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

Kirby Chadwick – Pontefract

0
0

October 2014

Sex offender struck in park

k

A Pontefract teenager subjected a 15-year-old girl to a terrifying sex attack after using text messages to trick her to meet him in woodland near a water park.

Kirby Chadwick, 18, who has previous convictions for sex offences, was handed an extended sentence after a judge told him he continued to pose a danger to the public.

Chadwick, of Monkhill Lane, Pontefract, was sent to a young offenders’ institution for four years and eight months. He must also serve an extra three years on licence.

Leeds Crown Court heard Chadwick managed to obtain the victim’s mobile phone number and began to send her anonymous texts.

The victim thought it was a friend playing a prank on her and she unwittingly went to meet Chadwick at Hemsworth Water Park.

Chadwick then attacked the youngster and forced into her to a secluded wooded area.

He then threatened to push a stick down the girl’s throat before forcing her to undress. Chadwick then carried out the prolonged sex attack as the victim pleaded with him to stop. During the attack Chadwick told her: “Be quiet or I will kill you.”

The attack ended when the girl spotted two men and ran for help.

Paul Fleming, mitigating, said Chadwick had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

The court heard Chadwick had a “bad list” of previous convictions, including sex attacks on a boy and a girl.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: “In my judgement this was clearly a planned attack. You lured her there by a false name and immediately attacked her. It was a terrifying ordeal for her. It was a sustained attack.”

Acting Det Sgt Rachel Darling said afterwards: “I would like to pay tribute to the victim in this case who was prepared to come forward and say what had happened during what was a horrific ordeal for her.”


David Zold – Wakefield

0
0

November 2009

‘Manipulative’ paedophile given life term

A JUDGE jailed a paedophile for life yesterday after describing him as dangerous and a “deviant, sexually manipulative individual”.

David Charles Zold deliberately targeted children, gaining the trust of their parents before abusing four youngsters in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He showed the children pornography in his home and got them to perform sexual acts by telling them it was normal.

A little girl was told he would kill her parents if she spoke about what had happened to her, while he told one boy if he went along with what he wanted he could play with a train set.

Eventually Zold went on to rape the youngster when he was aged seven but it was many years before his victim felt able to report what had happened and others felt able to speak out.

Zold, 59. from the Normanton area of Wakefield, admitted buggery and gross indecency on one boy, two charges of indecency on a girl, unlawful sex with another girl, and indecency with another boy.

Jailing him for life on two of the charges with 18 months concurrent on the rest, Judge Kerry Macgill said Zold had masqueraded to the parents as kind and caring.

He would spend money on lavish presents for the youngsters knowing their parents could not afford it and act as babysitters for them.

But in reality the judge said Zold was a sexual predator who liked to carry out dreadful offences and was still in denial about what he had done.

“You are a filthy, perverted deluded fool who cannot even after all this time have the courage to recognise you did all this.”

He praised the courage of the victims for finally having the bravery to speak up against him. Having read the traumatic effect on them of the crimes the judge said they revealed “a terrible indictment” of Zold’s behaviour.

“Your legacy has been to cause them untold grief and problems for years all because you wanted to satiate your sexual needs.”

He ordered Zold should serve a minimum of seven years before the Parole Board can consider his release but warned him that would not follow automatically.

“You are a deviant, sexually manipulative individual and I urge anyone considering your case to look with extreme care at what you have done and how you have done it.”

Nicholas Lumley, prosecuting, said Zold was jailed for four years in 1972 for grievous bodily harm on an 18-month-old child he punched in the head when she cried and in 2005 received four years for indecent assault on a young girl. The offences in the recent case happened in between.

All four victims had described the devastating impact on their lives of his “twisted perversions.”

One said: “He took my childhood away” and another said he feared Zold could still harm another child. Mr Lumley said a psychiatrist who had seen Zold agreed with that assessment.

Richard Butters, for Zold, said the offences were disgraceful but the maximum sentences involved on most of the offences was only two years and urged the judge to pass a determinate sentence rather than life in the others.

Afterwards, Detective Constable Julie Anderson said his victims were happy Zold had been jailed for life.

She added: “Justice has been served and children on the streets are now safer.”

Aiden Barry – Sunderland

0
0

August 2012

Mum of sex abuse victim speaks out against his Sunderland attacker

A MUM has spoken of her anger towards the man who abused her son.

