August 2013

Guilty of indecent assaults

A LLANELLI man has been convicted of a number of sexual offences.

Andrew Griffiths, aged 44, had stood trial at Swansea Crown Court.

The offences, of indecent assault and rape, took place in 1988 when his victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was aged under 16.

He had admitted two counts of indecent assault during the trial but was convicted unanimously by a jury of three further offences of indecent assault and another of rape.

Griffiths, of Station Road, Llanelli, had already admitted possessing indecent images.

Those images had been found after police searched his home while investigating the sex offences.

He pleaded guilty to possessing those images in April.

Griffiths was told by Judge Huw Davies he would be sentenced in the week beginning September 1.

August 2013

Beast freed to rape again

AN Oldham man described in court as a “glorified pimp” was released from a jail sentence for raping a 12-year-old girl — only to commit another violent rape. 

Andrew Moore (62) was jailed for 12 years by a judge at Manchester Crown Court for the assault and violent rape of a woman in January 2011. 

The court heard that Moore was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison in December, 1995, for the rape and indecent assault of a 12-year-old girl. 

At his latest sentencing, Judge Khokhar said he believed Moore had no remorse. 

Moore was sentenced to 12 years for rape, two years for serious bodily harm and 18 months for actual bodily harm, all to run concurrently with an extra three-year extended licence period. 

Moore met his latest victim through an advert she placed as a sex worker four years ago. They went on to have a two-year relationship and a child, now in care. 

The charges related to two incidents: Moore violently raped a woman at his home in Pellowe Road, Hathershaw in January 2011. 

There had been some consensual sex in the days leading up to the offence, but the victim was concerned after Moore had asked her to pretend to be a five-year-old girl. 

Moore had developed alcohol and drug problems and an abnormal sex drive; he kept a school uniform at his home and took photographs of the victim against her wishes. 

On the day of the rape, Moore insisted on sex but the victim refused. The court heard she was “rigid with fear” during the ordeal. 

The second incident, in February 2011, came about when Moore, acting as a “glorified pimp” drove the victim to two jobs in Droylsden and Dukinfield and left her without money to get home. 

She got home eventually and an argument broke out over their child. Moore violently assaulted her and attempted to strangle her before using a knife to cut her.

August 2013

Piano teacher jailed for 18 years for raping girl pupil

A paedophile piano teacher who acted out his sexual fetishes on a gifted young music pupil he systematically raped and abused has been jailed for 18 years.

Church organist Andrew Pearson, who hid his obsession with pornography from the world, began grooming the vulnerable child when she was eight and went on to molest her hundreds of times over four years.

Pearson, 37, of Bronte Old Road,Thornton, Bradford, stood impassively in the dock at Bradford Crown Court yesterday as the jury found him guilty of eight offences of child rape and six of sexual abuse.

He was cleared of one offence of sexual assault.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said Pearson was found guilty on “the most compelling evidence” in one of the worst cases of its kind.

In a victim statement read to the court, the girl said: “I just want to be able to forget, but I don’t think I will be able to do that.”

Pearson, an account manager for Yorkshire Water, was described in court as a talented musician, trained to Grade Seven standard. The judge said he had appeared to be of exemplary standing and character.

“Nobody knew that you have a deep seated and general obsession with the sexual activities of girls who were, or looked as though they were, under age,” he told him.

The jury heard that 74,000 pornographic images and 5,000 videos were found on Pearson’s computers.

Judge Durham Hall said they featured young women “engaged in a bewildering variety of activities at the hands of older men.”

Pearson had a fetish for soiled ladies underwear, the court was told. His estranged wife had found a pair of small pink knickers in his drawer and pornography on a memory stick.

Judge Durham Hall said the girl’s family trusted him.

“They were giving their child into the hands of a very predatory, manipulative and deceiving paedophile.

“It was protracted, detailed, repeated abuse on a little girl who could not and did not understand and was ashamed, terrified, afraid to complain, afraid of you,” the judge said.

