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Liam Dorr – Tywyn

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July 2014

Fake ‘teen’ pervert jailed for six years

Liam Dorr

A pervert who befriended young schoolgirls over the internet by pretending to be a teen himself has been jailed for six years.

Liam Dorr, 29, groomed girls and entered into intimate online relationships with them – flattering and complementing them until they agreed to send their photographs to him, some in sexual poses.

Dorr used a false identity and persuaded a schoolgirl to speak to him over a webcam – but said his camera was not working so she could not see him.

He secretly recorded her indulging in a sex act and later posted a video and photograph of her on a salacious web site.

Mold Crown Court heard how two years later, the girl was approached by a fellow school pupil who said he had seen the photograph on the web.

The victim, now 18, had the courage to report the matter to the police to prevent it happening to other girls.

Police tracked him down through an old mobile phone number.

When they examined his computer at his home at Plas Edwards, Tywyn, near Aberystwyth, they found he had been chatting and filming other girls as well for seven years.

Officers discovered images of up to 100 girls. More than 300 movies and six indecent photographs of girls were found.

Analysis of web chats showed he had been chatting to girls for many hours.

Dorr admitted 12 charges of making, possessing and distributing indecent images of children, and two of inciting children to engage in sexual activity over the internet.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for life and made the subject of an indefinite sexual offences prevention order.

Jonathan Austin, prosecuting, said the girl told police that in 2009, when she was 15, she began communicating with a 15 year-old boy called Tom via the Bebo website.

That turned out to be a fictitious online persona created by Dorr, then aged 25.

They exchanged messages via MSM and would chat most evenings, for hours at a time.

She first agreed to send a photograph of herself fully clothed, then in her underwear.

Dorr sent her a photo of an unknown bare chested young man.

In total, she sent him 13 photographs. He then persuaded her to go on webcam and persuaded her to indulge in a sex act on line.

Having got what he wanted, he stopped communicating with her.

Mr Austin said: “She had no idea she had been filmed. She thought it was something private between her and ‘Tom’ and felt thoroughly deceived and exploited.”

Oliver King, defending, said Dorr accepted full responsibility for the dreadful offences, committed when he spent hours alone in his bedroom when he felt his mother and sister were arguing.

He was described as something of a social recluse who did not mix well.

Jailing him, Judge Philip Hughes said Dorr had indulged in the offences for for his own lustful purposes.

It had been “a gross abuse of young children by a devious, deceitful criminal”.


Steven James – Darlington

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July 2014

Mysterious ‘Florida Beach Girl’ who tricked Coventry teen into stripping off online revealed to be 36-year-old male pervert

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A pervert posed as a mysterious young girl to trick a teenage Coventry boy into stripping off online.

But paedophile Steven James, who used the name Florida Beach Girl on Skype, was caught after the boy’s alert dad called in the police.

James, aged 36, persuaded the 14-year-old Coventry boy to take his clothes off on camera.

The youngster’s dad found out about the online exchanges and contacted Coventry Police.

He was praised for keeping an eye on his child’s online activity.

The force called in IT experts and spoke to London’s child exploitation and online protection team who identified business manager James, of Darlington, as the mysterious girl.

Last May police raided his house but police found that significant parts of his computer were encrypted.

He wouldn’t hand over his passwords but with the support from expert detectives police found 450 indecent images of children as well as evidence James had groomed other youngsters.

At Teeside Crown Court on July 17 James, of Victoria Embankment, Darlington, was jailed for four years after he admitted making indecent images of children and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was banned from working with children and put on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Restrictions have also been put on his future computer use.

Det Con Jon Barker from Coventry Police, said: “James used specialist software to try and hide his internet search history and protect certain areas of his computer with advanced encryption technology.

“He provided Durham detectives with two 27-character passwords but both were incorrect and claimed not to recall how to access some files − but forensic IT analysts recovered enough evidence to prove he’d been downloading indecent images and inciting children to commit sex acts online.”

Det Con Barker also praised the Coventry victim’s dad for looking into his son’s online activity.

He added: “You need to be absolutely certain who you’re talking to online – your son or daughter may believe they’re chatting with another teenager but, in reality, it could be someone much older with sinister intentions.

“Parents shouldn’t feel awkward asking their children what they’re up to online and who they’re talking to on social media.

“Perhaps have an agreement that they only use the internet in an overt manner, perhaps only in the living room, rather than squirreled away in their bedrooms.’

Arthur Williams – Helensburgh

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July 2014

Dad caught with indecent child images avoids jail

A MARRIED Helensburgh dad caught with extreme pornographic images and indecent pictures of children has avoided jail. 

