July 2014

Couple snared paedophiles by posing as young girls on internet chatroom

A pair of vigilantes posed as teenage schoolgirls to snare three men in a chatroom ‘sting’ to target paedophiles online.

The couple launched a campaign to expose paedophile activity on the internet after one of them was raped as a 12-year-old girl in 2006.

Using pseudonyms of Alesha13 and Chloe12, they accessed a website chatroom called Teen Chat – and within minutes received dozens of responses.

Lee Barton, 47, (pictured above) went by the username Lee5050 and told the undercover vigilante, who was posing online as Alesha13, that he wanted a private conversation, a court heard.

Barton, of Chestnut Avenue, Doncaster, sent her a series of sexually-explicit messages before using a web-cam to communicate. He claimed he was 18 and asked for a meeting for sex, Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told.

He gave the vigilantes a mobile phone number then asked her whether she was alone and where her parents were. But unbeknown to him, the couple recorded all the exchanges then presented the evidence to police.

Barton was arrested in April last year and pleaded guilty to attempting to engage a child in sexual activity.

He has now been jailed for 21 months in a case judge Timothy Mort said ‘illustrated every parent’s worst nightmare’.

The other vigilante posed as 12-year-old Chloe in April last year and was contacted on the chatroom by the username GUEST6546. It was in fact Daniel Bates, (pictured below) 36, of Harcourt Close in Warrington.

Bates told the vigilante, who used voice distortion equipment to pose as a girl, that he was aged 18, called Dave and from Harpurhey in Manchester.

He asked ‘Chloe’ to perform a sex act then repeated the request in a telephone conversation – exchanges that again were all recorded and handed to police.

Wheelchair-bound Bates, who has cerebral palsy, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage a child in sexual activity. He was jailed for 15 months, suspended for 18 months.

Both defendants were given five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Orders.

Philip Moule, 66, of Basildon, Essex, was also targeted by the couple and got a three-year community order after admitting similar charges.

July 2014

Paedophile jailed after taking innocence of under-age girl

A Paedophile who took the innocence of an under-age girl has been jailed for more than three years

Andrew Wilson, 31, sent the girl an indecent picture of himself via Blackberry messenger and had 500 girl’s PIN numbers stored on his phone, some of whom were the victims friends

He coaxed the girl into sending her a picture of himself posing in underwear and asked her to send him videos of herself. He told the victim he wanted sex

At the time he was supposed to be under the care of the probation service.

Wilson, who was jailed when he was 18 years old for indecently assaulting a girl of primary school age – created a fictional profile of a 14 year old boy on the Blackberry messaging system

He then hoodwinked girls into chatting with him on their phones

Wilson of Chestnut drive, Holme-on-Spalding-Moor appeared for sentence at Hull crown court last Monday after pleading guilty to two charges of inciting a girl under 13 years old to commit sexual acts.

At the time he was probation for two years after being given a 16-week suspended prison sentence for possession of a knife in a public place

In September 1990, Wilson was caught kissing and indecently assaulting an under-age & primary school aged girl on a bed in Goole when he was 18 years old. He was given six months in a young offenders institution for two years. However he breached the prison license and was returned to custody for inappropriate contact with young girls

April 2013

10-year sentence for man who sexually abused partner’s teenage daughter 

A Monaghan man who sexually abused his former partner’s daughter has been given a 10 year sentence at the Central Criminal Court.

Derek Stephen Kerrigan (49) of Glaslough Street, Monaghan pleaded guilty to six counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault of Suzan Baker at the home he then shared with his former partner at Mullaghmatt Villas, Monaghan between 1989 and 1991.

Ms Baker, who has waived her right to anonymity so Kerrigan can be named, was aged between 12 and 14 years old at the time.

Kerrigan has one minor previous conviction unrelated to these offences. He is a former member of the defence forces but is currently unemployed.

Mr Justice Paul Carney said he was taking into account aggravating factors including the breach of trust, multiplicity and gravity of the offences, as well as the effect on Ms Baker.

In favor of Kerrigan, he took into account the guilty plea, lack of relevant convictions and the delay in the matters coming before the court.