Pearson showed her pornography to groom, seduce and corrupt her. He made her strip and abused her in the music room and bedroom.

“You clearly are a most wicked man,” Judge Durham Hall said.

The impact on Pearson’s victim was incalculable. She was scarred for life.

Pearson was given a 22-year extended sentence, with 18 years in jail with four on licence.

After the case, the girl’s family said: “We are grateful to the Crown Prosecution Service and the police for their help and support throughout this terrible time. We are relieved that these truly horrific crimes have been recognised.”

Officer in the case, PC Naomi Brown, said: “I would like to thank the victim for her bravery and courage in coming forward to report such heinous crimes. This sentence correctly reflects the seriousness of what Pearson did to this vulnerable child. I would encourage other victims of such crimes to come forward and report these offences.”

August 2013

Anglesey man, Robert O’Brien, 70, had child abuse images ‘compulsion’

A 70-year-old Anglesey pensioner who had 235,000 images of child sex abuse was “in the grip of a compulsion to collect them”, a court has heard.

Robert O’Brien from Benllech, admitted making and possessing indecent photographs of children and having 870 indecent videos of them.

He was bailed for a pre-sentence report at Caernarfon Crown Court.

Judge Philip Hughes said the court will be “considering all its options including a custodial sentence”.

James Conod, defending, said: “Mr O’Brien found himself in the grip of a compulsion to collect these images, that was his primary motivation.

“He is extremely ashamed and deeply sorry.”

August 2013

Liverpool pensioner behind bars after years of sickening child sex abuse

A Liverpool pensioner who subjected a seven-year-old girl to three years of sickening sexual abuse was jailed for nine years.

Colin Smith, 77, molested and raped his young victim in vile offences dating back four decades.

He was today behind bars as a judge told him: “Your past has caught up with you.”

Smith was earlier been convicted by a jury of 10 counts of indecent assault and one count of rape.

The court heard how the pervert was brought to justice after his victim, now in her late forties, summoned the courage to contact police last year.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, told Smith: “She felt ready to tell the police everything, wanted to let go of it and wished to see if anything could be done about it.

“Something could be done about it.”

Smith, of Elwyn Drive, Halewood, groomed the girl in the early 1970s when he was in his thirties.

The court heard he warned her that if she told her parents she would be sent to a “home for naughty children”.

Judge Aubrey said: “The dark secrets of your past which you, no doubt, had consigned to history have now caught up with you.

“But your past and those dark secrets never went away as far as your victim [is concerned].

“They haunted her for the whole of her life and continue so to do.”

The court heard how Smith suffers ill-health and would find prison “very difficult”.

His barrister, Trevor Parry Jones, said: “It may well be that the sentence will have the effect of a life sentence for him.”

Judge Aubrey said he would take Smith’s age and frailty into account but said he had left his victim with the “life sentence”.

He said: “In truth she is serving a life sentence in consequence of that which you did to her for your own sexual gratification.

“I am quite satisfied that she is a damaged person as a result of that which you did to her.”

August 2013

Guilty plea in 15-year-old girl rape case

A MALVERN man pleaded guilty to raping a 15-year-old girl on the day he was due to face trial by jury.

Cornelius Smith, aged 40, of Madresfield Road, was granted bail at Worcester Crown Court for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

His wife Sarah Smith, 39, pleaded guilty to child cruelty and was also granted bail.

Judge Patrick Thomas QC warned the husband that he was facing “a very significant prison sentence” when the case is dealt with on December 20.

Charges of sexual activity with a child and two assaults causing actual bodily harm were ordered to lie on the husband’s prosecution file.

Smith attacked the teenager between March 1 and March 31 2008.

