Latest Offenders

Description

A 47-year-old man from Winsford has been jailed after breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by possessing nappies.

Gary McVeigh, of Delamere Street, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Chester Crown Court today, Friday 5 July.

McVeigh was previously convicted of possessing and making indecent images of children in August 2016 and sentenced to two years imprisonment.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order with a number of conditions, one of which prohibited McVeigh from possessing any nappies.

On 21 May 2024, officers attended McVeigh’s address as part of the routine checks made to monitor registered sex offenders.

During the visit, McVeigh was arrested for breaching his SHPO after officers became aware of three unregistered devices that McVeigh had hidden.

Following an inspection of his bedroom, officers then found a large quantity of soiled nappies, as well as a quantity of unused nappies. He was again arrested on suspicion of breaching his SHPO.

McVeigh was charged with three sexual harm breaches. He later pleaded guilty to the offences.

Description

A sex offender has been sent back to prison after persistently failing to register with the police.

Prosecutor Brogan Riley told Bradford Crown Court that Daniel Maddison had been placed on the sex offender’s register for life after being convicted of sexual offences with a 13-year-old girl in 2014 when he was 18.

He was sent to a young offender institution for three years and two months and was also made the subject of a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Maddison, now 28, originally from Bradford, was released from prison on November 11 last year after breaching his SHPO.

He then did not make contact with the police to advise them of his address, which put him in further breach.

He was arrested on June 11 and, after initially giving “no comment” answers during an interview, revealed that he was living with a new partner.

He is currently in custody at HMP Doncaster.

The court heard that he had 12 previous convictions for 20 offences of which eight were for failure to comply with notification requirements. The most recent was for an indecent communication.

Miss Riley said that demonstrated that Maddison had a history of non-compliance with custodial sentences.

Mitigating, Lauren Smith said Maddison took full responsibility for the offences and apologised.

She said mental health issues including depression and anxiety had made it difficult for him to cope on being released from custody, causing him to “put his head in the sand”.

She said there had been no repetition of his previous behaviour since being released from custody, and no suggestion that children were living at his address that he was staying at.

Mr Recorder Sam Green said Maddison’s previous “horrid offending” meant that he had to notify the police of his address in order to register as a sex offender.

He said: “This clearly involved a long period of non-compliance [meaning] you have a sex offender off the police radar and at risk of committing further sexual offences.

“In my judgment this offence is seriously aggravated by your previous substantial non-compliance, which has landed you in prison previously. You got out and failed to comply with [notification requirements] again.

“Serial non-compliance cannot be overlooked.”

He sentenced Maddison to 12 months in prison.

Description

A serial sex offender has been jailed for 11-and-a-half years after he targeted two young girls during separate incidents of sexual abuse and caused them serious emotional damage.

James Staves let his "sexual interest" in children "overwhelm" him during the "grave" offences and the victims were caused "profound and long-lasting" pain and anguish, Hull Crown Court heard.

Staves, 66, formerly of Dalwood Close, Bransholme, Hull, but recently of Southwood Avenue, Cottingham, admitted raping a girl under 13 as well as two offences of sexually assaulting another girl under 13 and another offence of inciting her to engage in sexual activity.

Graham O'Sullivan, prosecuting, said that Staves sexually abused one of the girls and raped her after taking off her clothes and kissing her on her neck and face.

Staves left the second girl scared after he touched her intimately. He asked her: "Do you want me to stop, then?" and she replied: "Yes, I don't like it."

Staves tried to stop the girl reporting what had happened to her but she did so anyway. He was arrested but, during police interview, he made no comment to all questions.

David Godfrey, mitigating, said that there were "concerning aspects" in a pre-sentence report about Staves. "He did express to me genuine shame at what he had done and bitter regret at his actions," said Mr Godfrey.

They were "grave" offences because of the shattering effect of them and the pain caused. "With these sorts of offences, defendants do often chance their hand and have a trial," said Mr Godfrey.

"He fell on his sword quite late in the day but he wants to say sorry." Staves suffered from medical difficulties and he had problems with his mobility and heart. He suffered a stroke in 2019 and this had a significant effect on him.

"Custody is going to be extremely hard for him," said Mr Godfrey. "He hasn't been in that environment before. He acknowledges that he is the author of his downfall through his own actions.

