Quantcast
Channel: Author – The UK & Ireland Database
Viewing all 8959 articles
Browse latest View live

Michael Hopkins – Kingston

0
0

August 2013

Worcester Park paedophile Michael Hopkins found guilty of 11 sex assault charges

michael-hopkins

A Worcester Park man has been found guilty of sexually and indecently assaulting children.

Michael Hopkins, 63, of Church Road in Worcester Park, denied 19 counts of sexual and indecent assault against children as young as six-years-old at Kingston Crown Court during his month-long trial.

But a jury decided he was guilty of seven counts of sexual assault on children and four counts of indecent assault against four children last Wednesday.

During the trial jurors heard he was a heavy drinker and flirt who was hoping to “groom” children.

A video interview of one of the victims described Hopkins regularly “groping” her breasts and touching her “private bits”.

She also told the interviewer she had called Childline to report the abuse but the person had thought she was “taking the mick”.

The offences were carried out on children who all attend Kingston schools and were between six and 12 years in age between 2001 and 2010.

Hopkins will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on October 4.



John Lillis – Woking/Windsor/Weybridge

0
0

August 2013

Former teacher and choirmaster convicted of indecently assaulting young boys

A former teacher and choirmaster has been found guilty of attempted buggery and two counts of indecent assault against two boys.

John Lillis was convicted by the jury at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday (August 13). He had already pleaded guilty to four other counts of indecent assault between 1973 and 1982 at an earlier hearing.

Lillis, a teacher at St Dunstan’s Catholic Primary School in Woking at the time of the offences, was allowed to continue in his job at a Woking church 20 years after first admitting indecently assaulting the boys, the court heard.

The 63-year-old, now of Arthur Road, Windsor, was first confronted in 1989 about the offences.

Lillis was also choirmaster and organist for the twinned St Dunstan’s Catholic Church in Shaftesbury Road and at the famous St George’s College, in Weybridge, the court was told.

Lillis admitted to church bosses he had groomed and touched the two boys and assured them it would not happen again, the court heard.

He created a “veil of secrecy” and plied the victims with cigarettes, alcohol and sweets, the court heard.

The Department of Education placed him on a banned list and he was forced to resign as a teacher and choirmaster in 1989.

A letter of explanation written at the time by Lillis, which was never sent, played down what had happened.

“I am ashamed to say I was underplaying what happened,” revealed Lillis, when he gave evidence on Thursday (August 8). “I could not bring myself to write down the extent of what I had done.”

Despite resigning from his positions, Lillis continued to live in his church-subsidised property in Woking and returned to his post as choirmaster a year later.

He said: “The then parish priest invited me to resume as choirmaster which I did.”

He was rewarded with the rented house for the “good work he was doing in the church”, the court heard.

In 2003, someone came forward expressing concerns that Lillis was still involved with children through his “high-profile” position at St Dunstan’s Catholic Church and St George’s College, the court was told.

Two years passed before the church entered into a ‘contract’ with Lillis to stop him having contact with children. The victims were not part of the choir but children were no longer allowed to sing in the St Dunstan’s Catholic Church choir as a result.

Prosecutor Jennifer Gray said: “They saw that really as the church saying it was okay.”

In 2011, Lillis met with senior church officials and was instructed to leave his church house, resign as choirmaster and organist at St Dunstan’s Church and close down the choral society he ran because the person who had complained had become “angry” with how the situation had been handled.

A new safeguarding officer at the church ruled it was “not appropriate” for him to be involved.

Lillis was arrested in June 2012.

Miss Gray said: “It is a sad tale.

“As time went on he starting behaving more inappropriately with them [the boys]. Then he started touching them.

“He does not like to admit to exactly what he has done.”

A victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was singled out by Lillis as his “special friend”.

He added: “I think now how on earth did I let it happen. I felt trapped, he become obsessed with me.”

When quizzed about the charge of attempted buggery on Thursday (August 8), Lillis admitted to a sexually motivated act but denied ever trying to take it further and said he was “deeply ashamed”.

He said: “I did something I have never done before.

“It was a moment of madness, I realised it was a ridiculous situation for anybody to find themselves in.

“I cannot give a logical explanation to this.”

Lillis is on conditional bail and will be sentenced at the same court on September 6.


Paul Smithies – Chadderton

0
0

August 2013

Flasher shame of pervert in the park

A CHADDERTON man has pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent exposure — two of which involved girls aged 14 and 11. 