Former navy man Arthur Williams, 56, last week walked free from court despite being found with 36 indecent images of children – a few of which at the most serious level – and four images depicting a woman having sex with a dog.

Following Williams’ appearance at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, a leading children’s charity criticised ‘inconsistent sentencing’ in relation to sexual abuse cases, and claimed more need to be done to tackle online child sexual abuse.

Bert Thomson, defending, told the court Williams had admitted his guilt at a very early stage and wasn’t someone who was ‘looking to get away with anything’.

He also highlighted the fact Williams was a first offender and had been caught with a ‘small number’ of indecent images.

He added: “One of these images is too many, but we are talking about a total of 40 images all together.”

Sheriff Colin McKay said that while there was a public perception that offenders like Williams should be given a long prison sentence, he was bound by sentencing guidelines set out by the High Court.

He ordered Williams to be supervised for two years and placed him on the sex offenders register for the same period.

In addition, he ordered him to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work in the community.

In reaction to the sentencing, Mary Glasgow, CHILDREN1ST director of Children and Family Service and External Affairs, said the criminal justice system must do more to tackle online child sexual abuse.

She added: “Viewing child sexual abuse images is not a victimless crime. Every image is evidence of abuse suffered by a real child from which they may never fully recover.

“Seeking out such images creates demand for more and leads to more children being abused.

“Children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse tell us that inconsistent sentencing makes them feel distressed and confused. It also sends the wrong message to those who would consider abusing children, or viewing online child sexual abuse images.

“CHILDREN1ST is concerned that we are not doing all we can through the criminal justice system to address online child sexual abuse and to protect children from the risk of harm.

“While we are encouraged by signs that Police Scotland is taking strong action in coordination with the UK National Crime Agency, we feel the Scottish Government should review the approach taken to prosecution and sentencing in online child sexual abuse cases and, if necessary, legislate to ensure sentences reflect the severity of crimes.”

Eliott Diffley – Kentish Town

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July 2014

Data stick full of child abuse images falls out of pervert’s bum in Islington police station!

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A data stick full of child abuse images fell out of a pervert’s bottom in Islington Police Station

Eliott Diffley, 24, faces 12 months in jail after pleading guilty to 17 counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of possessing an extreme porn image at Blackfriars Crown Court today.

On October 26 last year, Pc Crossnan was on the beat in Parkhurst Road, Holloway, when he smelt cannabis.

Diffley was smoking, and threw something away as the officer approached.

Pc Crossnan searched him and found two mobile phones – one of which was reported lost or stolen – and arrested him for handling stolen goods.

When he was searched again at Islington Police Station, a USB data stick dropped from his buttocks.

Diffley said he had stolen it from an internet cafe and was further arrested for theft.

Officers looked on the data stick and found indecent images of children. A search of Diffley’s home then turned up a large quantity of similar images of children.

The following investigation found the data stick had not been stolen, while an internet search history showed he had actively been looking for images of children.

Diffley was charged on June 12.

Pc Crossan said: “This case has been dealt with the upmost professionalism by all of the officers involved. People have preconceptions of the type of person who commits this type of crime and Mr Diffley challenges that idea.

“The public should be reassured that investigation into any form of child abuse is taken very seriously and we will work tirelessly to bring offenders like Diffley to justice.”

Diffley, of Leighton Road, Kentish Town, will also now have to sign on the sexual offences register.

Michael Spriggs – Bradford

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July 2014

Bradford man, 59, pleads guilty to two child sex charges

Michael Spriggs

A 59-year-old man will be sentenced at a later date after pleading guilty to two child sex charges.

Michael Spriggs, of Compton Street, Dudley Hill, Bradford, admitted two charges of sexual activity with a child when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court today. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Spriggs pleaded not guilty to 18 other child sex offence charges and prosecutor Robin Mairs told the court those pleas were acceptable.

Judge John Potter ordered a pre-sentence report and granted Spriggs bail but warned him to prepare himself for a custodial sentence.

Roy Spencer – Chorley

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July 2014

Pensioner jailed after he paid vulnerable girl of 15 for sex

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A depraved pensioner who took a schoolgirl to a hotel and used her as a prostitute has been jailed for eight years.

Roy Spencer, 73, checked into a hotel in Chorley with the vulnerable teenager, knowing the youngster was desperate for money.

Preston Crown Court heard the 15-year-old felt uneasy about the situation, but Spencer told her she would not be paid if she did not carry out his sexual demands.

Sentencing, Judge Heather Lloyd said: “You abused her and used her as a commodity.”

Spencer had denied any wrongdoing throughout his trial at Preston Crown Court but was convicted of three offences of sexual activity with the girl and one of inciting sexual activity.