Aiden Barry was jailed for four years despite denying carrying out a sick sex attack on the schoolboy.

But the 29-year-old was found guilty of sexual assault with penetration on a male aged under 13 after a three-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court in May.

Now the victim’s mum has spoken out about her son’s ordeal.

The mum said: “He has problems now and he was never like that before.

“He will still come out with stuff that he hasn’t told the police.

“Looking back, he was trying to get my attention all the time.”

The youngster eventually confided in his grandmother. She contacted the police who then arrested Barry.

The boy now needs counselling sessions and is often too upset to go to school.

The mum-of-two was too distressed to watch video evidence her son gave against his abuser.

“It was horrible. I did not go in the courtroom myself. I had to sit in the witness room,” she added.

“When I heard the verdict I was jumping all over.

“My friend said she could see my smile down the phone. The police were brilliant and kept me up to date with everything.”

And she says she will never be able to forgive his attacker.

“I hate him,” she said. “I hope I get a telephone call saying he has killed himself.”

Barry, of Canon Cockin Street, Hendon, was found not guilty of a second count of the same offence.

Michael Hawkins – Poole

0
0

October 2014

Charity worker jailed for five years over sexual abuse of 13 year old schoolgirl

mh

A COMMUNITY stalwart known for his charity work has been jailed after admitting the sexual abuse of a 13 year old girl.

Michael Hawkins, of Farwell Road, Poole, wept in the dock as a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court heard he had groped and assaulted the child on dates between December 2013 and July this year.

The 67-year-old is well-known for his work at the Alderney West Community Centre, where he has often dressed up as Santa for local children at Christmas.

Prosecuting, Simon Jones said the victim was a schoolgirl some 54 years younger than the defendant.

“He told her it should be their little secret,” he said.

“The defendant has written a victim impact statement in which she says she feels ‘dirty and ashamed’.”

Hawkins abused the child both in woodland at a Dorset beauty spot overlooking the sea and on a drive to buy her sweets.

He admitted two counts of assault by penetration, two of sexual assault and taking an indecent photograph of the youngster’s breasts, which he put on his computer’s hard drive.

Police were called by observant teachers at the girl’s school.

Anne Brown, mitigating, highlighted the defendant’s good work in his community, and said his family were standing by him.

“[He is] an old man to be colliding with criminal justice [for the first time],” she said.

Hawkins has helped at the community centre for many years, doing everything from fundraising to cutting the grass and hosting events for residents.

He also volunteered to help with the Scouts when one of his now grown-up sons wished to join as a child.

“For 66 years of his life he has led an extremely productive life,” she said.

But Judge Samuel Wiggs said a pre-sentence report prepared by the Probation Service indicated the defendant’s “distorted thinking”.

“He thought she was interested in him, he thought there was a ‘vibe’ and he said the legal age of consent is wrong,” he said to Ms Brown.

“He thought she was able to give consent to sexual behaviour.”

The judge sentenced Hawkins, a former Poole Grammar School pupil who served in the Royal Artillery for 16 years, to five years in prison.

The defendant will also have to sign the sex offenders’ register and is subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years following his release.

Christopher Bell – Portsmouth

0
0

October 2014

Portsmouth church-goer, 70, had 2,291 images of child abuse

A 70-YEAR-OLD was caught with more than 2,200 indecent images of children at his home after an investigation by police in Canada.

British officers were alerted to Christopher Bell’s criminal activities by the Toronto police department.

The Canadian police force said Bell, of Drayton, had been identified as someone who had bought DVDs containing indecent images of children, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.

A total of 2,291 images of boys – some as young as 11 – were found by officers following a search of his home.

Of those, 2,236 were classed as ‘category C’ – the least serious category –and 41 were ‘category B.’

Three images were ‘category A’ – the most serious category.

Bell admitted four counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and three of possessing an indecent image of a child. The court heard that Bell confirmed to police he had been downloading indecent images of children for sexual gratification.

Rebecca Austin, defending, said: ‘This is a man who when police knocked on his door and identified why they were there he not only fully complied with the police, but he went further than that and showed them where the material was likely to be stored.’

Miss Austin said Bell was an active member of the church and community but had lost ‘what little social contact he had’ due to his crimes.

Judge Peter Dixon Crabtree sentenced Bell, of Havant Road, Drayton, Portsmouth, to a three-year community order and put him under supervision for three years.

