September 2014

Early release prisoner jailed for eight years for raping a 12-year-old girl whilst on TAG

A criminal on early release from prison has been jailed for eight years for raping a 12-year-old girl while he was wearing an electronic tag

Richard Pollock, 32, admitted attacking the girl at his flat near Hamilton Racecourse on 14 July.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how his victim managed to flee and raise the alarm at a nearby car showroom.

Pollock raped the girl after being freed weeks earlier from jail for a post office robbery in Helensburgh.

Jailing Pollock, judge Lord Boyd said the prison term for the rape would have been 12 years, but for his guilty plea.

The judge said the attack was of an “atrocious nature” adding: “It is difficult to find words for the revulsion most right-minded people would think.”

The court heard that the victim had been visiting Pollock’s flat in The Furlongs, Hamilton, when she was raped.

Pollock was on a home detention curfew at the time having been released early from jail in May.

He had been jailed for just over three years in March 2013 after a hold-up at a post office in Helensburgh.

The court heard the girl had fallen asleep in Pollock’s flat, but awoke to find him on top of her.

She immediately lashed out at him and demanded he get off but pervert Pollock then slapped his hand over the girl’s mouth and told her that she would “enjoy it”.

He also threatened that if she “made a sound” he would “slit the throat” of a woman the girl knew.

He then raped the terrified schoolgirl before forcing her to stay in the flat when she tried to escape.

The victim eventually managed to get out after punching Pollock in the face. She fled to a nearby Bentley motor showroom and told a worker there that she had been raped.

Police were alerted before Pollock was later detained.

The court heard Pollock had previously spent five years working in the Highlands in agriculture after going on the run having initially appeared in court for the post office hold-up in 2008.

October 2014

Former Plymouth boat-builder jailed for sex attacks on girl and woman

A MAN has been jailed for almost three years for sexually assaulting a woman and a teenage girl.

Former boat-builder David Newsome, aged 45, had denied indecently touching both the females.

But he was found guilty by a jury at Plymouth Crown Court.

Judge Paul Darlow jailed him for a total of two years and ten months.

He said Newsome had indecently touched the girl as she lay in bed at home in the city.

The judge said there had been an element of grooming with his treatment of the teenager and she had been exposed to pornography.

Newsome, formerly in Plymouth but now living in Leyland, Lancashire, was convicted of sexual assault of a girl aged under 16 between April 2009 and August 2011.

He was also found guilty of sexual assault of the woman in July 2012.

Newsome pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis.

Garth Richardson, for Newsome, said he was going to appeal against his conviction.

He added: “He cannot bring himself to accept the jury’s verdict. He genuinely continues to say that it never happened.

“He said it was skylarking and play-fighting which went too far. He is not in good health and was taken to hospital during the course of the trial with a suspected heart attack.”

The court heard he was a man of good character before the jury’s verdicts.

Newsome complained of chest pains during the judge’s summing up and returned from hospital to discover he had been found guilty.

Judge Darlow jailed him for two years and nine months for the sexual assault on the girl, with another month for indecently touching the woman.

He imposed no separate penalty for possession of cannabis.

October 2014

Newcastle grandmother jailed for helping ‘predatory and voracious’ paedophile rape boy

Kathleen Proud (left) and Craig Price (right)

A 70-year-old widow who allowed a “predatory and voracious paedophile” to repeatedly rape a young boy in her flat has been jailed.

Kathleen Proud turned a blind eye as James McCreadie groomed, sexually assaulted, photographed and filmed the child on countless occasions during 2013, while his civil partner Craig Price helped him carry out attacks on another boy.

People in the public gallery at Newcastle Crown Court cheered as the grandmother, of Spinney Flats, High Heaton, was jailed on Friday for two years.

Price, 32, who lived in Bewick Court in Newcastle’s West End with McCreadie, was jailed for ten years.

McCreadie, who Judge Sean Morris said deserved a life sentence, committed suicide at Durham Prison last December.

During a trial, Proud and Price had denied charges of arranging to facilitate child sexual abuse, forcing the two victims in the case – now aged eight and 11 – to give evidence. They were found guilty by a jury.

Newcastle Crown Court heard 45-year-old McCreadie committed the crimes in his home and at a caravan at Haggerston Castle holiday park in North Northumberland with Price’s help, while Proud allowed him to be alone with one of the victims in her flat and provided “a cover of normality” by also attending the caravan.

Both also bought the boys alcohol.

The court heard McCreadie had a perverted interest in children, with a history of sexual offence convictions and a collection of sickening trophies including nappies, underpants and swimsuits.

Price was raped at the age of 15 by McCreadie – but instead of pressing charges began a relationship with him, which culminated in a civil partnership in 2008.