The court heard the youngster, from Chorley, was left so traumatised by what had happened she was later admitted to hospital.

While she was still receiving care as an in-patient, Spencer continued to make contact with the girl’s family members in an attempt to “buy” the youngster.

Spencer, of no fixed address, first came into contact with the schoolgirl last summer after paying an older woman she knew for sexual services. The youngster, who the court heard came from a dysfunctional background, knew he was financially stable and, desperate for £140 to pay a drugs debt, approached the pensioner offering sexual services.

Knowing the girl was just 15 years old, Spencer agreed to meet her and booked a room at the hotel.

Judge Lloyd told Spencer: “There was a significant disparity in age between you and this girl. In law she was still a child, and you knew that.”

When her ordeal was over, the youngster was physically sick in the hotel bathroom, the court heard.

However the girl’s ordeal did not end there as later that day she told an adult she knew about what had happened.

But rather than helping her, the woman encouraged the youngster to make contact with Spencer again, offering further sexual services.

Judge Heather Lloyd, sentencing, said: “Whether (the girl) consented or not to what happened that day, the sexual activity you engaged in with her was sordid. She felt under pressure from various sources and so she succumbed to sexual activity with you and the woman.

“For your own separate purposes you abused her and used her as a commodity.”

The court heard Spencer had previously been before the courts for a sentence relating to sending text messages to young teenage girls whose parents owed him money.

Judge Lloyd said: “It seems to me that you use your financial stability to trade upon those who do not have financial stability.

“You have no remorse. You minimise what you have done and have no insight into the seriousness of what you have done.

“You blame (the girl) and you believe you are the victim in all this.”

A spokesman for Lancashire police said: “These were despicable offences committed against a vulnerable victim, made all the more sinister by Spencer’s insistence of innocence. This considerable custodial sentence reflects the depravity of what he has done.

“I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the victim and to the hard work of the investigative team and our partners at the Crown Prosecution Service for bringing the case to court and securing his conviction.”

Stephen Carr – Gilesgate

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August 2012

Sex attacker tried to rape seven-year-old girl

A SEX attacker who tried to rape a seven-year-old girl has been jailed for more than 10 years.

Stephen Carr, who has been branded a danger by police, attacked the youngster on Wearside more than a decade ago.

At Newcastle Crown Court Judge John Milford QC jailed the 43-year-old, of Cunningham Place, Gilesgate, Durham, for 10 years and nine months while police today branded Carr a “dangerous individual”.

Carr had admitted attempted rape and indecency charges, which meant his victim did not have to relive her horrifying ordeal from the witness box.

In a statement to police the victim described in graphic detail what Carr had done to her during the horrific attempted rape ordeal.

Prosecuting, Robin Patton said: “She asked him to stop. He was persistent.”

Northumbria Police Detective Constable David Garrity said:”I’d urge any victim of a sexual assault or rape – no matter how historic – to report it to the police. We will investigate all reports and do everything we can to bring sexual offenders to justice.

“Carr is a dangerous individual and this sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes he committed.

“It took great courage for the victim to come forward and I hope this sentence givens her some closure following what has been an extremely difficult time.”

Stephen Smith – Nailsworth/Ty Mawr

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July 2014

Man, 61, convicted of raping and sexually abusing two young girls and indecently assaulting an 11-year-old boy

A 61-YEAR-OLD man has been convicted today of repeatedly raping and sexually abusing two girls who were just six-years-old when the offences started.

Stephen Smith was also found guilty at Gloucester Crown Court of indecently assaulting an 11-year-old boy but was cleared of cruelty to the boy.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC remanded him in custody overnight and will sentence him tomorrow, Friday.

There was sobbing from the public gallery as the jury’s verdicts on the six charges were announced at the end of a trial lasting more than a week.

The offences happened in the Nailsworth area, where Smith lived until the 1980s, and later in Wales.

He moved to Ty Mawr, Llanbydder, nr Carmarthen in the mid-1980s.

Prosecuting barrister Paul Cook told the court the offences date back to 1976 and spanned some 20 years from that date.

“The defendant was mentally cruel, physically and sexually abusive to these children and they had complained to the police in the past but withdrew their complaints,” he said.

“On one occasion he raped one of the girls in a bedroom, placing his hand over her mouth.”

The prosecuting barrister told the court how the defendant raped one of the girls in a shed, a garage and in the back seat of his car.

“He made her put on an adult woman’s pair of knickers and touch him sexually before he raped her,” said Mr Cook. “He would use condoms.”

The young boy was sexually abused in a caravan and was made to stand still for hours with heavy books on his head until he shook, it was alleged.

“The assaults happened when the girls were aged between six and nine, but they slowed down as they reached puberty,” said Mr Cook.

