Latest Offenders

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A REPEAT sex offender from Workington is back behind bars after police were tipped off about his perverted online activities.

At Carlisle Crown Court, 27-year-old Jonathan Fell was given a 32-month jail term for his latest offending, which involved him viewing naked and sexualised images of children.

Police say they acted after receiving concerning reports about his use of social media in December of last year.

After his arrest, police examined Fell’s mobile phone – and found sufficient evidence to bring a number of charges, including an allegation that he had breached his existing sexual harm prevention order.

At court, the defendant, of Firth View Walk, Workington, admitted the following offences:

• Two counts of downloading indecent child images between November 30 last year and December 3. Three of the images were Category C and one was Category B.
• Possessing indecent child images – one that was assessed as Category B and one as Category A.
• And four breaches of his sexual harm prevention order - by accessing a file sharing website and by accessing two social media sites, which is banned under the terms of his order.

All of the offences were committed in the Cockermouth area at a time when he was living in Mawsons Court in the town. Police arrested Fell on December 3 last year, but he refused to answer questions.

After he was jailed, and put on the Sex Offender Register for a decade, Cumbria Police’s Detective Constable Mark Cox said: “The breach of a court-imposed Sexual Harm Prevention Order is taken extremely seriously by the police and the courts.

 “One of Cumbria Constabulary’s main priorities is the protection of the public from the risk of serious sexual offenders.

“As soon as officers were made aware of the potential breaches, they acted and were able to quickly secure evidence against Fell, which has resulted in him being sentenced to significant further time in prison.”

The defendant has lived in Cockermouth, Workington and Carlisle. 

Description

A sex offender from Newcastle has been jailed after a series of assaults on a victim in the 1990s.

Steve Hinchan's victim has been living with the impact of his crimes, but after she bravely reported the abuse to police, an investigation was launched in 2021, by the Northumbria Police Safeguarding Department.

Hinchan, 56, attended a police station to be interviewed, denying the allegations put towards him. Later in the year, he was charged with five counts of indecent assault, as the offences took place before the Sexual Offences Act was introduced in 2003.

He continued to deny the allegations during a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, and in November, a jury found him guilty of all offences. Last Friday, Hinchan, of Grosvenor Court, Newcastle, was handed a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence, and he will also remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Speaking after the sentencing, the victim said: "The term ‘historical’ does not accurately describe the abuse I endured, and I do not identify with the label ‘survivor.’ Both terms suggest that the abuse is confined to my past, but for me, the fear and anxiety remain an everyday reality.

"I feel perpetually trapped in states of fight, flight, and freeze, unable to fully escape the shadow of what happened. Since the day the abuse began, I have felt as though I’ve been infected with an incurable disease, as I lived in shame and secrecy, unable to share the full extent of the abuse with anyone.

"His words, that no-one would believe me, imprisoned me in a pit of silence for almost 30 years. I have now had to accept that no amount of therapy, medication or time will erase what he did to me.

"What was taken from me has altered the course of my life irreversibly. No sentence can undo this damage, but I hope this process will provide some finality, allowing me to begin a new chapter."

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Sergeant Barbara Callaghan, added: "I hope this case shows other people out there who may be hesitant to come forward that it’s never too late to seek justice.

"The victim battled with the consequences of Hinchan’s horrific crimes for most of her life, but bravely disclosed what happened to police, allowing us to take action. Her voice has now been heard loud and clear, and because of her that a dangerous man is in prison.

"No-one should have to go through anything like this, and I'd urge anyone who has been a victim of any form of sexual offending to reach out, whether it happened yesterday, or decades ago. There is no time limit on support, we’re here for you."

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Ian Cockbill, aged 59, of Wichenford, Worcester appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday (22 January) after pleading guilty to publishing an obscene article and making an indecent photograph or pseudo/photograph of a child.

Cockbill has been placed on the sex offenders register, and has been handed a sexual harm prevention order, both for 10 years.

Cockbill was arrested in December 2023, following a investigation by West Mercia Police’s Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team (OCSET). A category B indecent image of a child was found on his phone, along with evidence of a conversation in which he discussed his intention to commit a sexual act on a five-year-old child. The offences took place in April and June 2023.

Detective Constable Giuseppe Saladino from OCSET said “This was a sickening case, where Cockbill demonstrated a desire to sexually abuse and harm a very young child.

“Offenders like Cockbill have no place in our communities and we will continue to root out those intent on causing harm, and bring them to justice before the courts”

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A Great Yarmouth man has today (Friday 24 January) been jailed for 18 years for raping a young child.