Sentencing, Judge Morris said: “The villain of the piece is dead, and was called James McCreadie. He was a predatory and voracious paedophile and you knew that.

“McCreadie was completely open about his paedophile tendencies and you could have been in no doubt about what he would do if he was left alone with a child.

“The victims were young boys entrusted to you and you breached that trust.

“You would act like the Pied Piper encouraging boys to visit the caravan, plying them with drink as they were fondled and prepared for future abuse by McCreadie.

“You were doing everything for the man you loved and it was a warped relationship. There was planning, there was grooming, there was abuse of trust.”Robert Woodcock QC, mitigating, said Price was not a paedophile but had helped while stuck in the ‘irresistible orbit’ of McCreadie’s life.

Craig Price and James McCreadie on holiday in 2006

He said: “He hoped McCreadie would change – that he could and would.

“McCreadie operated in ways that were subtle, cunning, furtive and secret. Only on occasions did it rise above the surface and he made his actions clear.” The court heard Proud, who had no previous convictions and now suffers from seizures, met one of the victims after befriending his mother. She then introduced the child to McCreadie, despite having told a neighbour she “wouldn’t leave her children with McCreadie”.

Sentencing her, Judge Morris said: “You allowed him to be alone in your house with McCreadie where he was seriously sexually assaulted.

“I am not satisfied you would have known the full extent of what was happening and I accept you have been used by McCreadie to provide an outward appearance of normality and you were not essential to McCreadie’s crimes. But you played your part and that is exactly what the jury found.“You knew what you were doing and you must take responsibility. The public would be outraged if you walked out of court after the offences you committed.”

Mitigating, Jonathan Devlin, said she had been “manipulated” by McCreadie, and was “pleased to have company and attention at a time when she had lost her husband of 40 years”.

Price must sign on the sex offenders’ register for life, while Proud must for ten years.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “In the case of Price he actively encouraged and witnessed the abuse and in the case of Kathleen Proud, a 69-year-old grandmother, she also witnessed the abuse but chose not to take any action to prevent it. She is equally responsible for the suffering these young boys went through.

“The fact that they built up the trust of the victims and their families before abusing them and took photographs and videos of some of their victims shows their level of depravity. They are wicked paedophiles and will rightly be prevented from being a further threat to other children. I must pay tribute to the young victims who gave evidence and to their families who have been through so much. They have shown immense courage and strength of character.”

October 2014

Police searching for missing person find convicted child rapist at Hull flat with indecent pictures of boys

A CONVICTED paedophile was caught with 257 indecent images of children while police were looking for a missing person.

Officers visited Keith Mair’s flat in Hutt Street, west Hull, on March 25, during a missing persons inquiry.

They found him in possession of a laptop, which he was barred from having under the terms of a sexual offences prevention order.

Analysis of the computer revealed he had downloaded a total of 257 indecent images of children.

The photographs were all of boys aged between nine and 14.

There were a total of 61 images rated as Category A – the most serious – 46 at Category B and 147 at Category C.

Mair, 63, admitted nine counts of possessing indecent images of children.

Hull Crown Court heard that in January 2002, Mair, who was then aged 51, was sentenced to 12 years in jail at Grimsby Crown Court for five offences of buggery and seven indecent assaults. All the victims were boys under 16.

Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said Mair had served the full 12 years because he “denied culpability of causing serious harm to children”.

Joanna Golding, representing Mair, said he had bought the laptop for “poetry writing”.

Mrs Golding said: “He was released in January and it was the first sense of freedom he had for 12 years.

“The whole IT world had changed and he bought the laptop and downloaded the images.”

Recorder Eric Elliott QC asked her: “What possessed him to buy the laptop?”

Mrs Golding replied: “He saw it as a freedom that he thought he had.

“He does poetry writing, things like that, and bought it for a genuine purpose.”

But she said Mair now fully accepted what he had done was wrong and wanted help to change.

“He said to me, ‘one image is one image too many’ and I really don’t think it can be put any better,” she said.

“For the first time I think ever, this defendant realises that he needs help. This is a man who said to me today, ‘I could not bear going back into custody’.”

The judge said he accepted the findings of a pre-sentence report, which said that Mair was willing and able to address his offending, and sentenced him to a three-year community order that will allow him to complete the Northumbria Sex Offenders Treatment Programme.

Explaining his decision, the judge told Mair: “The author of the probation report has made it clear that he is in no doubt at all that you now acknowledge, finally, that you do have a problem with viewing images of young children, and that you are willing and anxious to address that problem.

“Accordingly, it seems to me that a sentence should be passed that can harness your resolve and harness your acceptance of that problem, and by that way serve the public interest.”

