September 2014

Brundall man downloaded indecent images of children

A man who downloaded more than 100 indecent images of children is to be given help he needs to stop him offending in the future.

Barry Watson, 57, was found by police to have downloaded the indecent images on his computer at his home in Highfield Avenue, Brundall, when they searched his address on December 13, last year, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Watson admitted downloading the images and was given a 24 month community order, which includes him attending an internet sex offenders treatment programme.

Recorder Maureen Baker accepted that Watson had only downloaded a small number, compared to the thousands of indecent images, which is sometimes the case, but said: “Images of this nature are treated as being extremely serious.”

She added that it was better that he received treatment to help him stop accessing such images in future and said: “Society is better protected by you being placed on an internet sex offender prevention programme.”

Recorder Baker also made Watson subject to a sexual offences prevention order under which his use of the internet is monitored, and he was also placed on the sex offender’s register.

Michael Clare, for Watson, said there were only a small number of images and he deserved credit for his guilty plea.

September 2014

Prison for Matlock Bath man who had sex with schoolgirl

A judge has warned a man who was sent down for having unprotected sex with a vulnerable 15–year–old girl that he will be regarded as a ‘nonce’ in prison.

The stark warning was given to Jordon Adam Spencer, of Dale Road, Matlock Bath, by Judge Stuart Rafferty QC in Derby Crown Court on Friday as he handed him a prison sentence.

The 19–year–old admitted to the offence of having sex with a girl under the age of 16.

Spencer had already been given a community order with supervision requirement for a charge of abduction after he met the same girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, at a park bench in May last year.

Despite the intervention of the courts, he continued the relationship with the girl, contacting her on August 13.

She was reported missing on the day in question and the police went to the defendant’s address.

Sarah Slater, prosecuting, said: “They found her inside along with two other people.”

Officers found the girl had been drinking and was concerned that Spencer was going to go to prison.

In interview, Spencer told police he had done nothing wrong except fall in love with a 15–year–old, adding that nothing would stop the relationship.

“He then admitted they had full vaginal intercourse and they did not use any contraception,” Miss Slater said.

“They were all drinking together, they were drinking lager and vodka and having cannabis.”

Sarah Brown, defending, said: “On the day of the offence he knew he was going to face a custodial sentence and his desire to see the complainant seems to have overridden anything else.”

She said Spencer regretted his behaviour.

“He says the relationship is over between him and the victim,” Miss Brown said.

She added that her client was hoping to gain some qualifications in prison to improve himself.

Judge Rafferty commented: “It’s all very well saying that you loved her – how did you treat her?

“Supposing she had fallen pregnant? You would now be in custody thinking you were the father of a child that nobody wants, including you.

“That’s pretty despicable, drunk or sober and I hope you feel some genuine shame.

“You have made yourself a registered sex offender and inside you will be regarded as a nonce and your life inside will be harder than it would be.”

Spencer was given 12 months in prison for sex with an under 16–year–old and a further three months for child abduction – a total of 15 months in prison.

September 2014

Devizes child abuse images pervert jailed

A man from Devizes has been jailed for making and distributing indecent images of children.

Thomas McKenzie Bassett was sentenced to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of a total of 12 offences at Salisbury Crown Court.

The 57-year-old from Devizes was found guilty of nine offences of making indecent photographs of children, two counts of possession of extreme pornographic images and one count of possession of an indecent photograph of a child between November 2011 and November 2012.

“Wiltshire Police treat every case involving the sexual exploitation of children extremely seriously,” said DC Keith Harford, from Melksham CID.

“Bassett was convicted of making and distributing indecent images of children and we always felt that a jail sentence was the only option given the serious nature of the crime.

“Anyone wishing to report a crime should contact Wiltshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously,” he added.

September 2014

Warehouse manager with history of child sex abuse images downloaded more

A warehouse manager downloaded indecent images of children in breach of a suspended sentence imposed for a similar previous offence.

James Launce, 34, admitted 14 counts of making photographs and videos of youngsters at Liskeard in Cornwall and Bridgwater in Somerset on dates between 2010 and 2014.

