Latest Offenders

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A former Rotherham taxi driver has been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting two girls more than 20 years ago.

Adam Ali, 43, attacked the girls between 2001 and 2004.

Sheffield Crown Court heard he repeatedly assaulted one victim, threatening to leave her stranded if she did not do what he told her.

Formerly known as Razwan Razaq, Ali was found guilty of four counts of rape and three of sexual assault after a trial.

He is due to be sentenced on 28 July.

'Clear message'

Ali was prosecuted as part of Operation Stovewood, the National Crime Agency's investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse and exploitation that took place in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

Liz Fell, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), praised the victims in the case for coming forward.

She said: "It is because of their evidence that we were able to secure a conviction and bring their abuser to justice.

"I hope this conviction sends a clear message that the CPS, working alongside law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, whenever that abuse takes place."

Ali was previously sentenced to 11 years imprisonment in 2010, after being convicted of committing offences of a similar nature.

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A convicted paedophile infiltrated a theatre group before developing an "obsession" with a child actor.

Charles Thompson made a collage of pictures of the teenage girl after downloading the images from her Facebook page and suggested that they play roles which would see them portraying a couple on stage, despite their 30-year age difference. He also suggested that he "join her" in bed and admitted that his "new year's resolution to give her up" would be doomed to failure as he could not stop "daydreaming" about her.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Wednesday, that the 46-year-old was previously handed a lifelong sexual offences prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders' register for seven years in 2014 after being convicted of causing a child to watch sexual activity. This also saw Thompson, of Neville Road in Waterloo, handed a 26-week imprisonment suspended for two years at Sussex Magistrates' Court.

Louise Santamera, prosecuting, described how the dad then became involved in Waterloo and Crosby Theatre Company after his daughter joined as a member. He subsequently gave lifts to other children to and from rehearsals and began exchanging messages with one such girl.

While she was "sick in bed", Thompson texted her stating that he "almost wished he could join her, but that sounded wrong". Just over a week later, he messaged her to say he was "sending hugs" and added: "You've been on my mind since I last saw you."

Around six months later, he referred to having a dream in which "she would be the prince and he would be the pretty princess". Thompson added: "Don't worry, I intend to give you up as my new year's resolution.

"I'll see if I can go a whole year without daydreaming of you then making some creepy, inappropriate remark about it. I don't reckon I would last a day."

Thompson was also said to have "prepared a collage" of pictures he had taken from the girl's Facebook page without her knowledge. The police were contacted the following month after concerns were raised to the group's chairman.

She then challenged the defendant, who "apologised and said it was wrong". Thompson added that it "started off as a joke but it had gone too far" and said he was "glad the staff knew about it as it stopped it from going any further".

Ms Santamera said that he had been "involved in a number of productions" and "would have come into contact with various children under the age of 16". The chair also recalled one occasion on which he had recommended the girl for a part which she was deemed "too young for", and said that he had put himself forward for the role of this character's boyfriend.

Thompson was also said to have had access to a private Facebook group of which 70 to 80 teenagers were members. He was arrested at his home address and gave a prepared statement under interview saying that he was "refusing to answer questions because of his perceived belief that there was no evidence".

Following his release on bail, Merseyside Police installed "risk management software" on his phone. But, on January 12 this year, this technology detected that Thompson had visited pornography websites using incognito mode then accessed the girl's Facebook page, as well as logging on to online dating sites.

His criminal record also shows an entry for three counts of gross indecency with a child in 2003, for which he received a two-year community order and a five-year notification requirement. Ms Santamera said he had "lied about his convictions" during application forms relating to his involvement with the theatre company and had shown an "unhealthy interest" in the girl.

Charles Lander, defending, told the court: "There was a lengthy period of compliance. In relation to the previous suspended sentence, he complied fully.

"Because of his criminality, he lost his employment. More significantly, he has lost his home.

"The biggest effect on him is being apart from his wife and two young children. Since January this year, he has been in custody.

"It has been a difficult four months for him. It is his first experience of custody.

"When his daughter first joined the theatre group, he never had ulterior motives. She enjoyed him being there, and he joined the theatre group."

Thompson, who was supported by his wife in the public gallery, admitted two counts of breaching a sexual offences prevention order. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for two years.

Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: "It is quite clear that you had a completely inappropriate interest in her. You stalked her Facebook page in incognito mode while on bail in the hope that you would not be detected.

