December 2014

Child killer jailed for life with minimum of 35 years for slashing his baby daughter’s throat and battering ex-partner to death

December 2014

North Wales Police bailed convicted sex offender who then assaulted another female on Wrexham bus

A young woman’s ordeal on a bus next to a convicted sex offender probably wouldn’t have occurred had police acted quicker in charging him for another offence months earlier, a judge said.

Judge Rhys Rowlands at Caernarfon Crown court said John Edward Tissington, 39, who has Huntington’s disease, was under a suspended sentence for sexually touching a number of women at Chester.

But early this year he was accused of sending Facebook messages of a sexual nature to a girl of 15, asking her to meet him for a “threesome,” and he sent her lewd photographs.

Her father contacted police and Tissington was arrested at his home at Saltney.

The judge said: “While being given bail and on a suspended sentence he commits a very unpleasant sexual assault.”

”If he hadn’t been bailed, he wouldn’t have been in a position to commit a further offence. Why are North Wales Police bailing people subject to a suspended sentence?”

Prosecuting counsel John Philpotts said Tissington had been given police bail in February for examination of his computer equipment.

The judge added: “Maybe I am being unfair but it appeared he could have been charged without the forensic examination.

“If he had been charged at an earlier stage, in all probability that young lady wouldn’t have been touched sexually, would she?”

Mr Philpotts replied: ”There is no proper answer to that.”

The prosecutor said in July the woman had got on a bus at Wrexham and had seen Tissington staring at her and he then sat down next to her. As the bus moved off he pressed himself against her and put his hand on her knee. She was distressed and unable to sleep afterwards.

Tissington, who had been living at the Plas y Wern probation hostel at Ruabon, was jailed for two years after he admitted inciting sexual activity and sexual assault. Three months of the suspended sentence was activated consecutively.

Simon Rogers defending said Tissington’s condition was “effectively a death sentence” and contributed to his behaviour.

Judge Rowlands told Tissington: “Were it not for your present condition, it would be a sentence far longer.” Tissington must register as a sex offender for ten years.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Williams said: “John Tissington was arrested in February 2014 on suspicion of sexual assault and interviewed at a police station. There was insufficient evidence to charge him at the time and we were compelled to bail him from the police station pending further enquiries.

“Between February and July a large number of enquiries were undertaken in order to gather further evidence. During this time North Wales Police worked with partners and agreed a risk management plan. Despite this he went on to commit a similar offence whilst on police bail for which he was also charged.”

December 2014

Vile paedophile who molested girl, 10, jailed for four years

An ‘opportunistic’ Swindon paedophile has been jailed for four years for molesting a 10-year-old girl.

Mark Warren, 52, will also have to sign the sexual offenders’ register for the next 10 years after he began touching the girl on a regular basis following his wife’s death.

At Swindon Crown Court earlier this month Warren was found guilty of three counts of sexually assaulting the young girl and attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was sentenced today at Gloucester Crown Court by Recorder Peter Towler.

Prosecutor Rebecca Fairbairn told the court the attacks took place after Warren tickled the girl and had play fights.

She said: “One incident involved him squeezing and touching her naked breast.

“Another offence relates to touching the complainant’s breast over her clothes, on a number of occasions, no less than four to five times.”

He also touched her inappropriately at other times and encouraged her to do the same to him.

“She was in year six at school when it took place and the defendant would start tickling her and would get rough with her,” said Ms Fairbairn.

Christopher Smyth, defending Warren, of Colbourne Street, said a pre-sentence report made it clear he still denied the offences.

He told the court: “It is not insignificant that it happened after the death of his wife. Prior to her death he was a happily married man.

“He has worked for a company for 33 years, he owned his own property after he paid off the mortgage and has no debt.

“For this to have happened, well it is devastating. It has completely turned up his life. He is of previous good character and at low risk of reoffending.

“In the past he barely has had more than a parking ticket.”

The court heard Warren had been suspended from his job since the allegations came to light and was expecting to be dismissed.

Recorder Towler said the assaults took place on a regular basis and had a severe effect on the girl.

He told Warren: “She told a friend of her mother’s and it was only after counselling that she felt able to speak to the police.

“She was not prepared, for a long time, to even talk to her mother.

“It has affected her relationship with boys and feelings while she was in the presence of men wondering what they are thinking and doing.

“It has had a huge impact on her life and she needs to be able to move forward.

“It has had a serious psychological effect on her, which is hardly surprising.”