"He knows that what he did was wrong. He is working through the process of that now. He is sorry." Staves had no previous convictions.

Judge Alexander Menary said that the rape had a "profound and long-lasting effect" on the victim and she had to cope with being wrongly accused of telling "horrific lies" against Staves.

There were "serious echoes" of what happened to her in the later offences against the second girl. "You let your sexual interest in children overwhelm you again," said Judge Menary.

The second girl was forced to pre-record evidence that would have been used in a scheduled trial. "That is to your shame," said Judge Menary. A trial was not, in the end, needed after Staves pleaded guilty.

"You are going to be a much older man by the time you are released," said Judge Menary.

Staves will be on extended licence of one year after his release from prison. He will have to register as a sex offender for life.

Description

A sex offender has been jailed after bragging to a friend on WhatsApp about an encounter he told police had not happened.

Chiziem Omisa, now aged 25, sexually assaulted a young woman in May 2019 after meeting her online and showering her with flirtatious and flattering messages.

The woman, who repeatedly asked him to stop, initially decided against calling the police but was identified by officers during a forensic examination of Omisa’s mobile phone.

The device had been seized when Omisa was arrested in connection with another alleged offence, and revealed a torrent of messages to her.

When detectives tracked the woman down, she recalled how Omisa – using an assumed name – had met up with and assaulted her at his student accommodation in Nottingham after finding her profile on Instagram.

She explained how Omisa had then pressured her to keep silent – even suggesting that she could be kicked out of her university if she took the matter further.

Damning evidence

Omisa was arrested again and denied any sexual contact with the woman.

However he was undone be a series of crude WhatsApp messages – sent to a friend on the day of the incident from his phone – boasting of an encounter with the victim.

Because Omisa had already admitted to being with the woman at the time, this single social media exchange proved to be a crucial bit of evidence,

Omisa later pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault by penetration.

He also pleaded guilty to stalking two other young women he met while on bail for the Nottingham offence, and to perverting the course of justice.

Appearing at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday 27 June, Omisa, of Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, was jailed for four years and four months.

Restraining order and restrictions

He was also handed a restraining order forbidding any future contact with his victims, and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order that will closely restrict his behaviour once he is released.

Specifically, Omisa will have to make all his electronic devices available for inspection by police, register all social media accounts with officers, and refrain from sending any unsolicited friend requests to women via social media.

Description

A VOYEUR pervert took photos under toilet doors of men urinating in public toilets in Warrington.

Axel Savage also snapped adult men performing sex acts on themselves in the toilet block.

These were found after police received intelligence that the 30-year-old was sharing vile images of children being sexually abused.

He was subsequently charged with voyeurism, possessing indecent images of children, two counts of making them and four of distributing them.

At his sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Wednesday, prosecutor Kenneth Grant informed the court how Cheshire Police received information that an email address attributed to the defendant was associated with a Snapchat account.

This account was being used to upload category A – the most severe category involving child rape – indecent images of children in September 2022.

The IP address was associated with the account of Savage, and following police enquiries, officers attended his home address after being granted a warrant.

A number of electronic devices were seized from the property, including the defendant’s mobile phone, and he was interviewed that same day, answering no comment to questions put to him.

He did however provide his pin code and passwords, with a forensic examination of the devices revealing the presence of indecent images of children.

In total, Savage admitted being in possession of nine sickening images, of which two were graded category A and seven classed as category B.

It was found that two images were distributed multiple times using WhatsApp between the defendant and his partner.

The search also found 282 photos taken in a public toilet in the town, the location of which was not disclosed in court, but taken on two dates between January 30 and February 3 last year.

They involved adult men urinating in the toilet, taken above and under doors, while others were of them performing sex acts on themselves in the toilet block.

Savage was interviewed again by police in relation to the voyeurism material and again answered no comment to all questions put to him.

Offering mitigation on behalf of his client, Jim Smith spoke of how a number of glowing references had been prepared by his family and partner, who was there to support him in the courtroom, as well as a letter written by himself to the court.

“He knows what he did is illegal, he is ashamed of what he is done, and he knows it has put him at risk of an immediate custodial sentence, Mr Smith said.

He highlighted how this was an ‘unusual’ distribution case as it was in a ‘closed circuit intended only for the eyes of his partner’.

“This does not minimise the impact of that which perpetuates misery for countless individuals who suffer from exploitation,” Mr Smith added.