"You lied on your application form to prevent safeguarding from taking place, and you withheld what you were doing from your offender manager. You appear to be obsessed with her.

"I take into account your problems with your mental health and the impact on your family. I accept that you became involved in the theatre group because of your daughter's interest and not because you were actively looking to offend."

Thompson was also handed a 10-year restraining order. He will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for the same period.

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A Met cop has spoken out about her role in the investigation into a “horrific” case of child exploitation by a repeated sex offender.

Tyler Charter, of Windsor House, Croydon, is due to be sentenced today at Croydon Crown Court for arranging or facilitating a child sex offence and possession of images of children. 

Detective Constable Nikki Jones led the investigation into Charter after intelligence from the National Crime Agency (NCA) identified the 35-year-old as a key suspect in grooming young children in June 2022.  

Charter had previously been sentenced to seven years in prison in July 2018, but had been released on parole in May 2022.

DC Jones said: “We were flagged intelligence about Charter, who was known to police as a registered sex offender, which showed him discussing sexual offences and sharing videos with like-minded individuals on his Telegram account.”

Telegram is a messaging app you can access from multiple devices.

DC Jones arrested Charter at his address in Croydon in September 2022. During the arrest he was seen trying to dispose of evidence on his devices before officers stepped in and seized them. 

DC Jones said: “He resisted arrest and was restrained.

“When he was interviewed he became violent and answered “no comment” to all the questions we put to him.”

Charter’s phone was sent for analysis which revealed conversations between him and other Telegram users, detailing a desire to commit horrific acts, including rape towards minors in South London.

DC Jones said: “On his account we found 4,233 images and videos of children – many of which included Category A videos of young boys and babies.”

Category A defines images or videos involving penetrative sexual activity.

Officers also uncovered conversations discussing the abuse of young children, some as young as three years old, as well as exchanges of Charter arranging assaults on underage victims.  

DC Jones said: “Charter is a very dangerous man. Our work is crucial in preventing high-risk predators like him from targeting, grooming and sexually abusing vulnerable children in our society.” 

Charter was found guilty at Croydon Magistrates Court on February 29, 2024. 

Detective Inspector Peter Harvey, from the Met’s online child exploitation and specialist crime team, works alongside 70 staff members on 400 investigations at one time.

He said: “We have a proactive system that reacts to intelligence and victim reports as well as officers who engage with schools to educate teachers, parents and families about the warning signs for child exploitation.

“Warning signs include children becoming suddenly withdrawn, personality changes or unexplained gifts.

“It is important to have open conversations with your child so they are comfortable sharing any concerns. After these conversations it is important that concerns are reported to the police.”

In Feburary, a report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) – reviewed investigations by the Met into child exploitation.

Of the 244 cases it examined, 121 were rated inadequate, 80 as needing improvement and 43 were graded as good.

The Inspectorate said the Met had to fix these failings before it can get out of special measures. The inspectorate placed the force in special measures in June 2022.

Since the report, the Met said it has put more resources into the area and is retraining officers to have a better understanding of child exploitation.

Description

A Perth paedophile, Darren Adams, avoided jail for breaching a court order, despite possessing 18,000 obscene photos and videos and a self-written paedophile manifesto.

Adams, also known as Derek Jones, argued that his "minority group" was being discriminated against, questioning why he should respect laws that don't respect him. He had been placed on the sex offenders register following a police raid at his Midlothian home during the 2020 lockdown. Last month, at Perth Sheriff Court, the 52-year-old admitted to violating his Sexual Offences Prevention Order when police found he was using an internet-capable Blu-Ray player at his home in Alyth.

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A paedophile sexually assaulted a girl twice and sent her inappropriate messages saying "I wish I was the one who captured your heart". The abuse came to light after the victim showed the messages to her mother.

Gareth Nye, 32, of, Bridgend, abused his victim on at least two occasions by touching her over her clothing. He did this on the pretense he was tickling the girl.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard the victim was "young and naïve" to the defendant's behaviour and didn't think much of it at the time. After the victim was given a phone for Christmas by her parents, Nye exchanged messages with her.

In those messages, he told his victim: "Don't tell your mummy and daddy what I talk about with you". This made her feel suspicious and she showed her mum the messages. Being able to appreciate the full meaning of the message, the victim's mother became "upset and angry".