October 2014

Former Foreign Office diplomat jailed for child sex offences

A former Foreign Office diplomat from Bury St Edmunds who sexually abused three girls in the 1970s under the guise of ‘helping’ them to play the piano has been jailed for six years.

Geoffrey Moore, 74, of Abbots Gate, was investigated after one of the victims confronted him about the historic offences, which were committed against girls aged four to 13.

The woman said afterwards: “It caused me anguish for 30 years.

“Hearing high profile cases on the news has shown me you can do something about it.”

Moore pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to four offences of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child between February 25 1968 and November 20 1978.

Jailing him, Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC said: “This was a shocking breach of trust. You were a friend of the children’s parents and friends.”

He also ordered Moore to remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely, adding: “There was very severe psychological harm done by your offences and it is illustrated by one of the victims.”

Prosecuting, Charlotte Davidson said the eldest victim, now in her 50s, had recently received counselling and it was suggested she confront him. She obtained his telephone number from her parents and called him.

They later met in Covent Garden and when he arrived with his solicitor she handed him a letter, which he placed in his pocket. He told her: “I am very sorry, it happened to me as a child.”

Miss Davidson said this victim had been summoned to him when he was playing the piano at a gathering in his home in Enfield and while ‘playing with one hand, fondled her breasts under her polo top with the other’.

His first victim, aged four or five, said he carried out offences over a two-year period at the family home in Loughton, the first two in her bedroom while her mother was hanging out the washing.

A second victim had been touched by him at the same house and he had carried out another offence while giving her a lift in his car.

Moore was given a three year community order by Ipswich Crown Court in 2005 for similar offences, committed in his back garden on a girl aged about five more than 20 years later.

Mitigating, David Stewart said: “He has embraced the spirit of the allegations. There are no claims of provocation nor nitpicking. He is not blaming anyone else and has genuine remorse.”

Moore was a civil servant who worked in the Foreign Office as a diplomat, with the Customs and Excise and more recently the Department of Trade.

Mr Stewart said: “He has made the most dreadful and appalling mistakes of his life.”

A statement from Moore he read to the court said: “I was mortified to discover harm had been done. I regrettably cannot undo the past. I have profound regret and wish my heartfelt apologies.”

October 2014

Mildenhall man admits child abuse images offences

A man from Mildenhall has appeared in court to plead guilty to four child abuse images offences.

Marc Dewing, 26, of Woodlands Close, is due to be sentenced next month and was warned by a judge that he could face an immediate prison sentence.

At Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday October 9 Dewing pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent images of a child, all committed between January 1 2010 and April 25 2014.

The court heard that 355 images were found in a laptop computer while a further 648 were found to be stored in an online mailbox.

Investigators uncovered a total of 239 movies stored on a second online mailbox.

The fourth charge to which Dewing pleaded guilty was distributing indecent images of children between January 1 2010 and April 25 2014.

Prosecuting, Peter Gair said Dewing had admitted sending some of the images by email to contacts.

Appearing for Dewing, Matthew Gowen said his client had no previous convictions and asked for the preparation of a pre sentence report by the Probation Service to which Judge David Goodin agreed.

Mr Gowen said Dewing had since earlier this year sought help from the Lucy Faithful Foundation, a registered child protection charity which offers advice and support.

A report from the foundation will be put before the court when Dewing is sentenced next month, said Mr Gowen.

Releasing him on bail until his next court appearance, Judge Goodin told Dewing: “These are very serious offences. You must understand and I’m sure that you do that all sentencing options remain open including immediate custody.”

October 2014

Former teacher at Canons High School, Harrow banned from profession after indecent assault conviction

A former teacher convicted of sex offences against a pupil nearly 40 years ago has been banned from ever returning to the country’s classrooms.

In October last year Keith Ellen, 69, was convicted of four offences of indecent assault on a girl who was 14 and 15 at the time. The offences happened between 1977 and 1979.

Ellen, who at the time was teaching at Canons High School, Harrow, at the time of the offences, was given a 12 month jail sentence suspended for 18 months at Harrow Crown Court.

He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, pay a victim surcharge of £100 and costs of £1000. He was also given a ten year sex offences notice.

The ban, imposed on behalf of Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, follows a finding by a National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) disciplinary panel that his behaviour had amounted to “sexualised behaviour towards a child.”

The panel’s findings say he “admitted kissing a 14-year-old pupil of his former school and touching her physically, when she was below the age of legal consent.”

They say Ellen, a teacher for 40 years who retired from full-time teaching in 2010, had indicated the actions were “completely consensual”, though he accepted that the girl was not permitted, according to law, to consent.