August 2013

Paedophiles who carried out systematic sexual abuse jailed

Two paedophiles who destroyed their victims lives have been sentenced and imprisoned this week at Southampton crown court, after both pleading guilty at a earlier court appearance to multiple sex offence charges against young boys 

David challis, 52, (pictured above) of Southampton who is a former under 15s football club manager has been jailed for a total of 8 years for the systematic sexual abuse of several children. His convictions involve multiple offences of: sexual activity with a child, indecent assaults and taking or making indecent of images of children. His offences relate to several male children

Michael Watts, 34, (pictured above) who has lived in Southampton most of his life was employed as a cleaner at Sandy Balls holiday park in Fordingbridge, Hampshire was jailed for a total of 3 years for offences relating to sexual activity with a child. His offences relate to one male child

The court heard that vile Challis started abusing his first victim two decades ago. His victim was a young boy. His second victim was also a male child. That abuse was carried out between 2010 and last year. His third victim which was also the victim of Watts. the boy was aged between 13 and 15 years old and took place between 2010 and this year.

In a witness impact statement, the boy who was abused by both perverts said he had been left with depression, suicidal tendencies and the eating disorder of Bulimia. 

The first victim described how he had a break Down and even though he has moved on and has family of his own, he still struggles to deal with life in general and finds it hard to let people in. He says he bottles things up because he feels bad about his life and feels that he has let other victims down. He added, that no matter how long ago he was abused it has affected his life to this day. The final victim said that the abuse has left him feeling really Down and has lost his self confidence. He never wants to go out with mates and is worried about what other people think of him. He feels ashamed of himself 

It is believed that there may be more victims of Challis, that have not come forward

Both will be required to sign the sex offenders register when released from prison. Challis was also ordered by the judge to forfeit his computer and any indecent images for destruction

Challis’s convictions and sentence are below:

8 years imprisonment: count 10 (multiple counts of sexual assault with child under 13 years old)

3 years concurrent: count 2 (multiple counts of sexual activity with child) 

6 months concurrent: count 3 (indecent assault with male person)

16 months conconcurrent: count 4 (multiple indecent assault counts on male person)

3 years conconcurrent: (multiple indecent assault counts on male person)

3 years concurrent: count 11 (multiple counts of  sexual activity with child) 

3 years concurrent: count 13 (sexual activity child)

3 months concurrent: each count 15, 16, 17 & 20 (taking indecent photos of child)

9 months concurrent: each count 14, 18, 19, 21, 22 & 24 (taking indecent photos of child)

Total of 8 years with a 5 year extended licence

Michael Watts convictions and sentence are below:

3 years imprisonment count 26 (multiple sexual activity with child)

16 months concurrent (multiple sexual activity with a child)

Total 3 years

August 2013

Holbrooks doorman hit with £6k bill after being caught working without a licence

A doorman who was caught working in Coventry, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire without a licence has been landed with a huge court bill.

Matthew Corbett, of Gospel Oak Road, Holbrooks, Coventry, was ordered to pay court costs of nearly £6,000 and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work after investigators were tipped off that he wasn’t licensed to work.

The 29-year-old isn’t allowed to hold a licence because in 2009 he was sentenced for downloading more than 2,500 indecent images of children.

He escaped a prison sentence then after a judge decided that it would do him more harm than good. But in 2009 Corbett was still ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years and banned from working with children for ten years.

He has also worked the doors in Nuneaton, Sleaford and Skipton.

The Security Industry Authority’s head of investigation Nathan Salmon said: “This case is a clear example of how, due to previous convictions, an individual would not have passed the rigorous checks carried out by the SIA to work in the private security industry.

“Once the intelligence was received, SIA investigators moved quickly to ensure Mr Corbett worked at no future events. We are pleased that we were able to act on information we received and use our powers under the law to remove this individual from working in a licensable role; demonstrating our ongoing commitment to protecting the public”

Corbett was sentenced on August 14 at Coventry Magistrates Court for working without the correct licence.

As well as having to foot the huge bill for costs he was given a community order and told to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.