Paul Smithies (48) of Stockfield Mount pleased guilty before Bolton Magistrates to the offences which took place between May and July. 

The first was in Foxdenton Park when Smithies exposed himself to two 14-year-old girls. 

The second incident, also in Foxdenton Park, in July, involved an 11-year-old girl walking with a friend. 

The final incident happened on Broadway, when a 34-year-old woman was jogging towards Foxdenton Lane. 

Smithies appeared behind her and pulled the waist band of his shorts down to expose himself. 

Smithies will be sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court, on Monday, September 23.


Norman Abrahart – Redditch

0
0

August 2013

Court appearance on child image charges

A WYTHALL man is set to plead guilty to having more than 700 indecent pictures and videos of children.

Norman Abrahart of Three Oaks Road indicated he would enter a guilty plea when he appeared before Redditch magistrates today (Tuesday) ahead of a pre-sentence report hearing at the same court on September 4.

The 65-year-old was charged with five different counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child totalling 729 level one images, 15 level one videos and one level three image.


Adil Hoque – Manor park

0
0

April 2013

Manor Park man jailed over social media sex assaults

Manor Park man jailed over social media sex assaults

A detective has warned of the dangers of arranging to meet up with people they have previously only had contact with on social media after a man was jailed for the attempted rape and sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and a girl aged 17.

Adil Hoque targeted the “vulnerable” teenage girls using Twitter and Blackberry Messenger.

The 20-year-old of Sheringham Avenue, Manor Park, was sentenced to eight years in a young offenders institute at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, and given a further 18-month sentence to run concurrently.

He had been found guilty of attempted rape at a trial in October 2012 and further convicted on the sexual assault charge at a re-trial in March this year.

Hoque used Twitter to talk to a 17-year-old girl whom he then offered to drive to college on May 11, 2011.

He sexually assaulted her in his car before she escaped when Hoque was disturbed by a passer-by.

Later in the year Hoque struck again this time talking with a 14-year-old girl via Blackberry Messenger.

He met her on Romford Road in Manor Park, after phoning the school pretending to be her uncle.

Hoque then took her home and tried to rape her.

Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw, of Sapphire, the police unit tackling rape and sexual assault, said: “He deliberately targeted vulnerable girls. It also highlights the dangers of meeting people you don’t know having had contact with them only via social media.”


Paul Beattie – Washington

0
0

August 2013

Paedophile Posted Abuse Images Using The Name ‘Vlad The Impaler’

face

A pervert distributed sickening images of child abuse using the name Vlad the Impaler on the Facebook social networking site.

Paul Beattie exchanged illegal pictures of children as young as eight being forced into sexual activity after becoming “fascinated” by the harrowing images. 

When police raided his home in October last year they found an illegal movie clip on his mobile phone and a total of 72 images, many of which had been deleted, on his computer. 

The 31-year-old confessed he had set up a Facebook account in the name of Vlad the Impaler, a medieval Romanian prince who butchered tens of thousands of victims and was the inspiration behind the Dracula legend.

Prosecutor Paul Rowland told the court: “He had, in fact, distributed four images by means of a Facebook account. 

“It was an account in the name of Vlad the Impaler. 

“He said on Facebook you got certain people who would want to swap e-mails.  You would get an e-mail with a list of other people it had been sent to, like a chain letter, and he said he would basically forward it on to whoever was on the list. 

“He indicated some of the images he was in possession of had come from others, through e-mails.”

Beattie told police that a 16-year-old girl he met through the Facebook site had visited him at his home where he took photographs of her topless and in underwear. 

He faced no charges in relation to that meeting. 

Beattie, of Lumley Close, Oxclose, Washington, admitted distributing, making and possessing indecent photographs of children. 

During the sentence hearing yesterday Judge Brian Forster QC viewed some of the child abuse images the police had found. 

The judge said: “The images I have been able to view are appalling, images involving sexual exploitation of children. 

“The images concern children believed to be as young as eight or ten.” 

The judge sentenced Beattie to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with supervision and programme requirements. 

Beattie must abide by the requirements of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and sign the sex offenders’ register, both for ten years. 

Judge Forster said the images were serious but the actual numbers of them were low. 

He told Beattie: “I take the view it is in your interest and the public interest the inevitable sentence of imprisonment is suspended so there can be active work with you, so in future you live a law abiding life.” 

Alec Burns, defending, said Beattie started using Facebook because he was “bored and lonely.”