The NCTL panel said there is a strong public interest consideration in respect of the protection of pupils given the “serious finding of inappropriate relations, ie kissing and touching a pupil of 14 years of age.”

It said: “Mr Ellen has admitted his conduct was inappropriate and the panel notes that his actions were repeated and deliberate.

“There was no evidence that he was acting under duress. Further, the panel considered that his behaviour was sexually motivated towards the female pupil concerned.”

The findings add the panel was concerned even now Ellen has failed to recognise the emotional and moral dimension to his inappropriate conduct towards a child, preferring to rely on his own view that the pupil consented. The panel said: “By doing so, Mr Ellen has failed to recognise the breach of trust and the risk to the pupil’s wellbeing.”

Imposing the ban on behalf of the Education Secretary and ruling it should be a permanent, NCTL official, Paul Heathcote said : “The panel consider that Mr Ellen’s behaviour amounts to serious sexual misconduct and have recommended that the order should be without provision for Mr Ellen to apply to have it set aside. I agree with their recommendation.”

Ellen has a right of appeal to the High Court.

October 2014

School teaching assistant admits to two-year affair with pupil who said ‘they were in love’

A MARRIED teaching assistant has been spared jail after admitting to grooming a teenage pupil over a two year period during which the pair exchanged around 3,000 WhatApp messages.

Charlotte Parker, 32, pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court today (October 13) to engaging in a sexual relationship with the pupil at Hylands School in Chelmsford.

A tearful Parker was handed a 12-month sentence, to be suspended for two years.

Judge John Lodge said: “This is a case of gross child abuse. People who work as teaching assistants of whatever gender who take on victims of whatever gender commit a very serious offence indeed. 

“It makes no difference that he might well have felt that he was in a relationship with you, the law is there to protect vulnerable people from others who might take advantage of their youth, of their naivety, of the fact that they might feel flattered that somebody older is taking an interest in them.”

Parker, of Ravens Lane, Billericay, admitted four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust, including kissing, encouraging him to perform a sex act on himself over social media, and performing oral sex on him. 

She also admitted two counts of making indecent photographs of a child. 

The court heard how the pair bonded when the victim gave Parker a Christmas card, who suffers from a long history of psychiatric problems, while she was working in classrooms at the Chelmsford school.

The pair went on to exchange the thousands of WhatsApp and social media messages, which included comments such as “You have had your hands everywhere”, and “baby, did I kiss you too much.”

The relationship was only discovered after the student confided to a family friend, who in turn arranged a discussion with his parents who subsequently contacted police last September. 

Prosecutor Austin Stoton added: “The victim had explained to the family friend prior to that talk that he had been seeing this defendant for two years.

“He was aware she was married, and ‘she had bad mental health problems’. 

“He told him they were in love and thought one day they would buy a house together.”

Parker was ordered to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for 10 years, and told to undergo treatment for her mental health problems.

She no longer works at the school. 

October 2014

64-year-old man who propositioned girl of 14 to have sex with him has been given a suspended jail sentence

Paul Nettlingham started talking to the girl one evening while she was waiting for a bus and then followed her onto it and sat down next to her, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

But the girl texted her boyfriend who met her at her destination and as a result Nettlingham was arrested.

Nettlingham, of Golding Close, Ditton, admitted inciting a child to commit a sexual offence and was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years.

Kieran Brand, prosecuting, said the girl was waiting on her own at a bus stop at about 8pm in October last year when Nettlingham started making inappropriate sexual comments to her and offered her money to take part in some kind of sexual activity with him.

She rebuffed his advances and got on her bus, followed by Nettlingham who sat down next to her and carried on making comments.

Judge David Griffith-Jones told Nettlingham: “This must have been quite terrifying for her and likely to live with her for some time. You targeted a lone and vulnerable young girl and there was a disparity in your ages.

“This offence was committed at night and you were drunk. I accept the shame and remorse you show is genuine and that this offence was a one-off and committed out of character.”

In addition to the suspended sentence Nettlingham was given a supervision order and told to attend a sex offenders’ programme. He will be subject to a sexual offences prevention order for seven years and barred from working with children.

October 2014

A MAN and woman who met on the internet have been given long jail sentences for planning the rape of a two-year-old girl

Sheena Gorton, of Beech Road, Bromsgrove, was jailed for thirteen-and-a-half years and Paul Price, described by the judge as a “dangerous paedophile,” was given a total sentence of 17 years.

Caroline Bradley, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court the two met after 34-year-old Gorton contacted his girlfriend at the time, Nikki Figes, on a lesbian and bisexual website, Rainbow Girls.