Rupert Taylor, for the defence, said Launce, who had a previous conviction for a similar matter, worked as a warehouse manager near his home in Somerset.

He said Launce has some mental health issues and had been seeing a therapist.

Judge Eric Salomonsen said Launce had already been offered a sex offenders’ programme that “clearly” had not worked and that he knew from the last time he had been in court what was likely to happen if he breached his suspended sentence.

Launce, whose address was given in court as Stawell, Bridgwater, was granted conditional bail to reside at his address and ordered to report to Bridgwater police station between 5pm and 6pm on Fridays.

He is due to appear before the court for sentence on October 10.

October 2004

CLEATOR MOOR pensioner who admitted molesting two young girls has been jailed for four years

William Cann, 65, of Dent Place, Cleator Moor, admitted eight sex offences against two children when he appeared in court earlier this year and on Friday was sent to prison.

They included indecent assault and gross indecency against his victims. Both were aged under 16.

Cann committed four sex offences against each of his victims, some dating back to 1995.

At an earlier court hearing, barrister Chris Stables, prosecuting, told Judge Paul Batty QC that the Crown Prosecution Service had agreed that four further alleged sex offences which Cann denied should be allowed to lie on file.

September 2014

Mersey paedophile victim: I fear other young boys were abused by my tormentor

A victim of jailed Merseyside paedophile John Bulger who was subjected to four years of abuse has broken his silence to encourage others who may have suffered to come forward.

Bulger, 74, was sent to prison last month for the sexual abuse of a boy whom he befriended as he was crying on the street.

The boy, now in his 30s, was only nine when loner Bulger took him under his wing when the young lad’s home life was in turmoil, living with his mum and a stepdad he couldn’t get on with.

He recalled the chilling way in which Bulger, who was then in his 40s, connived his way into his life.

He said: “I was outside crying on the kerb and he approached me. He made friends with my mum, befriended me and then I started going for my tea and even staying over.

“He would make me watch programmes like Tom Brown’s Schooldays and Oliver Twist and tell me stories about his days at school when he used to get flogged.”

The victim said canings were among the ways in which he was abused.

Bulger was convicted of eight counts of abuse of the boy, but the victim said he believed there were more who fell prey to him.

He added: “I saw him once years after, and he was holding another little boy’s hand as they walked down the street. I thought to myself should I stop but I couldn’t.”

The victim said his life had been ruined by Bulger’s abuse, and he had lived with his agonising secret until he was in his early 20s.

Although he confided in family then, it was more than another decade before he felt able to report Bulger’s crimes to police.

He sought help from mental health services and had been able to find the strength to face his abuser across a court room, giving the crucial evidence that saw Bulger jailed for four years and made to sign the sex offenders register.

He added: “I have been destroyed, I’ve lived my whole life with it. It has made having a relationship very difficult. It’s hard to trust anyone one. But I just want it out there, so hopefully other people will find the courage to come forward.”

Detective Sergeant Yoseph Al-Ramadhan, said: “The victim has shown tremendous courage in coming forward and reporting the abuse to police. It must have been extremely difficult for the victim to re-live this terrifying ordeal and I would like to reassure any victims of sexual abuse that we are here and ready to support you every step of the way. We have specially trained officers who will do everything possible in bringing offenders to justice.

“If anyone would like to report this type of crime, please call the Unity Team on 0151 777 3292 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”

September 2014

Junior football coach jailed after police raid discovered 6,500 child abuse pictures at his home

A pervert who worked as a college welfare officer and junior football coach has been jailed for downloading child abuse images.

Daniel Dawson 36, from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to 19 offences of possessing and making indecent images of children.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court today.

Dawson was also given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for 10 years and ordered to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for the same period.

Detectives raided Dawson’s home in April and seized computers and media storage devices that were examined by police technology experts.

A total of 1.5m images were recovered and a computer specialist sampled more than 15,000 of these images, identifying more than 6,500 indecent images of children aged six to 14 years old.

Cops also recovered evidence that Dawson had repeatedly searched the internet for indecent images of children.