Mr Burns said: “He had no control over what was sent to him. He didn’t think about it, he sent images on, it was a single click to do so. 

“He accepts, while it would not have been his personal choice of porn, he was fascinated by it. 

“He knew all along it was wrong.  He did think about going for help, he did not really know who to go to, he was too embarrassed to speak to his GP. 

“He is a man who, having realised what he was doing was wrong, would accept any help he is offered.”


Brian Hills-Rolfe – Everton/Lymington

0
0

August 2013

Pensioner jailed for downloading child abuse images

Brian Hills-Rolfe

A PENSIONER who downloaded indecent images of children as young as one has been jailed for six months.

Brian Hills-Rolfe, 66, of Milford Road, Everton, was caught with more than 150 indecent photographs of children and a number of videos on his computer.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard that police searched Hills-Rolfe’s house in October last year after they received intelligence that a computer linked to his address had been used to access the images.

Hills-Rolfe pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to 13 counts of making indecent images of children.

Prosecutor David Reid said a number of the pictures and videos were some of the most serious and involved children aged between one and 10.

Some also involved adults sexually assaulting children.

Rebecca Austin, mitigating, said: “He feels guilt, regret and deep shame.”

Sentencing Hills-Rolfe, Judge John Harrow described the business of passing on indecent images of children as “a vile trade”.

“You downloaded these, you deliberately searched for them and you accessed them on a number of occasions.”

He jailed Hills-Rolfe for six months on each offence to run concurrently and said he would have to sign on to the sex offenders register.


Samuel Robbins – Leamington/Warwick

0
0

August 2013

Family’s angry reaction after attacker is given six months for hitting baby

Family’s angry reaction after attacker is given six months for hitting baby

The family of a baby who suffered ‘distressing injuries’ when he was attacked by a young man have described the prison sentence given to the offender as ‘abysmal’.

At Warwick Crown Court last week, Samuel Robbins (pictured), 21, of Fallow Hill, Leamington, was sentenced to two-and-a half years for three offences of which one of child cruelty accounted for six months of the consecutive term.

But the baby’s great grandfather and legal guardian, who has not been named for the purpose of protecting the child’s identity, said: “With good behaviour that comes to three months which for me means he has got away with it.

“It’s an abysmal sentence – he probably would have gotten more if he had kicked a dog.

“The disruption we have had as a family over the last three years has been very difficult and in the end all he has got is a slap on the wrist.”

Robbins had denied the charge of cruelty but he was found guilty by a jury following a trial last month.

He had also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of assault and was also convicted of robbery following an earlier trial.

Robbins was in the dock with his brother Reece, 20, also of Fallow Hill and Ashley Owen, 21, from St Albans, who were jailed for their parts in the robbery for which they were also found guilty.

And Jamie Debney, 22, of Willes Road, Leamington and Craig Herlihy, 20, of Tachbrook Road, Leamington, were sentenced to six months in jail suspended for 12 months for the assault charge, which they had admitted.

The jury heard that in May 2010, Robbins, who was living in Warwick at the time, was looking after a six-month-old baby while its mother, who also lived in Warwick, was out.

Prosecutor Matthew Barnes said Robbins assaulted the child in a temper, causing very unpleasant facial injuries including severe bruising to both cheeks and a torn upper frenulum – the membrane between the upper lip and the gum.

It came to light when Robbins called 999 saying that the baby was bleeding from his mouth, his eyes were rolling and he was floppy.

But Robbins, who told an emergency services operator he had been asleep with the baby and had caught him in the face accidently, was reluctant to take him to hospital.

When he finally did so the boy was seen by a consultant paediatrician who was later told of Robbin’s explanation and how the injuries were caused.

And Mr Barnes told the jury: “The doctor’s opinion is that that was unlikely because the bruising to both cheeks was bilateral, yet there was no injury to the nose.”

Following an adjournment for all the defendants to appear in court together, Mr Barnes said that in March 2011 while Robbins was on bail, he, Debney and Herlihy were involved in an assault on a young man at an address in Leamington after they had been told their victim had sexually assaulted a girl one of them knew and they decided to take the law into their own hands.

And in April Robbins, his brother and Owen robbed Christopher Howes in a remote and dark cut-through, kicking and punching their victim and stealing £150 from his wallet.

Robbins was given six-months for child cruelty, six months for assault and 18 months for the robbery,

Describing the child cruelty as an ‘isolated incident’, Recorder Marcus Tregilgas-Davey told Robbins: “The photographs are distressing. The baby was defenceless in your sole charge and you did not have the sense of duty or moral conviction to plead guilty.”



