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A Sunderland paedophile who arranged to meet a child for sex has been sentenced.

James Graham, 24, planned to meet a 14-year-old boy who he believed he had been chatting with online.

However, what he didn’t know, was that he had actually been speaking with a police officer from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) as part of a wider investigation.

Graham sent countless sexually explicit messages stating his intentions with the 14-year-old schoolboy and even offered the child drugs.

When communication began in October 2024, officers from NEROCU quickly launched a specialist operation to target Graham and bring him into custody.

On January 15 last year, officers arrested Graham and subsequently charged him with arrange/facilitate the commission of child sex offence and attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child. Graham later pleaded guilty to all charges.  

Today (Thursday), he appeared before Newcastle Crown Court and was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for 18 months, 10 years on the sex offender register and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order for his despicable actions.

NEROCU Detective Constable Lee Robertson, said:

“Cases like this show why our work in this area is so vital and we will continue to do all we can to help protect children from predators like Graham.

“I’d like to thank all the officers and staff involved for helping to bring Graham before the courts and as always, I’d encourage anyone who has been a victim, or wants to talk to an officer and raise some concerns, to get in touch immediately.”

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Adam Hall, previously of the Washington area, Tyne and Wear, was today (Thursday) brought to justice thanks to the bravery of the victim-survivors.

The 43-year-old has been found guilty of five counts of rape and seven counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent through the intentional transmission of the HIV virus.

He was further found guilty of supplying a controlled drug (GHB) and failing to comply with a police investigation after refusing to provide the password to his phone.

The offences relate to seven victim-survivors, between 2016 and 2023.

Hall had denied the offences.

During the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, the jury was told that if the HIV virus is undetectable in a person’s system it is untransmittable.

However, Hall knew at various points he had transmittable levels of the virus in his system and intentionally had unprotected sex – and in the majority of these cases raped the victim-survivors.

He becomes only the second person in the UK to be convicted of the intentional transmission of HIV.

Hall was remanded into custody and will be sentenced on April 23.

The Senior Investigating Officer Adam Hall’s case, Detective Chief Inspector Emma Smith, of Northumbria Police, said:

“Today, we have seen a callous and calculating sexual predator brought to justice.

“Adam Hall has been found guilty of multiple counts of rape and grievous bodily harm through the intentional transmission of HIV.

“He has shown absolutely no remorse for the extensive suffering and distress he has caused.

“We want to recognise the courage shown by the victim-survivors who came forward – it is due to their bravery that he has been brought to justice.

“Our priority remains helping ensure anyone impacted by Hall’s actions receives the support they need.

“Through our extensive investigations we believe that he has had sexual contact with men who have not yet been identified.

“There is also evidence he has travelled to different parts of the country, including County Durham, Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Manchester, and London.

“We would encourage anyone who may have health concerns to seek advice and support from your local sexual health services.

“There are safe places where you can access a broad range of services. We want people to know this is available confidentially and independently of the police.

“Anyone who believes they may be a victim of a criminal offence is also encouraged to come forward to ourselves.

“We have set-up a dedicated webpage for people to contact us, which can be accessed by visiting our website.

“We want our message to be a clear one – we are here for you, we will listen and we will help ensure you receive the support you need.”

Police are also reminding people that anyone who reports being a victim of any kind of sexual offence has anonymity and should not be identified.

Director of Public Health for Newcastle and Gateshead, Alice Wiseman, has spoken on behalf of public health bodies across the region to encourage those with concerns to access sexual health services.

She said:

“This is a devastating case for the victims involved who will have to deal with the consequences of Adam Hall’s actions for the rest of their lives.

“I know that there will be many victims of sexual offences who don’t report what has happened to them and may not seek support.

“We have sexual health services across the region all of which offer free, confidential advice and support. There is no judgement and your health and safety is our priority.

“Regardless of where you live, you can access any public sexual health service in any area. If you read about this case and want to seek advice, then we are here for you.

“We will continue to work closely with the police to ensure support is available to victims, and to anyone else who requires it. You are never alone.”

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A pensioner donned stockings and a thong before sexually assaulting a vulnerable, intoxicated teenage girl he had just met, a court heard.

Nigel Page, 68, pretended to help the girl by taking her home to charge her phone after encountering her by chance in Carmarthen town centre in August last year, but instead attacked her.

Once inside his house, Page changed clothes, pushed the girl to the floor, kissed her, rubbed his crotch against her stomach, and sexually assaulted her. The victim, fearing rape, fled and flagged down a passing car for a lift back to town. Page then returned to Carmarthen looking for her, though his motive remains unclear.