Daniel Russell, 38, of Tolhouse Street, was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court after a jury found him guilty following a trial at the same court in November 2024.

He was sentenced to 18 years in prison and a further 6 years on licence for two counts of raping a child under the age of 13, causing a child to watch a sexual act and making indecent images of children. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.  During sentencing Judge David Pugh described Russell as a dangerous offender who posed a continuing risk to children. 

Russell first came to the attention of police in January 2021 when he was arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images. These indecent images were not of the victim in this case - but while that investigation was ongoing, officers became aware of the abuse of the young child and Russell was subsequently charged with rape.

During the trial the court heard how the offences took place between 2016 and 2021 on train journeys when Russell would take the child into the toilets and show her pornography before assaulting her.

In a personal statement read in court, the victim's mother told of the emotional impact the assaults have had on her daughter.

She said: "She is more withdrawn and nervous around new people. She has had to have counselling and is likely to need more in the future as she grows up and has more of an understanding what she has gone through. 

"When she heard the verdict, she slept through the night for the first time in years. But we'll still be dealing with this for many years and the real long-term impact is not yet known". 

The victim’s mother also wished to thank the police and other agencies involved in the case for the support provided.

Speaking after today's sentencing Detective Sergeant Mark Carrier from Norfolk Constabulary's Child Abuse Investigation Unit said: “The victim has shown immense bravery in seeking and securing justice.

"While I know the outcome of this case won’t rid her of the memories of Russell's assaults, I truly hope today's sentence will provide additional strength for her to rebuild her life.

“I also hope this outcome will reassure other victims that they can feel confident about coming forward and that they will be listened to when reporting similar incidents to police.”

Detective Constable Garry Hoadley from Norfolk Constabulary's Safeguarding Children Online Team, who led the investigation into the indecent images on Russell’s device reiterated;  “This type of offending is never victimless and can be an indication of wider abuse, as in this case.

“Each image represents a child who has been exploited and harmed in ways that will impact them for a lifetime.

"Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who seek to exploit and harm children, even indirectly, through the possession of indecent images will be held accountable.”

Description

Richard Leighfield, aged 53 of Home Meadow, Worcester was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court today. (23 January)

In December, he pleaded guilty to attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, three counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

He has been placed on the sex offenders register for life and has been handed a sexual harm prevention order.

Leighfield was arrested in August 2024, after he instigated sexual conversations with an online child profile purporting to be a 13 year old girl.  During these conversations, which took place between 30th July and 20th August, he gave instructions to the ‘girl’ to carry out sexual acts on herself and encouraged her to watch and engage in a sexual act.

At the time of his arrest indecent images, which he had made, were found hidden on his phone. These include one Category A - the highest category, eight Category B and ten Category C photographs or pseudo-photographs of children.

Detective Constable Giuseppe Saladino from West Mercia Police’s Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team (OCSET) said “Leighfield demonstrated predatory behaviour towards children and was responsible for making horrific images.

"Fortunately his behaviour was intercepted by an online child profile, but this is no way lessens the seriousness of his offences.

"We will continue to work diligently to protect children and young people from harm, by bringing predators like Leighfield to justice.”

Description

David Anthony Cotton, 60, of Middle Park Way, Leigh Park, was convicted on Monday 11 November 2024 of 28 sexual offences, involving ten different victims, spanning the late 1970s to 2021.

Following a three-year investigation, Cotton was charged with:

• Seven counts of indecent assault on a male (Boy aged between 8-15)
• Two counts of indecency with a child (Boy aged between 8-10)
• Four counts of indecency with a child (Girl under the age of 14)
• Two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Inciting a child to engage in sexual activity 
• Sexual activity with a child
• Eleven counts of sexual assault (Male under the age of 18)

Cotton, who was also known as ‘Big Dave’ to many who interacted with him, pleaded not guilty to all offences, but a jury at Portsmouth Crown Court found him guilty on all counts following a five-week trial.

He was remanded into custody by the judge, who stated that Cotton is a prolific offender and a danger to society.

He appeared again yesterday (Wednesday 22 January) at the same court, where he was jailed for 18 years and given a further five year extension to his license period due to the Judge deeming him to be a dangerous offender. He has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A rapist has been jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of offences committed more than a decade ago.

Christopher Sams, 34, targeted his young victim for six years.

The victim reported the abuse in 2021, which saw officers in Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department launch an investigation.

During the investigation, Sams, of Kenton Road, North Shields, was arrested and denied all offences.