In 2009 at Coventry Crown Court Corbett pleaded guilty to five downloading offences, another charge causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and a seventh charge of arranging or facilitating to commit a child sex offence, after making contact with a young girl in an internet chatroom.

In 2009 Corbett admitted downloading a total of 2,627 images and 18 movies between November 1, 2007 and February 15, 2008. The images and movies ranged from level one to level five – with five being the most serious. at the time Corbett was handed a three-year community order, with a mental health treatment requirement, ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years and was disqualified from working with children. for 10 years. He was also banned from having a computer at home with internet access, being in possession of such a computer, or using the internet, apart from, with prior consent, when being used for education or employment

November 2004

Child porn man banned from computer use

A LEAMINGTON man has been banned from using a computer for four years after downloading hundreds of images of child porn.

Craig North, aged 25, of Radford Road, Leamington, was caught after leaving credit card details on an American website dedicated to providing indecent pictures of children.

He had stored 370 images on the hard drive of his home computer.

North was spared jail because most of the photographs were not of the most serious nature.

He pleaded guilty to nine charges of making indecent pictures of children.

He was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register.

Police officers swooped on his home in May last year as part of Operation Ore, a national purge on offenders carried out in the UK following information obtained in the US.

Yesterday, Coventry Crown Court was told North’s obsession had started when he was a college student in Bournemouth in 1999 and first used his credit card to obtain photographs.

His last download of images had been just days before police officers knocked on his door.

Judge Peter Ross said he must not use a computer, except for employment or education, for four years.

He said: “The public interest would be best served by putting you through a programme of treatment.”

August 2013

Hereford man guilty of raping child

A man who groomed a 12-year-old girl on the internet then raped her in a tent in his back garden has been jailed for nine years.

Thomas Leedham admitted child abduction and twice raping the young girl whom he arranged to meet after making contact on a social media site.

Police praised the young victim’s “bravery and courage” during their inquiries which had “undoubtedly saved other children being abused at the hands of Leedham”.

In a “calculated” act, the 19-year-old persuaded the girl to stay the night with him earlier this year before assaulting her, West Mercia Police said.

She was reported missing at 3.30pm on January 31, and found together in the tent with Leedham by officers the following morning.

Leedham, of Hunderton Road, Hereford, admitted a further count of assaulting a child under 13 by penetration and another charge of making an indecent picture of a child.

Jailing Leedham at Worcester Crown Court on Monday, his honour Judge Toby Hooper QC also ordered him to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely and also made him the subject of a sexual offences prevention order. He has also been banned from working with children or vulnerable people for life.

Det Con Jamie Bullock, who led the investigation, said: “We are satisfied that the sentence handed to him reflects the seriousness of his offending. This was a calculated crime on his side, the extent of which was evident in the way he groomed his young victim, who he specifically targeted after perceiving her to be vulnerable.

“On behalf of the investigation team, I would like to thank the victim for the bravery and courage she has shown throughout the investigation, which has undoubtedly saved other children being abused at the hands of Leedham.

“Thankfully, due to his lengthy sentence, he no longer poses a danger to youngsters and upon his release he will be closely managed by the police as a sex offender.”

Facebook picture of Leedham

August 2013

St George serial sex offender jailed for seven-and-a-half years

A serial sex offender who terrorised women in the St George area of Bristol has been jailed for seven and a half years.

Nigel Turner, of Bryants Hill, pleaded guilty at Bristol Crown Court earlier this month to three separate assaults on young women.

On his release from prison, Turner, 33, will spend an additional two and a half years on an extended licence.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

On sentencing Turner at Bristol Crown Court, Judge Neil Ford QC labelled him a “dangerous” offender who left young women at a “high risk” of being attacked.

Turner wore a black beanie hat and gloves during his attacks in the St George area of the city

“The fact remains you are unable to restrain yourself from committing these offences,” he added.

“You are assessed as a high risk of causing serious harm to young females in the future.”