“This is a gentleman with no previous convictions, and character references speak of someone who is kind, hard-working, friendly, loving and supportive of family members.

He added that the defendant works in the pharmaceutical industry, provides value to the community, is capable of rehabilitation and will not reoffend.

Referencing the indecent images of children, judge David Swinnerton said: “Those who view such images rarely stop to think about that they represent. Each one reflects a child being abused.

“People like you that look at them perpetuate a market in them, such that people are encouraged to create such images, and encouraged to abuse children in the real world somewhere.

“That is why they are taken seriously and are not just pictures. It is made worse for you because you distributed them.

“It is general practice that those who distribute them go to prison, as it extends the market for such images.”

On the voyeurism images, Judge Swinnerton commented: “The court is not naïve as to what goes on in certain toilet blocks, but they are public toilets.

“Anyone could have gone in there, and ordinary members of the public are entitled to use the facility without fear of being photographed, despite what other people are doing in there.”

He concluded: “The real question is whether or not I am prepared to suspend the sentence.

“Do be aware that ordinarily I do not suspend the sentence for those who distribute this type of material, but I have already commented how your case is different.

“Taking into account everything else I have heard about you, I can and will suspend the sentence.

Savage, of Fordington Road in Hood Manor, was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for two years.

He must also complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, including the Horizon sex offence treatment programme, and 150 hours of unpaid work.

In addition, he must abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offender register, both for a period of 10 years.

Judge Swinnerton approved an order to deprive the defendant of the electronic devices seized when police executed a warrant at his home.

Description

A convicted sex offender is back behind bars after he tried to engage children in sexual activity online while he was the subject of a court order.

Alan Morris, formerly of Poundhurst Lane, Ruckinge near Ashford, sent sexualised messages – including images of himself – to someone whom he believed to be a child via an internet chat site in February 2024. Morris stated that he was 65 in his messages and also sent videos of sexual material to his online recipient.

Prevention Order

The conversations were in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which had been issued to Morris in 2018 after he was found guilty of previous offences. The court order forbade him from accessing the internet without informing the authorities, using devices without specific monitoring software on them and a range of other online activities.

Investigation

Following an investigation by Kent Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), Morris was arrested on 8 February 2024 - when further examination of his mobile phone uncovered indecent images of children, as well as recent sexual communication. He was charged later the same day.

Morris pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, two counts of making indecent images of a child and distributing an indecent image of a child.

He further admitted attempting to cause a girl to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to look at sexual activity, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child - relating to offences also uncovered by POLIT, when Morris believed he was communicating with a child in October 2023.

Jailed

On Monday 1 July, Morris was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court to six years in prison - including a year’s imprisonment for breach of an SHPO - with four years to serve on licence upon his release.

Description

A 57-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted of violence and sexual offences.

Brian McGlashan committed these crimes against three women between 1996 and 2019 at addresses in the Perthshire area.

He was found guilty of the offences, including rape and assault, following a trial at the High Court in Dundee on Wednesday, 5 June, 2024.

He was sentenced today, Wednesday, 3 July 2024, at the High Court in Paisley and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Description

A disgraced ex-councillor whose political career was cut short when he was caught with child abuse images has walked free after a fresh criminal charge alleging he had downloaded more obscene material was deserted.

Convicted paedophile Michael Jamieson, who resigned from the Perth and Kinross Tory group following his arrest in 2017, was due to stand trial this week at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

Description

A convicted sex offender, who bragged on an online chat room that he would not stop offending has been jailed for over four years.

Lewis Parker, 23 of Westcliff Avenue, Westcliff appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Monday July 1 where he was sentenced following proactive work from the Police Online Investigation Team (POLIT).

Officers attended Parker’s address May 9 following intelligence that he had been accessing indecent images of children online. He was arrested on suspicion of multiple offences. Devices, which Parker was prohibited from owning following a previous conviction, were seized for analysis.

This analysis showed that Parker had been engaging in conversations on ‘dark-web’ chat rooms and discussing trading child pornography.

In one conversation, Parker bragged how he was “on the reg” meaning sex offenders register and appeared to brag that his previous convictions had no effect on him.

He was charged with three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, one count of possession of a prohibited image of a child, two counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child, one count of possession of an extreme pornographic image, four counts of breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and four counts of failure to comply with notification requirements on the Sexual Offenders Register.

