Latest Offenders

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A man who strangled and raped a woman in Crewe has been jailed.

Fikadu Yemane was sentenced to eight years imprisonment at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 27 August following a ten-day trial, in which he was found guilty of one count of rape and intentional strangulation.

Yemane, who is of Castleton Walk, Manchester, but originally from Eritrea, was also ordered to sign on to the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely.

The case began on 16 July 2025 when the 29-year-old met the victim, a 19-year-old woman, in Manchester after arranging to meet via social media. The pair were known to each other and had agreed to travel to an address in Crewe alongside another man on the day of the offence.

At the address in Crewe, Yemane waited until it was just him and the victim alone in the property before forcing her into a bedroom, removing her clothing and going on to rape her. During the assault, he put his hand over the victim’s mouth and strangled her to the point that she nearly passed out, with visible marks being left on her neck as a result.

The second man later returned and pulled the 29-year-old off the victim, allowing her to escape and to call for help.

Yemane fled the scene on foot before officers arrived who quickly located and safeguarded the victim – he remained on the run for six days before being located and arrested in Manchester.

During this period, Yemane made active attempts to cover his tracks and evade police by changing the SD card in his phone.

In interview, Yemane told officers that, despite not engaging in sex, everything that had occurred between him and the victim had been consensual.

Enquiries at the address where the offence occurred had resulted in a condom with traces of both Yemane’s and the victim’s DNA being recovered in a wheelie bin. The victims’ underwear was also located in the same bin.

Detective Constable Jaymie Johnson said:

“Fikadu Yemane’s behaviour was downright predatory. He took advantage of a vulnerable victim, who thought she was with someone she could trust, before going on to rape her and cause her serious injury when she bravely fought back against him.

“Even when he was faced with evidence that directly linked him to the crime, that he had made active attempts to dispose of, Yemane caused further suffering to victim by forcing her to relive the ordeal all over again during his subsequent ten-day trail.

“With that in mind, I am glad that the jury have reached a guilty verdict on both counts and Yemane has been handed a significant custodial sentence. I do hope that now this case has reached its conclusion, the victim can be provided with a much-needed sense of closure and can begin to move forward with her life, knowing justice has been secured and her attacker has been held to account. I commend her for her bravery throughout the entire investigation.

“Even upon Yemane’s eventual release from custody, he will remain the subject of the Sex Offender’s Register, meaning he will be monitored by specialist officers for the remainder of his life, ensuring that he never causes harm to another person.”

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A child sex offender from Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for 10 years.

30-year-old Matthew Dunn, of Bentilee, was jailed today at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (Friday 28 August) after he admitted one count of the rape of a girl and three counts of sexual assault of a girl.

The offences were reported to us in 2022, prompting an investigation by our public protection unit (PPU).

Officers worked tirelessly to build all of the available evidence against Dunn and to support the survivors in the case, which ultimately led to him pleading guilty to his crimes in court.

Now, Dunn is facing a decade in prison. He has also been given an indefinite restraining order against both survivors and has been served an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

DC Josie Coxon, from PPU, investigated the case. She said:

“Thanks to the bravery of the survivors in this case, Dunn was not able to escape his crimes and has rightfully been put behind bars.

“We are working proactively, night and day, to identify those responsible for these offences and to take robust action to prevent harm in our communities.”

Description

A man has been jailed for raping a 16-year-old girl, as well as brutally assaulting her during a period of six weeks last year.

Callan Hennessey (24/12/03), of Ferndene Road, Manchester, has been jailed for nine-and-a-half-years after pleading guilty to assault, strangulation, the creation of indecent images, and a further assault. He was found guilty of one count of rape.

He received his sentence today (27 August) at Manchester Crown Court.

The investigation began in April 2025, when a relative of the victim of Hennessey contacted the police, after the girl, then 16, had attended hospital with injuries including two black eyes, bleeding to her ear, a swollen jaw and other abrasions to her head and face.