Dawson’s offending came to light as a result of Operation Spade – an international investigation led by Canadian detectives into the activities of an online retailer based in Canada that was trading as a film distribution company.

The probe established that many of the films available through this company contained child abuse images.

When warrants were executed at the Canadian premises, customers from around the world were identified and cases passed to the relevant local police forces.

At the time, Dawson was working as a welfare officer at Glossop Dale Community College in Derbyshire and coached at Middleton Lads and Girls FC.

He was suspended from both roles immediately.

Dawson previously held similar positions in other schools across the region but police say no evidence was found to suggest Dawson committed any offences against the children he came into contact with.

Detective Constable Oliver Gilmartin said: “By no means is the viewing of this material a victimless crime.

“It is people like Dawson who download and view child pornography that creates the market for those who abuse children and seek to profit by selling these horrendous images.

“To that end, anyone who views these materials is propagating the abuse of vulnerable children.”

September 2014

Stourbridge nurse jailed for sex attacks on young patients

A Midland nurse has been jailed for sex attacks on two 15-year-old girls.

Michael Bednarski struck four years apart – first at a hospital in Liverpool and then at Russells Hall in Dudley.

The 30-year-old, of Amblecote, Stourbridge, was jailed for three years at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Walsh called the attacks “gratuitous” and a gross breach of trust.

“Confidence in the medical profession is absolutely paramount,” he said.

The court heard Bednarski was a student nurse when he carried out the Liverpool assault in 2008.

He covered his tracks, claiming he had carried out “legitimate medical procedure”.

But he struck again in 2012 while working as a qualified nursing assistant at Russells Hall.

His teenage victim raised the alarm after becoming concerned about the attention Bednarski was showing her.

Benjamin Close, prosecuting, said both victims had been badly affected by the attacks.

Bednarski, who walked into court on sticks, admitted two sexual assault charges.

He was told to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was also made the subject of a decade-long sexual offender protection order.

Gerry Bermingham, defending, admitted: “The stupidity of this boy at the time is mind-boggling.”

Bednarski had taken a long time to come to terms with what he’d done, but had issued an abject apology, added Mr Bermingham.

He added: “He is a man with complex and multiple problems.

“He is never going to work again in that field and he is never going to be a danger to anyone.”

Bednarski showed no emotion as he was led away to start his sentence.

September 2014

Man blackmailed young girls to send him naked pictures of themselves by threatening to reveal their secrets

A man blackmailed young teenage girls to send him naked photos of themselves by threatening to reveal their secrets if they refused.

Jordan Andrews, 21, set up a false Facebook account posing as a 16-year-old boy by using the photograph of a friend.

Using that Facebook account he contacted young teenage girls. He initially started with innocuous conversation before persuading them to send them photos of themselves naked.

Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, said that on December 15 last year Andrews, of Ffordd Lletty Shenkin, Aberdare, contacted a girl of 15.

Over the course of conversations, which become more sexual, Andrews told her he would like to see her naked.

He was so persistent and aggressive that she eventually agreed and sent him a photo of her in her underwear, the court heard.

“But that was not enough for the defendant,” said Mr Cobbe.

“He then used that to put more pressure on her to provide more images of her and that if she did not he would post the images on Facebook.”

The girl – who cannot be identified – was so scared of that and the disappointment her mother would feel that she did what he asked.

He then demanded she use Skype to film herself performing a sexual act on herself.

“He persisted until he got what he wanted,” said Mr Cobbe.

Police were eventually called but the man whose identity Andrews had used was initially arrested and interviewed.

Andrews was then traced through his compuiter’s IP address and it was then police discovered the teenager was not the only victim of his lies and persuasion.

He admitted exploiting and manipulating her and revealed further victims.

He said one girl had contacted him and and sent him photos but he had persuaded another to do a striptease by saying it would help with his depression and threatening to tell her boyfriend about the photos if she refused.

Mr Cobbe said: “He said that he built up their confidence and then struck. He said he got a kick out of it.

“He said that he had an unhealthy interest in porn involving young girls.”