Smith was arrested in march 2013 when complaints were finally made to the police by his victims.

In evidence Smith had denied abusing any of the three children in any way and claimed they had made the allegations to try to get money from him.


Simon Payne – Allerton

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July 2014

Child sex offender jailed for 12 years for a string of offences

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A SERIAL child sex offender has been jailed for 12 years for a string of sexual offences, some of which dated back to the 1980s.

Simon Payne, 43, of Bell Dean Road, Allerton, Bradford, was told he had a “dark side” as he was jailed for offences against three young victims which spanned around 20 years.

And the police have now praised the bravery of the victims in coming forward so many years on.

Bradford Crown Court heard Payne had committed a string of sexual offences against a young girl when she was aged seven, eight or nine, and he was aged around 16 to 19.

When he was aged around 18, he committed two sexual offences against an 11-year-old boy.

And then, around seven or eight years ago, he sexually abused a girl over a period of around two years, starting when she was 13 and ending when she was 15.

Two of the victims wrote statements explaining the damage Payne’s offending had done to their lives, which prosecutor Kitty Taylor handed to Judge Roger Thomas QC.

Mitigating for Payne, Stephen Wood said he had no previous convictions.

He said: “In his position, the fact of the custodial sentence, that’s the real punishment, not the length.”

Sentencing, Judge Thomas told Payne: “After a difficult educational start in life, you had done quite well in terms of employment and other aspects of your life, but there was a dark side to you that is demonstrated by this indictment.”

Judge Thomas said the victims’ statements had been “insightful and really quite moving” and showed the harm this kind of offending did to victims.

He said: “That aspect of this cannot be underestimated – the lasting damage this does do to the unfortunate people to which it happens.”

He jailed Payne for 12 years for a total of 10 offences, many of which had been specimen charges used as examples of a string of offending.

Afterwards, Detective Constable Emma Dawson, of Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Payne took advantage of his victims’ young ages and vulnerability to carry out these attacks over a period of time.

“We would like to thank them for their courage in coming forward and reporting these offences, and hope that today’s sentence will help to give them some closure.

“We also hope it will encourage other victims to come forward and speak to our specially trained officers, who will investigate all reports of sexual abuse thoroughly and sensitively, no matter how historic, with the intention of bringing the offenders to justice.”

He must now also sign on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Maxwell Hallahan – Cowes

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July 2014

Vicar described as ‘a sexual predator’ of children

A FORMER vicar described by police as a “sexual predator” has been jailed after abusing a 13-year-old boy.

Maxwell Hallahan was sentenced to 21 months in prison for a string of offences against the youngster in the 1970s.

They took place while he was vicar at St Faith’s Church in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, and followed a previous conviction for a similar offence in 2011.

The retired priest will also be subject to a ten-year notification on the Sex Offender Register and a Safeguarding Order.

Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in Wessex Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit (RASSO), Richard Powell, said: “Maxwell Hallahan abused his position of authority as vicar in his parish.

“He abused the boy, who is now an adult but was only 13 years of age when the abuse started, for a period of approximately three years between 1974 and 1977.

“Hallahan had already been convicted of similar offences in 2011. There is no doubt that he is a sexual predator who did not hesitate to take advantage of his position as a ‘pillar of the society’ at the time to abuse young boys.

“The victim in this case has shown great courage in coming forward after living with the memory of the abuse for all these years.

“This, we hope, will encourage anyone who has been the victim of such crimeto report it to the police. CPS Wessex Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit works very closely with the police and relentlessly to bring these types of cases to court.

“We trust that this prosecution will bring some closure to the victim of this horrible crime.”

David McAusland – Dundee

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July 2014

Former Dundee karate teacher caught with child abuse images

A former Dundee children’s karate and kick boxing teacher was found with thousands of child abuse and bestiality images, a court was told.

David McAusland shared some of the images, which featured children as young as six, on the internet more than 100 times.

The 50-year-old was warned by a sheriff that a prison sentence was a “distinct possibility” when he returns to court next month.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard that a total of 2,736 images and 39 videos were found after police raided McAusland’s South Road flat in September last year.

Officers had received intelligence that a device using his IP address was connected to the internet and contained indecent images of children that were available for sharing.

A computer tower, laptops, hard drives, USB sticks and other electronic items were recovered in the raid. An initial preview of the computer tower revealed 252 indecent images.

Fiscal depute Douglas Wiseman said: “The accused initially admitted to owning the computer equipment within his home but denied accessing any pornographic sites or accessing indecent images of children.

“It was then put to him that a police investigation revealed that 252 indecent images of children aged 6 to 14 had been found.