Page, of Ger-y-Capel, Llangain, Carmarthen, was convicted at trial of one count of sexual assault. At Swansea Crown Court, defense barrister Dyfed Thomas said reports showed Page's mental health disorder contributed to his "irrational and bizarre" behavior that night.

Judge Catherine Richards noted the victim was highly intoxicated and in "no position to make sensible choices," and did not understand Page was not acting altruistically but was motivated by sexual attraction to her. The judge added Page showed no real insight into his actions, resisted mental health medication, and had an "ulterior motive" in searching for the girl afterward.

Page was jailed for two years and placed on the sex offender register for 10 years.

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A 20-year-old woman who worked at a children's nursery has been sentenced to four years in prison after admitting a series of online child sex offences.

Zara Lancashire, of Datchworth Turn, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, was jailed on Thursday at St Albans Crown Court. She had pleaded guilty to 11 offences, including making and distributing indecent images of children and publishing obscene articles.

Lancashire, employed at Flower Pots Day Nursery in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, was not charged with any offences involving children in her care.

Judge Lana Wood described Lancashire as "actively involved" in a "network" of people sharing indecent images.

The Crown Prosecution Service noted that "making" an image includes opening an email attachment or downloading a website image.

Appearing via video link from HMP Peterborough, Lancashire wore her brown hair in pigtails, one tied with a pink ribbon and one with a blue.

Judge Wood also imposed a 30-year sexual harm prevention order.

Prosecutor Harry Laidlaw said Lancashire was arrested in September after a man she contacted online was detained.

He stated she distributed category A images—the most serious—four times, including one depicting a child under two being sexually abused.

She communicated with users like "Mr Bad" and "Pervert," and possessed over 150 images, 113 of which were category A.

Laidlaw added that Lancashire claimed in messages to have abused children in her care but faced no related charges. Having received safeguarding training, she was "more aware than the normal person of abuse—she was more aware of safeguarding."

The court heard her parents separated when she was nine, leading to a "difficult" relationship with her mother.

Defense barrister Madeleine Wolfe said Lancashire reacted to online attention: "This was a relatively young, naive girl who got herself in a situation." Her messages were "disgraceful," but "despite her working with young people, there were no contact offences."

Judge Wood cited Lancashire's issues with "impulse control" and "sexual preoccupation," deeming her "dangerous" with "a significant risk that you will commit further... offences."

She told Lancashire: "You claimed to have abused children in your care. Fortunately it appears that those assertions had no truth behind them."

Det Insp Fay Tooley of Hertfordshire Police said: "Lancashire has been brought to justice for the offences she committed, and while our investigation found they didn't involve the physical abuse of children, they are still of an extremely serious nature."

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The Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT) – specialists in tackling online child sex offences – have seen a paedophile jailed for five years.

Mark Baillie, of North Road in Westcliff, was first arrested and questioned by police in August 2025 after reports he had been engaged in sexual conversations online with what he believed were children, but were actually decoy accounts.

The 37-year-old's devices were seized and analysed as part of that investigation, where officers discovered more than 2,200 child abuse images, as well as evidence Baillie had engaged in sexual conversations via video with children online.

Once these were found Baillie was quickly arrested again and charged with:

• Five counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
• Four counts of making indecent images of children
• Three counts of distributing indecent images of children
• Two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
• Two counts of attempting to communicate with a child
• One count of threatening to share intimate images

Due to the strength of the evidence and diligence by the Officer in Charge of the case, he pleaded guilty to all charges at Southend Crown Court and was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday 27 February at the same court.

"his crimes were heinous"

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and added to the Sex Offenders Register for life.

POLIT’s Acting Detective Inspector Gavin Tuck said:

Our officers laid bare the extensive offending on Baillie’s devices, leaving him no choice but to plead guilty at court.

His crimes were heinous – a custodial sentence was the only punishment he could face.

He repeatedly sought out children on the internet to abuse, hiding his identity as he did so.

Child abuse such as this is insidious and preys on young people where they are often most vulnerable, in areas of the internet where those that seek to exploit them can disguise themselves.

Thanks to the SHPO we secured at court, he has to declare any devices in his possession and we can check them unannounced for the rest of his life, ensuring we can protect children from him.

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Two girls who were sexually abused by a man in Wisbech say they finally feel 'free' after seeing him jailed for 18 years.

Andrew Howell, aged 37, of Llandusyl, Carmarthenshire  - but formerly of Wisbech - had denied a catalogue of offences against the two victims but was jailed last month after being found guilty by a jury at Peterborough Crown Court.