Kenneth Knowles – Salford

0
0

August 2013

Salford man jailed after raping 13-year-old in her own home

GUILTY-knowles

A man who raped a 13-year-old girl in her own home has been jailed.

Kenneth Knowles, 29, of Kitchener Avenue, Cadishead, woke up the girl in the middle of the night and attacked her after getting into the house earlier in the evening.

He was sentenced to 13 years in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life after a trial at Manchester Minshull Street crown court.

Knowles entered their house in Irlam without their knowledge in the early hours of October 1, 2011.

He began sleeping on the sofa, before sneaking into the girl’s room and raping her.

Detective Constable Nicola Wood, of GMP’s serious sexual offences unit, said: “A girl of just 13 years old was sleeping soundly in her bed at home when Knowles entered her address without her knowledge and raped her. This appalling crime and the impact it has had on the victim is incomprehensible to contemplate.

“Knowles refused to admit his guilt so I must credit her unwavering bravery in supporting the prosecution that has today seen a dangerous sex offender jailed.”


Cameron Cleland – Bradford

0
0

August 2013

Life for infatuated 16 year old schoolboy who tried to murder girl, aged 12

cam

An infatuated 16-year-old schoolboy tried to murder a 12-year-old girl when she rejected his advances, a court heard.

Cameron Cleland stabbed the girl in the throat with a penknife and attempted to strangle her after luring her to a meeting at a secluded place.

Cold-blooded Cleland, 16, searched the internet for ways of killing his victim before deciding he would ‘gut her like a pig’.

The victim was saved when Cleland was disturbed by a dog walker as he sat astride her with his hand round her throat.

Bradford Crown Court heard that he later told psychological experts he blamed the girl for his plight and it would have been worth going to prison for the rest of his days if he had succeeded in killing her.

Sentencing him to life detention, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, told Cleland his response to the girl’s “understandable rejection” was chilling.

Judge Durham Hall said: “You decided to punish her. You considered raping her but discounted that as an inadequate punishment. Over a period of time you planned to kill her. You wanted to kill her, to take her life at the age of 12.”

The judge said Cleland had rehearsed killing the girl in his bedroom mirror and had referred to the act as “gutting a pig”.

Judge Durham Hall added: “The degree of risk you pose of causing the most serious harm, if not death, at this moment, is overwhelming.”

The court heard the attack took place on April 21 this year, at a secluded location in Ben RhyddingIlkley.

Cleland, whose parents were in court, yesterday pleaded guilty to attempted murder.

Prosecutor Michael Smith said the defendant was infatuated with the girl and arranged to meet her at a secluded location, where he tried to kill her.

Mr Smith told the court: “He was wearing surgical gloves and had a knife, which he used to stab her in the throat. He also strangled her, causing her to feel dizzy and black out. The attack only came to an end because the defendant was disturbed by a passer-by.”

Mr Smith said the girl had been aware for some time that the defendant was infatuated with her. He would stare at her on school train journeys and on one occasion she became aware of him videoing her on his mobile phone.

They talked occasionally, but much of the contact was by text messages.

Mr Smith said the defendant told the girl he was interested in her but she told him she did not share his feelings.

The court heard that last October Cleland contacted the confidential child counselling service Childline and confided that he liked an 11-year-old girl and said he thought it was “a bit weird.”

He contacted the charity later and said he was worried because he wanted to do illegal things to the girl. He said he wanted to rape her and said he would do it in the summer after exams.

Mr Smith said Cleland accessed material about rape and murder on his computer.

A month before the incident, his text messages became more emotional, but the girl replied that she did not want to meet him and told him to leave her alone. He threatened to kill himself if she did not agree to meet.

Mr Smith said there were 130 texts between them and the girl eventually agreed to meet him on the Sunday morning, April 21. He asked her not to tell anyone about the meeting.

Mr Smith said: “She saw the defendant walking towards her. She describes herself as freaking out. His hoodie was up and she couldn’t see his face clearly. His hands were in his pockets.

“She backed away. The defendant told her she looked beautiful and asked her to go down a drive to talk. When she refused, he stepped towards her and asked ‘am I scaring you?’ “She saw he was wearing white gloves, as the doctors wear on TV. He knocked her to the ground and brought out a red pen knife.”

Mr Smith said that as Cleland brought the knife towards her she grabbed his hand and resisted. He tried to cover her mouth but she clawed at him and tried to poke his eyes.