December 2014

Plymouth paedophile jailed for six years for abusing two girls

A PAEDOPHILE who sexually assaulted two girls has been jailed for six years.

Paul Warren Scott, aged 46, abused the children and attempted to indecently touch another more than 20 years ago, a jury decided.

One of his victims only came forward after reading a newspaper report about his trial for possession of vile images of girls three years ago, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

Scott, of Hill Park Crescent, Greenbank, went on trial again over four days when he denied five offences.

But he was convicted on all counts by unanimous verdicts after just over two hours of deliberation.

Scott was found guilty of indecently assaulting one girl three times in Plymouth between 1990 and 1992.

He also indecently assaulted another child once and attempted to indecently assault another in Torbay between 1986 and 1991.

The three victims all gave evidence – but Scott accused them all of telling lies.

Judge Graham Cottle jailed him for five years for the Plymouth sexual assaults with another 12 months consecutive for the Torbay attack.

He will serve half of that time behind bars, but will remain on the Sex Offender Register for life.

Scott has also been given an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order meaning he cannot stay with anyone under 16.

Judge Cottle said reports of his trial at Truro Crown Court for possessing indecent images had encouraged his victims to come forward.

He added: “It is very likely that but for what happened in July 2011 that each one of the complainants would have gone to their graves nursing the secret of being sexually abused by you. Maybe this trial will give them some closure.”

Scott, who has lived in Plymouth and Torbay and worked as a butcher and carpenter, was convicted of having almost 400 indecent child images. He was jailed for 30 weeks.

His Plymouth victim came forward and then police traced the other girls.

Officer in the case DC Simon Rawlinson said after the verdicts: “This trial came about because of a good positive report by The Herald.

“Those allegations gave these victims the confidence to come forward. They have been very brave in giving their evidence.

“Scott has received a well-reasoned and just sentence.”

Scott’s former partner Kate Tolman, who gave evidence at the indecent images trial, returned to the stand again when he disputed the verdict from 2011.

She called the police when she found the vile pictures on his phone.

Ms Tolman said: “It is a brilliant sentence. I am very pleased and proud of the witnesses. It takes a lot of guts to give evidence.”

DC Rawlinson urged anyone else affected by issues in the case to contact police on telephone number 101.

September 2011

Man jailed for downloading child abuse pictures

A carpenter found guilty of downloading almost 400 indecent images of children after his girlfriend shopped him to police has been jailed.

Paul Warren Scott has been sentenced to 30 weeks in prison and ordered to register as a child sex offender for 10 years.

A judge at Truro Crown Court said he had little alternative but to imprison Scott, 42, who refused to accept that he had a problem and seemed unlikely to engage with any programmes designed to rehabilitate sex offenders.

Outside court, Scott’s former partner Jillian Kate Tolman, who reported him to the police after discovering some of the images on his mobile phone, welcomed the prison sentence and urged others to help stamp out the menace of child pornography.

She said: “I’m happy he’s been given a custodial sentence. The more people you convict of this sort of thing, the better place the world’s going to be.

“I certainly don’t regret calling the police and I would urge other people to do the same.”

Scott, of no fixed abode but formerly from Plymouth, was convicted in July of 13 counts of making and possessing 390 indecent images of children between September 2006 and October 2009.

Nine images were found on his mobile phone with the remainder discovered on three computers he owned and a fourth he used at his then-girlfriend’s home, at Saltash, in South East Cornwall, where she lived with her three children.

Miss Tolman reported Scott to the police on October 30 2009 after flicking through pictures on his mobile phone and discovering indecent images of a young girl.

However, Scott maintained his innocence and insisted that a friend, whom he refused to name, had carried out the crimes.

Deni Mathews, defending, told the court yesterday that Scott had lost his job, his home and his family life and the convictions would continue to “have a profound impact on him in the future”.

In sentencing Scott to an immediate term in prison, Judge Christopher Elwen said: “You still deny downloading any of the images involved and claim a third party, whom you were not prepared to name, was responsible for everything that was found.

“That case was rejected by the jury in less than half an hour.

“The thought is that you won’t engage with any of the accredited programmes because in your view no help is needed.”

He added that although the offences involved the possession of indecent images, rather than actually abusing victims, “it is nevertheless the case that there is significant physical and psychological harm inflicted on children by those who produce these images and put them out on the internet for people to find.”