The offences took place in the Wisbech and King's Lynn area between 2021-2023 and came to light when one of the victims rang a helpline to report it.

In July 2024 Howell was charged with 24 offences:

• 13 counts of sexual activity with a child
• 1 count of rape of a child
• 2 counts of attempted rape of a child
• 3 counts of making indecent photographs of children
• 5 counts of inciting sexual activity with a child.

His first court appearance was August 2024 but he refused to admit his guilt.

However at a trial at Peterborough Crown Court on 1 December 2025 a jury found him guilty of all charges and he was sentenced (at the same court on 25 February 2026) to 18 years' imprisonment. He was also put on the sex offenders register for life.

In a statement read to the court one of the young victims spoke of the importance of seeing her abuser behind bars.

Addressing Howell she said:

"You are a manipulative and insecure monster and are finally where you belong.

“Sometimes I feel like I can finally go to sleep, at ease, knowing there's no way of you ever getting to me again and then there you are, appearing in my nightmares.

"But I have finally started to realise that not everyone is as evil as you. Despite the battles I fight every day, I have grown into a strong, confident and independent women who is falling back in love with her life.  You would be intimidated by this new person I am today.

"After everything you put me through, it matters to me that the sentence reflects the truth of what really happened...it's part of finally getting closure and being able to keep moving forward with the life I am rebuilding for myself."

The other victim said:

"For me, a proper sentence is not just about punishment, it is about finally being able to move forward, begin healing, and feel that the truth of what happened to me has been heard and believed.

"At the end of the day, I know I will never fully recover and heal from what he did to me. However, I am now so strong and incredibly proud of myself for continuing to live my life, one that is now filled with happiness and love.

"Although I will carry these scars for a long time, possibly even forever, I feel free. Free from pain, free from fear and most of all free from the monster himself".

Following sentencing Detective Constable Christina Wilkinson praised the victims for their bravery:

“From the very start of this investigation, both victims have shown remarkable courage. Their strength and honesty have been central to securing this conviction, and this outcome is a testament to their resilience.

“Howell’s continued refusal to take responsibility for his actions, and his decision to put the victims through the ordeal of a trial, highlights the level of manipulation and harm he inflicted. Despite this, the victims stood firm, and I hope this sentence brings them some measure of closure as they continue rebuilding their lives.

“I want to reassure anyone who has experienced abuse that we will listen, we will support you, and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

"If this has happened to you or someone you know, then please come forward and report it to us, no matter when it happened. You will be given help and support by our dedicated teams."

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"He manipulated me with lies to get what he wanted and scarred me for life with his actions. He has impacted my life in the most brutal way, and I will never get over it. This has been so mentally and physically draining for me."  

The victim of Jordan Reynolds has spoken after he was given a lengthy sentence.  

Reynolds, aged 30, was sentenced to a total of 17 years and six months at Bradford Crown Court with four years extended licence yesterday (Wednesday).  

He was jailed following an investigation by detectives at Calderdale Safeguarding, which saw him charged with multiple sexual offences, including several counts of rape.  

Reynolds was also convicted of criminal damage, perverting the course of justice, coercive and controlling behaviour and unrelated charges of affray and assault of an emergency worker.

Speaking after he had been sentenced, Detective Constable Katy Wilson of the Adult Protection Team, said:

“Reynolds subjected his victim to a horrendous ordeal and I hope the lengthy sentence he has received will give her some comfort.

“I also hope it encourages other victims to come forward and report offences to our specially-trained officers, who will investigate all reports and provide support throughout the process.” 

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A Gillingham rapist who drugged and repeatedly abused a man he met online has been jailed following his death.

On Tuesday 21 May 2024, the 61 year old victim went to Derek Rowley’s home address in Beatty Avenue, Gillingham after arranging to meet online.

During the afternoon, both men took a cocktail of drugs, including crystal meth, ketamine and GHB before engaging in consensual sex.

CCTV from Rowley’s bedroom captured the entire incident and showed at 5pm the victim became unresponsive. Rowley is seen to administer a liquid from a syringe into the victim’s mouth before raping him numerous times.

This continued until 9.38pm when Rowley was seen to go downstairs to tell his relative someone had died in his bedroom. An ambulance was called at 9.53pm and when paramedics arrived they confirmed the victim was deceased.

Rowley was arrested at the scene and later charged with 11 counts of rape and administering a substance to stupefy. He denied the offences but a jury at Maidstone Crown Court found him guilty on all counts.