Christopher Sams (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE) He was later charged with eight counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

A week-long trial took place at Newcastle Crown Court in November, where Sams was found guilty by a jury on all counts.

He appeared at the same court on Friday (January 17) where he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars.

He’s also been made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and has been placed on the sex offender’s register.

Leading on the investigation for Northumbria Police was Detective Constable Lucy Joyce.

Speaking after Sams sentencing, she said: “The courage and bravery shown by the survivor in this case is incredible, and I hope the lengthy prison sentence ahead of Sams allows them to find some degree of closure.

Description

A sex offender who hid storage devices from police officers, breaching a court order, has been jailed.

Bryan Gregory, from Minster on Sheppey, pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court in 2014 to making and possessing indecent images of children.

As a result, he was given an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

This placed strict conditions on his behaviour, including how he uses digital storage devices and mobile phones, as well as how he accesses the internet.

The 76-year-old was ordered to make devices available for inspection on request.

As part of the management of those on the sex offenders’ register, Gregory was subject to regular visits by police to ensure his compliance with the court order.

During a visit last January, officers became suspicious that he had used a mobile phone inappropriately and the phone was seized. Further enquiries led to Gregory being arrested.

Additional digital storage devices were recovered following a search of his address and on Saturday, September 14 he was charged.

Gregory pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and breaching a SOPO.

He was sentenced on Tuesday (January 21) at Canterbury Crown Court to four years in prison and will spend a further four years on licence upon release.

Detective Sergeant Vicky Whitmill said: “Gregory’s disturbing behaviour – together with the complete contempt he demonstrated in breaching the terms of his court order, which was in place to protect vulnerable children – means it is right that he is behind bars.

“Proactive and regular checks are carried out on sex offenders to ensure they are complying with the requirements to which they are subject.

“Where breaches are found to have occurred, offenders will be arrested and brought before the court to take accountability for their actions.”

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A teenager has been locked up under a nine-year extended sentence after preying on children over the internet to gather vile images and share them with other paedophiles. Self-professed "online predator" Alexander Davies, 18, admitted to police he found images of child abuse "therapeutic" and dubbed himself a "father figure" to a 12-year-old victim, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Police learned of the Pontcanna teen's sick obsession when they received information indicating he was behind an anonymous Discord account that had uploaded three indecent images of a child. Officers attended his home on May 7 last year and seized devices which contained hundreds of images of child abuse. Davies told police he was "addicted" to pornography and found it "therapeutic" to watch child abuse. He added that he got excitement from "breaking the rules".

Davies had been communicating online with a 12-year-old girl whom he groomed into sending sexual images of herself. He was released on bail under the condition he stopped contacting her. But three months later police examined the girl's phone and discovered Davies had continued the contact using a different username. He had also been cyber-grooming another 12-year-old girl.

Davies was arrested again and in his police interview described himself as an "online predator". He accepted he had chatted with paedophiles about drugging and raping children, which he described as a "fantasy". As Judge Paul Hopkins KC detailed the crimes, Davies closed his eyes in the dock, shook his head and muttered inaudibly, at times putting his head in his hands.

The judge noted Davies had vowed to one of the girls he would leave her "bleeding" after intercourse. He had ordered her to send him a video of her spanking herself with a hairbrush — footage which he later submitted to gain access to a chat site for paedophiles — and manipulated the girl into sending images of her penetrating herself with "foreign objects", the court heard.

Davies acknowledged he had been "brutal and domineering" but claimed it was "what she wanted". Judge Hopkins said: "She was, of course, 12 years of age. You were an adult. You described yourself as a father figure to her."

The teenager sent both girls images of himself performing solo sex acts. He initiated conversations with them about rape and ordered them to send him images of themselves which he then swapped with other predators in exchange for horrifying material. His devices contained 478 indecent images of children in Category A — the most serious — 247 in Category B and 757 in Category C as well as 58 classed as 'prohibited' or 'extreme', which included images of a dog being sexually abused.

In a victim impact statement, one of the 12-year-old girls said Davies had "pretended to be someone else" and had made her feel like she was in a relationship with him. She now struggles to trust anyone and feels angry at herself and "very confused".

Davies, of Kings Road in Pontcanna, pleaded guilty to 16 offences including engaging in sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, distributing and possessing indecent images, and causing a child to watch an image of sexual activity. He had one previous conviction, from 2022, for three offences involving indecent images. Judge Hopkins said: "In that case the court imposed upon you an absolute discharge, which appears very lenient. No doubt this can be attributed to the age you were at the time of the court appearance."