“He was asked of his knowledge of these and admitted to downloading the images. He confirmed that he was the only person who had access to the computer.

“He also confirmed that all the items taken from the property belonged to him.”

McAusland admitted charges of downloading, possessing and distributing indecent images of children between May 8 2011 and September 17 2013.

He also admitted possessing extreme pornography between July 29 and September 15 2013.

Sheriff Elizabeth Munro deferred sentence until August 29 for reports and released McAusland on bail.

She told him: “A custodial sentence is a distinct possibility.”

Ian Hewitt – Retford/Leeds

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July 2014

Pervert pleads guilty to making indecent images of children

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A Retford man has admitted possessing and making child abuse images

Ian Hewitt has pleaded guilty to nine counts of making indecent images of children

Hewitt, who used to work for a major supermarket studied Computing at Lincoln University but who now lives in Leeds appeared before Leeds crown court on the 21st July to admit his guilt. 

The case was adjourned, and Hewitt was allowed bail, until 12th August on which date he will be sentenced. A background report will be compiled on Hewitt by probation.

He must also sign the Sex Offender’s Register with immediate effect

 

Roger Lockwood – Hoddesdon

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May 2010

Warped Hoddesdon paedophile faces jail

A DEPRAVED paedophile from Hoddesdon who downloaded thousands of child sex abuse and bestiality images has been told that he faces jail.

Perverted Roger Lockwood, 43, pleaded guilty at St Albans crown court on Monday to possessing over 9,600 sickening images and 36 movies involving abuse.

Lockwood, of Bridle Close, admitted a total of 17 charges over the vile images.

They include seven charges of possession of child abuse images, including category A – the most serious category – category B and category C images.

He admitted another charge of possessing an image portraying sex with a dog.

Lockwood also admitted viewing internet adult porn in Hoddesdon, breaching a sexual offences prevention order imposed in 2010, Stevenage Magistrates’ Court heard

Carl Woolf, defending, said twisted Lockwood was of previous good character, but said he had been told that his offences “crossed the custody threshold.”

Judge Stephen Warner bailed Lockwood telling him the offences he had admitted were “serious.”

Michael Lockwood – Nelson

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March 2007

Jail for man who ‘groomed’ girl (12) over Internet

A 23-year-old Nelson man has been jailed for 3½ years after he groomed a 12-year-old girl on the Internet and travelled across the country for love trysts with her in hotel rooms.

Michael Lockwood swopped sex stories in chat rooms and text-messages with the under-age girl before booking hotels in Banbury, Oxfordshire, and Guildford, Surrey, where they met.

Judge Michael Addison, sentencing at Guildford Crown Court, reminded Lockwood how he had met the 12-year-old girl on the Internet and steered conversations to a sexual agenda: “You asked her for naked pictures and she sent them to you. She said she was in love with you and you said you loved her. By this time you knew she was just 12.”

In December, 2005, when he was 21 and she was 13, they arranged to meet and he booked a hotel room in Banbury where the pair kissed and cuddled but there was no sexual contact.

A month later, Lockwood, of Swaine Street, travelled 250 miles to meet the girl in a Guildford hotel where sexual activities took place.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told school friends about the relationship and Lockwood was arrested last July.

He admitted the offences of meeting a child following sexual grooming, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Mr Anthony Brigden (defending) told the court of his client’s remorse and how he was ashamed of himself.Referring to the lack of actual sex, he added: “He did not push the matter. He stopped when he could have gone further.”

Further to the jail term, Lockwood will be subjected to a sexual prevention order stopping him from associating with or befriending children, accessing child-related sites and contacting the victim. He will be put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

The judge told Lockwood: “You deliberately set up these meetings and booked these hotels in Banbury and Guildford. You knew perfectly well what you were doing with this relationship.”

Noting the girl’s active involvement in the relationship, he said: “Girls of this age must be protected from themselves.”

Kenneth Taylor – Melksham

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May 2004

Melksham paedophile jailed for abusing 11-year-old girl

Paedophile Kenneth Taylor has been jailed for five years after a court heard how he systematically abused an 11-year-old girl.

The 39-year-old pervert preyed on the youngster over a nine- month period, repeatedly carrying out sex attacks on the girl and on one occasion trying to rape her.

And when police raided his home they found a price list in his handwriting showing how much he would pay his young victim for carrying out sexual acts.

They also uncovered a cache of indecent pictures of the girl stored on his computer and camera phone, as well as other sick images downloaded from the internet.

Michael Longman, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court that the abuse came to light after the girl started to behave strangely at school one day.

The child then confided in a family member about what had been going on and family friend Taylor was arrested.

Mr Longman said that the youngster told police that as well as touching her and telling her what he would like to do to her he also took pictures of her with both his camera and mobile phone.