The defendant said: “I am going to have to kill you.” He went for her neck and throat with the knife but it was blunt, and he then tried to strangle her.

She managed to fight off the defendant and run a short distance but he caught her and knocked her to the ground again, got on top of her, tried to stab her and strangle her with one hand round her throat.

The attack ended when he was disturbed by a dogwalker, Angela Heap.

Cleland walked off and Mrs Heap went to the aid of the girl, who was ashen and like jelly. She was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

The girl suffered superficial wounds to her upper chest and hands, cuts and grazes to her back and body, and bruising to her eyes and red marks to her neck consistent with strangulation.

Cleland was arrested near the A65 in Burley-in-Wharfedale. He indicated he had a knife, which was seized and found to have the girl’s blood on it.

He admitted trying to kill her and took officers to the scene, but made no comment in interview.

Mr Smith said Cleland had no previous convictions but was given a police caution in 2010 for common assault, when he punched another schoolboy, causing a bloody nose and split lip, who had called him a pervert.

A victim impact statement from the family said it had taken the girl a couple weeks to return to school but she had taken her first exam ten days later. She had felt self conscious and uncomfortable about people staring at her after the attack, and had been to a counsellor.

Cleland’s barrister, Nick Johnson, admitted there were some “chilling” features about the case.

Mr Johnson said: “For someone so young to form this plan to murder with such detachment, and then attempt to carry it out with lack of empathy, will deeply disturb the court.”

But he said the plan to murder was an adolescent one involving the use of a blunt penknife, and was elementary and naive.

The injuries were mainly superficial and the girl had returned to school.

Cleland had made impressive academic progress and was predicted to get A-star GCSEs. He was described by his head teacher as a highly intelligent pupil, though “slightly geeky,” and was a keen rower.

Judge Durham Hall said he had read reports by a psychiatrist and a psychologist and said the defendant had spoken to them with a degree of candour that chilled to the core.

The judge said Cleland had been obsessed to an unhealthy degree with the 12-year-old, who had rebuffed and rejected him.

He said Cleland was highly intelligent, had real ability and was the son of a highly respected family.

But he told him: “You armed yourself with a knife and surgical gloves. You lured her on a pretext. You bombarded her with texts, threatening to kill yourself if she did not meet with you. You lured her to a quiet country spot and you attacked her without any hesitation, or pause, without provocation or warning.

“You threatened her with rape to heighten an ordeal already beyond comprehension by any normal person.

“You were telling her to be quiet and submit to her death.”

Judge Durham Hall said the girl was saved by the wholly coincidental appearance of Mrs Heap.

“Her appearance was nothing short of a miracle,” he said The judge said no-one thought the defendant was capable of such a “cold-blooded and cold-hearted” decision and act.

He said Cleland was not mentally ill or autistic, but could be in the early stages of some form of psychopathic condition. “There is something profoundly wrong at the moment with your personality and perception.”

Cleland remained impassive in the dock as sentence was passed on him.

Judge Durham Hall said Cleland had told the experts he regretted he did not kill the girl, he was unrepentant and had no remorse or feeling for the girl or her family. He added: “Anyone who does this in these circumstances poses the most immense risk.”

The judge set a minimum tariff of seven years before the Parole Board could consider whether Cleland was safe to be released.

But he added: “I make it absolutely clear, the indications are that the Parole Board will have to examine you for many, many years before you are safe to be released.”

Judge Durham Hall also made a restraining order to protect the victim from the defendant.

And, ordering that 16-year-old Cleland could be named, the judge said: “I cannot, and will not, prevent the press from identifying the defendant.”

Cleland pleaded not guilty to committing attempted murder with intent to commit a sexual offence, and having an offensive weapon, a Swiss army knife, and those charges were left on the court file.


David Spencer – Leatherhead

0
0

August 2013

Leatherhead man pleads guilty to 16 offences relating to child abuse imagery

A man has pleaded guilty to 16 offences relating to making, possessing and distributing images of children being sexually abused.

David Spencer, 40, of Bookham Court, Church Road, Leatherhead, pleaded guilty to the charges at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, August 9.

He was charged with 10 counts of making indecent photographs or pseudo images of a child, one count of possession of extreme pornographic images of a child, one count of possession of prohibited images of a child, and four counts of distributing indecent photographs or pseudo images of a child.

All the offences took place in Leatherhead in March this year.