Following extensive enquiries over the following weeks, which also saw Hennessey arrested, officers found that he had assaulted and raped the girl, with her injuries drawing the attention of family members.

When officers attended an address on 8 April 2025, officers discovered bedsheets covered in his victim’s blood. Hennessey was also seen to have himself had blood on him by a relative following the incident.

Hennessey plead guilty to assault and strangulation, while being found guilty of rape following a trial. The rape occurred several weeks before the assault in April.

He will also now be subject to an indefinite restraining order and will be placed on the sex offender's register for life.

Hennessey’s victim has supported the investigation throughout and bravely told officers about the crimes inflicted on her.

Detective Constable James Carter, from GMP’s City of Manchester CID, said: 

“Firstly, I want to pay tribute to the victim in this case – this is something no-one should ever have to go through and her bravery and resilience has been remarkable.

“Hennessey violently attacked someone who is several years younger than him - a child - leaving her in a bloodied and terrified state following the incident. His vile actions, including rape and strangulation, now mean he is rightfully behind bars where he belongs.

“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of any similar crimes to please get in touch – we will do what we can to help you and work to get you the justice you deserve.”

Description

On 20 August, James White, 39 of St Michael’s Crescent in Stockton, was jailed for 14 offences related to assault, sexual assault, rape, and domestic abuse.

White has been sentenced to 24 years in prison. 

The investigation was initiated following a 999 call at 1:08pm on 30 November 2025, where a relative of the victim told us that she had been attacked by White, that he had a knife, and he was still in the house.

The victim had called the relative to let him know she was in danger, after which White fled the address.  She had bruising over her face and other injuries to her back and torso.

She disclosed that White had threatened her with a knife prior to this report and had also used it to cut her on her abdomen.   

Just half an hour later at 1:36pm, our officers had located White at a nearby pub and he was arrested.

Further enquiries found that, over the course of five weeks between 17 October and 30 November 2025, White had been involved in a pattern of violent and abusive behaviour against her, including rape and sexual assault.

White pleaded not guilty to the charges. On 9 June 2026, the jury found the suspect guilty of all offences.

The list of charges that White was found guilty for is as follows:

• Two counts of rape of a woman over 16
• Assault of a female 13 and over by penetration with body part
• Engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in a relationship
• Five counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
• Two counts of threatening a person with a knife in a private place
• Threats to kill
• Two counts of intentional strangulation

Investigating officer DC Baylie Cairns of the Domestic Abuse and RASSO team said

“The victim escaped the cycle of abuse by having the courage to tell a family member it was taking place – at which point we were called and were able to take action against her abuser. 

“Over the course of five weeks, James White subjected the victim to a campaign of horrific abuse, violence and sexual assaults.

“She showed remarkable bravery and courage in speaking to me about the offences committed against her.

“White has now been sentenced to 24 years in prison, preventing him from posing a risk to the victim and others.

“While nothing can undo the harm caused, we hope this sentence offers her some comfort and reassurance that justice has been served."

Description

Police have secured a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) against a man who repeatedly posed a risk to women in the Cheltenham area.

Victor Valentine, aged 29 and of St Paul's in the town, appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on Monday (24 August) and was issued with a five-year order.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) is a court-imposed order in the UK designed to protect the public from sexual harm by restricting the behaviour of individuals deemed to pose a risk.

Although Valentine has not been convicted of any sexual offences, the court heard how he is a self-proclaimed misogynist and member of an online incel group, with a history of unprovoked violence towards women in a public setting. He has also persistently breached the terms of numerous Civil Orders handed to him.

As a result of the SHPO, Valentine is now prohibited from:

• Using any computer or device capable of accessing the internet unless:
  he has notified the police VISOR team within 3 days of the acquisition of any device;
  and he registers the device with the police VISOR team; and (iii) the device has the capacity to retain and display the history of internet use, is at all times set to retain the history of internet use, and no history of internet use is deleted;
  and the device has location data turned on at all times, and no location data is deleted;
  and he makes the device immediately available on request for inspection by a police officer, or police staff employee.
• Owning or possessing more than one internet enabled device at all times
• Having a registered, guest or alias account on a specified incel website or any other online platform, forum, chatroom, or application that promotes or facilitates incel-related ideology or content.
• Entering, using or loitering near to any female public lavatory, changing room or female only space for any reason.