He must take part in an offender treatment programme and pay £350 costs.

Bell, who is of previous good character, committed the offences between June 2011 and January 2014.

He has had to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register and was made subject to a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

An order was made for the images and associated equipment seized to be forfeited and destroyed.

Addressing Bell, Judge Crabtree said: ‘The images were made or possessed over a period of two-and-a-half years.

‘You clearly had a sexual interest in young males which resulted in material being downloaded and possessed on a regular basis.’

Peter Thompson – Wesham/Fylde

0
0

October 2014

‘Social pariah’ gets five years in prison

pt

A Fylde man convicted of sexually assaulting two girls has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years jail.

Peter Thompson, 52, was jailed at Preston Crown Court after a jury convicted him of six counts of sexual assault on two girls under 13.

Thompson of Station Road, Wesham had denied the charges.

Michael Maher, defending, handed in a number of references on behalf of Thompson.

A pre sentence report by probation had called the offences an “aberration”. There didn’t appear to be a significant risk to girls of similar offending and Thompson did not present as a sophisticated sex offender.

Mr Maher told the court: “It was such an aberration for someone who had otherwise led a law abiding lifestyle and who has channelled his energies not just in a positive way, but an exemplary way.

“But for this, he was a model member of the community. As a result of these offences, he is now a social pariah.”

The barrister added that people inside and outside the defendant’s community had genuine reason to be grateful to Thompson.

He knew that an immediate jail term would follow.

Judge Robert Altham told Thompson as he passed sentence: “These are matters so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence can be warranted.”

Michael Cropton – Gloucester

0
0

October 2014

Manipulative paedophile jailed for 20 years for sex crimes against children in Bristol and Gloucester

mc

An evil paedophile who met a woman on a dating website went on to commit a serious of sickening sexual offences against children in Bristol and Gloucester.

Michael Cropton, 42, of Stonehouse, Gloucester, was jailed for 20 years at Bristol Crown Court today. He will also serve an extended six year licence following the prison sentence and will be placed on the sex offenders’ register. He also received a Sexual Offenders Prevention Order (SOPO) to run indefinitely.

A 39-year-old woman was also jailed for 32 months in connection with this investigation. She cannot be named for legal reasons.

She will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Cropton and the woman jointly admitted one count of conspiracy to sexually assault a child under the age of 13 and arranging/facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

These charges relate to two girls.

In addition, Cropton also admitted four counts of rape in relation to a third victim, a boy.

Cropton met the woman through an online dating site in 2013 and over a period of time encouraged the woman to become involved in the sexual abuse of children.

Det Insp Gary Stephens, of Avon and Somerset Police’s Public Protection Unit, said: “This has been a distressing and harrowing investigation involving the horrific sexual abuse of children.

“Michael Cropton is a devious and manipulative man who used classic grooming techniques to identify vulnerable children he could abuse.

“He admitted these offences due to the overwhelming evidence against him which resulted from the hard work of the investigation team.

“We believe there could be more victims out there and I hope the outcome of this case will encourage people to come forward and speak to us in confidence.

“I would also appeal to anyone who has been in a relationship with Michael Cropton to please get in touch with us.

“Cropton is now in the right place and the community is a much safer place without him in it.”

Terry Moule – Whitfield

0
0

October 2014

Paedophile jailed for inciting a person under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity

terry

A VICTIM’S family has told how they have finally been able to sleep at night after “vile” child sex pest Terry Moule was put behind bars last week.

The warped Whitfield resident was found guilty of causing or inciting a person under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity at Canterbury Crown Court on September 12.

The 51-year-old, who worked at the Kittiwake pub in Whitfield from 2010 until September this year, was jailed for four-and-a-half years on Friday.

Moule denied the charge. But Judge James O’Mahony, giving his sentencing remarks, said: “It is quite clear you did commit this serious offence. You came back and, whatever you say, it’s perfectly clear to me that you were drunk.

“The victim said you were standing there saying you would really like to have sex with her, that you were aroused and that you wanted to do it right now.

“When she said that she did not want to, that she was not even a teenager yet, you just kept on and on and on with it.”

The judge added: “We have all read the victim statement and it is clear the impact this whole incident had upon that person.


Michael Ewers – Maidenhead/Warminster

0
0

July 2009

Paedophile jailed for assault committed 20 years ago

00

A judge has jailed a paedophile for crimes committed in Maidenhead more than 20 years ago.