The extreme pornographic images Spencer possessed included one depicting sexual intercourse with a dog. 

Spencer will be sentenced at the crown court next month.


Dean Dobson – Hull

0
0

October 2007

Man Who Preyed On Young Girls Gets Jail Term Reduced

A Sexual predator who posed as a police officer to gain the trust of young girls has had the minimum number of years he must spend behind bars cut.

Dean Dobson, 37, of Wisteria Way, east Hull, toured the streets of the city preying on young girls over a period of two years.

He posed as a police officer on three occasions, targeting five girls aged nine to 13.

Judge Tom Cracknell described Dobson as a devious, manipulative and dangerous paedophile


Andrew Grant – Bransholme

0
0

October 2007

Man’s Child abuse images Shame Nets Him 15-Month Jail Term

A man who had more than 65,000 indecent images of children as young as two on his computer has been jailed for 15 months.

Andrew Stuart Grant, of Cadeleigh Close, Bransholme, pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to 12 counts of possessing indecent images of children.


Gerry Hutchings – Lyndhurst/New Forest

0
0

May 2008

Former police chief jailed for making boys drop their trousers

police (1)

A DISGRACED former Hampshire police chief has today been jailed for a series of humiliating acts on young boys.

Gerry Hutchings, 48, a former police inspector in the New Forest, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for making teenage boys drop their trousers while he was reprimanding them.

Brighton Crown Court, sitting at Brighton Magistrates’ Court, heard how Hutchings had 11 victims who he made strip naked and on some occasions touch their toes while he looked on.

Ten of the incidents, which left his victims “embarrassed and frightened”, took place in Lyndhurst where he was an inspector for 13 years.

Hutchings was also given an ASBO which will come into force when his sentence is completed.

Judge Cedrick Joseph said Hutchings would serve eight months before being released but would be banned from working unsupervised with children under 18.

Deputy chief constable Ian Readhead who was at court for the hearing said after sentence: “Mr Hutchings’ abhorrent actions as an inspector are a disgrace to the uniform worn by all law-abiding police officers.

“His behaviour is totally untypical of those serving with Hampshire constabulary and falls far short of the high standards we exact from our staff.

“I have personally visited the victims at their homes to apologise on behalf of the constabulary for this officer’s actions, “As a police service we are committed to ensuring Hampshire and the Isle of Wight remain safe places to live.

“That commitment extends to police stations where members of the public have a right to feel especially secure.”

The incidents took place between July 2006 and July 2007.

As a result of the investigations Hutchings was subjected to a fast track disciplinary hearing where he was dismissed with immediate effect in August last year by Chief Constable Paul Kernaghan.

Prosecutors offered no evidence against ten further allegations of sexual offence and Judge Jospeh officially recorded a not guilty verdict.

A spokesman for CPS said the discussion had been taken because there was no realistic hope of a successful prosecution.

District Crown prosecutor Tim Thompson said: “The police and CPS have worked closely to uncover the facts surrounding the serious allegations.

“As a result of this investigation we accepted Mr Hutchings’ pleas on the basis that he conceded his actions were a misuse of power and that he enjoyed this misuse of power over young men in custody.

“Once we accepted the plea we decided there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction in relation to sexual offences charges and discontinued those charges.

“I have written personally to all the victims involved in this matter.

“I hope they will be pleased with the resolution of the case and that Mr Hutchings has admitted his behaviour and has been sentenced accordingly.”

Hutchings had worked in most areas of the county during his career with Hampshire police.

He had previously held positions in Totton, where he spent two years, and five in both Portsmouth and Basingstoke where he was promoted to sergeant.

In 1994 he moved to Havant and was appointed inspector, serving in Waterlooville, Winchester police headquarters, two years in Yateley and one year in Aldershot.

He then moved to the New Forest where he was posted to Lymington, Ringwood and then Lyndhurst.

Born in Southampton where his father was an insurance manager, at the age of ten Hutchings and his family emigrated to South Africa where he finished his education before working as a housemaster in children’s homes.

Hutchings and his family returned to the UK in the 1970s and he joined Hampshire police.


Andrew Morton – Newton Aycliffe/Blackhall/Hull

0
0

August 2013

Repeat rapist, deemed a threat to young teens, jailed for 19 years at Durham Crown Court

Andrew

A CONVICTED rapist who struck shortly after his release from prison, targeting a young teenage girl, was today (Thursday August 15) jailed for 19 years.