He was also found with 440 images and 36 movies in all three categories of seriousness, the court heard.

Andrews admitted a total of nine counts including inciting a girl to carry out a sexual act on herself and pose naked and possessing indecent images of children.

Alexander Greenwood, defending, said Andrews – a college student with no previous convictions – was bright and articulate.

“The concern is how he could have such a misplaced moral compass to deem this acceptable,” he said.

Recorder of Cardiff Judge Eleri Rees sent Andrews to a young offender institution for two years.

He was made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order and will have to sign as a sex offender for 10 years.

He will also have to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

She told him: “A 15-year-old girl was induced to do this because of the lies you told about your identity and the threats you made. In effect you blackmailed her.”

September 2014

Bus driver jailed for abusing two young boys

A 75-YEAR-OLD bus driver who worked in Warrington has been jailed for two years for indecently assaulting two boys.

William French, of Heather Close, Birchwood, abused the victims who were aged between eight and 13 at the time.

The paedophile pleaded guilty to 21 counts of indecent assault against children, and was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday.

French, who has no previous convictions, was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Cheshire Police says the offences related to historical abuse.

DC Laura Smith said “Cheshire Police always treat these cases extremely seriously and we have officers who have been specially trained to deal with the difficult and sensitive nature of these investigations.

“I would always encourage anyone who has been a victim or has concerns about someone who they believe is a victim to come forward and speak to us.”

September 2014

Alvaston pervert found with almost 2,000 indecent images of boys

A “SAD loner” who “struggled to come to terms with his sexuality” was caught with almost 2,000 indecent images of underage boys on his computer.

When police arrested and questioned Darren Herd about the images he told them he had “an interest in naturism,” Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court was told.

The boys in the images were aged 13 to 15 and only one of them was the most serious category, magistrates were told.

Herd, 43, of Meadow Lane, Alvaston, pleaded guilty to five counts of making indecent images when he appeared at court last week.

Magistrates handed him a three-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered him to undertake 120 hours’ unpaid work.

He was also put under supervision for two years and must attend a community sex offenders’ programme.

Tim Smith, for Herd, told the hearing: “He is a man of 43 who has no previous convictions.

“In some way he is a bit of a sad loner who has never been in a relationship before.

“He has struggled to come to terms with his sexuality and his situation is that he is lonely.”

Lynne Manning, prosecuting, said police were called to Herd’s address in February this year and discovered more than 1,800 indecent images on his laptop.

All but 31 of them were the lowest category.

Mrs Manning said: “In interview the defendant told police he had an interest in naturism.

“He said he liked to see people in their natural state.”

Magistrates ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the images and ordered Herd to pay £85 costs and an £780 victim surcharge.

September 2014

RAF Lakenheath man admits making indecent images of children

A man from RAF Lakenheath accused of making indecent images of children has pleaded guilty to all nine charges against him.

Christopher Michael Gilland, 34, of Walnut Close, RAF Lakenheath, appeared at West Suffolk Magistrates Court in Bury today (September 23) charged with nine offences including six counts of making an indecent image of a child and two counts of possession of extreme pornography.

Gilland pleaded guilty to all the offences.

He was released on conditional bail until a confirmed date when he will appear at Ipswich Crown Court.

September 2014: Keith Miller now aged 37 will be released during the first week of October 2014. He will be under probation supervision until October 2020

November 2008

Rapist jailed for abusing schoolgirl

A MAN who raped a 15-year-old girl twice and sexually abused her has been jailed for 12 years.

Keith Miller, aged 31, of Winchester Way, Breightmet, would sneak into the girl’s bedroom at night and abuse her before leaving, a court heard.

He was found guilty of seven separate offences, including two of rape, three of sexual assault and two of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

He was cleared of one further count of sexual assault.

Bolton Crown Court heard that the offences took place over three years when the girl was between the ages of 15 and 18.

The court was told that Miller twice raped his victim between January, 2005, and January, 2006.

Miller was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

September 2014

Paedophile who raped and abused a girl of 5 is jailed for 18 years

A twisted paedophile has been jailed for 18 years for raping and abusing a girl of five.