The order is in place until 25 August 2031 and Valentine faces arrest if any of the conditions are breached. He could also face a maximum of five years imprisonment.

Detective Sergeant Paul Howell from the Public Protection Unit said:

"Valentine is well-known for his misogynistic hostility and violence towards women, and we are pleased to have secured this SHPO against him.

"Even though Valentine has not been convicted of any sexual offences, this is a preventative measure to keep women and girls in the county safe from harm.

"This order will reduce Valentine’s ability to further explore his ideology and gives police the opportunity to monitor his behaviour in the community to help reduce his risk of further offending.

"Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a priority for Gloucestershire Constabulary and we will do all we can to prevent crimes, bring offenders to justice, and protect women and girls."

Description

A man from Neath Port Talbot has been handed an extended sentence after he was found guilty of several sexual offences.

24-year-old Talvinder Atwal, from Briton Ferry, was found guilty in July of multiple rapes and sexual assaults of a woman. He was also found guilty of intentional strangulation in relation to the same victim.

In total, Atwal, who had pleaded not guilty to all charges, was found guilty of two counts of rape, one count of assault by penetration, one count of intentional strangulation, two counts of sexual assault on a female and one count of engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour.

He has been handed an extended 17-year prison sentence.

Detective Inspector Meirian Evans said:

“Talvinder Atwal made his victim’s life a living hell and subjected her to repeated sexual crimes.

“The length of the sentence imposed upon him highlights the significance and seriousness of his level of offending.

“He completely violated the victim and his actions are reprehensible. We commend the victim for her bravery in coming forward, and hope that she can now finally begin to move on with her life."

Description

A former Scout Leader from Warrington has been jailed after he was found guilty of a string of child sex charges.

Aaron Ashbrook was found guilty of eight offences - which include indecent assault on a boy under 14 and making indecent images of children - following a 4-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court which concluded on Friday 31 July.

The 59-year-old, who used to run a Scouts group in Warrington, returned to the court for sentencing today, Thursday 27 August, where he was jailed for 12 years.

The court heard how Ashbrook began abusing the victim in 1994 - when the victim was just 8 years old - and continued over a two-year period.

The victim bravely reported the abuse to Cheshire Police in May 2023, and an investigation was launched.

Officers arrested Ashbrook at his home on Windermere Avenue, Warrington.

Several electronic devices were seized at the address. Forensic examination of these devices revealed six indecent images and videos of children being sexually exploited, five of which were of category A (the most serious type).

Ashbrook was subsequently charged with the offences.

Sergeant Dani Byng said:

“What Ashbrook did was every parent’s worst nightmare.

“He was trusted to look after the victim, but instead of caring for him, he preyed on the victim’s vulnerability for his own perverse sexual gratification.

“The harm and distress Ashbrook’s actions have caused the victim is immeasurable, and it is a testament to the victim’s strength, bravery, and determination that we have been able bring Ashbrook to justice, 30 years since the offences occurred. I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide him with some closure and allow him to move forward.

“Sexual assault of children causes terrible distress to all involved, not least the victim themselves, and I urge anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault – no matter how long ago the incident took place – to come forward and report it.

“We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated.”

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Repeat Wrexham sex offender jailed again after undeclared phone found with 108 child abuse images

Andrew Williamson, 45, of Coopers Close, Wrexham, has been jailed for 28 months after admitting three offences of making indecent images of children and one breach of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

He appeared for sentence at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday.

Williamson is a registered sex offender with a long history of making indecent images and failing to comply with court orders. His SHPO requires him to register any internet-enabled device with police.