Michael Ewers, who lived in Aldebury Road, Maidenhead, was convicted after his victim, now a 32-year-old married dad, went to police last year.

The victim described how, as an 11-year-old, he had been groomed by Ewers, then aged 20, who he saw as a \’father figure\’.

Prosecutor Daniel Fugallo said Ewers, now 41, gradually encouraged the boy into sexual activity with him at three addresses in the town around 1988.

Judge John Reddihough  passed a jail sentence of eight years for the serious sexual assault during Tuesday\’s hearing at Reading Crown Court.

For two counts of gross indecency with a child he handed down terms of 12 months and for a further two counts he passed sentences of 18 months. All the terms are to be served concurrently.

Ewers, a paramedic who now lives in Warren Road, Warminster, Wiltshire, must also sign onto the Sex Offenders\’ Register for life.

Armond Prentice – Knottingley

0
0

February 2012

Man jailed for 12 years for the sexual abuse of child

555

 

 

Lewis Cole – Birmingham

0
0

October 2014

Rapist boasted ‘I’ll spend 15 years in prison for this’ during horrific attack recorded by 16-year-old victim

Lewis-Cole

A man who raped a 16-year-old girl five times was jailed after a victim recorded his final horrific attack on her mobile phone.

Lewis Cole, 20, boasted “I’ll spend 15 years in prison for this”, which was caught on a recording after he lured the girl into a field in Solihull.

He was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court for 12 and a half years for five counts of rape, all of them against the same victim.

Cole, from Acocks Green, Birmingham, carried out the offences from June 2013 to February 2014

Tom Schofield, prosecuting, said: “The victim agreed to meet him and took her mum’s mobile phone with her.

“She was hoping he would make a confession which she could record.”

In the recording, Cole was heard saying: “Don’t be scared, I’m being forceful. I’ll spend 15 years in prison for this.”

It was only after the prolonged attack, during which the victim pleaded for him to stop, that he went on to say: “What have I done? I’m a monster.”

Cole denied the offence when initially questioned, even sending messages to the girl’s father, saying: “What kind of sick girl lies about being raped?”

Mr Schofield added: “This was a campaign of rape and severe psychological harm and humiliation.”

Addressing the rapist, Judge Abbas Mithani said: “Until the mobile evidence was produced you distanced yourself.

“You only came clean about this despicable conduct when it was inconceivable that a jury, properly directed, would accept a plea of innocence.

“This victim was violated and degraded by what you did on that occasion, as she had been on the previous four occasions. The long-lasting effects of this appalling behaviour can never be underestimated.

“The fact is that these offences took place over a long period of time and involved appalling abuse of the victim. It is a fallacy to suggest you felt any great shame or empathy for the victim.”

Niall Skinner, defending, said: “He is quick not to use that as an excuse. He is keen to acknowledge these offences were committed by him. There is no-one else to blame.”

He was told after serving his sentence that he would remain on licence for an extended period of three years.

Norman Shepherd – Poling

0
0

October 2014

Mother turns detective to trap ‘monster’ churchwarden who sexually abused her son when he was five 

NWS-JGL-SHEPHERD-0100914-3

A mother turned detective to catch the ‘monster’ who abused her son by covertly recording him admitting his vile crimes.

She confronted retired dentist Norman Shepherd, a trusted family friend, after her son, now in his 20s, broke down and told her he was sexually assaulted hundreds of times between the ages of five and 12.

During the conversation Shepherd, 78, a former churchwarden, admitted the crime – but when the mother tells him she plans to go to the police, he replies: ‘Alright. It’s going to be his word against mine.’

Unbeknown to him the entire exchange was being recorded by the mother, against the advice of police who had told her not to go near him. 

Shepherd was later jailed for 15 years and four months after she helped uncover the perverted double life of the supposed pillar of society.

Yesterday the mother, from an affluent area of the Home Counties, said: ‘I had a total determination that the monster will go to prison.’ She said that when her son – who she described as ‘an inspiration who is making a success of his life’ – first told her of the abuse ‘it felt like my heart had been ripped out’.

On the day her son broke down in September last year she rang Shepherd and asked him to explain himself, recording the conversation on a mobile phone. 

Throughout the exchange, which has been heard by the Mail, married Shepherd’s tone remains matter of fact as he tries to play things down. 