The married engineer, who is still on good terms with his wife, touched his wedding ring but remained emotionless as the sentence was passed.

His victims quietly sobbed in the packed public gallery during the hearing.

Edward Burgess, representing Turner, read out a letter by him: “I wish to express my deepest apologies to my victims and their families.

“However, I am aware this apology can never make up for what my victims and their families have had to go through. I am deeply ashamed of what I have done.”

After the hearing, prosecutor James Ward said the sentence would now “keep the people of Bristol safe from further harm”.

The attacks happened in May and November last year.

On 11 May, he attacked a teenager, aged 16, as she walked home in St George. Wearing gloves and a balaclava he assaulted her before her friend pulled her free and they ran off.

He committed a similar offence on another 16-year-old later the same month. He was wearing a beanie hat and again gloves.

Six months later, on 28 November, he grabbed a 24-year-old woman, also in St George. He eventually ran off after being disturbed by a passing car.

After fleeing the scene and returning to his house nearby to dump his disguise, he returned from a different direction and offered to comfort the victim and walk her home.

‘Sexual gratification’

Nigel Turner was caught on CCTV returning to the scene of his final sex attack in November last year

In January, a member of Avon and Somerset Police’s specialist sexual assault unit, Operation Bluestone Team, spotted Turner standing in Furber Road and followed him home.

When police raided his house they discovered a large quantity of stolen women’s underwear and clothes matching those worn by the attacker. They also seized his mobile phone.

Speaking after sentencing, Det Insp Mike Buck said: “This particular series of sexual assaults left residents living in fear of Nigel Turner. He preyed on lone women for his own sexual gratification.

“He is a predator and I have no doubt if he was not caught he would have gone on to commit a more serious crime.

“The sentence handed to Turner reflects the serious nature of his crimes and I hope it sends out a clear message to all that we will bring offenders of sexual assault to justice.”

The Crown Prosecution Service called Turner a “significant threat to the public”.

Turner admitted sexual assault, causing someone to engage in sexual activity without their consent, common assault, theft and three counts of voyeurism at an earlier hearing.

October 2008

Milkman’s sex assault on teenage girl

A 43-YEAR-OLD milkman who molested a teenage girl has received a suspended jail term.

The 15-year-old victim of Stephen Burrow had been helping out at a business near Garstang where he was a customer.

Preston Crown Court prosecutor Judith McCullough told the court that the girl had gone outside during a break.

The defendant appeared in the doorway and the two began to “mess around” Miss McCullough said. He prevented her from going back in and held her hands behind her back.

Burrow then touched her breasts over her clothing and put his hand inside her bra, Miss McCullough told the court. As she tried to get away she grazed her elbow and injured her leg.

Other members of staff thought she seemed distressed and upset, Miss McCullough added. When Burrow was seen by police he initially insisted nothing had happened.

Burrow, formerly of Church Street, Churchtown, (but now of Catterall – 2013) pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault.

Christopher Hudson, defending, provided the court with what he called “glowing references from males and females who know the nature of the allegation”.

On the night he had gone outside for a cigarette, there was general banter and he had “lost his marbles”.

Judge Edward Slinger passed a six-month prison term, suspended for two years.

Burrow was told he would be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years. In addition, the judge ordered him to pay £1,000 compensation to his victim and £900 court costs.

“I hope it will be understood that you are guilty and there should be no suggestion you have not done it.

“You have thrown away what has been a good character,” stressed the judge.

August 2013

Paedophile jailed for abusing boys

A man has been jailed for four years for abusing two boys during the 1980s.

Paedophile Shane Thackeray (50) groomed and molested a 12-year-old boy, who was unable to cope in adult life because of what happened to him.

The victim later turned to drink, which led to his alcohol-related death last week, a court heard.

Thackeray also targeted an 11-year-old boy for similar mistreatment, after befriending his single mother.