Miss Figes, who did not have any idea about the conspiracy and was not involved, said she had a boyfriend and Gorton got in touch with him.

Price, aged 35, of Nant Erin, Tonyrafeil, Porth, Mid Glamorgan, told Gorton he wanted to leave Miss Figes and marry her after he learned she was prepared to assist him in carrying out the rape and abuse of a child, Miss Bradley said.

Between November, 2011, and January, 2012, they exchanged up to 700 messages a day by text and on the internet carefully planning the rape. There were a total of 30,000 explicit messages covering 3,000 pages, Miss Bradley said. Some discussed their marriage and having a baby themselves so Price could abuse their child.

Price visited Gorton in Bromsgrove in January 2012, and it seemed she was not as attracted to him when she he met him in the flesh, Miss Bradley said.

On January 16, Gorton left her phone and computer with a member of her family for upgrading. The messages were discovered and police were called.

Gorton and Price both pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to rape on the day a trial was due to start earlier this year. Gorton also pleaded guilty to making and distributing indecent images of a child.

Psychological reports were put forward in defence but Judge Abbas Mithani said there was no mitigation for the “appalling offences.”

Their behaviour, he said, was “vile and despicable”. The plan was “loathsome and sickening” and it was only because they were discovered that no rape took place. He did not accept either of them had any genuine remorse or regret.

He described Price as a “dangerous paedophile” who posed a significant risk. He gave him a sentence of 13-and-a-half years with an extended licence period of a further three-and-a-half years. He will only be released early if the parole board is satisfied he is no longer a risk.

Gorton was jailed for 13-and-a-half years on the conspiracy charges with two months each for the indecent images to run concurrently.

Both were given sexual offences prevention orders restricting future use of computers and involvement with children and they will have to register as sex offenders indefinitely.

October 2014

Convicted rapist released in 2012 from a life sentence flashed 7 year-old girl in Preston toy store

A father has spoken for the first time about how his young daughter was accosted in a toy store by a convicted paedophile.

Rapist Leslie Foster, 63, exposed himself to a seven-year-old, from Heysham, who had gone to the Toys R Us store on Deepdale Retail Park in Preston to spend her birthday money.

The schoolgirl was temporarily separated from her dad as she looked at the doll aisle on February 1 this year.

Foster, who is on a lifetime licence after committing sex offences in the 1960s and 1970s, had only been released in 2012 from a life sentence for rape

Police said he had been in and out of the store for five-and-a- half hours after catching a bus to the retail park.

He had changed his appearance with a bobble hat and glasses before he approached the girl and exposed himself.

He asked the girl to show her knickers and said he would buy her any toy she wanted.

The terrified youngster ran away from him and raised the alarm with store staff who tannoyed her dad and brother.

CCTV images of Foster were circulated in the Evening Post, leading to two people coming forward with information about him.

Today, the girl’s dad, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “I wanted to kill him.

“My daughter wanted to buy a kind of doll Toys R Us do with her birthday money.

“It happened in 30 seconds. My children wanted to look at different aisles.

“I was walking from the skateboard aisle to check on her when I heard the tannoy calling me.

“My daughter was in tears and the staff told me what had happened. I shouted and shouted for my son because I was afraid the man was still in the store.

“I was relieved it hadn’t been any worse. It doesn’t seem to have affected her too much luckily, but it may do when she’s older. It’s really affected us.

“Since it happened I am on pins when I’m out with them, I never let them out of my sight.

He added: “The staff in the store were brilliant and we went back another day to show my daughter this does not usually happen, and to thank them for their help.”

Foster, of Spendmore Lane, Coppull, Chorley, admitted exposing himself and inciting a girl into engage in sexual activity.

He will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Friday.

October 2014: Back in Courtown, Co.Wexford

July 2004

Businessman, 62, attacked girl of 13

A PERVERT businessman was sentenced to a year in jail yesterday for abusing a 13-year-old girl hired to babysit his grandchildren.

Michael Wafer, now 64, was named and shamed at his victim’s request for the sordid assault in his home.

The girl, now 15, had told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court Judge Yvonne Murphy that she wanted his identity revealed.

In evidence by video link the victim said she went to Wafer’s house to arrange a babysitting appointment and he offered to show her the room where she would be babysitting.

She added that as they left, he turned off a light and gave her a “French kiss”.

Judge Murphy then heard how Wafer asked her to sit down and she thought he was going to apologise, but he took off her underwear and assaulted her.

Wafer asked her if she was a virgin and when the girl replied “yes” he said he wouldn’t take “that” away, pausing before adding the word “yet”.

Wafer later walked her home and soon after the abuse in February 2002 she made a complaint to gardai.