Pervert Patrick Talbot subjected the victim to a series of vile attacks which a judge said had ruined her life.

He thought he had got away with his abuse for years, until he bumped into her at a bus-stop.

After seeing him the victim, by then 19, summoned the strength to report him.

Now Talbot, 34, is facing 18 years in jail after jurors convicted him of rape, attempted rape and three indecent assaults.

Newcastle Crown Court heard disturbing details of the attacks and Recorder Nicholas Lumley QC said: “You ruined an already fragile life. Nobody who heard it can forget her screaming out your name in the night.”

The court heard the victim was still suffering nightmares years later.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said: “She did say the nightmares were in relation to Paddy and that they felt like she was five again, but did not say what happened with Paddy.

“On one occasion when [the girl] was 17, she was upset as she had seen the defendant waiting for a bus and the sight of him had upset her.

“Some time after this she was using Facebook when she came across the defendant and a picture of him with two children. She again became upset but did not specify why.”

Last year she finally reported the attacks.

She said during the sex assaults, Talbot had punched her in the genital area.

And on the occasion he raped her she was screaming for her mum and Talbot put a pillow over her head as he carried out the attack.

As well as the prison sentence, Talbot, of Gainford, Allerdene, Gateshead, must sign the sex offenders’ register and was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order.

He continues to deny his guilt but was convicted of carrying out the offences following a trial in July.

September 2014

Flasher who targeted young girls is jailed

A PERVERT who terrified a schoolgirl in a park as she played with friends is behind bars and facing deportation.

Amur Alasnoni performed a sex act in front of the 12-year-old – before sitting beside her and touching her hand.

The lewd act happened in a Middlesbrough park after the schoolgirl and her pals had actually tried to help him.

The youngsters were concerned about his health as Alasnoni wobbled on his feet, held his head in his hands and shook.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the girls asked if the 21-year-old wanted an ambulance, and he said he did.

After dialling 999 and hearing the sirens approach Ayresome Gardens, two of the children ran to direct the crew.

As they did, failed asylum-seeker Alasnoni performed the sex act, prosecutor Jenny Haigh told the court yesterday (Tuesday, September 23).

He was put in the back of the ambulance by two female paramedics and continued to behave in a strange way.

“He persisted trying to undo his trousers, exposing his striped underwear,” said Miss Haigh.

David Lamb, mitigating, urged Judge George Moorhouse not to jail Alasnoni – who faces being deported to Egypt.

Mr Lamb said he had spent the equivalent of a 12-month sentence on remand since the incident on March 6.

“Perhaps enough money has been thrown at this man already by this country,” Mr Lamb told Judge Moorhouse.

“It is time to go back to his native country and reach his goals – to get married, have children of his own and live a good and productive life.”

Jailing him for 15 months, the judge told him: “If you are released from custody you will have to sign the sex offenders’ register.”

Alasnoni, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

September 2014

West Cumbrian man tried to groom schoolgirl in web chat-room

A man used an internet dating site to groom a schoolgirl – and ended up at the centre of a police sting.

Instead of being run by a young girl, the account was in fact set up by police officers carrying out an undercover operation.

John Briley, 30, of Portland Road, Salterbeck, Workington, appeared at Carlisle Crown Court.

Tim Evans, prosecuting, said Briley had been using the website Badoo on April 9 and had begun chatting to a user of the site.

“From the first contact, it was indicated that [the girl he was chatting to] was 14,” Mr Evans told the court.

“There was chatting over a number of hours on the first day of contact, and the defendant asked if she wanted to contact him via WhatsApp [an internet chat service which works across mobile phones].”

On the same day, Briley sent a message through the website offering the user a job with his business.

Mr Evans said Briley continued to make contact with the Badoo account on several other occasions over the next few months and the conversations soon took a sexual nature.

“He told her that people who generally chatted on Badoo expected sex and warned her – and the Crown do say this in inverted commas – ‘to be careful’.”

In other conversations Briley commented on the user’s attractiveness, and described various different sexual acts in graphic language.