The police were called and the victim was interviewed, but she did not disclose the sexual assaults at the time. Months later she told her mother what Nye had done to her, after experiencing a nightmare.

Nye, of Caeau Duon, Pencoed, was arrested and faced two trials before he was convicted of two counts of sexually assaulting a child. Despite the guilty verdicts, he continues to maintain his innocence, which was considered an aggravating factor by Recorder John Philpotts.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the victim's mother said: "I noticed a big difference in (my daughter), she became quite quiet and withdrawn.... When the disclosure took place I couldn't believe what it was she was telling me. It felt like a hole had opened up and we were sucked back into this dark place. She was in such a state and I was trying to reassure her it was ok and she told me there was more. She hadn't disclosed it earlier because of how upset I had been about the messages and was worried about causing more trouble. I was gutted she felt like this and I wasn't there for her when she needed it and trying to protect me...

"I was so angry and upset this man could do this to us... (My daughter) became quite erratic and this lasted for two years. She started to have outbursts of rage, not responding to our parenting, rebelling against anything we do. Screaming and shouting, punching her bed. She had a built up rage, she had never been like this before and we didn't know how to help her."

The victim's mother said she felt "sick to her stomach" while her daughter gave evidence in the trial, and described her bursting into tears after leaving the courtroom. She said they felt they could not move on with their lives, and added: "What (the defendant) has done to my daughter is incomprehensible. I will never forget him for taking away my daughter's innocence."

In mitigation, Hilary Roberts said Nye was of previous good character, and had been diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum. He argued that custody could be avoided in his client's case, and he would struggle in a custodial setting having previously been bullied.

Sentencing, Recorder Philpotts sentenced Nye to eight months imprisonment. The defendant was also subjected to sex offender notification requirements, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order indefinitely.

Description

A sex offender who terrorised women and girls is facing a lengthy jail term after being convicted of his crimes. John McKechnie was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh.

He was convicted of two charges by a jury, having earlier pleaded guilty to 14 other offences. The 32-year-old was convicted of rape, possessing indecent images of children, and domestic abuse offences.

The court heard he preyed on women and girls in West Lothian between 2015 and 2022. Detective Inspector Adrian Ure, of Police Scotland's National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, spoke out after his conviction.

He said: "John McKechnie's offending and behaviour was appalling. He showed complete and utter contempt for the abuse he inflicted upon his victims, and the horrific sexual abuse featuring in the images and videos he was viewing.

"There is no hiding place for these offenders, and as a result of our investigation, he will now rightly face the consequences of his actions. Any form of child sexual abuse is a serious criminal offence and is a priority for Police Scotland.

"We encourage anyone with concerns about a child at risk of abuse, or a potential victim, to contact police immediately." McKechnie is due to be sentenced for the offences next month

Description

A serial Scottish rapist who inflicted violent sexual abuse against three women has died behind bars.

Lee Thomson died at HMP Glenochil on May 20, the Scottish Prison Service confirmed. The 52-year-old violent offender was jailed for life in December 2020, following a campaign of abuse against his victims between 2003 and 2018.

His vile crime include six rapes, two sexual assaults, four assaults and two stalking offences that took place in Fife. A trial at the High Court in Edinburgh heard how Thomson stalked two of his victims - monitoring them using covert devices, reports the Daily Record.

He also made one of his victims undergo lie detector tests. Thomson, who was a dad-of-ten, continued to deny his crimes, which went undetected for years.

During sentencing, he was handed an Order for Lifelong Restriction and was placed on the sex offender's register.

Speaking at the time, Detective Sergeant Gordon Patullo of Police Scotland's Domestic Abuse Task Force said: “Lee Thomson’s offending took place over a number of years against three women which until now went largely unpunished. Thomson’s offending included sustained violence and sexual abuse of his victims.

"He is a dangerous, manipulative individual who went to extraordinary lengths to monitor and control these women. With this sentence of an order of lifelong restriction, Thomson will face the consequences of his actions for many years.

"His conviction sends out a clear message that domestic abuse crimes will be robustly investigated by Police Scotland."

He continued: "I would like to thank the victims in this case for the strength and dignity they have shown throughout this investigation and subsequent court case and I hope that today's sentencing provides them with some closure which will allow them to move on with their lives.

"We would take this opportunity to reach out to anyone who is experiencing or has experienced domestic abuse; it is never too late to report to the police or seek support and advice from one of our partner agencies such as Women's Aid."