The judge noted that Davies' latest crimes had seen him use "a degree of planning" by adopting a new username after his release on bail. Judge Hopkins took into account that Davies had been 17 when the offending began. "In many ways you were young for your age," he added. "The references from family members and friends say there is another side to you. You are a bright young man and have been using your time on remand constructively."

But the judge described Davies as posing a "high risk of harm" to children. He imposed an extended sentence of nine years including a custodial period of six years. "You will serve two thirds of the custodial period in prison, if safe to be released, and you will then be subject to the extended licence period." As security guards led Davies to the cells he looked back at a visibly distressed middle-aged woman and man sitting in the public gallery. The tearful woman blew a kiss to Davies as he was taken down. The judge also imposed a lifelong sexual harm prevention order on Davies.

Description

A registered sex offender who was serving a suspended sentence has been jailed after pleading guilty to online child sex offences.

David Kay, 62, of Seaforth Avenue, Atherton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court on Tuesday, January 21, where he was sentenced to four years in prison.

Kay was issued with a sexual harm prevention order back in August 2024, following a conviction for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 16 as part of an investigation led by Greater Manchester Police. 

The conditions of the order prohibited Kay from having any contact with a child under 16 years old or engaging in any chat online, concerning the sexual abuse of a child. 

Just a month after his conviction, Kay was arrested after detectives from Regional Organised Crime Units in the North West and South Wales gathered evidence that showed he had breached his order by interacting with someone who he believed was a 12-year-old child, sending explicit images and videos of himself.

Detective Constable Adam Cronshaw from the NWROCU said: "As a registered sex offender, Kay was required to adhere to a number of conditions to deter him from reoffending. 

"Kay was fully aware he was talking to someone he believed was just 12 years old, and yet he sent her incredibly graphic images and videos of himself. 

"We work with police forces across the region, and beyond, to ensure that dangerous individuals such as Kay are identified and brought to justice. Kay failed to demonstrate he could be trusted whilst at large in the community and must now reflect on his failure whilst behind bars.’ 

Description

A paedophile who distributed indecent images of children and possessed extreme animal pornography has been jailed.

Adrian Harkin, 34, was imprisoned for two years and eight months at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (January 21) after admitting eight offences.

Harkin, formerly of Bath Street, Nottingham, was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and made subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order as part of his sentence.

He was arrested in May 2023 after a woman contacted police to say Harkin had sent her indecent images of children via a dating app.

The court heard the images were unsolicited and that Harkin told the woman he had a sexual interest in children and animals.

Harkin was located and arrested and a number of devices seized. The case was then allocated to a specialist officer on Nottinghamshire Police’s Internet Child Exploitation Team, where the seized devices were reviewed and the extent of Harkin’s offending identified.

Numerous chats were located on Harkin’s phone where he distributed indecent images of children and discussed the graphic sexual abuse of children.

His phone contained over nine hours of indecent videos showing girls as young as four being horrifically abused.

Over 20 different chats were identified where Harkin was distributing images and discussing the abuse of children. He also wrote he was looking for animals to abuse.

Harkin pleaded guilty to a string of offences including:

• Making indecent images of children, namely 66 category A images and 143 category A videos
• Making indecent images of children, namely 52 category B images and 3 category B videos
• Making indecent images of children, namely 103 category C images
• Possessing prohibited images of children (53 images)
• Possessing extreme pornographic images portraying a sexual act with an animal, namely 109 images which were grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character
• Distributing indecent images of children, namely 33 category A videos of children
• Distributing indecent images of children, namely 5 category B images of children
• Distributing indecent images of children, namely 13 category C images of children

Following his sentencing, Detective Constable Tom Nuttall, who led the investigation, said:

“Harkin has deep-rooted sexual perversions and I am pleased he is behind bars.

“The material he possessed and shared can only be described as depraved – depicting the most serious sexual offences committed by adults against children and animals.

“People who download and view this kind of material may not believe they are doing any harm, but in reality they are helping to fuel a depraved cycle of abuse that causes immense physical and emotional harm.

“That’s why we dedicate so many resources to ensuring the people who are consuming this material are caught and safeguarding measures swiftly implemented.”

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A Perthshire peeping tom concealed a phone camera inside a vase of flowers to spy on a 65-year-old woman in her bedroom.

Andrew Thomas, a convicted sex offender, crept into his victim’s home and placed the hidden camera at the foot of her bed.

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POLICE discovered that a convicted sex offender was using a secret phone after a probation worker spotted him with a couple and their young child in Carlisle.