On Thursday 5 March at the same court, the 45 year old was jailed for 17 years.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Lee Neiles said:

‘This was a truly shocking and disturbing case. Rowley exploited the victim in the most appalling way, showing complete disregard for his welfare.

‘Thanks to the meticulous work of our investigation team and the evidence presented to the jury, Rowley has been held accountable for his actions and will now face a consideration amount of time behind bars.

‘Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family during this incredibly difficult time who have shown tremendous dignity throughout the investigation and trial.’

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Connor Dorritt, 22, from Gateshead, has been jailed for two years and eight months after attempting to meet what he believed was a 12-year-old girl for sex at Newcastle Central Station.

Instead, he was confronted by a vigilante group who had set up a decoy profile to catch online child abusers.

Dorritt admitted attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity and possessing indecent images of children.

He contacted the profile on December 21, 2023, with the message "hey baby, how are you doing," prosecutor David Povall said. Over several weeks of daily chats, he was repeatedly told she was 12.

Dorritt suggested she visit his home to "hug" and "play games" involving a blindfold, offering up to £50 for her pictures. He then discussed sexual acts, offering money in exchange, and said she could use the cash for her train ticket.

"He encouraged her to keep this secret," Povall said, adding "she must not tell anybody" or he "could be arrested 'because of the age'".

On February 29, 2024, Dorritt arrived at a station coffee shop expecting to meet her but was met by the group. "This was a concerted effort to meet a 12-year-old child for the purposes of [sex]," Povall said.

Police arrested him and found four indecent videos of children aged 10-13 on his phone, totaling 16 minutes—one in the most serious category, three in the second.

Recorder Paul Reid described Dorritt's two-month messages as "deeply sexualised," noting the paedophile "acknowledged her extreme youth" and referred to it "many times." "It is quite clear you had sexual interest in very young children," the judge said, adding Dorritt went to the station to "perform unspeakable sexual acts upon" a 12-year-old.

Dorritt must sign the sex offender register and comply with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

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A serial rapist with prior convictions for brutal attacks in the North East has received a second life sentence for raping a woman after luring her to his flat.

Clifford Ian Church, 63, was captured after a police hunt across York and North Yorkshire.

He lured the 25-year-old woman to his flat, forced her to submit by hitting her to the floor, and told her, “you are going to be hit every time you refuse,” prosecutor Catherine Silverton told York Crown Court. He also said she needed “teaching a lesson” and locked them inside.

She escaped naked into the Harrogate block's communal area. Church, naked except for socks, chased her up two flights of stairs, grabbed her as she clung to a door frame, and tried dragging her back until a resident, hearing her screams, intervened.

The victim had viewed him as a “nice old man,” Ms. Silverton said.

After the rape, Church dressed, tossed her clothes into the communal area, and fled.

Church was on parole from a life sentence for raping, attempting to rape, and sexually assaulting a 37-year-old on Redcar seafront—an incident Judge Simon Hickey called “very similar” to the 2025 rape. He was also jailed for eight years in 1997 for rape, attempted rape, and attempted indecent assault of a 16-year-old in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. He has eight rape and attempted rape offenses total.

Church, formerly of Harrogate and now recalled to prison for his first life sentence, pleaded guilty to rape and assault.

Judge Hickey imposed a second life sentence with a 12-year minimum before parole consideration, calling it a “prolonged, determined and sustained incident that must have left the 25-year-old victim terrified.” Church is on the sex offenders’ register for life.

The August 9, 2025, rape prompted urgent appeals across York, North Yorkshire, Cleveland, and West Yorkshire.

Ms. Silverton said Church met the homeless drug addict victim in Leeds, persuaded her to bus to Harrogate with promises of £100 and drugs for bagging heroin and crack cocaine. He paid her £100 en route but mentioned nothing sexual until inside, where he locked the door, demanded she undress, and hit her when she refused.

Police arrested the drinking Church at Bradford Interchange on September 19. He was released from his first life sentence on November 1, 2017.

Defense lawyer Rebecca Randall cited his guilty plea as best mitigation, sparing the victim testimony. Institutionalized, he worked as a laundry orderly and advised new prisoners against self-harm. He struggled with long-term alcohol and drug addictions post-2017 release, lacking needed help.

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This is the moment a registered sex offender was identified by Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology.

John Thompson was on our watchlist and spotted by one of the LFR cameras in Piccadilly Gardens on 28 January.

When he was approached by officers following the alert, Thompson admitted having an extra mobile phone in his possession, which breaches his Sexual Harm Protection Order (SHPO) and led to his arrest. 

Thompson, (10/06/1982), from Manchester, was in court this week after admitting to a total of 35 breaches of his SHPO and a breach of his sex offender notification requirements.