Officers from Police Scotland said the death is not being treated as suspicious. A Fatal Accident Inquiry will take place in due course.

A spokesperson for the SPS said: "With each death in custody, Police Scotland are advised and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We received a report of the sudden death of a 52-year-old man at HMP Glenochil around 8.05am on Monday, 20 May, 2024. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”

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A man who was convicted of several sexual offences in Staffordshire has been sentenced to 15-years.

Kieran Huthwaite, 31, of Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent, abused the survivors who eventually came forward and reported what had happened.

He was reported to police and arrested in November 2021. He denied what happened.

We started work to gather evidence which resulted in Huthwaite being charged and sent to court.

Following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, the jury reached a verdict on 31 January 2024 that Huthwaite was guilty of two counts of assault of a female under 13, one count of rape of a female under 16, one count of attempted rape of a female over 16, one count of sexual assault of a girl under 13 and one count sexual assault of a female over 16.

On Tuesday (21 May), he was given a 15-year extended sentence. He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and put on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A man has been jailed for 31 years after being found guilty of 29 sexual offences.

Brian Lines, 84, of Leek, was sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment, with an extended licence period of one year, at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (21 May) after he was found guilty by a jury following a trial earlier this month.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

He was found guilty of three counts of the rape of a female under 16, three counts of the rape of a female over 16 years or over, attempted rape of a female under 16, 16 counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 years, four counts of sexual assault, assault of a girl under 13 by touching and sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 15.

The offences took place in Staffordshire between 1970 and 2009. They were reported in August 2021 and Lines was arrested shortly afterwards. Following an investigation by our Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, he was charged in January 2023.

DC Annie Blairs, of our Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, said: “The sentence was only possible thanks to the sheer determination and bravery of Lines’ victims. Despite denying the offences, a jury saw through his lies and he will now spend the rest of his life in prison.

“The impact on the victims is significant and long lasting and I hope this sentence provides some comfort in knowing they did the right thing in reporting his heinous crimes to us.

“We are committed to investigating those who carry out sexual offences, bringing them before the courts so that they can face justice, while supporting victims.”

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A Dundee paedophile was caught with a sick selfie taken while a child was nearby.

John Milne, 28, from Dundee, was caught with a sexually explicit selfie taken while a young child was nearby. Milne admitted to his sexual offenses in Dundee Sheriff Court and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register, with sentencing set for next month.

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A 33-year-old man sobbed from the dock, as he was sent to begin his first prison sentence for attempting to incite a ‘12-year-old girl’ to send him sexually explicit pictures and videos online. 

The security guard flanking defendant, Timothy Newberry, had to wait to escort him out of Sheffield Crown Court while he attempted to collect himself, after Judge Graham Reeds KC told him his sexual offences were so serious that only a prison sentence could be justified.

A hearing held on May 20, 2024 heard how Newberry engaged in extreme sexual communication with an online profile purporting to be a 12-year-old girl called Sophie, but was, in fact, an undercover police officer. 

Prosecutor, Joseph Bell, described how from the offset of Newberry’s communication with ‘Sophie,’ which began over a social media messaging app in June 2023, she ‘immediately’ informed him that she was 12-years-old, and repeatedly referred to her attendance at school. 

After a brief conversation with ‘Sophie’ concerning her online profile, Newberry began attempting to ‘solicit images’ from her, Mr Bell said, adding that Newberry quickly began to talk about, and send her images of, his genitals. 

Newberry, of Reresby Park Close, Dalton, Rotherham, continued to send messages to ‘Sophie’ and repeatedly requested explicit videos of the girl.

He sent a video he took of himself engaging in a solo sexual act. 

Newberry made numerous attempts to contact the undercover police officer’s decoy account in the days that followed, but received no responses. 

Police then arrested Newberry at his home address, before interviewing him, during which he answered ‘no comment’ to all questions posed. 

Newberry was subsequently charged with, and pleaded guilty to, one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of attempting to cause or incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity - penetration.

Newberry’s barrister, Clarkson Baptiste, referred Judge Reeds to Newberry’s pre-sentence report, which, he suggested, detailed Newberry’s ‘difficult childhood’. 

“He wasn’t able to be looked after by his mother, and was sent to live with his grandparents who made him homeless at the age of 16. He’s struggled through his adult life to achieve stability,” Mr Baptiste told the court. 