December 2008

Blackburn ‘predator’ jailed for sexual assault on girl, 14

A ‘PREDATOR’ who attempted to snatch a 14-year-old papergirl at knifepoint and sexually assault her has been jailed for three years.

Tahir Haddadi, 26, of Hosier Street, Blackburn, threatened the youngster with a three-inch blade and demanded that she perform a sex act on him, police said

Haddadi, a worker at a local cash and carry depot, was convicted of sexual assault and kidnap at Preston Crown Court where he was sent to prison.

After the case, Detective Constable Lee Eckersley said Haddadi struck at around 6.30am on July 3 last year in Audley Lane, Audley.

He said that after Haddadi pounced on the girl he threatened her and tried to take her to a secluded area.

But, as he was walking with her and threatening her with a knife, she began to become very upset and started crying.

He said that as the girl began to cry Haddadi ran off and she was able to escape.

She reported the incident when she was back in the safety of her home.

DC Eckersley said: “The incident has left her absol-utely devastated.

“She is getting her confid-ence back now but she was left scared to go outside for a long period.

“This was a very serious incident and has an aggrav-ating feature because of his use of a knife.

“She was very lucky in my opinion that the incident was not a lot worse.

“Haddadi is a predator and a coward.

“He has always denied the offence but we are delighted that he has now been convicted and the victim and her family can start to put the incident behind them.”

DC Eckersley said that the incident happened as the girl completed her normal paper route.

He said: “He saw the young girl early in the morning when she was going about her paper round and formed his intentions.”

December 2014

Sex offender jailed for child abuse told: ‘I hope you rot in Hell’

A rapist and paedophile has been jailed for seven years to shouts of “I hope you rot in Hell”.

Robert Douglas, 57, preyed on children and subjected a woman to a lengthy ordeal of abuse at homes in Aberdeen.

A judge told the sex offender at the High Court in Edinburgh: “The fact of the matter is justice has now caught up with you.”

Judge Edward Bowen QC said there was no question anything other a substantial custodial sentence could be imposed on Douglas.

Douglas, formerly of Bramble Brae in Aberdeen, was earlier found guilty of assaulting a girl when she was aged 12 or 13 with intent to rape her at a house in Aberdeen.

He asked the schoolgirl for sex and ignored her when she refused. She was forced to the ground and held down as he tried to kiss her during the assault which occurred between 1973 and 1975.

Douglas was also convicted of violently assaulting and raping a woman in the city at different addresses between 1974 and 1981. He threatened her and demanded she have sex with him.

The woman was punched in the face, kicked on the body and forced to the ground. He also seized hold of her hair and threw her on a bed. She was forced to sit in a bath of cold water for a prolonged period of time.

Douglas’ last victim was a five-year-old girl who he molested and indecently touched in the early 1980s.

Defence counsel Neil Murray QC told the court: “He is under no illusions about the gravity of the offences.”

He said Douglas was distressed to have found himself in the situation he was in.

Mr Murray said a background report prepared on Douglas had indicated that an appropriate means of dealing with the case might be a community-based disposal, but added that the court may consider that unrealistic in the circumstances.

As Douglas was led off to start his sentence a woman sitting in the public benches of the court told him: “I hope you rot in Hell.”

He was placed on the sex offenders register.

December 2014

Man who had sex with girl, 14, in woodland is jailed

A young man who had sex with a 14-year-old schoolgirl in woodland was jailed for three years and four months.

Lewis Colclough pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child in November last year, when he was 20.

Leicester Crown Court was told the defendant communicated with the girl on Facebook and they later exchanged phone text messages before meeting up.

Judge Simon Hammond said: “He he took her to Leicester’s Braunstone Park.

“She said she was cold and he hugged her and when they sat on a bench they hugged and kissed.

“He took her into a wood and told her to get on the floor.”

The judge said Colclough then had unprotected sex with the girl, who was a virgin.

Afterwards he walked her away from the woods and told her not to tell anyone.

However, the child’s mother found out and the defendant was arrested.

Colclough, now aged 21, of Cressida Place, Braunstone, initially denied any wrongdoing, but his DNA was found on her jeans.

Judge Hammond said: “This was planned.

“He knew she was 14 and he took her into the woods.

“She was a vulnerable girl with learning difficulties and there was a six year age gap.

“These provisions in law are there to protect young girls from sexual predators, as in this case.”

Judge Hammond said the pre-sentence report stated the defendant lacked insight into his offending and portrayed himself as the victim.