The child quickly turned to drink and drugs because of the abuse and ended up with a criminal record, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Thackeray admitted six counts of indecently assaulting the 12-year-old, in 1988 and 1989.

He also pleaded guilty to twice indecently assaulting the 11-year-old, between January and August 1990.

The two victims, who did not know each other, were unable to tell anyone about the abuse, until building up the courage to inform the police recently. James Varley, prosecuting, said the defendant appeared to have a girlfriend at the time of the offences, so both victims’ families saw no immediate risk.

Thackeray was living in the Loughborough area when employed by the first victim’s father.

He befriended the 12-year-old, taking him on trips in a van.

Mr Varley said the defendant groomed the boy before carrying out sex acts.

He said: “The victim later became a very troubled man and turned to alcohol and that’s the reason he died recently.

“He’d turned to alcohol, not least because of the abuse he suffered.”

Thackeray befriended the second victim, from the Melton area.

When the 11-year-old played truant, Thackeray took him for a walk in fields and performed a sex act on him. On another occasion he made him lie face down on a mattress in a disused flat and simulated a serious sex act with him.

In a personal impact statement read out in court, the victim, now a father of two, said: “I was young, isolated and wanted a role model and father figure. Since then (the abuse) I turned to drinking, drugs and bad company, which led me into a life of crime.”

Thackeray moved to Selwyn Close, Baseford, Nottinghamshire, and committed serious sex acts on other young boys, later receiving separate jail sentences of four years and three-and-a-half years.

Balraj Bhatia, mitigating, said Thackeray was told of his victim’s death when he arrived at court that morning, and went across the road to a church to pray and light a candle.

Thackeray sought professional help from the Lucy Faithful Foundation following his release on licence in 2008 and “addressed his demons”, continuing with voluntary therapy. Mr Bhatia said: “He was already a repentant man before these disclosures.”

The defendant was also a former victim of child abuse while in the care system.

Judge Michael Pert QC said: “Your bad record is an aggravating feature.” He said Thackeray’s conduct had ruined the lives of his victims.

August 2013

Northfleet sex offender John Adam jailed after abusing young girl

A pervert who sexually abused a young girl has been jailed for two years.

John Adam, of London Road, Northfleet, was told by Judge Jeremy Carey that it was “without hesitation” that he deserved an immediate custodial sentence.

He added that the 58-year-old had “slobbered” over the youngster in a “truly disgusting” way.

“That offending will have an impact upon her,” Judge Carey continued.

“One doesn’t know how or to what extent but do not be under any illusion that an innocent child is unaware of the gross nature of that type of offending.”

Adam admitted sexual assault and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity when he appeared in front of North Kent magistrates’ earlier this year. He was committed to Maidstone Crown Court for sentencing.

Prosecutor Sarah Lindop told the court Adam molested the girl by kissing her on the mouth.

“He was moving his tongue around and licking her lips, trying to put his tongue between them,” she said.

Adam later invited the girl to touch his genitals

August 2013

Three-year jail sentence for man who sexually assaulted a child

A man has been jailed for three years for sexually assaulting a child in Cardiff.

Ezequiel Blanco, aged 31 and originally from Cuba, had denied the allegation but been convicted by a jury at Cardiff Crown Court.

After the child told her family, police examined Blanco’s computer at his home and found images of child abuse/indecency, his trial had heard.

Because of his denials, the victim had been forced to give evidence and face cross examination.

Passing sentence, Judge Daniel Williams said the evidence she gave had been compelling.

He told Blanco, formerly of Mathias Place, Cardiff: “I saw you give evidence too – you are a breathtakingly arrogant man.

“The images police found on your computer demonstrate that you have a sexual interest in children.”

In mitigation, it was said, there had only been eight indecent images – all of them at the lowest level on the accepted scale of seriousness and there was no evidence of him sharing them with others or distributing them.

Defence counsel Jeff Jones also reminded the judge there had been no threats made to the child and the offending had not been prolonged.