Mr Justice Carney imposed a 10 year sentence and suspended the final two and a half years. He backdated the sentence to November 2012 when Kerrigan went into custody.

He declared Kerrigan a sex offender, imposed 18 months post release supervision and ordered that he stay away from Ms Baker in perpetuity.

After Ms Baker made a complaint to gardai in February 2012, Kerrigan admitted the abuse. It occurred over a two year period at times when her mother was away from the house

He had first sexually abused her after calling her to his bedroom as a 12-year-old to explain “the facts of life” and the abuse continued until her periods began at 14 years old. He told her that no one would believe her if she spoke about the abuse.

Kerrigan told gardai he did not know why he had abused her and said it was “maybe drink and mad notions.”

Ms Baker (36) prepared a victim impact statement which outlined that the abuse had affected her relationships, including her relationship with her mother as she had felt unable to tell her what was going on.

She said it was only as she became older that she realised what Kerrigan had done to her was wrong and felt her subsequent drug use was a direct result of the abuse. She felt her life could have been different if she had not been abused and she might have made more of herself.

She said she had messed up her life by dealing with things in the wrong way, was not as strong a person as she could have been and had a negative outlook on life.

Brendan Grehan SC, defending, handed in a letter of apology from Kerrigan in which he stated he wished to apologize to everyone, especially Ms Baker and her family.

Kerrigan said he took full responsibility and was glad it had come to light so there could be closure. He said he had tried to make things as easy as possible for Ms Baker and hopes she can put it behind her.

Mr Grehan said there had been no gratuitous violence involved in the offending and Kerrigan had made full admissions and apologised for his actions. He said a probation report before the court had assessed him at low risk of re-offending.

Garda Stephanie McDaniel told Frank Martin BL, prosecuting, that gardai arrested and interviewed Kerrigan after receiving a complaint from Ms Baker in February 2012.

Ms Baker told gardai that at the time of the offences she lived at Mullaghmatt Villas with Kerrigan, her mother and younger brother.

She recalled that in the summer of 1989 she came into the house after playing outside and Kerrigan called her up to his bedroom. Her mother was in town at the time.

Kerrigan told her “the facts of life” and then told her she should never take her trousers down for anyone. He asked her to take her trousers down and lie on the bed. He pointed to her vagina and told her he would show her what it was for.

He then tried to put his penis inside the 12 year old girl but was unable to. She was crying and he told her to leave the room. She later noticed blood in her pants and had a bath.

The abuse continued to occur while her mother was away from the house. Kerrigan also made her masturbate him, licked her vagina and tried to get her to give him oral sex. On other occasions he would sit her on top of him and guide her how to move up and down.

He told her that no one would believe her if she spoke about the abuse. The abuse stopped when her periods began. The relationship with Ms Baker’s mother also broke up around this time.

When interviewed by gardai in March 2012 Kerrigan admitted sexual abusing the girl. He said he did not know why he had done it and said it was “maybe drink and mad notions.”

Gda McDaniel agreed with Brendan Grehan SC, defending, that Kerrigan was remorseful and had accepted it was his fault. She agreed he had got a good discharge from the army but had been a heavy drinker at the time. There are no other charges being pursued against him.

She agreed that when Ms Baker had objected to performing oral sex on Kerrigan he had not forced her to do so.

Mr Martin told Mr Justice Carney that the Director of Public Prosecutions view was that these offences lay at the lower end of the upper range.

Mr Grehan said his client had suffered two heart attacks and had been afraid he might suffer a third before he could enter his pleas. He asked the court to take Kerrigan’s health issues into account although there was no medical evidence before the court.

July 2014

Rapist jailed for 12 years

A man who brutally raped a teenage girl in a Blackpool park and tried to blame it on an alter ego has been jailed for 12 years.

Blake Richens was charming towards the drunken 15-year-old girl who found herself on the street one night and asked for help.

He invited her to a friend’s home, but on the way, launched a terrifying sex attack in Claremont Park.

He threatened to stab her and posed the question “Which would you prefer, life or death?”

Afterwards, he spoke of what his alter ego Steven had done, suggesting that other part of him was responsible for the crime. He also claimed to have been recently come out of jail for murder.