After he says: ‘I’m not denying we were very close…’, the mother insists on a face to face meeting with him the next day at his Grade-II listed home in the village of Poling, West Sussex.

SECRET TAPE RECORDINGS THAT DAMNED A MONSTER 

THE PHONE CALL

MOTHER: I’ve just been talking to my son and he’s broken down… He’s told me the things you used to do to him as a little boy, and what you did was absolutely unforgivable and I want to know your comments.

SHEPHERD: I don’t know…

MOTHER: What do you mean you don’t know? I’m going to be contacting the police… So you better think about what you did over all those years. It was… when [my husband] used to bring him down to your house and he was tucked up in bed at night you used to go into his bedroom…

SHEPHERD: No, he used to come into bed with me…

MOTHER: He used to come into bed with you, did he?

SHEPHERD: I’m sorry.

MOTHER: Ok, well you will be sorry… because you are not going to get away with this. My son was the most beautiful, beautiful, innocent child… and you abused him over all those years, and now you are going to try and deny it.

SHEPHERD: Wait a minute, what brought it on?

MOTHER: He’s carried this burden for all these years… he bottled everything up. And I tell you now, he has broken down…

SHEPHERD: I’m sorry.

MOTHER: Is that all you’ve got to say? Are you going to deny it?

SON: It’s affected me quite a bit.

SHEPHERD: I’m not denying we were very close…

SON: Very close? What do you mean? You used to come to my bedroom.

(They arrange to meet the next day at 11am at Shepherd’s house)

THE MEETING

MOTHER (voice trembling with emotion): Have you abused any other children? This went on for years, every time he came down with [his father], you used to wake [my son] up in the middle of the night and sexually abuse him.

SHEPHERD: No…

MOTHER: Yes you did.

SHEPHERD: No, no… I love him too much actually.

MOTHER: What did you do to him? Spell out exactly what you did. 

SHEPHERD: I’m not saying I’m not guilty, I’m guilty of being too friendly to him.

MOTHER: [My husband] came down here, to do work for you, and all the time you were abusing his son, his most precious possession. He idolised our son, if he knew you laid a finger on his head he would…

SHEPHERD: I never forced him to do anything…

MOTHER: He was a child! He was a boy, an innocent… He was the quietest child, he would never say boo to a goose. All his teenage life he’s been quiet and humble, and he’s had the abuse you caused him locked in his body. You don’t know the damage you’ve done to this boy… you are not going to get away with this.

SHEPHERD (to her son): I’m sorry. I just hope that sometime you can forgive me.

MOTHER: The police are going to be involved.

SHEPHERD: Alright. It’s going to be his word against mine.

These are edited versions of both transcripts.

Following a sleepless night, she told police what had happened and that she was going to see Shepherd. 

She said: ‘They told me under no circumstance to go near him. I ignored them – but thank goodness I did. I recorded the whole meeting and he admitted it.’

She and her son, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, went to Shepherd’s house together. 

She used the same mobile phone to secretly record the conversation as she challenged him over why he abused her son.

The attacks happened while her son stayed overnight at Shepherd’s home with his father, who had counted Shepherd as a friend and was helping him with some work, and at social gatherings.

Shepherd, whose wife was present at the meeting and did not know he is a paedophile, sickeningly claimed to ‘love’ the boy. 

He then tried to excuse his attacks by claiming he was himself abused by his biology master at school. Shepherd was arrested and later admitted abusing three other young boys.

Eventually he pleaded guilty to 27 counts in total against his four victims, including 12 of indecent assault and two of attempted rape on the boy whose mother confronted him.

Sentencing Shepherd at Chichester Crown Court on May 9, Judge Christopher Parker QC told him that behind a ‘sham facade’ he had spent 17 years between 1993 and 2010 grooming, gaining the confidence of and sexually abusing his victims ‘out of deviant lust’.

Shepherd must serve nine years in prison before becoming eligible for release.

Yesterday Sussex Police confirmed that material recorded by the mother formed part of the case against Shepherd.

A force spokesman said: ‘However, this was not presented in court as evidence as the case did not go to trial as Shepherd pleaded guilty.’

 

Peter Stoker – Shildon

0
0

October 2014

Four years jail for man who abused three children

sh

A MAN who sexually abused three different children at different times over three decades has been jailed for four years.

It was only when concerns were raised over Peter Stoker’s actions last year that police became involved and spoke separately to the three alleged victims.