He was jailed for 16 months when he appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday (03/03/2026). He was also ordered to pay £187 costs.

Without LFR, this level of noncompliance could easily have gone unnoticed, leaving both the risk and Thompson's behaviour hidden.

We have been using LFR since October 2025, with 20% of arrests being for registered sex offenders and three-quarters of suspects being charged with offences.

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A 31-year-old man has been jailed for nearly three years after he admitted to breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Simeon William James Weekes, previously of Wigston, Leicestershire, was issued with a SHPO in February 2018 following his conviction for making indecent photographs/pseudo photographs of children.

The SHPO was issued with certain conditions he was required to abide by, including not deleting any search history or downloading and deleting mobile phone apps.

However, on September 16 last year, when police officers made an unannounced visit to Weekes’ home address in Northampton, they analysed his mobile phone and found that he had downloaded and then deleted a social networking app.

He was arrested and subsequently charged with breaching his SHPO.

On October 29 last year, Weekes appeared at Northampton Crown Court where he pleaded guilty, returning to the same court earlier this year (January 15) where he was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

Investigating officer PC Leanne Tyson, from the Force’s MOSOVO team, said:

“Being given nearly three years in prison for deleting your app history may seem harsh to some, but we will never apologise for taking a zero-tolerance approach when it comes to the management of sex offenders.

“The conditions of a SHPO are put in place for a reason and there are no excuses for not abiding by them.

“We will always seek prison sentences and we will continue working hard to bring more people like Weekes to justice.”

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The bravery of a victim asking a member of the public for help, has resulted in a man being sentenced for rape of a child.

The court heard how the victim was subjected to this abhorrent act by a stranger, Ammar Moqbal, after being given alcohol while at a party. The victim left the party and bravely approached a member of the public asking for help.

A report was made to the police and Moqbal was promptly arrested and later charged with rape of a child aged 13/14/15.

He attended Sheffield Crown Court where he denied the offences, pleading not guilty, however he was later found guilty by a jury in October 2025.

Yesterday (3 March) Moqbal, 32, of Exter Driver, Sheffield, was handed a nine-year sentence at the same court.

During court, the victims brave account was shared:

"What happened to me that night has affected each and every part of my life.

"That night I was with my friends and could have never known what was about to happen. I found myself in a situation I could not control and as a child could not see a way out of.

"Whilst trying to work through what had happened, I lost the normality of just being in school. I couldn’t concentrate on my work or studies, as there was not enough head space for me to deal with the trauma I suffered, as well as what others were saying to me. 

"The confidence and naivety I had at the time of the incident, has been taken from me, and now I will always struggle to do what most people would not think twice about.  This can be as simple as leaving my home and going somewhere new. 

"I think the best way to describe my state of mind now, is similar to suffering a bereavement. It's like I am grieving for the life I feel I have lost. I feel like it’s a constant struggle to move my life forward due to the barriers I face now.

"I worry that one day these all of these things will overcome me, what happened will overcome me. I can't and will not allow this to happen.

"I will not let those who harmed me win, that time is done.

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I thought we had some sort of secret relationship. He made it seem like it was something special, something I had to keep quiet. But I was a child. I now understand that what happened wasn’t right. It wasn’t a relationship – it was abuse.

These are the words of the victim of Frankie Allwork.  

Allwork, 27, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday (2 March) after he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child.  

He was convicted following an investigation by detectives from the Child Vulnerability Exploitation Team (CVET) into offences which occurred over several months at Allwork’s address in Kentmere Avenue and at the victim’s home.

Allwork was given a total sentence of 12 years. He will serve a minimum of eight years in custody.  

He was also served with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a restraining order and was required to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.  

Speaking after Allwork had been sentenced, the officer in the case Detective Constable Jody Bergstrom, said:

“I would like to thank the victim for her courage in coming forward to report Allwork’s crimes.

“He knew she was under the age of consent, but this did not stop him sexually abusing her over a period of several months.  

“I hope this outcome will give her some closure.  

“I hope it will also encourage other victims to speak with our specially-trained officers who will investigate all reports and provide support throughout the investigation.” 

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Sam Levett, 34, from Gravesend, received a 15 year sentence after being convicted following a trial of multiple rapes and sexual assaults committed against a child between 2019 and 2020.

He must serve at least 10 years in custody before being eligible for parole and has also been made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Sergeant Matthew Childs and Detective Constable Chris Taylor received commendations from the Judge for the quality of the investigation during a hearing at the Old Bailey on 16 February.