He asked to meet her at a supermarket in Whitehaven on July 28 and drove to meet her there in his van.

“Police officers were waiting for him at the supermarket and he was arrested,” Mr Evans added.

He had previously pleaded guilty to a charge of going to a place and attempting to engage a child under 16 years old after grooming.

When interviewed, Briley claimed he had not intended for there to be any sexual activity between him and the girl.

Greg Hoare, defending, said: “He felt that probably once he had seen and realised the youth of the young lady he was expecting to meet, he would have gone back, but that is putting a high premium on self-control.”

Judge Peter Davies said: “I have no doubt and I do not suspect anyone else would have any doubt, looking at the emails and exchanges, that your purpose was sexual activity.”

He pointed out that Briley had been in custody since his arrest and guidelines meant the largest amount of extra jail time he could serve was around three months.

“That’s not going to do anybody any good at all,” the judge added.

He sentenced Briley to a three-year community order and ordered him to take part in programmes to help him deal with his behaviour.

Briley also had to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register and was made subject to a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

After the case, Temporary Superintendent Rob O’Connor said: “More and more children have access to social media sites and online chatrooms and often are unsupervised. While these sites can provide entertainment and a way for young people to chat to their friends, they can also cause problems. I would encourage all parents to become familiar with these sites and be aware of the potential risks associated with them.”

Anyone with any concerns can contact police on 101.

September 2014

Jailed: Man stopped downloading child abuse material only when police seized computer

A former Trowbridge man who told police a ‘spurious’ story about how he came to have images of children being raped on his computer has been jailed for 20 months.

Aaron Rayner, 27, claimed he had accidentally opened the pictures and movies when they were sent to him with adult pornography.

And Rayner said he removed them from the machine only for a virus to ‘recreate’ them shortly before the police raided his Trowbridge home.

But after his defence team took expert advice he changed his plea to admit downloading the vile material.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that police investigating people using peer to peer file sharing arrested him in April 2012.

When they searched his machine they found 2,418 pictures and movies of child abuse, some stored in files and folders with passwords including one labelled ‘paedo’.

He also hand thousands of cartoon images of children being abused as well as others of adults with animals.

When he was questioned he came up with the story about how the material came to be on his machine and denied downloading it.

But Rayner, now of Mackenders Close, Eccles, Aylesford, Kent, pleaded guilty to making and possessing indecent images of children as well as prohibited images and extreme pornography.

Marcus Davey, defending, said his client suffered from autistic spectrum order and dyspraxia, which may explain why he was slow to accept responsibility.

He said it was two years since his arrest and he had been depressed with the matters hanging over him for so long.

Judge Tim Mousley QC said: “The least said about the nature of the material the better.

“What is of greater importance in this case is the fact that you went on with this activity over a significant period of time and it was prolonged and it went on until your computer was seized by the police.

“Some might say your attitude towards the police on these allegations show a degree of arrogance.

“What is clear to me is you wanted to look at images of children being raped and you paid for and stored material that showed bestiality.

“Plainly you hoped to evade detection, investigation and prosecution.”

September 2014

Suspended sentence for sex assault

A pensioner who admitted sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl in a supermarket has walked free from court with a three month suspended jail term

At Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday, District Judge Mervyn Bates told 71-year-old Robert McComb that despite his last minute guilty plea: “I’m concerned about the lack of remorse and the lack of acceptance.”

Minutes before his young victim was due to give evidence against him McComb, from Daisy Hill Court in Banbridge, admitted sexually assaulting a female child under the age of 13 on 25 July last year.

A prosecution lawyer told the court that a week after the incident, the girl’s mother told police how her young daughter had been sexually assaulted in the middle of Asda supermarket in Portadown and the schoolgirl herself said a man had “slapped her bottom.”

The little girl gave police a description and after she pointed him out on CCTV footage, officers arrested McComb last September.

During police questioning, McComb denies touching the girl’s bottom, claiming that it may have been an “accidental brush.”

That claim however is not accepted by the prosecution whose lawyer said: “That’s certainly not how it appeared on the footage.”