He told his victim: “When I’m Steven I’m nasty and when I’m Blake I’m nice.”

She managed to snatch a black woollen glove from him and take refuge in a friend’s house. His DNA was recovered from the glove.

Richens, 22 of Bond Street, Blackpool, had denied charges of rape, attempted rape and a serious sexual assault which occured one night last January.

He was today convicted on unanimous verdicts by a judge who said she wanted the victim to be told that when she realised the situation she was in, she dealt with it in a very brave and sensible fashion.

Judge Heather Lloyd told Richens: “She didn’t deserve in any way to be treated in such a terrifying fashion and I have no doubt the impact of this attack upon her will last for a long time.

“Being attacked in such a way is every woman’s worst nightmare.”

Richens had claimed that the sexual activity was fully consensual and that she had never said no.

He will be on the sex offenders register for life.

February 2011

Spared jail for teen sex – Man freed after trial

A MAN who sexually assaulted a vulnerable teenage girl has narrowly avoided going to jail. 

Richard Arthur Brooke has been spared prison after a judge heard how he was the main carer for his sick, elderly mother and a heart condition he suffers from would be unlikely to be treated behind bars. 

The 47-year-old was found guilty last month of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl. 

The Wallsend man had faced a total of 13 charges but was only convicted on the one count. 

Brooke, of Worthing Close, appeared before Newcastle Crown Court again yesterday for sentencing. 

Judge John Evans, who presided over his trial, heard how Brooke had gained the confidence of the teenage girl before touching her inappropriately. 

The court heard that Brooke still maintains his innocence despite being found guilty by a jury. Robert Adams, defending, told the court it was unlikely his client would re-offend. 

He said: “He maintains his position of being not guilty. I do not believe he is a high risk to children. 

The only allegation against him to be proven is seven years old. 

“The person involved was not very young. She was 15 at the time and it was years ago and he has no previous convictions of this type. If anything is going to stop someone doing this thing it must be the gruelling trial he went through. 

“He is an extremely ill man. He has suffered two heart attacks. He is due to have an ECG on February 24 and that would not likely be available in prison. He is a carer for his sick mother.” 

Judge Evans said having presided over the original trial he had no doubt about Brooke’s guilt. He said: “I am now faced with sentencing you for one single offence committed a very long time ago and I have to consider what is the appropriate sentence. 

“You have no previous convictions of a sexual nature. You have maintained your innocence in relation to the offence on which you were convicted. 

“Having heard the evidence in the case I have no reservations about the correctness of that conviction. 

You abused the trust put in you by touching her in an inappropriate manner.” 

Brooke was sentenced to 51 weeks in custody suspended for two years. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and given a six-month supervision order.

February 2010

Man sexually assaulted 12-year-old girl

A man from Wellingborough who sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl has been sentenced at Northampton Crown Court

Kevin Marlow, aged 47, of Oak Way, was sentenced to a three-year community sex offender treatment programme.

Marlow had previously pleaded guilty to committing two sexual assaults on August 19 last year.

Recorder Stephen Lineham QC made the community order and placed him on the sex offenders’ register.

July 2014

Drunken pervert touched up young girl

A DRUNKEN pervert was ordered to carry out unpaid work after touching up a 15-year-old girl on a train.

Former rail worker Derek Storr pounced during a train journey between Ayr and Maybole on January 18.

Storr touched his young victim’s thigh after approaching the teen and her 15-year-old female friend and uttering remarks of a sexual nature.

The court heard how Storr sat in a position, which was regarded as too close to the girls during the ordeal, which played a role in the break-up of his marriage.

At Ayr Sheriff Court last week, Storr was sentenced to a 150-hour community payback order – reduced from 200 hours – after pleading guilty to the charges at an earlier date.

His solicitor Ms Kane said: “”He has been a hard working man all of his adult life working on the railways. “

This incident has had an extreme impact on his marriage. “He has identified the conduct as shameful to him. The recurring theme with his behaviour does appear to be the misuse of alcohol.”

Sheriff Norman McFadyen said: “Your behaviour is totally unacceptable. It caused distress to the young girls and to the passengers on the train.”