He said Blanco had lost his job and his accommodation as a result of being remanded in custody following the verdict of the jury some weeks ago.

He had denied both the sexual assault and the making and possession of indecent images but had been found guilty of all those charges.

Judge Williams told him he had carefully read every word of a victim impact statement made by the victim’s family and it was clear from it, what a profound effect his behaviour had on the little girl.

He ordered Blanco’s name be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was put in place to reduce the risk of future offending.

“The order is necessary to protect the public from serious risk of harm,” he said.

December 2001

Pervert jailed: Bridgend businessman kept child abuse images on computer

Indecent photographs of children as young as two were among a collection of more than 1,300 images found on a Bridgend businessman’s computer. 

The photos stored by Keith Bryan Pinto, of Barnes Avenue, Cefn Glas, on the hard drive of his PC were described by prosecutor Greg Bull as “the most repugnant, abhorrent and loathsome” he had ever seen. 

But Pinto, 48, who earlier had admitted creating, distributing and possessing material of an indecent nature with intent to distribute it, said he had no interest in paedophilia. 

Cardiff Crown Court heard how police officers arrested Pinto, who has teenage children, at his home in May 2000. He admitted the photos were stored on his computer and said he had downloaded them after entering an internet chat room for people with an interest in sex with pre-teenagers. 

The offences took place between September 1999 and May 2000. Mr Bull told the court: “A police officer with experience in these issues found a folder with 1,309 graphic, explicit photos of children in scenes of abuse. 

“The photos showed every kind of sexual activity that can take place. 

Many are of toddlers.” 

“When interviewed, Pinto said: “I don’t really look at them, they are just on there”. He described them as “normal” sex images.” 

Peter Heywood, defending, asked Recorder of Cardiff, Judge John Griffiths-Williams, to give Pinto credit for his early guilty plea. 

He said: “He simply went into these chat rooms and things developed from there. 

“He can offer no explanation at all and has no interest in paedophilia. 

“He was in a failed relationship shortly before this happened and this had a catastrophic effect on him.” 

Pinto was jailed for 18 months and was ordered to notify the police of any change of name or address for 10 years after his release. 

Judge Griffiths-Williams told him: 

“In all my years as a barrister and judge I have never been required to look at photographs such as these. 

“They show children, all prepubescent and some by my estimation as young as two or three, being degraded in ways which would revolt any right-thinking person and which could only gratify a pervert. 

“Children can only be protected when perverts such as you realise they cannot have access to these photographs.”

August 2013

‘RUTHLESS PAEDOPHILE’ GUILTY OF SEX CRIMES SPANNING NEARLY 30 YEARS

A pervert labelled a “ruthless paedophile” has been found guilty of sex crimes spanning nearly 30 years.

Arthur John Cook, 66, was convicted of abusing two children – one in the 1970s and another over more than 10 years up to 2005 – and now faces a lengthy spell behind bars.

Cook, of Greengarth, Upperby, Carlisle, was found guilty by a jury of nine charges following a trial at the city’s crown court.

He was found not guilty of a further seven offences, clearing him in the process of allegations he abused another person, a girl.

But as well as the charges he was convicted of during his trial, Cook will also be sentenced for 18 other crimes he admitted before it even got underway.

The overweight and balding sex offender, who clutched a walking stick as he sat in the dock throughout his trial, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

Following his arrest last year, police had found thousands of child porn images on his computer.

Officers seized his computer and memory sticks, which were found to have 2,982 indecent images of children on them.

He was then re-arrested at home for possession of these images and police seized another computer and more memory devices.

A search revealed another 456 indecent images of children.

The jury were also told during the trial that Cook’s record of sex offences stretched back to 1970, when he was 23.

Records show that he was convicted of encouraging two boys to go in a car and perform a sex act on him between July and September 1970.

A third conviction of indecent assault involved a boy on November 8 of the same year.

The trial judge, Paul Batty QC, described Cook’s crimes as “serious” as the trial came to its conclusion.