Wafer, from Courtown Harbour, Co Wexford, was told by Judge Murphy that she regarded his crimes as very serious and could have jailed him for 14 years.

Judge Murphy blasted the accused for protesting his innocence to the end, preventing probation officers from putting him on a sex offenders course.

She said: “Sexually assaulting a child is a very serious offence. One of the most aggravating factors was that he was 62 and she was 13 at the time. I am taking into account his age and health, and the fact that no violence was used.

“I have no option but to impose a custodial sentence which I will limit to 12 months.”

Judge Murphy added that the accused is to be placed on the register of sex offenders.

Wafer’s lawyer Michael Counihan said his client had been severely punished by “very unfortunate media reporting” of the case which had dealt his reputation a most serious blow.

But Judge Murphy intervened to say she had no evidence before her to support that and added media reports of these cases were not illegal.

Wafer and his family now plan to move to Spain, the court heard.

Judge Murphy also ordered Wafer to undergo three years of post-release supervision.

October 2014: Large was released from prison in 1999. Most recent known area of residence was St Athan’s, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. He is known to frequent the Cardiff, Barry, Llantwit Major area of South Wales. He is also known to visit the Ramsgate Area.

December 1993

10 years for man who abused young boys

A 32-YEAR-OLD jobless Cardiff man who put three young schoolboys through “agony” in a catalogue of sex abuse has been jailed for 10 years at the City’s crown court.

Kevin Philip Large pleaded not guilty to a ten-year reign of ‘’sexual misbehaviour’’ but was convicted by a jury after nearly three hours.

Large’s sex assaults started when one child he abused was an 11-year-old boy who was sleeping in a tent in his back garden.

The same boy was further molested after he attended martial arts classes with Large.

An eight-year-old was also subjected to a serious sex assault as he lay in his sleeping bag on Large’s dining room floor and a seven-year-old was fondled as he played Nintendo games in the man’s Gabalfa flat

Large who’s last address was Filton Road, Bristol, was found guilty of 6 charges of indecent assault, three of committing a serious sexual offence and two of attempting to commit a serious sexual offence.

October 2014

Parents feel “left in the dark” after only just learning Derbyshire school paedophile was jailed FIVE months ago

Parents claim they have been “left in the dark” after a school took five months to tell them a paedophile IT technician had been jailed.

Martin Barnsdall, who worked at Old Hall Junior School, was jailed for 26 months in May after police found indecent images of children on his home computer.

But many parents only found out about his crimes when they received a letter from the school at the weekend – after the Derbyshire Times contacted Derbyshire County Council about the case.

Barnsdall, 52, of Glebe Gardens, North Wingfield, was suspended from the Chesterfield school in September last year and later resigned from his role.

One parent, who did not want to be named, said: “I’m shocked and really disappointed the school didn’t let us know he’d even been suspended and that we’re only getting to learn about it more than a year on.”

Another parent added: “We’ve been left in the dark over this.”

Sharon Stone, headteacher at Old Hall Junior School, said: “We wrote to parents to reassure them that the offences did not relate to the school or our pupils after rumours began circulating in the community.

“We also wanted to reassure parents that we take the safety of our pupils seriously and acted quickly to suspend Martin Barnsdall as soon as the police made us aware of the allegations, taking all the appropriate action in consultation with all the relevant authorities.”

Barnsdall pleaded guilty at Derby Crown Court to three charges of making indecent photographs of children, one charge of voyeurism and one charge of possessing extreme pornographic images.

He was ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for ten years and given a ten-year sexual offences’ prevention order.

A spokesman for Derbyshire police said: “We worked jointly with Old Hall School and can reassure parents that there was no evidence of any contact offending or material relating to any pupils at the school.

“This was a proactive investigation led by Derbyshire police and shows that we treat matters of this nature involving children with the utmost seriousness and priority.”

Anyone with information about crime should call Derbyshire police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

October 2014

Convicted Lincoln sex offender jailed for breaching ban from contact with young children

A convicted sex offender who broke a court order banning him from contact with young children has been jailed for 12 months at Lincoln Crown Court.

Simon Wells was arrested after police received a tip-off that he was holidaying at a Mablethorpe caravan park.

Wells admitted he had been staying in a caravan with other people including a number of young children.

He also admitted using the swimming pool at the caravan site.

Alistair Munt, prosecuting, said that Wells had been made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order by Lincoln Magistrates in June 2008 which banned him from contact with young children and from entering areas likely to be used by children such as swimming pools and play parks.

Wells hid the fact that he was under an order from the group he was staying with but he was spotted at the caravan park by someone who knew of his past.

Mr Munt said: “A telephone call was received from a member of the public who called the police to advise them that Wells, a known sex offender, was on the site.”