The work must be completed within 12 months and Storr must adhere to a two-year supervision order. 

July 2014

Man, 66, jailed for raping three-year-old boy

A 66-year-old man who raped a three-year-old boy has been sentenced to life at Southwark Crown Court.

The heinous crimes of Barry John Britton, 66, of Westminster, were only uncovered after a chance conversation between the boy’s grandmother and the boy.

Specialist officers acted immediately and arrested Britton at his home address.

Statements were taken from the family and evidence seized from Britton’s home, whilst specially-trained officers interviewed the boy.

Britton refused to co-operate with police but the evidence against him was sufficient for charges to be brought.

While on remand, Britton indicated that he wanted to change his plea to guilty and this was confirmed at the hearing on 9 May this year.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape and another two of causing a boy under the age of 13 to engage in penetrative activity.

Britton was given life with a minimum five year term and ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for life.

Det Sgt Tom Haines said: “Barry John Britton is a predatory offender who befriended this family in order to abuse their child.

“Officers acted quickly and secured the evidence required to charge him with these serious offences.

“The family can now be assured that their son and other children are safe from this dangerous man and that he has been brought to justice.”

July 2014

Community order for Gravesend man who made indecent images of children

A Gravesend man has been given a community order after admitting making dozens of indecent images of children.

Daniel Moon, 36, pleaded guilty to five counts of making such images over a three-and-a-half-year period from February 15, 2010, to September 13 last year.

Moon, of Cecil Road, made one Level 5 image at the most serious end of the scale.

In total he made 55 pictures of varying levels.

At Maidstone Crown Court on May 2 he admitted making the images.

On July 11 at the same court he was given a two-year community order and a five-year sexual offences prevention order.

July 2014

Leeds pensioner had more than 2,000 abusive images

A GREAT grandfather was found to have downloaded more than 2,000 abusive images of children after police seized computers from his home in Leeds.

A court heard retired businessman Peter Cliff, 65, told officers he had been viewing the illegal pictures for years after he was arrested.

Leeds Crown Court heard Cliff came to the attention of police after a legitimate website was hacked and indecent images of children were uploaded to it in 2011.

Officers went to Cliff’s home on Leeds Road, Scholes, on May 25 last year and seized computer equipment.

After examination it was found to contain 2,574 illegal images and 39 movies. The court heard 79 images were at level four and nine were at level five – the two most serious categories of offending. It was also revealed that Cliff had made internet searches for ‘little girls’ and ‘nymphettes’.

Stephanie Hancock, prosecuting, told the court some of the images involved babies being horrifically abused.

Cliff was interviewed and told officers he had been viewing the images for years at the home he shared with his wife.

He said he would sit in his bedroom viewing them as he drank wine.

Cliff also claimed he did not believe he was contributing to the abuse of children as he had not paid to view the material.

He pleaded guilty to 21 offences of making indecent photographs of children.

Anthony Sugare, mitigating, said: “This is a 65-year-old man without any previous convictions.

“He is totally and thoroughly disgusted and ashamed by his behaviour.

“He has not only brought shame upon himself and his good name but also his wife and all the members of his family.”

The lawyer added: “He has had an industrious business life. It is totally out of character.”

Cliff was made the subject of a three-year community and supervision order and told he must go on the sex offenders register for five years.

Judge Penelope Belcher told Cliff: “You said that because you had not paid for the images you were not in any way responsible for viewing these images.

“Do not kid yourself that you have not contributed to their abuse because you plainly have.”

July 2014

Nurse expected to be struck off after being jailed for grooming 14 year old schoolgirl

A nurse who worked at a children’s hospital is today expected to be struck off after being jailed for sexual offences against a 14- year-old girl he met over the internet.

Graeme Gordon worked at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton for nine years up until his arrest at the end of August last year.

The 36-year-old was charged with three offences relating to sexual activity with a child under 16, grooming of a child for the purposes of sexual activity and possession of indecent images/pornography relating to children.

Gordon, formerly of Sussex Street, Brighton, admitted the charges and was jailed for more than three years at Reading Crown Court in January.