Durham Crown Court heard they all gave an account of the abuse they suffered at his hands, and he was arrested.

Stoker, 56, of John Street, Shildon, County Durham, who has no previous convictions, went on to admit four counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault on a child and one of indecency with a child, at a preliminary hearing in the case, in July.

Sentence was adjourned to allow for preparation of reports on Stoker by the Probation Service and a psychologist.

Returning to court for a sentencing hearing, the court was read victim statements in which the abused trio spoke of the long-term harm suffered at his hands.

They referred to the fact they felt “helpless” at the time, and one described feeling “physically sick” when discovering others had been abused by Stoker.

Tom Mitchell, mitigating, told the court the defendant has a low IQ just above the level that can be dealt with in a criminal court.

Mr Mitchell said: “He has always had problems not helped by experiences in his own life.

“As well as having limited cogent skills and function, he suffered at the hands of others when he was but a young boy.

“There’s no enormous amount of sophistication. With his limited function, he has reacted to some underlying desire that surfaces in his mind.”

Jailing him, Recorder Ian Atherton also made Stoker subject of a sexual offences prevention order, for 15 years, and registration as a sex offender, for life.

Michael Girkin – Headington

0
0

October 2014

25 year old History PhD Student at Oxford University viewed child ‘torture’ images

A HISTORY PhD student who viewed indecent photos of children being sexually abused and tortured on his computer told police he was just “curious” after hearing about such images in the media.

But Michael Girkin, of Windmill Road, Headington, was told on Friday by a judge in Oxford Crown Court that, given 724 of the pictures had been saved, his interest in them must have gone further.

Sparing the 25-year-old Oxford University student jail, Judge Zoe Smith said 97 of the images were at the highest level and in her view depicted the “torture” of children.

Prosecutor Matthew Walsh said the photos were found on October 24 last year by Girkin’s flatmate, who the defendant had asked to email him files from his computer.

Mark Sharman, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and was highly educated and, having received two degrees, is currently studying for a PhD in history.

He said: “He maintains that the reason for his having downloaded these images was a product of stupid curiosity born out of media coverage of such cases.

“He is acutely aware of the devastating effect they have on the lives of children, he knows that viewing these images perpetuates that abuse.”

He added that Girkin pleaded guilty to one count of making indecent images of children at the first possible opportunity.

Judge Smith told him: “You say you were looking at these images out of curiosity, but it must have gone further than that and you must accept it.

“These children are real children and when it comes to the highest level of images it is simply torture.”

She sentenced him to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with a Cyber Safe activity requirement and a two-year supervision requirement.

He was also told to pay £650 costs and an £80 victims’ surcharge.

Girkin will spend seven years on the sex offenders’ register and was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order

Neil Barker – Bridlington

0
0

October 2014

Chatroom comments lead police to pervert and 500 indecent pictures of children

A PAEDOPHILE caught with hundreds of indecent images of children has avoided prison. Neil Barker, 55, who logged on to an internet chatroom to access and discuss the images, was told the usual practice in a case such as his was to send the offender to prison.

But having observed a “demanding” sexual offences rehabilitation programme, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said he felt the public interest would “unquestionably” best be served by ordering Barker to attend such a course, as an alternative to jail.

Prosecutor John Thackray told Hull Crown Court how ten of the 500 images found on two laptops belonging to Barker were found to fall in Category A – the most serious level.

“The police received information that there had been inappropriate chatroom content coming from the defendant’s email address,” said Mr Thackray.

“Officers attended his home and they seized two laptops.

“They were examined and more than 500 images were recovered.”

Barker, of Sirius Court, Bridlington, admitted four counts of making indecent images, one count of distributing an indecent image and one count of possessing extreme pornography, which depicted sex with animals.

He told officers he had entered the chatroom because he was “simply curious”, said Mr Thackray.

However, the prosecutor said data recovered from the laptops showed Barker had a sexual interest in children, because he told another user he liked one of the images.

His barrister, Joanna Golding, said her client was “deeply shamed and remorseful” and wanted help to tackle his offending.

She said: “He makes no excuses and says he deserves to be punished.”

Judge Richardson said the offences committed by Barker, who had no previous convictions, warranted a prison sentence.

However, he sentenced Barker to a three-year community order, which requires him to attend a treatment programme designed for those who have committed web-based sexual offences.

“I do not want anyone to misunderstand the nature of this sentence,” said Judge Richardson.