He was released in April 2026 after a two-year sentence imposed in January 2025 for making indecent images. He obtained a basic mobile phone, then asked probation if he could get a Samsung Galaxy. That request was refused.

Suspicion was raised when he contacted probation from a different number. That number belonged to a new phone. Police attended his home in June, seized the device and arrested him after finding pornographic searches. Analysis confirmed 108 indecent images of children: 47 category A (the most serious), 11 category B and 50 category C. The children shown were predominantly girls aged 8 to 12.

Prosecutor Joseph Lees said Williamson has seven previous convictions for 42 offences, 32 of them for making indecent images.

Alun Williams, defending, said:

“It's accepted that clearly the custody threshold has been crossed; it's a case of how long he gets.

“He's never been in a relationship and describes himself as lonely. He presents as a fairly sad individual.

“He now accepts he has a problem with this horrible interest in children and says he would like some help.

“His offending history is exclusively offences of this type, apart from two convictions of excess alcohol.”

Williamson believed alcohol had:

“contributed to this type of offending.” Williams added: “We've effectively got a vicious cycle of offending. Custody is inevitable; there's clearly no realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Judge Nicola Jones told him: “We've said this to you before; these offences involve real children who are being raped and tortured in the most appalling ways. It is not a victimless crime.”

She imposed an overall custodial term of 28 months.

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A 31-year-old man has been jailed after grooming and sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Callum Jaxon, of no fixed abode but of the Merseyside area, appeared for sentencing at Caernarfon Crown Court today, Thursday 27 August, after previously admitting six offences.

They included two counts of sexual assault, engaging in sexual communication with a child, sending a message to arrange to engage in sexual activity with a child, meeting a girl following grooming and engaging in sexual activity with a girl.

The offences against the 15-year-old victim took place in Holyhead between March and April last year.

Jaxon met the girl after speaking to her online, and on occasions, would collect her from school in his car.

He regularly discussed having sex with her and used sexualised language with her, despite knowing her age and vulnerability.

On one occasion when they met, he began intensely kissing her chest without her consent. Despite attempting to push him away, he did it again, leaving a bruise on her skin. Moments later, he engaged in sexual activity with the victim without her consent.

Days later, he asked the victim to remove all messages between them off her phone, warning he may get into trouble if she did not.

Jaxon was jailed for six years and a lifetime restraining order was put in place to protect the victim.

He must also register as a sex offender for life and was also made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Leslie Ellis said:

“Jaxon groomed the victim and despite knowing her age and vulnerability, he continued to meet her to pursue her for his own sexual gratification.

“The victim was courageous in coming forward to give her account, which has resulted in Jaxon’s sentence today.

“We encourage all victims of sexual assault to come forward with the confidence that they will be heard and supported.

"Violence against women and girls will not be tolerated and remains a foremost priority for North Wales Police. We will continue to pursue those responsible and bring them to justice."

Description

A man has been jailed for more than seven years after sexually assaulting and engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Jamie Meakin, of Crewe, was handed a sentence of seven years and nine months on Monday 24 August 2026 at Chester Crown Court.

The 36-year-old had pleaded guilty to assaulting a girl by penetration and five counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl.

In January 2025, officers received reports that Meakin had been engaging in sexual activity with a child in the Crewe area.

The offences had occurred over many years, starting when the girl was 12 years old.

Meakin was subsequently arrested in relation to the offences and following a thorough investigation was charged and remanded in custody.

On top of his custodial sentence, Meakin is required to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely and is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Meakin also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine after a quantity of cocaine worth approximately £760 was seized during a search of an address where he was staying.

DC Sallis said:

“Meakin was well aware of how old this child was, and he still chose to act on his perverse sexual desires by taking advantage of a young, vulnerable individual.

“He had no choice but to plead guilty to the offences, and the substantial custodial sentence handed to him reflects the severity of these crimes.

“We hope the conclusion of this case will now allow the victim to find some closure.”