An investigation by Thames Valley Police revealed there was no evidence that Gordon had carried out any criminal activity at his work or that any offences were carried out in Sussex.

The 14-year-old involved was not a patient at the hospital.

A Nursing and Midwifery Council conduct and competence hearing into Gordon’s case is being held in London today where he is expected to be struck off.

Gordon was fired by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust immediately after his arrest.

Chief executive Matthew Kershaw said: “As soon as we received news of the charges against him we dismissed him from our employment and we fully expect him to be struck off.

“The police found absolutely no evidence or even suggestion that Graeme Gordon’s offending behaviour involved his place of work.

“They also found no evidence that any of his colleagues were aware of his offending behaviour, they received no complaints about his work and there was no history or suggestion of previous offences.

“At the time of his arrest we informed all the appropriate authorities.”

The incident is not related to the National Crime Agency arrests earlier this week.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “There is no evidence of any offences in Sussex in relation to this matter.”

February 2011

School teacher jailed for sex abuse on girl

A PRIMARY school teacher who was aroused by a bizarre fetish performed by an underage ex-pupil has been jailed for four years.

Nicholas Frost, aged 46, attempted to kill himself when he discovered his victim intended to go to the police and reveal years of sexual abuse.

Northampton Crown Court heard officers had to delay interviewing Frost because he took an overdose of paracetamol in December.

Stuart Alford, prosecuting, said Frost’s young victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went to police and revealed how he subjected her to sexual assaults

He said: “On the face of it, this is a man with some psychiatric issues.”

Frost, of Birchfield Road, Abington, pleaded guilty to five offences of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for four years.

His teaching career is now over as he is banned from ever working with, or having unsupervised contact with children, and he will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Judge Ian Alexander QC said Frost’s offences were “clearly driven by sexual desire” and aggravated by the nature of the abuse. He said: “It is apparent to me from observing you in the dock that you are full of shame and remorse about your behaviour.

“Whether the shame you are exhibiting is because of embarrassment or remorse is difficult for me to tell. But is does seem to me that it is really too little, too late.”

A spokesman from Northamptonshire County Council was unable to confirm what schools Frost taught at.

She said: “He was suspended as soon as we became aware of the allegations and was dismissed from the supply teaching register on January 1.”

June 2013

Man jailed for possessing indecent images of children

A Corby man has been sentenced to nine months in prison after being found guilty of possessing indecent images of children.

Thomas Schleussner was convicted on 17 counts. The offences took place between November 2007 and February 2009. He was also given a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Schleussner, aged 49, of Wentin Close, Corby, was convicted by a jury at Northampton Crown Court last month and sentenced yesterday (Wednesday, June 18).

Detective Constable Rachael Harris, of Corby CID, said: “We take very seriously any offence against children and offences involving indecent images of children will be robustly investigated and prosecuted.

“We are determined to deal with dangerous offenders such as Schleussner in this case and, in doing so, keep vulnerable people safe in our community.”

July 2014

Man living in squalor found with indecent images given “another chance” by judge

A BARRY man described as a “lonely” and “sad character” has avoided a prison sentence after being found with indecent images of children.

Judge DJ Hale told Gareth Hardwick that was willing to give him “another chance”.

Police entered the “dirty” and “unkept” house of 56-year-old Gareth Hardwick in April after becoming alerted that he had paid for indecent images of children online.

At his home on Spring Street, Barry, Hardwick immediately owned up to officers, who seized his computer.

He found to have one photograph – categorised as “class-A”, the worst category – and 38 movie clips, 25 of which were “class A”.

The images featured girls aged between 10 to 14 , something he admitted having a sexual interest in.

He had collected the images during a six month period from October 2013 until his arrest. He has no previous convictions.

At Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, July 19 Judge DJ Hale described Hardwick as “a sad character, living in complete squalor.

He told him: “You must understand that these are not victimless crimes.

“Somewhere some child, somewhere probably in the Ukraine or Russia or somewhere out there, has been subjected to a horrendous ordeal to provide people like you with titillation.

“You have manifold other problems and you’re a very lonely man.