Andrew John Morton was branded a “predatory paedophile” by the judge who imposed the extended sentence deeming him to be a threat to girls in their early teens.

The latest offences took place not long after Morton’s release, on licence, from a ten-year sentence imposed for five counts of rape, and one each of attempted rape and indecent assault , imposed at Teesside Crown Court in 2004.

Durham Crown Court heard that the 31-year-old “ingratiated” himself with his victim’s group of friends, claiming to be aged 19.

He raped the girl several times over a period of months last year, threatening her with violence if she resisted his advances or reported the events.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said in some cases Morton held her by the throat, squeezing her neck, overpowering her until she allowed him to perform various sex acts.

His actions only came to light when the girl was found crying in her bedroom by her mother, in February.

On being asked what was upsetting her, she revealed what had taken place.

Morton, now 32, previously of Newton Aycliffe and Blackhall, both in County Durham, but living recently in Hull, was arrested and denied the allegations.

He was charged with four counts of rape, one of sexual activity with a child and one of inciting a girl to take part in sexual activity, all of which he denied.

A jury returned unanimous ‘guilty’ verdicts on all seven charges following a three-day trial at the court in June.

Judge Christopher Prince adjourned warning Morton he faced a long period behind bars, either on a life or extended sentence.

Morton refused to leave his prison cell to be brought to court for today’s sentencing hearing.

Judge Prince, who said Morton was, “maybe too cowardly” to attend to learn his fate, decided to sentence him in his absence as the victim was at court with her family.

Jim Withyman, for Morton, said: “It would be inappropriate for me to mitigate on the facts of this case, given that the defendant had a trial and was found ‘guilty’.”

Under the terms of the extended sentence passed by Judge Prince, Morton can only be released if the Parole Board decide it’s safe to do so, and not until he has served at least two-thirds of the 19 years.

He will then be subject to six years’ extended licence, and must register as a sex offender for life.



Richard Carter – Bridport

0
0

August 2013

Jailed for child abuse offences

carter

A PAEDOPHILE told a 13-year-old girl he would kill himself in front of her if she didn’t have sex with him.

Richard Carter, of Court Orchard Road, Bridport, was jailed after admitting a string of offences, including sexual activity with a child and making indecent images.

Dorchester Crown Court heard how 59-year-old Carter had taken the girl to a secluded area of woods and assaulted her.

Prosecutor Jennie Rickman told the court that when interviewed, Carter said he was ‘in love’ with the victim and had even sent her a Valentine’s Day card.

She added: “He told her he loved her. He told her he would kill himself if she told anyone.

“He repeatedly told her that if she didn’t have sex with him he would kill himself in front of her.”

Images of the victim were found on Carter’s phone and indecent images of children and other extreme images were found by police on his laptop.

The court heard that Carter possessed images ranked from levels one to five – five being the most serious.

He also possessed extreme images rated at level seven, which did not involve children.

In total, Carter, who has been on incapacity benefits for 10 years, admitted 22 counts during two separate court appearances.

In mitigation, John Dyer said of the images found, Mr Dyer added: “This was a very sad and depressed man’s cry for help as opposed to some sort of organised and systematic abuse of children.”

Sentencing Carter to 66 months in total for all the offences, Judge Roger Jarvis told him he had ‘ruined’ the young girl’s life.

He added that she should know what happened was not her fault and that Carter had ‘manipulated and exploited her.’ He said: “You manipulated and exploited her for your own sexual pleasure. You have an unwholesome attraction to all sorts of sexual activity. Plain it is you have ruined this child’s life.”

He added: “You exploited her instinct to comply with someone so many years her senior.

“In my view she had no idea as to what it was she as consenting and what consent meant in the circumstances that went on between you and she.

“She has done nothing wrong, she is a victim.”


Mark Hynds – Falkirk

0
0

August 2013

Twisted sex offender jailed after subjecting Falkirk girl to 18-month ordeal

Twisted Mark Hynds was jailed after he put a young schoolgirl through an 18-month sex attack ordeal.

The youngster, who was only 12-years-old when the nightmare treatment began, was repeatedly subjected to evil Hynds’ abuse at addresses in Laurieston and Whitecross.

At Falkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday, he was told that the offences were so serious, prison was the only option.

Hynds (40), of 21 Stevenson Street, Grangemouth, was jailed for 18 months but he will be on licence for a further two years following his release.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Unemployed Mark Hynds was “extremely remorseful” about the ordeal he put his young victim through.

