A man has pleaded guilty to a number of serious sexual offences against a woman from Swindon.

Dean Hamilton, 47, appeared at Winchester Crown Court today (13/02) where he admitted one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault.

He has been granted conditional bail ahead of sentencing at a later date.

Hamilton’s offences relate to the wider criminal proceedings involving Joanne Young, who has waived her right to anonymity.

Four other defendants previously pleaded not guilty to various sexual offences against Joanne, including rape and sexual assault.

A trial for the four men is due to take place at Winchester Crown Court in October.