“If I passed a sentence of imprisonment, you could come out of prison as bad as you went in, potentially worse. That is not in the public interest.

“But one fall from grace, just one missed session, and you will go to prison.”

Barker was also given a five-year sexual offences prevention order.


Gary Rolph – Broadstairs

0
0

October 2014

Broadstairs pervert jailed for 17 years after admitting 10 sex offences on children

br

A Broadstairs pervert – who sexually abused four children – has been jailed for a total of 17 years.

Gary Rolph – dressed in a dark green sweater – stood impassive in the dock as the judge passed sentences totaling 49 years for the 10 offences.

Judge Heather Norton ruled that that all bar two of the jail terms should run concurrently, but a 12-year and a five-year sentence would be consecutive, making 17 years.

The judge was told that since the police were alerted the predator had lost his job, his home and his marriage because of his crimes and will die “a broken and lonely old man”.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how he bribed, threatened and groomed his young victims to slake his vile distorted lust for sex with children.

Prosecutor John O’Higgins told how on one occasion he offered £50, then £100 and finally £150 to a schoolgirl for sex – but she refused.

Rolph, of Prince Charles Road, threatened one girl he would “stop her breathing” if she didn’t agree to his perverted wishes.

The prosecutor said other victims were plied with brandies or the vodka alcopop WKD before the sick pervert abused them.

One girl was locked in his van and told she would be raped if she didn’t agree to his demands. 

Rolph admitted 10 sex charges including attempted rape and another five – which he had denied – were ordered to be left on the file.

Judge Norton told him he had shown no remorse for his attacks and only pleaded guilty the day before a trial was due to start when the four victims would have been forced to re-live their ordeals.

She said the sex fiend had tried to blame one of the girls for forcing him to carry out the sex attacks – and accused the other three of telling lies.

“All four of your victims are without blame – you have extremely distorted thinking. That’s the assessment of the probation officer and I agree with it.”

Bryan Douglas – Rock Ferry

0
0

October 2014

Pervert jailed after raping very young girl and a teenager in Rock Ferry

rock

A sexual predator who subjected two young girls to a catalogue of sickening abuse was jailed for a total of 17 years.

Bryan Douglas, 31, was arrested when his victims, one of whom was less than ten years old at the time of the offences, reported his horrendous crimes to police.

But Douglas, from Rock Ferry, Wirral, tried to brazen it out and denied multiple charges of rape and sexual assault, forcing his victims to go through the stress of a trial.

The two child victims, one of whom is now an adult, gave evidence at Douglas’ trial last month where, although he admitted having sex with a teenage girl, he denied raping both of them and denied a further count of sexual assault.

On Monday he was jailed for 17 years by a judge who said he was a danger to children.

As well as the lengthy sentence he received an additional five year extended license meaning for the next 22 years, once he gets out of prison, he will be able to be locked up if he breaches any conditions of his release.

He will not be able to apply for parole for at least 12 years and is also subject to a sexual offences prevention order preventing him from associating with children.

He is also on the sex offenders register for life.

The case was investigated by specialist detectives from the Child Protection Unit within Wirral’s Family Crime Investigation Unit, one of whom told the ECHO: “Douglas subjected the victims to unimaginable sexual abuse when he was an adult and when they were children and at their most vulnerable.

“He maintained his innocence throughout the investigation, denying the allegations and again throughout the week-long trial, denying what he had done to the victims.

“The bravery of the victims has been outstanding and their evidence was absolutely crucial to the case. They found the courage to report what had happened toMerseyside Police and they were supported by us, and the Rape Specialist Unit within the CPS, during an extremely challenging time.

“Douglas has a very long time in prison to think about what he has done. We hope this case sends out a strong message to anyone who is, or has suffered sexual abuse, whether it is recent or historic, that we will take this type of crime extremely seriously.

“We hope this will encourage more people to find the courage needed to come forward. Merseyside Police is here for you and will support you through the process and take action against the perpetrators.

“Officers would also like to warn people who think they can get away it, that they can’t and won’t. If people speak out then we will do everything in our power to put the offenders before the courts.”

James Frost – Lincoln

0
0

October 2014

Lincoln man admits 30 charges involving child abuse images and supplying drugs to teenagers

A man who admitted 30 charges involving indecent pictures of children and supplying drugs to teenage girls is to face sentence next month.