Description

An offender from Canterbury has been sentenced to prison for the sexual abuse of two children.

Investigators were made aware that indecent images of children had been uploaded to the internet by an account that was associated to Luke Johnson. On Monday 13 October 2025, a warrant was conducted at a proetry in Canterbury.

Four mobile phones were seized from the house as well as a memory card. Johnson was not present but was arrested later the same day and released on bail whilst an investigation was launched.

Following a forensic review of the seized property, detectives found over 25 incident images and videos of children. Upon recovering the images, it became apparent that Johnson had been abusing the young victims, alongside creating images of them.

Johnson was further arrested for the offence of taking indecent images of children and sexual assault on 23 March 2026. He was later charged with 4 offences and remanded in custody until his sentencing.

He pled guilty to the charges and on Friday 21 August 2026, Johnson, 36, of Old Park Avenue, was sentenced to 6 years in prison. He will also be subject to a period of 4 years on licenced supervision, as well as a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the rest of his life.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Amber Pollitt said:

‘The indecent images recovered from Luke Johnson’s devices revealed the extent of the abuse he inflicted, however the swift identification of the victims by my team meant that safeguarding was put in place at the earliest opportunity.

‘Johnson showed no remorse for his actions throughout the entire court process, and thanks to the families’ support and the dedication of the investigating team, he has been brought to justice.’

Description

A convicted sex offender has been jailed after breaching a strict court order by meeting up with children.

Jason Baker, 36, flouted a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by contacting two 15-year-old girls.

The order was imposed in 2017 when he was given a four-year jail sentence for a sexual offence on a girl under 13.

He breached the notification requirements of the order and received a two-year community order in June 2025.

However, in September that year, he also met up with the two girls near to where they lived in Soham on multiple occasions and offered them drugs.

Police were informed and Baker, of no fixed address, was arrested.

He was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court on Tuesday (25 August) after admitting three counts of breaching a SHPO, two of supplying class A drugs and one of making an indecent image of a child.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Paul Evans, said:

“Baker is a dangerous and predatory individual and is clearly a risk to young girls.

“I would like to thank the victims for their bravery and courage in coming forward in this case. A thank you must also go to officers from the child sexual exploitation hub, who played a vital role in supporting the victims.

“Sexual harm prevention orders and notification requirements are there to manage risk and safeguard the public. Breaching them is a serious offence, and we will take robust action against anyone who fails to comply.

“I would encourage anyone who has concerns about someone’s behaviour, particularly where children may be at risk, to report it to us so we can take action.”

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Work by specialist officers have ensured a man is now behind bars for raping a woman in Southend.

Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate identified Abdul Omer through carrying out enquiries with local agencies and studying CCTV following the attack in Great Eastern Avenue.

A woman in her 50s reported being assaulted by a man she didn’t know on the evening of 23 August last year.

The woman told officers her attacker had said his name was ‘Akky’. And it was through enquiries in the Southend area that officers established ‘Akky’ was Omer.

Through our investigation detectives established the thirty-one year-old was living at an address in Chelmsford.

They then alerted the Neighbourhood Policing Team and, after he was spotted by the Chelmsford City Council CCTV team, they arrested him the following day.

Omer, of St Fabians Drive, Chelmsford, was then charged with rape. He admitted the offence at Basildon Crown Court on 5 January 2026.

At the same court today (Wednesday 26 August) he was sentenced to 12 years in prison with a fure

Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood, who led the investigation, said:

“I want to praise the bravery shown by the woman in this case. She has shown tremendous courage in reporting what had happened and trusting us to get her justice.

“Abdul Omer was identified through excellent detective work – speaking to people and following lines of enquiry – and ultimately he was left with no option but to admit what he had done.

“His arrest highlights the excellent teamwork across different parts of Essex Police, and the fantastic partnership work the local authority.

“Tackling violence against women and girls is a key priority for Essex Police and we will continue to work to support victims and bring those responsible to justice.”