Officers visited the site to find that Wells had left and returned to Lincoln after telling people his mother was “poorly” and he needed to return.

Wells was later arrested at his mother’s home and confessed he spent five days at the caravan site. He admitted he should not have been there.

The court was told he was convicted in 1990 and again in 1992 of sex offences against young girls. At the time of both sets of offences Wells was also a juvenile.

Wells, 38, of Walford Drive, Lincoln, admitted breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order in August this year.

Recorder Tracey Lloyd-Nesling said Wells had tried to hide his past and had shown deviousness.

She told him: “I am of the opinion that this is a matter that is so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate.”

Clementine James, defending, said Wells had not committed any sexual offences for a long time and should be regarded as a low risk.

“He is aware that he shouldn’t have been on the site.

“He said he went on the holiday due to pressure that was put on him. He bitterly regrets that he succumbed to that pressure.”

October 2014

Lawshall man admits seven child sex offences

A Lawshall man has pleaded guilty to seven sexual offences.

Charles Hart, 25, of Melford Road, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court today.

Hart pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images of a child, possession of extreme pornographic images and sending a grossly offensive message.

He also admitted causing a female to engage in sexual activity without her consent, two offences of causing a child to watch images of sexual activity and causing a female child aged under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

Judge Rupert Overbury told Hart that he would continue to be granted bail until he returned to court next month to be sentenced.

October 2014

Redcar recluse viewed indecent images of children

A recluse downloaded more than 1,000 child abuse images, including banned “cartoons”, to his computer.

Terence McArthur developed an unhealthy interest in pictures of children as he accessed illegal photos over a two-and-a-half-year period.

Police searched the home where he lived alone on Geneva Drive, Redcar and seized two laptops and other storage media.

McArthur, 57, explained to officers: “I’ve looked at sites that just came up and tried not to go back to them. Sites that I shouldn’t have had.”

He had 1,120 indecent images of children, prosecutor Jenny Haigh told Teesside Crown Court today.

She said 833 of the pictures were in the least serious category in law, with 287 in more severe categories.

McArthur, of previous good character, admitted making these indecent still photographs by downloading them between September 2010 and January 2013.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing nine prohibited “cartoon” images of children, and possessing two “extreme pornographic images” not involving children.

His internet address came under the police’s spotlight following intelligence to Gloucestershire Police about “a large number of people accessing indecent images via a compromised website”.

Sara-Lise Howe, defending, said: “He cannot explain how it was he ended up regarding these images.”

She said McArthur had a traumatic childhood, suffered depression and was given counselling after a breakdown in 2005.

He had proper, appropriate and fulfilling relationships, but lost the love of his life and was made redundant in 2010.

“He found his world completely shattered and became somewhat reclusive,” said Ms Howe.

“Amongst other things, he found himself using the internet.”

She said he looked at adult pornography at first but was shocked and disgusted with himself when he started looking at pictures of children.

She said the number of photos was far less than in other cases. He did not file them to look at again, he hid nothing, used an email address under his own name, and was open, frank and cooperative with police.

She added: “He was appalled with himself and he put himself on a programme.”

Judge Peter Armstrong accepted that McArthur did not seek out the extreme adult pornography, but clearly had an interest in indecent pictures of children for sexual satisfaction.

“That sort of distorted thinking, starting as it seems to have done fairly late in your life, needs to be addressed,” said the judge.

Given McArthur’s lack of previous convictions and early pleas, he passed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years with supervision and a sex offender treatment programme.

McArthur was given a five-year sexual offences prevention order governing his internet use

October 2014

Serial pervert followed girl and shouted “drop your knickers”

A man with a string of previous sexual convictions followed a teenage girl and shouted obscenities at her.

Matthew Mellor, of Regent Road, Leicester, had previously been barred by a court from approaching in an inappropriate manner any female not known to him.

However, while in Nuneaton last month, he targeted a 16-year-old as she walked to her boyfriend’s home from the town centre at about 7pm.

Prosecutor Andrew Keogh told Warwick Crown Court that the girl had to go along a path and then cross a bridge over a stream during her journey.

As she crossed the bridge, she saw a man peering at her from the edge of the path and then drop out of sight to the left of the path.

After crossing the stream the girl turned right, away from the man, but became aware of 6ft 7in Mellor following her.

As she quickened her pace, the 32-year-old jogged after her.

When they reached an area with some thick trees, Mellor shouted to the girl: “Oi, oi, drop your knickers.”

The terrified girl kept going as quickly as she could and called her boyfriend, who met her in his car. When she looked back, she saw that Mellor was no longer following her.