Mr Baptiste continued: “He attends court with his current partner. She sits in the public gallery, in full knowledge of why he’s here. He’s aware of the potential sentence he faces.”

Jailing Newberry for 42 months, Judge Reeds told him: “Police officers work to detect people like you who intend to corrupt children into sexual activity for their own sexual gratification.”

“This was serious sexual offending, and the intended harm was considerable, even though no actual harm was caused to a real child.”

Judge Reeds also made Newberry the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and told him he will also be required to register as a sex offender, both of which will run without limit of time. 

Description

A 50 year old Winchcombe man who took a woman's mobile phone from her and refused to give it back until she gave him oral sex was jailed for eight and a half years today (May 21).

Neil Roberts, of Godwin Road, Winchcombe, denied raping the woman and assaulting her causing actual bodily harm but a jury found him guilty at the end of his trial earlier this year.

Today he was sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court by Recorder Jaron Crooknorth who told him he still showed no sign of remorse for his abuse of the woman.

Before passing sentence of eight and a half years jail for the rape and two years nine months concurrently for the assault, the Recorder heard a victim impact statement from the woman, who said Roberts had treated her 'like a piece of meat' on that night.

She stated "I was humiliated. I felt worthless. He made me blame myself. He left me feeling like it was all my fault.

"Now, after two years of fighting for him to be held accountable, I can admit to myself that I have been raped and that it isn't my fault. Only now do I feel I can truly start to live my life again and enjoy it.

"I am glad he has finally been held accountable for who he truly is and I hope that one day he will be able to admit it to himself.  When the jury found him guilty I was overcome with emotion."

During the trial at Cirencester Courthouse in March the court heard that on Oct 10th 2021 the woman agreed to spend the evening with Roberts drinking and listening to music at his home.

Roberts began questioning her about whether she was seeing any other men and he demanded to see her phone

She refused but he took the phone from her and would not give it back, accusing her of having an 'affair'.

The woman told jurors he could not initially look at the phone because it was locked and needed facial recognition or her PIN number. He kept waving it at her face in an effort to open it but she continually moved her head to prevent him.

However, eventually she gave up and gave him the unlock code. He then looked through the phone. After about an hour she asked to have it back but he did not hand it over and was mocking her, calling her a slut and a cheat.

She pushed Roberts and slapped him in the face in her efforts to retrieve the phone and he then punched her in the face.

Roberts told her that if she wanted her phone back she would have to give him oral sex. 

She told him 'I don't want to do this, just give me the phone back.'

But Roberts insisted he would not return it till she gave him oral sex so she did.

"He then gave me the phone back.  I got off the bed and sat on the floor with my belongings," the woman told the jury.

"He then said that he thought we were just doing role play and that he thought I was enjoying it. "

Roberts, in evidence, said that after drinking San Miguel beer with the woman for 4-5 hours that night they went into his bedroom at about 1am and she instigated the oral sex as a 'form of apology' for an argument they'd had earlier.

There had been no violence from him and he had not demanded to see her phone at any stage, he said.

He alleged afterwards she became very angry and pulled on his penis, causing a bruise.

"I told her to get off and she started to punch me in the head.  She hit me 10-20 times," he alleged.

Roberts was unanimously convicted of both charges and has been in custody on remand since then. Today he appeared via video link from Bristol Prison for his sentencing.

His solicitor, Sarah Jenkins, told the court he had no past history of sexual offending and his only conviction had been for an offence of violence in 2006. This had been his first experience of prison, she said.

It would not be just him who paid the price of his offending because his father, who is in poor health, and his young daughter in Thailand, who also has an illness, would suffer without his care and financial support, she said.

"The child will not be able to come to the UK while he is in custody," she said. "His incarceration will have a very significant impact on both of these individuals."

At the time of Roberts' offences against the woman he had a drink problem and that had got worse due to the stress of awaiting trial - but he had now undergone detox in prison and had signed up for education courses in languages and cycle maintenance in jail, she said.

She also referred the court to character references provided to the court by friends and colleagues of Roberts.

"They show a side of his character which was not shown during the evidence of the victim.  He has provided emotional support and friendship to these individuals in difficult times and circumstances and it is something they value him for."