In mitigation, Mary Loran said Colclough was immature for his years and left “emotionally crippled” by a difficult childhood.

His mother left him on his grandmother’s doorstep when he was 15.

Miss Loran said: “He stands by his guilty plea and has taken the first step in a long journey to address what he’s done.

“He feels deep shame.

“He’s a young man who makes incredibly bad decisions and has had no boundaries in life.

“The victim did not want to make a complaint or even be involved in any part of this investigation at one time.”

Jude Hammond told the defendant: “You have to learn sexual boundaries.”

Colclough was placed on a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years and will also have to enrol on a sex offender register.

December 2014

Pervert had indecent photos of children and images of bestiality on his mobile phone

A pervert who had indecent pictures of children and images of bestiality on mobile phones escaped custody when he was sentenced at Inverness Sheriff Court today.

First offender Zachariah Girdlestone was traced by police after uploading an image of children on Facebook.

When police searched his home, they found mobile phones containing indecent images of children, which had been sent to 30 other people. They also discovered photos of men and women having sex with animals, including dogs and horses.

Girdlestone (20) of Telford Road, Inverness, pleaded guilty to distributing or showing indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children between 17th December 2013 and 6th January 2014 and on January 6, 2014 being in possession of pornographic images involving adults and animals

Solicitor Neil Wilson told Sheriff Margaret Neilson there was a clear recommendation in the report that Girdlestone could be helped and wanted help.

He said the offences occurred after the break up of a relationship and he had turned to illicit substances.

But Mr Wilson said Girdlestone was now in a stable relationship and was being honest and open about his behaviour.

Sheriff Neilson ordered Girdlestone to carry out 300 hours of community service and placed him on a supervision order for a period of three years. He will also remain on the Sex Offenders Register for the three year period.

December 2014

Leicester foster parent found guilty of abusing young boys in his care

A foster parent who sexually abused four boys in his care was labelled a “sexual predator” and told to expect a long jail sentence.

Michael John Sharman (71) was convicted by a jury of a catalogue of 15 sex offences, some committed more than two decades ago, against four youngsters who were among dozens of children whose wellbeing he was entrusted with by the authorities.

Sharman crept into the vulnerable victims’ bedrooms at night or cornered them in a bathroom.

He told one scared child: “Let’s have some fun.”

Married Sharman, who denied any wrongdoing, claimed he had properly cared for “lots of children” over many years and accused the four victims of fabricating allegations of sexual abuse to get compensation.

Sharman, of Rowlatts Hill, Leicester, was remanded into custody to await sentencing in February.

After the verdicts at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Simon Hammond said: “You’ve been rightly convicted of very serious sexual offences against four young lads who were in your care as a foster parent.

“What you did to one particular boy was horrendous.

“The legacy is this sort of abuse is always very grave.

“It affects intimate relationships, trust, can cause self-harming and all sorts of dreadful things.

“The courts have a duty to protect vulnerable people from sexual predators like you.

“I’ll be considering a very lengthy sentence in your case to reflect the gravity.

“These were wicked offences.

“The boys were in your care as a foster parent and you abused that position.”

Sharman was convicted of five counts of indecent assault, one gross indecency, an attempted buggery and three offences of buggery on one boy. He was convicted of one count each of indecent assault against two boys and three offences of indecent assault on a fourth boy.

The crimes were committed on various dates between 1987 and 1994.

The boys were aged between nine and 15 years old.

James Thomas, prosecuting, said during the trial: “One complainant wasn’t able to report the abuse until 2012, after he’d found it increasingly difficult to cope.

“He was drinking excessively, taking drugs, often leaving home for days.

“When his partner confronted him he broke down and made an emotional revelation about the abuse he’d suffered.”

After the verdicts, officer in the case Det Con Gareth Gimson said: “We’re pleased with the verdicts for the victims who’ve had the courage to come forward after so many years.”

December 2014

Kilwinning man searched internet for child abuse images

A KILWINNING man has admitted possessing an indecent image of a child.

Christopher Davidson, of Byres Road, possessing the image at an address in Stobbs Terrace between January 2011 and April 2014.

Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard last week how Davidson was target of an investigation by the National Online Child Abuse Prevention team on March 27.

This was in relation to information received by police that Davidson was concerned in digital media which posed a risk to children by being in possession of indecent images of children.

A search warrant was granted and police attended his home on April 3 to execute the warrant.

Davidson, however, was not at home but officers began their search regardless. A laptop and its hard drive were initially recovered and Davidson was eventually traced at his mother’s house in Prestwick.