He told Cook: “A custodial sentence of some length is inevitable.”

Judge Batty added Cook would have to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register. He will be sentenced tomorrow.

The court heard that one of his victims had approached police in May 2012 and said he had been sexually abused as a child by Cook.

This happened between the mid-1990s and the mid-2000s.

After this a woman went to police and said she too had been abused as a child. Cook was cleared of the charges relating to her.

Another man later came forward and said he had been abused by Cook as a child in the mid-1970s.

Cook was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on one boy between January 1976 and January 1977.

In relation to another boy, he was found guilty of two charges of indecency with a child, three counts of indecent assault, one charge of sexual activity with a child and one charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was cleared of three charges of indecency with a child and one charge of sexual activity with a child in relation to this boy.

These charges covered a period between November 1994 and November 2005.

Cook was found not guilty of three counts of indecent assault on a girl between April 1988 and April 1995.

Cook had denied all the allegations. The case was adjourned until tomorrow and he was remanded in custody.

August 2013

Flasher jailed for failing to sign sex offenders’ register

A Hull flasher has been jailed after failing to sign the sex offenders’ register for the eighth time.

Carl Lee Williamson, 26, has been locked up for six months after admitting the latest two breaches.

He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years after he was convicted of indecently exposing himself in 2008.

It means he has to inform police of any changes of address within three days and also has to tell officers if he is in a house for 12 hours with someone under 18.

Williamson admitted failing to comply with the requirements when he appeared at Hull Crown Court.

Prosecutor James Byatt said Williamson told police on July 3 he was of no fixed address but, five days later, his girlfriend confirmed he had stayed at her house a few times a month. She had a 16-year-old son who had been at the house on one of the occasions.

The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear, said: “You have been absolutely hopeless at complying. You just keep making mistake after mistake.

“Only custody can be justified when you keep breaching an order like this.”

August 2013

Paedophile Bexley pensioner jailed for sex offences with underage girls

A PAEDOPHILIC pensioner will spend more than four years behind bars after admitting a string of sex offences relating to underage girls.

Robert Stow, 64, of Hurst Road, Bexley, pleaded guilty to 24 charges at Woolwich Crown Court on August 16.

Judge Michael Topolski jailed him for a total of four years and three months on Monday.

Stow admitted two counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 and six counts of assault on a girl under the age of 13.

Sixteen charges related to 838 indecent images and videos of children, which span all five levels of severity.

He pleaded guilty to 11 counts of possessing indecent photographs and five counts of making indecent photographs.

Two further charges of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 were left on file.

Stow was also handed a sexual offences prevention order and made to sign the sex offenders register until further notice.

August 2013

Jail for man who breached order imposed for indecent assault

A MAN who breached a sexual offences prevention order by having contact with a number of young girls has been jailed for ten months.

Paul Staton had been given the order by magistrates in November 2009 as the result of an indecent assault he had previously committed.

The 39-year-old, of Langridge Crescent, Middlesbrough, was visited by an officer from Cleveland police’s Public Protection Unit on June 25 this year as he was subjected to regular monitoring.

He was asked if he had any contact with children under the age of 18 and said no. However officers were suspicious and began an investigation, tracing the parents of the youngsters in question via a mobile phone of Staton’s.

The defendant admitted four counts of breaching a sexual offences prevention order.

Jennifer Coxon, mitigating, said he had acted quite naively and hadn’t given police the full facts.

She said he had never been left alone with the young girls, nor supervised them, and said the contact came about as a result of socialising with adults he knew.

Ms Coxon said: “He accepts the seriousness of breaching the order and the fact he is facing custody.”

Judge Howard Crowson, sitting at Teesside Crown Court, said the purpose of the order was to ensure that children were not put at risk, although he said in this case the risks had been relatively minimal.

Jailing him for ten months, Judge Crowson said further breaches would be taken even more seriously.