Passing sentence Recorder Crooknorth told Roberts "You showed no remorse - not even for the injuries she had sustained.  She had a bruised and swollen face, bruising across her chest, scratching and bruising on her arms.  She felt humiliated, overpowered and abused by someone she thought she could trust.

"At this late stage you still show no remorse. "

He said he found that Roberts represents a danger to the public. He told Roberts he will have to serve two-thirds of his eight-and-a-half year sentence before he is eligible for parole.

The judge also reminded Roberts that he will be on the sex offender register indefinitely and will have to keep police informed of any changes of his address or his name.

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A TORPOINT resident has been sentenced to 36 months in prison for sex offences involving a child.  

Anthony Beedell was tried at Leeds Crown Court on May 15, for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child under 16, attempting to engage a child in sexual activity, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

Following the trial, the defendant was sentenced to a total of 36 months imprisonment and placed on the Sex Offender Register until further order.

Description

A “dangerous” sex offender has been sentenced to a total of 14 years after arranging a meeting in Bedford so he could sexually abuse a child.

Alec Parkin, 49, a registered sex offender from Nottinghamshire, bragged he had been convicted of previous child sex offences and was being monitored by police – but that he was able to communicate via another device so he could cover his tracks.

Parkin arranged the meeting and was arrested by Bedfordshire Police officers in Bedford.

Devices were seized from his home address and the conversations he had participated in were uncovered.

Parkin, of Baptist Lane, Collingham, Newark, pleaded guilty to arranging and facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and yesterday (Tuesday) was handed a nine-year custodial sentence at Luton Crown Court, with a five-year extended licence, due to his dangerousness and the significant risk of harm he poses.

Emma Shipton, an investigation officer within Bedfordshire Police’s Internet Child Abuse Investigation team, said: “As the judge rightly said at sentencing, Parkin is a dangerous sex offender who would have carried out these heinous acts on an innocent child had he got the chance to.

“He was caught red-handed in the process of arranging a meeting and is now going to be spending a good chunk of time in prison.

“People such as Parkin should know that they will not get away with carrying out such an atrocious crime – we will find you and we will do all we can to lock you up and keep our communities safe from sex offenders.”

Description

A MOLD sex-offender who was caught once again with indecent images of children has been put behind bars.

Fiontan Greaney, of Bryn Heulog, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday for sentence.

The 35-year-old had previously admitted three offences of making indecent images of children; one each at categories A, B and C.

Karl Scholz, prosecuting, told the court that in February 2019, Greaney was sentenced for offences of the same nature and received a three-year community order.

However in November 2022, police conducted an unannounced home visit at Greaney's home and examined his devices.

Initial checks turned up filenames of concern, which led to the seizure of his computer and hard drives.

A forensic examination of the items revealed two still images at category A (the most serious), two images and three videos at category C and 313 images and six videos at category C.

Some 844 images indicative of a sexual interest in children were also found.

When Greaney was arrested in September last year, he protested his innocence and denied having been in possession, or having downloaded, any such images.

Trevor Parry Jones, defending, told the court: "Mr Greaney presents as an unusual character.

"He's one of those classic children who, whilst in the school system, required assistance.

"His mother is sitting in the court and she's understandably distraught.

"She believes, albeit he's never been formally diagnosed, he suffered ADHD.

"The only way she can put it is 'he is definitely on the spectrum' whatever that may mean."

Mr Parry Jones said his client also suffered mobility issues due to a muscular-skeletal problem.

"He keeps explaining he wishes to stop doing what he is doing because it's causing harm and upset to others," he continued.

"His mother told me there are positive steps he is taking and she believed he is beginning to understand the nuances of what he must do and not do."

He added that while his client had been attempting to set up a business and at the time of the hearing had the use of a smartphone and laptop, discussions had taken place about whether

Greaney should be completely deprived of the internet.

Judge Rhys Rowlands told the defendant: "At this court in 2019, you were made the subject of a community order. Attached were rehabilitation and programme requirements meant to address the risk you pose to young children.

"Sadly, you're now back before this court for three more offences.

"The pre-sentence report makes depressing reading.

"You continue to deny having any sexual interest in children.

"In view of your past offending, your continuing to offend whilst subject to a previous order and a clear lack of insight, I'm afraid I am driven to the view that adequate punishment can't be achieved in the community."

Overall, Greaney received a custodial sentence of 32 weeks.

He must register as a sex offender for 10 years and will be made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for the same period of time.