“I’m prepared to give you another chance and give you a community order.”

Hardwick was made the subject of a three year community order with supervision.

His computer use will be monitored during this time, and he is banned from deleting his internet history or making any attempt to mask his internet use.

Judhe Hale made it clear that should he offend again he will be given a prison sentence.

July 2014

Dangerous Melksham paedophile jailed for raping two young girls

A ‘dangerous paedophile’ who groomed two young sisters before raping and abusing them has been jailed for 26 years.

Mark Nash forced himself on one of the girls when she had just turned 13 years old and the other when she was aged 14.

And the 39-year-old showed one of the children a movie of a youngster being raped by an adult and told her ‘If she can do it you can’.

Nash, who was jailed in 2004 after admitting having indecent images of children on his computer, denied all of the charges, which pre-dated the prison term.

But following a trial at Swindon Crown Court last month he was found guilty of rape, attempted rape, and other sex assaults on the girls.

The jury heard how he started by taking photographs of one of the children before moving on to indecently touching, then trying to rape her.

He was in a work lorry when he showed the girl a movie from his depraved collection and told her she should be able to do what the victim on the screen was doing.

Nash, of Awdry Avenue, Melksham, denied the offending between early 1999 and January 2004 but was convicted.

Sarah Jones, defending, said her client ended the abuse after he was arrested for having indecent images of children.

She said “He did learn, he did stop. That can be cause for optimism given the work that will be done with him in prison as he serves what must be a lengthy sentence.”

Jailing him on Thursday, Judge Douglas Field said “These are very, very, serious offences.

“You set out to groom and control these two girls so that you could gratify your perverted sexual desires by abusing them.

“In my judgement they are never going to get over this. I hope that this sentencing exercise will give them some measure of closure.

“You are a dangerous paedophile. I come to that conclusion as a result of the evidence I have heard regarding these two complainants and your conviction albeit after this offending for child pornography and what I have read about you.

“It is right to remark that since your sentence for child pornography you have not reoffended.”

Imposing the 26 year jail term he said “In my judgement, justly deserved for this appalling offending.”

He said he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and abide by a sexual offences prevention order banning him having contact with girls under 16.

July 2014

36 year old Business manager tricked schoolboy into posing naked

A RESPECTED business manager who led a sinister double-life as a pervert with an interest in young boys is starting a four-year jail sentence.

Steven James tricked one youngster into posing naked for him by pretending on-line that he was a 15-year-old from the US called ‘Beach Girl’.

He was also caught with more than 450 indecent images of children after police raided his Darlington home and seized his computers in May last year.

James, 36, used specialist software to delete some of his pictures “beyond forensic recovery”, and to disguise his internet search history.

Teesside Crown Court heard how he also encrypted huge files and either would not or could not give police passwords to examine what was inside of them.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, told him: “The gravamen of this offence is that nobody knows what remained on your computer.

“Many who appear before me charged with indecent images remain in their homes, looking at the images and not seeking to carry out their fantasies.

“You contacted that boy. You knew how old he was, and you disguised your age and your gender . . . you used him for your own vile interests.”

James, of Victoria Embankment, Darlington, was also banned from working with children, and was put on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

Restrictions were also put on his future computer use after he admitted making and possessing indecent images and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Dan Cordey, mitigating, said James had lost his job and his home since the police raid which followed a tip-off from online child safety experts.

Since his arrest, he has sought help from organisations which deal with treatment for child abusers and is keen to understand why he has such a fascination.

Mr Cordey said his client had gone from an outgoing person to being isolated and living alone in Darlington in “a high pressure management role”.

He added: “He is appalled by his actions. Of course he realises that they are real victims in those pictures, and that haunts him and worries him.

“He will have to start again following his release from custody, and he knows there will be a stigma for a very long time if not for the rest of his life.”

July 2014

Man threatened to kill himself after being found with indecent images of children and extreme pornography

A MAN found with indecent images of children and extreme pornography involving animals threatened to kill himself with a knife when police raided his home.

Owen Roberts, 24, of Barry Road, Barry appeared in Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, July 18 charged with 16 offences covering 167 images and 25 movies.