Taylor also used sex toys with her and offered her money to carry out sex acts and to pose for pictures for him.

Mr Longman said: “Among the items found were two notebooks and in one was written what appears to be text messages he has received from the girl.

“Most of them appear to be simply abuse from her to him. It was him writing out texts she sent to him. He accepted that.

“Another page had the title of the girl’s name followed by the words ‘points table’. This appears to tie in with the suggestion of payment for sexual favours.”

He said it started with the word ’1P touch B through C’ which he suggested stood for £1 for touching her breast through clothing and graduated through fees for him taking pictures, up to carrying out sex acts.

Taylor, of Mendip Close, Melksham, pleaded guilty to attempted rape, seven counts of indecent assault and nine of taking or making indecent images.

Mr Longman said that the offences, apart from the attempted rape, were specimen counts to represent the pattern of abuse.

Stephen Mooney, defending, said his client accepted that for the catalogue of abuse he faced a lengthy custodial sentence. He said: “There was never a question of a trial where the victim would have to give evidence. He bore the full responsibility for what happened.

“Some try to say ‘The child led me on’, there is no such thing in this case. He knows what he did was horribly and terribly wrong.

“He does know he has a problem, a very profound problem; one which needs to be addressed. He has no desire to be released from prison until that problem is addressed.”

He said as a result his client’s life had disintegrated. His wife had left him and he would forever live his life as a pariah.

Jailing him Judge John McNaught said: “It is a terrible series of offences. You are a man of good character but you are from now on a marked man.”

As well as the five years in prison he said he would have to serve a further three years on licence upon his release.

He told him: “I hope what happens to you in prison will rehabilitate you but if it doesn’t then I hope the time under licence in the community will.”

Taylor will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and has been banned from working with children.


Christopher Bishop – Heswall

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January 2005

Lecturer jailed for computer child abuse images

A UNIVERSITY lecturer who downloaded almost 2,500 indecent images of children has been jailed for a year.

Christopher Bishop, 52, has now resigned from his post as a senior lecturer in the biological earth sciences department of Liverpool’s John Moores University.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that police officers found the child porn images on two computers at his home in Wirral and on his computer at the university.

Bishop, of Milner Road, Heswall, pleaded guilty to one offence of making indecent photographs of children prior to March 10 last year.

Gordon Cole, prosecuting, told the court Bishop, a Doctor of Philosophy in electron microscopy, had downloaded 2,482 child porn images of very young children. He said Bishop, who is married, was arrested by Merseyside police officers involved in Operation Glendevon.

He came to their attention as he was found to have subscribed to a website operated by a company called Landslide and which is the subject of Operation Ore, a worldwide investigation launched in America.

One of his passwords was Kawasaki and he admitted he had a Kawasaki motorcycle and it had been a password he used to access the images.

Mr Cole said: “He accepted he was a regular visitor to websites which contained adult porn, but said he had never directly accessed child porn sites.”

The court heard Bishop’s desktop and laptop computers were seized from his home and from his office at the university’s Byrom Street site.

As well as the images found on the computers was a CD-ROM containing five video clips showing children, some playing and some dancing.

Nearly all the images were in the least serious category, the court heard, but nine were in the two most serious categories.

Mr Cole told the hearing: “Asked if he was responsible for putting images on his computers he said, ‘yes, I was’.”

The court heard Bishop said he had looked at the website out of curiosity, realised it was wrong and tried to delete the images.

Donal McGuire, defending, said Bishop, who has no previous convictions, was a hard-working family man and now has a much lower paid job.

Mr McGuire said: “He had established a successful career supported by his wife, daughter, family and friends. “His fall from grace could not be greater.”

Jailing Bishop for 12 months, Judge John Roberts ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years..

He told the court the images showed very young children, none of whom could be more than 13 years old and some as young as five or six.

Judge Roberts told Bishop: “The more people who are curious enough to access such images, the more material there will be and the longer the cycle of abuse suffered.”

Robert Christie – Aberdeen

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August 1997

Police officer with 21 years service jailed for five years after admitting catalogue of sexual abuse against a young girl

A SHAMED policeman wept in the dock of a High Court after he was jailed for five years for the ‘terrible’ sexual abuse of a young girl.

Lord Dawson told Robert Christie, 52, that he had to send him to prison in the interests of the public.

At the High Court in Edinburgh in 1997 Christie, a former Scots Guard who served in Grampian police for 21 years, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing the girl at addresses in Aberdeen, the first time in 1976 when she was 13

He continued preying on her for four years in a catalogue of abuse.

His crimes only came to light after the victim had become an adult and found a man she felt able to confide in.