James Frost,29, of no fixed address but originally living in the Lincoln area had been due to stand trial this week at the city’s Crown Court but entered guilty pleas before a jury was sworn in.

Frost admitted seven charges of inciting child abuse images, five charge of causing child pornography. He also admitted sexual activity with a child, causing a child to watch a sexual act, inciting a child to engage in a sexual act and possession of an indecent photograph of a child.

Frost also pleaded guilty to 13 charges of supplying drugs including cocaine, ketamine and cannabis together with a charge of possession of cocaine with intent to supply.

The offences, which involve a number of different girls aged between 12 and 17, took place on dates between June 2011 and August 2013.

Frost was remanded in custody to appear back in court for sentence in December.

Brian Hedge – York

0
0

October 2014

SEX offender who publicly exposed himself where children could see him on their way to school, has been given a suspended prison sentence

Sam Law, prosecuting, said Brian Hedge, 68, behaved in an indecent way in the hallway of his house with the net curtain in his front door window pulled back.

He was clearly visible to two workmen in a vehicle in the street, which was busy at the time with parents and children walking to school.

He had committed a similar offence in April 2013 and has a long record of sexual offences, York Magistrates Court heard.

District judge Adrian Lower told Hedge: “What you did was thoroughly anti-social, it was deliberate, it was done for your own satisfaction. You must have known because you live in the road there would have been a number of people walking up and down including school children.”

He gave Hedge a 16-week prison sentence suspended for two years on condition he did two years’ supervision and attend a sex offender treatment programme.

Hedge, of Wilberforce Avenue, Clifton, pleaded guilty to indecent exposure. He is on the sex offenders’ register and the probation service assess him as highly likely to reoffend.

His solicitor Chris McGrogan said: “He is a lonely gentleman in poor health and he suffers from depression. He feels very lonely and isolated.”

But when he was being supervised by the probation service, he did not offend, as he had not offended during the community order he received in April 2013.

Keith Whitworth – Bedale

0
0

October 2014

Judge’s frustration over sentencing options for flasher who went from town to town targeting children

A JUDGE has expressed frustration at the sentencing options available to him after hearing how a man went from town to town committing indecent acts in front of children.

Keith Whitworth was arrested after the fifth in a series of incidents that took place over a six-week period around the summer holiday period.

Judge Michael Taylor said he believed the defendant had deliberately targeted areas where he knew young people would be and carried out the offences in a calculated manner in towns across the region.

Sentencing Whitworth to three years’ supervision, the judge expressed his frustration at not being able to pass a custodial sentence that would enable him to enforce a suitable treatment programme.

He said: “I take a very serious view of the fact that these offences were over a number of weeks and you went from town to town where you targeted areas where there was young children present.”

He added: “If I was able to impose a prison sentence and ensure that you could get suitable treatment in prison, that would be appropriate and that is what the public would want me to do. However, the two custodial sentences I have available to me do not enable me to do that.”

Today, the wheelchair-bound offender came face to face with the parents of two of the children who witnessed him performing a sex act near to their home.

Speaking outside Teesside Magistrates Court, which sat a Crown Court for sentencing purposes, the couple said they were disappointed at the sentence, but wanted to draw a line underneath the horrendous experience.

The father said: “We are disappointed that he wasn’t sent to prison, but we realise that it is better that he gets treatment so that he won’t do this again to any other young children.

“As far as we are concerned he is a danger to the public, but we have to put this behind us now and help our children get over the trauma that they experienced. He has ruined so many lives with his despicable behaviour.

“I’m pleased his parents were in court to hear exactly what their son has done.”

Earlier, the court heard how the 37-year-old had struck in Catterick Village and Bedale, in North Yorkshire, and in Darlington and Newton Aycliffe.

The last incident happened in Darlington on August 15 and involved a 12-year-old girl who had also seen Whitworth expose himself weeks earlier in the town centre.

CCTV captured a full licence plate and Whitworth, of Burneston, near Bedale, was arrested.

He confessed to another exposure offence in Newton Aycliffe in January, and has since admitted his activities have been going on for three years.

Whitworth admitted two charges of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and four of exposure.

In mitigation, barrister Tom Mitchell said his client was horrified by his actions.

On top of the supervision order, Whitworth, who spent two months on remand, was put on the sex offenders register and subjected to a six-month curfew between 9.30pm and 7.30am each day.

Viewing all 8959 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images