On May 10, he pleaded guilty to all charges. He appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Monday July 1 where he was sentenced to four years and four months in prison. He will also remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life and was issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A rapist who left his victim living in fear has been jailed for nine years.

Anthony Hamilton attacked the woman at her home in 2021, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Hamilton, 39, of Scholars View in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, had denied offences including rape, but was convicted by jurors.

At his sentencing hearing, he maintained the sexual contact was consensual, but Recorder Thomas Moran said Hamilton's victim had "submitted" to him as she was "terrified" of him.

The judge said Hamilton, who represented himself at the sentencing while appearing via video link from HMP Hull, focused on his sense of injustice.

He said Hamilton "painted a very vivid picture of an emotionally unstable" and "self-pitying" man who claimed he had "lost everything".

Mr Recorder Moran said Hamilton's offending had had a profound affect on his victim.

Hamilton must also sign the sex offender's register for life.

Description

A "prolific offender" has been banned from Romford town centre.

Steven Ellis, of Dunton Road in Romford, was handed a three-year criminal behaviour order (CBO) at North East London Magistrates' Court on June 27.

Police said it is in relation to shoplifting at a town centre store.

Ellis, 43, will be prevented from entering the town centre within the Romford ring road, including the Mercury Mall shopping centre.

He has been banned from begging during the same period and must not cause anti-social behaviour, harassment, alarm and distress, nuisance or annoyance to anyone within Havering.

Ellis was also given a suspended sentence for shoplifting so that any breach of the CBO, or another offence, could result in prison time.

Sgt Alex Norrington, of the Safer Neighbourhood’s Police Team, called Ellis "a prolific offender in the Romford town area and the borough of Havering".

"We are clear in our message that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour in Havering and will continue to take robust action when needed," Sgt Norrington added.

Police said Ellis had been identified as a regular suspect for shoplifting and started begging in the town centre, as well as wider Havering.

He had been issued a community notice protection in 2023 with conditions attached, but police said this was breached.

The CBO order looks to divert Ellis into a drugs and alcohol programme, and to offer him support and prevent future offending.

Description

Today, Tuesday 2 July, a man from Prescot has been jailed for 20 years for committing child sex offences in the 1980s.

A jury found Kevin Perry, 56 years, of Cross Lane, guilty of 13 counts of indecent assault of a girl under 15 years and two counts of rape under the age of 16 years at Liverpool Crown Court last month.

Today Perry was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and he has been put on the Sexual Offenders Register for life. He was also issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life which prevents him from being in the company of children under 16 years of age, working with children under 18 years and from travelling to designated countries where children are deemed as being at risk of sexual harm.

Today’s conviction relates to historic offences against his young victim from the age of 12, which took place over a four-year period more than 30 years ago.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gives an account of the significant impact the abuse has had on her.

She said: “This man destroyed the person I had the potential to become. Spending my childhood and early adulthood pretending that what he did to me was normal, was the only way I could cope with the trauma of being abused by him. I have spent my whole life being ashamed and embarrassed about keeping his dirty little secret, as I now know this is what it is, his secret, his wrongdoing, not mine.

“I developed an eating disorder and obsessive compulsive disorders of various kinds when I was 18. These enabled me to gain some control over my life, to this day this still has an impact on me. There are so many triggers that bring back memories, therefore living a normal life seems impossible.

“Last year my marriage broke down because my husband could not cope with the fact that I kept this a secret in our marriage for so long. He couldn’t find a way to help me cope with the feelings of panic and breakdowns I was experiencing daily, when I was having to remember and relive what I spent so long burying deep in my mind.

“My children and I have had to find a whole new way of making our family work without their dad.

“Whenever I visit the area, I am always tense and scared in case I see him. I often find myself panicking and asking what area we are in because of the memories certain places bring back to me.

“I had never spoken about this with anyone until the investigation began. I began taking time off work unable to cope with the feelings of anxiety reliving it all was having on me, I only felt safe at home.

“When I returned to work, I had to confide in my boss.  This is something which I battled with, having to tell someone my secret.

“One day they found me crying because I was struggling to work and pretending I was ok, when in fact I was falling apart. Before then I always loved my job and very rarely took time off, but now I doubt my ability to do my job. I am hoping justice will be done, I can get the help I need to recover and mend what he has broken."

Officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Tim Rowlands said: “Throughout the whole process, the investigation and the trial, Perry denied all the allegations made against him. Thankfully the jury saw through his lies and found him guilty.

“The victim has shown immense courage and bravery to report the utterly depraved actions he committed and the impact on her is significant and long-lasting. I hope this sentence provides some comfort in knowing they did the right thing to report his heinous crime to us.”

Description

A 57-year-old man from Dilton Marsh has been jailed after being found guilty of sexually abusing two young children over a number of years.

David Hedges was earlier found guilty of three counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 and four counts of indecent assault against the same girls on no fewer than 17 occasions.

His abuse was perpetrated over several years throughout 90s and 2000s.

Today (02/07), at Salisbury Crown Court, Hedges was sentenced to 28 years imprisonment, plus a further year on licence. 

He will be required to serve a minimum of two-thirds before being eligible for parole, when his case will be evaluated. 

In addition to the custodial sentence, he is also subject to the requirements of being a registered sex offender, conditions of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and conditions of a restraining order to prohibit future contact with children indefinitely. 

Description

A 42-year-old man has been jailed for the rape and sexual abuse of a child more than 20 years ago. Karl Osborne committed multiple offences against the same victim in Tiverton in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Exeter Crown Court was told he groomed the child for abuse, offering cigarettes and cannabis, to satisfy his depraved sexual appetites.

The defendant, who now lives in Swindon, has been jailed for 11 years. The court heard a moving statement from the victim who spoke about the huge impact his behaviour had.

The statement said: "I tried to bury the memories of the abuse, the anxiety, shame and guilt. Year after year it ate away at me and has left me with massive trust issues. The psychological harm and distress overwhelmed me.

"I will never forget what he did to me. I hope one day I will not be burdened with the gravity and feelings of what he did to me."

Jenny Tellentire, defending, said Osborne had a 'challenging childhood' and struggled with ADHD. She said most of the offences happened when he was a teenager. "You can be an offender and still be vulnerable," she said. He is in a stable relationship and has committed no other similar offences.

Osborne was convicted after trial of nine offences, including rape, attempted rape and inciting a child to engage in sexual behaviour.

Judge Stephen Climie said the offending took place over a significant period of time. He told Osborne he would be put on the sex offender register and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A pensioner tailed a woman as she walked in the street before sexually assaulting her.

Convicted sex offender Brian Halfhead, who has a record of perverted crimes spanning more than 40 years, brazenly assaulted the woman in daylight as she walked in Birkenhead.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Monday, that the victim was walking along New Chester Road in Birkenhead, close to Rock Retail Park, shortly after 3pm on May 31 this year when she noticed the 68-year-old behind her. Halfhead, of Cross Street, was said to have made her "feel uncomfortable and uneasy" and she stopped to let him pass her as a result.

Kevin Liston, prosecuting, described how the complainant then put her headphones on and was listening to music as she continued walking, but was then grabbed between her legs from behind. She turned around to find the defendant, who had his "jeans halfway down his legs", and shouted: "What the f***".

This was said to have "spooked" Halfhead, who ran away from the scene in the direction of the Queensway Tunnel. The woman called 999 and gave a description of her attacker, and he later arrested at the Fountain Project mental health support centre.

She was left "terrified" and "afraid to leave her own home" following the incident. The victim was even left waiting several days to visit the shop for supplies as she felt unable to do so without being accompanied by a friend.

Halfhead has a total of 17 previous convictions for 48 offences. These include indecent assault of and gross indecent with a child under 14 from 1977, indecent assault of a child under 16 in 1987 and sexual intercourse with a child under 16 in 1988.

Ken Heckle, defending, told the court: "It is alarming that he has revisited this, but there has been a long time of stability in his life. He accepts that this offence was sexually motivated.

"He has a lack of serious offending for the last 35 years. This is not somebody who is out of control."

Halfhead admitted sexual assault. He was jailed for 16 months and told to sign the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor Jones said: "This is not the first time you have come before the courts for sexual offences. There are historic court appearances, even though the last of those was now some 35 years ago.

"It is quite clear that there is an undercurrent of sexual behaviour as far as you are concerned. You are described as representing a high risk of sexual reoffending and a high risk of causing serious harm to children and females, and with that assessment I must agree."