Twenty two of these movies were classified as being in the worst category of indecent image – category “A”.

The defendant’s address was raided on Friday, January 31 when police became aware of indecent images of children being purchased using his credit card.

When officers entered his property he told them: “I’ve got a problem. I’ve been downloading images.

“I hate cruelty and it’s the worst kind of cruelty. I’m glad you’ve come.”

Saying that his life was over he then ran into the kitchen and grabbed a knife, telling officers he was going to kill himself.

They persuaded him to put the knife down and he was arrested.

The court heard that Roberts, who works as a cleaner, had two previous police warnings for shoplifting and cannabis possession.

Giving Roberts a three year supervision order – sparing him a custodial sentence and ordering him to undergo a rehabilitation programme – Judge DJ Hale told Roberts: “You only get one chance at this.

“If you are back before the court for anything like this you will go to prison.

“But if you take advantage of what’s going to happen so you never again feel the need to look at these things, fine.

“You’ve got to understand that someone, somewhere went through agony to provide you with this material.”

Roberts also had to pay £200 costs and a £60 surcharge.

July 2014

Man jailed for indecent exposure and sexually assaulting a girl on Eastbourne seafront

A man of no fixed address but with connections to Crawley has been jailed for indecent exposure and sexual assault.

Maqsood Ali, 37, appeared at Brighton magistrates yesterday, two days after exposing himself to two girls, aged 14 and 15, and sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl on Eastbourne seafront.

He was sentenced to 20 weeks for both incidents, to run consecutively.

DC Tod Stewart said: “Officers acted quickly and arrested him within hours of the offences. He has been rapidly brought to justice.”

July 2014

Paedophile who downloaded thousands of images of children jailed after being snared by online police

A PAEDOPHILE who downloaded thousands of still and moving images of children has been jailed.

Richard Wilson, of Fitzpaine Close, West Parley, was snared byDorset Police’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) as part of a national operation targeting sex offenders.

The 50-year-old admitted 16 counts of possessing indecent images of children ranging from category A – the most serious – to C.

Police discovered a total of 8,553 photographs and 246 moving images on his computer.

Some of the films had been burned to DVD, including a 23-minute compilation showing the abuse of children.

Prosecuting, Stuart Ellacott said: “When police attended his address, Mr Wilson was present.

“The purpose of the warrant was explained. Asked if he knew what police were talking about, he replied, ‘Yes’.”

He said “several hundred” DVD discs were seized from Wilson’s home, and the defendant made “full and frank admissions” to police.

Further investigations revealed he had searched online for the initials PTHC, which stand for ‘pre-teen hardcore’.

Mitigating, Kevin Hill said Wilson had already began to seek help, and had admitted to feeling “relieved” after he was arrested.

“He describes himself as having an addiction to pornography, to indecent images,” he said.

“The pre-sentence report [prepared by the Probation Service] describes his intense feelings of guilt and shame.”

Mr Hill added: “He does understand the impact these sort of offences have on the children concerned – albeit he had entirely compartmentalised that.

“In effect, he has shut it out in the course of his offending, which he is not now doing.”

Judge Samuel Wiggs heard Wilson was “petrified” of prison, and told the offender: “It is particularly sad to see a person of your age, intelligence and otherwise exemplary character before the court for offences of this nature.

“But they are serious offences.”

He sentenced Wilson to eight months behind bars.

The defendant will also have to sign a sexual offences prevention order upon his release.

December 2010

Pensioner jailed for sex offences

A TEENAGER had written to a magazine asking for advice because she was suffering sexual abuse when her mother spotted the letter by chance, a court heard.

When confronted with the girl’s allegations, Robert Grant immediately confessed.

Now the 71-year-old has been locked up for nine years after admitting offences dating back to the early 1980s.

Grant, of Blackthorn Close, Braishfield, admitted two counts of rape, one of indecent assault and a sample count each of indecency with a child and indecent assault.

Judge Patrick Hooton said he took into account that Grant had admitted the allegations at the first opportunity but told him he had caused “untold anguish”.

David Jenkins, mitigating at Southampton Crown Court, said Grant accepted it was entirely his own fault.