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Mark Thornton, 60, of Lambley Avenue, Tynemouth, avoided an immediate prison sentence after admitting further breaches of the court orders imposed following child-sex offences.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Thornton was jailed in 2016, made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and required to comply with sex offender notification rules after he was caught by paedophile hunters using a decoy profile while trying to meet a child for sexual activity. The same group later caught him a second time. He has ten previous convictions, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child for sexual activity. He has also breached the sexual harm prevention order on four earlier occasions.

On 8 May this year, risk management officers found Facebook, TikTok, Telegram and X on his phone, in breach of the order. On Facebook and TikTok he was using aliases that had not been registered with police, a further breach. Eight days later, police found a tablet computer and a bank card that he had also failed to register as required.

Thornton pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the sexual harm prevention order and one count of breaching his notification requirements. Judge Michael Robinson said Thornton became irritated when spoken to by probation and complained he was viewed as “once a sex offender always a sex offender”. The judge added that Thornton is assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm to children.

Antonia Adie, defending, said Thornton had forgotten about the tablet and failed to register the bank card, but had registered the account. She said: “It’s not persistent or serious in respect of him going out and buying the devices. There’s no suggestion he committed the substantive offences he did nine or ten years ago.” She added that his last conviction was in 2020 and that he has shown “he is capable of complying with the order and being managed in the community and staying out of trouble”. That period, she said, coincided with him meeting his now 81-year-old civil partner, who is terminally ill.

Judge Robinson said he had intended to send Thornton to prison, but instead imposed 18 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with programme requirements and £150 costs after hearing about the partner’s condition. He told Thornton: “It’s an act of mercy on my part which I do not expect to be thrown back in my face. Stay away from chatrooms and the like, comply with the restrictions and stay out of trouble.”

Description

A man who manipulated and raped a teenage girl has been jailed for eight years.

Kato Tsang, 45-years-old, of Bridge Street in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, who identifies himself as Chinese, was found guilty of raping a girl under 16-years-old following a seven-day trial that concluded at Grimsby Crown Court on Tuesday, 28 July 2026.

He was subsequently bailed by the courts to await sentencing which took place yesterday (Tuesday, 25 August 2026), where he was also handed a lifelong Restraining Order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order valid for 20 years.

An investigation was launched by our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit in May 2022, after a teenager came forward disclosing she had been raped by a man she knew, naming him as Kato Tsang.

Officers were immediately deployed to arrest Tsang and transported him to custody where he was interviewed.

When questioned, Tsang offered a pre-prepared statement claiming he was not responsible and had not committed the offence. After this, he answered no comment to the rest of the questions asked.

Tsang was subsequently conditionally bailed pending further investigation whilst detectives got to work gathering evidence and obtaining a victim impact statement from the teenager.

Following a lengthy and complex investigation, he was then charged in September 2025 with rape of a girl under 16-years-old.

Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Becky McInnis from our Child Sexual Exploitation Team, who said:

“Our investigation uncovered how Tsang would manipulate and ploy the teenager with alcohol and behave in an over-familiar manner towards her, with CCTV enquiries from the day of the incident showing Tsang touching her numerous times and putting his arm around her, invading her personal space.

“He then offered to take her home but not before he took her to a secluded location where he raped her.

“It took a lot of courage for the teenager to tell someone she trusted what had happened to her, before then taking that next brave step and reporting it to the police with the support of her parents. For this, I commend her immensely.

“This has been a complex and lengthy investigation with the woman being forced to sit through the gruelling ordeal of a trial to relive what happened to her as a teenager all over again after Tsang’s refusal to admit what he had done and lack of accountability.

“The events of that night will undoubtedly stay with the woman for the rest of her life, and no amount of justice will erase the physical and mental harm Tsang has inflicted, but I hope knowing he is behind bars for a very long time will bring some kind of relief.

“We take all reports of rape and other sexual offences extremely seriously and continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of predators like Tsang.”