Her boyfriend had become increasingly alarmed at the nightmares she suffered and the self-mutilation she was carrying out on herself

 

 

William Edwards – Perth

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July 1998

Child abuser, 69, jailed for three years

A 69-year-old man was jailed for three years yesterday for sex abuse dating back almost 20 years.

First offender William Edwards, from the Oakbank area of Perth, was given the maximum sentence after a jury had found him guilty.

Edwards systematically abused a neighbour’s daughter for 10 years after her sixth birthday.

Edwards, who is asthmatic and diabetic, showed no emotion as he was led off to start his sentence.

The former whisky warehouse transport manager was told his abuse had ruined the girl’s life.

Sheriff John McInnes said the victim, now 24, had suffered a nervous breakdown and dropped out of university.

He said: “You were a neighbour of the victim and you became a grandfather figure to her from soon after she moved next door

Clive Sheehan – Hednesford

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May 2001

Paedophile jailed for sex assaults

A MIDLAND paedophile has been jailed for four years for the long-term abuse of a child.

Clive Sheehan (33), of Hednesford, near Cannock, admitted to police he began to abuse thechild when she was just three.

Sheehan pleaded guilty to one charge of indecency with a child and four charges of indecent assault.

Three of the indecent assaults took place between 1988 and 1995 and the other related to an incident last year.

He was also told his name would be placed on the sex offenders’ register.

David/Ellen Parker – Wakefield

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May 2002

A BATTERED Wakefield boy who was the victim of the worst child abuse doctors had witnessed for 25 years has been rescued by a loving couple who have now adopted him

As the youngster enjoys a new lease of life, the couple have spoken about the cruel pair who left him close to death and how he is now coping.

We can also reveal that David and Ellen Parker, who were jailed on Tuesday at Leeds Crown Court to three years’ each for child cruelty, intend to launch an appeal against both their conviction and sentence.

The five-year-old boy is now thriving after starting a new life.

His proud new mum, in an exclusive interview with the newspaper that broke the story in March, said: “I’m pleased that they have been sentenced.

“I hate them for what they did to a little boy. He’s such a loving, gentle little boy. He didn’t deserve it. No child does.

“I want people to know he is fine. We have adopted him and he is a happy little boy now.”

The Parkers, of Hastings Grove, Portobello, who tried to adopt their victim, were jailed for neglecting the boy whose spine was fractured and tiny body was peppered with bruises.

They were not charged with assault and were convicted of child cruelty.

Their victim’s new mum, who knew the boy before he went to stay with the Parkers, was horrified when she saw him in hospital.

She said: “I was very shocked, hurt and angry. I’d say it was one big bruise from head to toe. I saw the photos he was completely covered even to the soles of his feet. I was very angry.”

But the toddler threw his arms around her neck.

“After that I didn’t want to let him go,” she added.

She said the youngster had gone through a terrible ordeal and suffered horrific nightmares.

“I just used to put my arm around him.

“He used to say ‘not hurt me again’ in his sleep. He never mentioned them when he woke up. I just gave him lots of cuddles and treats. I really spoilt him and I still do.”

The nightmares have stopped now and the boy giggles in his sleep.

Doctors are pleased with his progress and he has been restored to being a bubbly boy who enjoys playing football with his mates.

His mum said: “He isn’t talking about it now. I don’t think he thinks about what happened, nobody knows for certain, but I hope he doesn’t.

“We couldn’t wait to get the trial over with so we could start afresh and get on with our lives and bring him up.

“We have legally adopted him and really, really love him.”

Child protection committees in Wakefield and Leeds have pledged to carry out a serious case review into the Parker cruelty saga.

Kitty Ferris, head of children’s services who chairs of Wakefield Area Child Protection, said: “We will ensure that lessons from this complex and distressing case are learned.

“A number of issues in respect of the assessment of prospective adopters and the placement of children have been identified and we are amending our procedures in the light of these.”

The Parkers’ solicitors, The Wakefield Chambers, confirmed yesterday the couple have lodged a notice of appeal against their conviction and sentence.

Cruel foster couple begin prison sentences

A CRUEL couple who left a toddler at death’s door have begun three-year jail sentences after the worst case of child abuse doctors had seen in 25 years.

The Wakefield Express broke the news six weeks ago of how the three-year-old boy had his spine fractured, was left with a blood clot on his brain and was bruised from head to toe after being in the care of David and Ellen Parker.

The couple from Hastings Grove, Portobello, planned to adopt the boy but alarm bells started ringing when the youngster was rushed to hospital in January 2001, Leeds Crown Court heard.