Defence solicitor Kevin Douglas told Falkirk Sheriff Court: “He has accepted his culpability in this matter and pled guilty at the earliest opportunity so the witness didn’t have to come to court.

“He would be prepared to comply with any supervision requirement but appreciates he may face custody.”

Hynds previously admitted carrying out lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the young girl between July 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011.

Sentence had previously been deferred for reports and after studying these, Sheriff John Mundy placed Hynds, 21 Stevenson Street, Grangemouth, on an extended sentence of three and a half years.

He said: “I have listened carefully to what has been said and read the social work report, and in light of the seriousness of the offences, it is my view that a custodial sentence has to be imposed.”

The sheriff said Hynds’ young victim had been “significantly” affected by her terrible ordeal.

He jailed Hynds for 18 months and he will be on licence for a further two years following his release. If he breaches the terms of his licence he could be returned to jail.


Philip Hawkins – Stepney

0
0

August 2013

Blind judge unable to view evidence in child abuse images case

A blind judge has adjourned sentence in a child abuse images case so that a fully sighted colleague can view the video in question.

John Lafferty, Britain’s first full-time blind circuit judge, was unable to rule on the severity of the images. Philip Hawkins, 63, of Stepney, could face up to four years in jail, depending on the outcome. At Snaresbrook crown court, Judge Lafferty told him: “I am happy to allow a judge who can more aptly see the video to pass  sentence and decide which category this falls into.”

Hawkins has convictions dating back to the Eighties for child abduction, taking indecent photos of children and sexual activity with a child, the court heard. He was found guilty of indecently assaulting an 11-year-old boy in a swimming pool five years ago and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register, with conditions including not viewing child abuse images.

However, he admitted breaching the conditions after police found a video on his computer in January featuring a woman and a boy having sex. Hawkins will be sentenced by another judge next month.


William Redhouse – Stokesley/Skipton/Abingdon

0
0

August 2013

North Yorkshire child abuser gets fives years after courageous victim informs authorities two decades on

william red

A CHILD abuser who got away with his crimes for almost two decades was yesterday jailed for five years after his victim plucked up the courage to report his sickening attacks.

William Redhouse was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life and was banned indefinitely from having unsupervised contact with females aged under under 18.

His perverted past emerged after his victim – who agonised for most of her life about revealing the secret – learned that he had married a teacher and was about to become a father.

She contacted the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and the police to tell them she had been indecently assaulted by Redhouse from the age of eight.

Redhouse, who has lived in Stokesley and Skipton, North Yorkshire, in the past, moved to Oxfordshire in 2007 to start a new life, and was arrested at his home in Abingdon last year.

His lawyer Lesley Goodman told Teesside Crown Court that the IT consultant struggled to cope with the divorce of his parents when he was a teenager and behaved badly.

Ms Goodman said he had few friends and spent hours alone in his bedroom playing computer games, was bullied at school and had “great difficulties” with stress and emotion.

She described Redhouse’s guilty pleas – which saved his victim having to relive her childhood ordeal in public by giving evidence – as ” a brave and courageous decision”.

“He is fully accepting of his guilt, and, in that sense, it reduces his risk of reoffending in the future,” said Ms Goodman. “The regret and remorse he has shown is genuine.”

Bespectacled and smartly-dressed Redhouse, of Campion Road, Abingdon, admitted seven charges of indecent assault and two of sexual assault at an earlier court hearing.

Judge George Moorhouse told him yesterday: “You are now married with a child, and, no doubt, the sentence I pass is going to have a material affect on them.

“You plead guilty at a very early stage and full credit will be given for that. Hitherto, you are a man of good character. It is clear you are a hard-working young man.”

The court heard how his victim ignored repeated pleas from former boyfriends to tell the authorities about her abusive past, and still has difficulty forming relationships.


George Walker – Carnforth/Bolton

0
0

August 2013

Pensioner admits sexual encounters with 14-year-old boy

A PENSIONER accused of grooming a young boy and abusing him over a five-year period has admitted in court they did have sexual encounters.

Former council gardener George Walker told a jury at Bolton Crown Court that he twice performed a sex act on a 14-year-old boy.

Giving evidence in his own defence, 70-year-old Walker, formerly of Sharples, Bolton, and now living at Sheernest, Holme, Carnforth, told how he and his wife, who worked as a childminder, had been married for 43 years but had no children.

Walker has admitted one charge of indecent assault but denies 20 further counts of indecent assault and three counts of buggery.

The case continues.


Viewing all 8959 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images