The pensioner’s defence barrister revealed that although he has a clear criminal record, McComb has a previous police caution for a similar offence in December 2012 and that given his guilty plea, “he will leave this court with a permanent stain on his record.”

The lawyer submitted that a period on probation would “help him going forward and help the public” be protected but District Judge Bates disagreed, telling the court he believed “this is a matter which can only be dealt with by a custodial sentence.”

The three month term was suspended for three years and the pensioner ordered to pay £750 to his victim by way of compensation as “that’s the least that can be done to show some remorse,” District Judge Bates ordered McComb to sign the police sex offenders’ register for seven years.

In addition, the judge imposed a five year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, describing it as “an additional safeguard” which bars McComb from having unsupervised contact with children, loitering near child centred facilities, contacting his injured party and from being at a bus stop when schools are opening and closing.

September 2014: Damien Carr – Formerly of Colne, but now living ‘Brierfield’ continues to flash at females.

August 2009

Court rules Colne flasher is listed on Sex Offenders’ Register

A DRUNKEN flasher who invited two schoolgirls to commit a sex act on him has been put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.

Pennine magistrates heard how Damien Lee Carr, who also asked a 30-year-old mother: “Do you want some of this?” could not remember what he had done, but his victims were left shocked.

Carr (31), who struck outside his home on Hawley Street, Colne, admitted two counts of exposure. He was given a 12-month community order with supervision and must pay 150 compensation. The Bench made no order for costs. He had no previous convictions.

Chairman Mrs Anne Cheetham told him he obviously had a drink problem. She went on: “You really need to get yourself sorted out. It’s landed you in an awful lot of trouble.”

Mr Norman Wilcock (prosecuting) told the court two 15-year-old girls were going to visit a friend on Hawley Street between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on June 13th.

The defendant, who had his shorts around his ankles, shouted to them and exposed himself.

Carr invited the two girls to commit a sex act on him and they told him hey were only 12 and 10 hoping that would shock him into thinking they were very young, but it appeared to encourage him even more.

Mr Wilcock said the girls then went into the house and told their friend’s mother what had happened. She went out and was confronted by the defendant, who asked her: “Do you want some of this?” The victim felt upset, shocked and intimidated.

Police were called and when they arrived, the defendant was outside his house. He was arrested and said he did not remember much.

September 2014

Gym coach admits sexually abusing schoolboys

A GYMNASTICS coach and former teacher has been ordered to register as a sex offender after he finally admitted sexually abusing teenage boys over a period of two decades.

Bruce Gracie had pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to a total of 27 charges relating to four boys last month.

But at a further hearing his barrister Heidi Kubik asked for 15 of the charges, relating to three of the boys, to be put to him again.

The 67-year-old, of Kings Lane, Newton Regis, then entered guilty pleas to those offences, which it is said took place over a 22-year period between 1974 and 1996 in Chelmsford, North Warwickshire and Tamworth.

The first two offences occurred in Chelmsford in the mid-70s when Gracie, a gymnastics coach and PE teacher, indecently assaulted a boy who was under 14 at the time.

After then working at a school in Telford, Shropshire, where he was alleged to have abused another boy of a similar age in the late 70s, Gracie, who continues to deny those allegations, moved to a school in North Warwickshire.

While at that school in the early 90s he indecently assaulted a boy aged 13 to 15 on five occasions.

He also indecently assaulted another boy, aged under 16, at around the same time. But Gracie continues to deny six charges of having sexual intercourse with that boy from when he was 15.

Accepting Gracie’s pleas, prosecutor Graeme Simpson explained that in relation to those last allegations the boy ‘cannot be sure whether he was 15 or 16’ at the time the incidents began, but they were consensual.

At the time the age of consent for such acts was 18, but it was reduced to 16 in 1997.

And Mr Simpson said: “We take the view it is not in the public interest to continue with these.”

At Miss Kubik’s request, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Gracie, whom she ordered to register as a sex offender.

Gracie was granted bail with conditions that he has no contact with the four complainants and has no unsupervised contact with any child under the 18, including through social media, and co-operates with the probation service.