This week Judge Peter Charlesworth passed sentence on them and said: “He came to you in October 2000 as a perfectly fit and healthy and lovely little boy but by the end of January he was reduced to being literally at death’s door.

“He was bruised from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. Over 33 bruises to the face, to the ears, inside his mouth, his arms, his body, his legs, his feet.

“He had been seriously assaulted. He had fractures on his hands, fractures on his feet where had almost certainly been stamped on, a brain injury consistent only with severe shaking and he had this terrible fracture to the spine where he had been banged down on a hard surface.

“He had suffered weight loss and dehydration and he had this dreadful state of frozen watchfulness waiting for the next injury to be inflicted upon him.”

The judge added: “This was the worst case of child abuse some doctors had seen for 25 years and had he not been taken to the hospital at the very last minute he would have died and you both say he did it to himself, that neither of you knew anything, did anything or saw anything.”

David Parker, 33, and his wife Ellen, 26, claimed the youngster had bumped into things but were found guilty in March of two charges of child cruelty. They neglected him and failed to get medical aid.

The court was told the boy remained in hospital for weeks but now was with a caring and loving family.

Paul Fleming, mitigating for Mrs Parker, urged the judge not to jail her because the couple also had a natural son who was born with severe brain damage and had a short life expectancy.

Dr Mohammed Dar told the court she was wonderful mother who had a sixth sense about her son’s problems. He predicted the boy’s life expectancy of five to ten years would be significantly reduced if someone else cared for him.

David Taylor, mitigating for Mr Parker, said his client was a quiet, unassuming and loving person who had once served in the Royal Signals. Parker was unable to explain how the boy they tried to adopt was injured. Both were of previous good character.

But Judge Charlesworth said their priorities seemed to have been with their natural son and as a result they neglected the other boy and were cruel to him.

He told Ellen Parker, who sobbed in the dock, and her husband: “It’s the boy that this case is about and the injury that you inflicted on him. It was not possible to say who did it and did what because you both say you know nothing and of course anyone who knows you cannot understand how you could have done such a thing, cannot understand how this boy became reduced to such an awful state.”

The judge said they were decent people underneath but it defied understanding why they had ignored the boy’s suffering.

He added: “I reduce the sentence because you are not going to be in a position to harm a child in the future. No child can be allowed to stay in your care unless possibly your son in the fullness of time.”

 

April 2002

Foster couple jailed for abuse

A foster couple have been jailed for a total of six years after abusing a three-year-old boy in their care.

David Parker, 33, and his 28-year-old wife Ellen, of Hastings Grove, Portobello, Wakefield, were sentenced to three years each at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday.

Judge Peter Charlesworth said it was “the worst case of child abuse that doctors had seen for 25 years”.

The couple were each convicted at a trial in March of two counts of child cruelty

March 2002

Cruel foster carers found guilty

A SOCIAL services probe has been launched following the conviction yesterday afternoon of a Wakefield foster couple after a child in their care suffered multiple injuries.

David and Ellen Parker, of Hastings Grove, Portobello, were found guilty of child cruelty after a jury heard how the boy was battered from head to toe.

The four-year-old youngster suffered a blood clot to his head, fractures to his spine, hand and foot, and was bruised all over his body, Leeds Crown Court was told.

Child protection officers have now launched an investigation after a jury of eight men and four women delievered their verdict. On the first count of cruelty to a child, David Alan Parker and Ellen Parker, were both found guilty by a unanimous verdict.

On the second count of cruelty to a child she again was unanimously found guilty and his was a majority guilty verdict of 10-2. Sentencing was adjourned for reports.

A police spokesman said after the verdict: “This is an appalling case of child cruelty, When we were first alerted to the boy’s suffering he had more than 30 bruises all over his body. Fortunately he has now found a happy home and is thriving.”

Judge Peter Charlesworth told them: “You both face a significant sentence of imprisonment for dreadful and persistent cruelty and neglect.” They were remanded in custody.

The prosecution said his injuries could have been caused by stamping and by him being smashed down on to a solid object.

The child protection committees for the Leeds and Wakefield areas are to carry out a Serious Case Review following the case.

Kitty Ferris, of the Wakefield Area Child Protection Committee, said: “We very much regret what happened and we have taken steps to learn the lessons from this particular case. Each agency involved with the family has carried out a full management review.”

Prosecutor Patrick Palmer said if the jury had been in the Parkers’ position they would have summoned help long before.

The Parkers claim they were unaware of the full extent of his injuries and said some of them may have been self-inflicted because the boy was clumsy and unsteady on his feet.

David Parker told the court how the boy kept bumping into things and falling down but he never cried or complained.

Ellen Parker, who broke down in tears giving evidence, said one of the injuries was caused when the boy walked into a lamppost.

 

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