Gary Davies, 68, had made friends with the family, who were unaware of his past history of committing child sex offences.

At the city’s crown court, prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined how police became aware of Davies' most recent offending.

The defendant, of London Road, Carlisle, had earlier admitted breaching his sexual harm prevention order and two counts of failing to comply with being on the Sex Offender Register.

Davies was given a sexual harm prevention order in 2021, after he was prosecuted for outraging public decency.

He did this by performing a sex act in his van, just wards away from an outdoor children’s birthday party. His criminal history also included “contact” sex offences against children and possessing indecent child images, the court heard.

Describing the latest offences, Mr Rogerson said the defendant’s court order means he can only own an internet device if it is fitted with police monitoring software.

He is also legally obliged to notify police of any online accounts he uses and his username and he is banned from having unsupervised contact with any child.

In December last year, a probation worker contacted the police confirming that Davies was seen in the city centre with a couple, who were with their three-year-old child.

They said they had formed a “friendship” with Davies.

But investigations showed they were unaware of the defendant’s sexual offending history. They gave police a mobile phone number that they had used to contact the defendant.

When police visited Davies at the Carlisle hotel where he was then living, he admitted having that Nokia phone, which he had failed to disclose, as he is required to under the terms of the sexual harm prevention order. 

He had also set up undisclosed accounts on YouTube and TikTok. Mr Rogerson said: “He said he was aware of [his order’s] prohibition, but he got tired of waiting for the probation service to return his mobile, which did have the monitoring software.

“So he purchased the Nokia."

After hearing the details, Judge Michael Fanning jailed the defendant for two years. The defendant committed the offences between mid-October and mid-December last year.

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Yesterday (21st January) he was given a sentence totalling 23 years at Preston Crown Court.

In 2023, Wearing groomed a 13-year-old girl over a period of two weeks before going onto sexually assault and rape her.

Wearing groomed the girl on the social media platform Wink, by pretending to be a 16-year-old boy called Chris Hay. Wearing is in fact 42 years old.

The conversation then moved onto the social media application Kik messenger where Wearing turned the communication sexual in nature. He also stated that he likes to see women get punched during intercourse.

Wearing then asked his victim if he could meet her and invited his ‘friend’ Chris 2 into the conversation. In fact, the second male was also Wearing.

Wearing – posing as Chris Hay – asked the victim for her number so she could meet up with Chris 2. This was so he could engage in sexual activity with her.

Telling the victim not to tell anyone, Wearing talked the victim through the process of booking a train ticket from Wigan North Western Station to Preston, and then onto Church and Oswaldtwistle Station.

Wearing met the girl at the station and took her to his Accrington home, where he raped and sexually assaulted her.

The victim’s mum tracked her daughter’s phone to Wearing’s address and rang it. The phone call panicked Wearing and he threw the victim out of the address via the back door, telling her to climb over a fence so that her mum didn’t find his address.

The victim was blocked by both ‘Chris Hay’ and ‘Chris 2’ as soon as her mum picked her up.

Wearing was arrested and subsequently charged with rape, sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual communication with a child and meeting a girl under 16 years of age following grooming.

Wearing, now of no fixed address but formerly of Howard Close, Accrington, pleaded guilty to all offences.

Wearing was given 15 years immediate custody with a further eight years on extended licence after he was deemed to be a dangerous offender.

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Police in Swindon are praising a 14-year-old girl for her bravery after she was instrumental in bringing a sex offender to justice.

Kevin Wolton, 42, of Doulton Close, Redhouse, had previously denied sexually assaulting the teenager, who was willing to make a statement to officers and appear as a witness despite her ordeal.

Yesterday (20/01) at Swindon Crown Court, he was sentenced to 29-months imprisonment after changing his plea to guilty and admitting two breaches of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which banned him from having unsupervised contact with girls under the age of eighteen, or lone women.

On September 3 last year, Wolton approached the girl in Brook Park, Redhouse, and made lewd and inappropriate comments to her, and then grabbed her and tried to kiss her.

The incident was reported to officers on patrol and Wolton was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

PC Dominic Tonge from the Swindon North, East and Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “The victim showed great courage throughout this case and was determined that he should be punished for what he did to protect other girls in the future.

“Her calm resolution to continue to seek justice despite her young age was impressive.

“SHPOs are put in place by the court to protect the public from sexual harm, with conditions to assist us in manging them.

"We will continue to manage these orders robustly and ensure those who break them are brought before the courts."