The police were called, and the girl and her boyfriend went back along the path to see if they could see Mellor. They spotted him, and pointed him out when officers arrived.

Mellor, who was heavily intoxicated, was arrested, and it was found his actions had put him in breach of a sexual offences prevention order.

When he was questioned, Mellor accepted he had been in the area but denied hiding from the girl. He said he had walked behind someone but could not recall their gender, and denied shouting anything at the victim.

The court heard that Mellor had previous convictions for sexual offences dating back to 2000, when he was put on probation for sending an obscene article in the post.

He had convictions in 2000 and 2003 for indecent assault, and in July 2005 he was given an extended prison sentence, under which he had to serve two-thirds of a six-year jail term and then be on licence for the remainder of the six years, plus a further three years, for sexual assault.

Mellor was released on licence in February 2009, but was recalled to serve the rest of the nine-year term after an offence of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, for which he was jailed for eight weeks in January 2010.

He was finally released in February this year – and in May was given a four-month suspended sentence for sending a letter or other article conveying an indecent or grossly offensive message.

The details of the latest incident were revealed when Mellor appeared at Warwick court for sentencing, having previously pleaded guilty to acting in breach of a sexual offences prevention order.

However, the sentencing could not go ahead as the prosecutor had no details of the offence for which the suspended sentence had been imposed.

Remanding Mellor in custody, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano adjourned the case so the details could be prepared.

October 2014

Paedophile sentenced for possessing indecent images

A PAEDOPHILE from Dorset has been sentenced for possessing hundreds of indecent images of children as young as two.

Stephen Whittle, 61 from Sherborne, appeared at Dorchester Crown Court after admitting four counts of possessing indecent images of children.

Prosecuting, Robert Griffiths read out police statements which said officers discovered 955 images on Whittle’s computer involving children as young as two or three.

Whittle started to view indecent images in 2010 after he saw a pop-up advert on an adult pornography website, the court heard.

Mr Griffiths said: “He would save [the images] for a while so he could look at them on the computer but would then delete them and start again.”

In mitigation, Patrick Mason said Whittle began looking at pornography after a divorce and becoming ‘a man on his own’.

Mr Mason added: “This is a man who seems to have led an honest, industrious and simple life.”

Judge Peter Johnson sentenced Whittle to a three year community order with supervision, made a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years, and placed Whittle on the sex offenders register for five years.

Whittle was also ordered to pay costs of £250.

October 2014

Convicted English paedophile believed to have been in Portugal at the time of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance arrested in Malta

A “notorious” British paedophile suspected of having links to Madeleine McCann’s disappearance is being held in Malta.

Roderick McDonald – on the run after being convicted in 2012 of abusing two girls – was arrested in a dramatic swoop and will be extradited back to the UK.

It is understood the Met will want to speak to the 76-year-old about ­paedophile gangs in the Algarve in 2007 – when Madeleine vanished from her holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, aged three.

The Sunday Mirror revealed earlier this year how police were trying to find McDonald after it was claimed he was living on the Algarve back in 2007.

He also raped a girl, eight, in Australia. A source said: “He is a notorious and dangerous sex offender. He’s shown a pattern of disturbing behaviour wherever he has travelled.”

The British girls’ mum said it was “unbelievable” police had missed the chance to quiz the ex-oil rig worker over Madeleine.

She said: “The police knew he was in Portugal around the time she vanished, but let him slip through their fingers.

“They told me they would monitor him. When he fled they didn’t bother telling me. I’m so angry he has been allowed to go on the run.”

Her girls were visiting their dad on his yacht in Brighton, East Sussex, where McDonald – who was on the sex offenders’ register – also had a vessel.

The mum said: “He abused my ­children when their dad was making tea. I’m lucky they got off relatively lightly in comparison to Madeleine. What’s to say he wasn’t involved in Madeleine’s disappearance? He could have taken her on a boat.”

Before officers on Maltese island Gozo swooped on Monday there was an international warrant for McDonald – previously known as Roderick William Robinson.

He was wanted here having absconded after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a girl under 13, and failing to notify authorities he changed his name, address and was going abroad.

In court in Malta yesterday the paedophile, of Aldershot, Hants, agreed to be extradited and was kept in custody.

Police are probing 18 break-ins at Algarve villas by an intruder from 2004 to 2010.

The attacks stopped around the time McDonald was deported to Australia for raping a girl, eight. He got six months on a plea deal for the assault but, once free, fled to Thailand.

 Months later he was sent here after authorities learned of his past. He moved to Brighton, then preyed on the girls.

Police said they did not tell the mum McDonald had fled for legal reasons.

Briton Roderick Robinson when he was arrested in Pattaya, Thailand