When he was cautioned by police Davidson, 36, told officers: “I have nothing to hide.” Davidson was brought to his house and remained there while the search continued.

An iPhone 5 mobile phone was recovered and when asked if he had any other similar devices he said he owned an iPad Mini and a Samsung laptop.

However, both of these had been taken to a Cash Generator shop. Police were able to retrieve both items from the shop and were sent to the police’s Digital Forensics Unit (DFU).

The DFU’s findings showed that an image had been recovered from his home laptop. The image was rated as a Level 1 image and described a young female aged 10-14 wearing a two-piece swimming costume and posing erotically.

A review of Davidson’s internet browsing history found searches such as “14-year-old girls”, “best 14-year-old sex sites”, “pre-teen nude”, and “child lover”.

When being interviewed by police on April 3, Davidson initially fully denied possessing any indecent images.

He appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week and pled guilty. His solicitor, Paul Gallacher, told the court how the image was contained in an internet folder on his browser.

He revealed how the image had been downloaded on January 14 from a free photo sharing website based in Russia.

Mr Gallacher added how the site is not private and can be accessed by members of the public.

In addition, he told the court how Davidson has now accepted his guilt in the matter.

December 2014

Judge reduces jail sentence for ‘child images addict’ who had almost 1/4 million indecent images on his computer

A MAN found with a “staggering” number of sordid images of children on his computer has had his sentence slashed on appeal.

Child abuse images “addict” Serge Faucheux, formerly of Befordshire, said he was “relieved” when cops discovered more than 240,000 perverted photos and videos on his computer.

Faucheux, 46, of Howell Hill Close, Mentmore, was caged for 32 months at Aylesbury Crown Court in September, after he admitted two counts of making indecent images of children.

Two top judges at London’s Appeal Court today upheld a sentence challenge by the French national – saying his jail term was “excessive” and cutting it to two years.

Judge Jeremy Carey said Faucheux confessed to accessing illicit material when police raided his then-home in Leighton Buzzard in February.

He pointed officers to a computer and an external hard drive – which contained almost a quarter of a million indecent still images and more than 1,000 videos.

The hoard of sick images had been collected over a six-year period.

A “very small proportion” – about three per cent – of the offending images were in the most obscene category, the appeal judge said.

Most of them featured young girls, aged between 10 and 13, although some children as young as five also featured, Judge Carey added.

Faucheux told the author of a pre-sentence report that he was “relieved” when he was caught as it would allow him to get help for his “addiction” to child pornography.

The report writer said Faucheux took the stance of a victim rather that accepting responsibility for his behaviour.

However, the court heard he has since expressed remorse and sought help.

The judge who jailed Faucheux said the number of images found was “frankly staggering” and emphasised that courts had a duty to protect the public from “sick minds” like his.

The court heard Faucheux admitted looking at banned images for “an hour-a-day” before his arrest.

However, his lawyers argued successfully that his sentence was over the top.

Wearing a white T-shirt and glasses, Faucheux watched from prison via video link as his legal team pointed out that the “vast majority” of the images were below the most serious level.

Allowing the appeal, Judge Carey, sitting with Mr Justice Foskett, said: “In our judgment, the sentence of three years was manifestly excessive.

“We substitute a sentence of two years. To that extent, this appeal is allowed.”

December 2014

‘Dangerous’ pervert jailed for sex attacks on young girls

A “dangerous” Bourne IT specialist has been jailed for 14 years after admitting carrying out a string of sex attacks on young girls.

Philip Belcher carried out his first attack when he was just a teenager.

Grace Hale, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court on Monday that Belcher committed his first offence against a 10-year-old girl and then went on to attack a further four young girls before finally being brought to justice.

Mrs Hale said that when Belcher’s crimes came to light, he tried to kill himself.

She added: “He cut his wrist then stabbed himself in the stomach. He was taken to hospital. When he was sufficiently recovered he was interviewed and admitted the offences.”

Belcher, 49, of Stevenson Way, Bourne, admitted charges including rape, sexual assault, and taking indecent photographs of children.

Recorder John Butterfield QC described him as dangerous and jailed him for 14 years. The recorder ordered him to remain on licence for an additional eight years meaning that until 2036 he is at risk of being returned to prison. Belcher was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Passing sentence the recorder said he had no hesitation in finding that Belcher was a danger to the public. “I do making a finding of dangerousness,” he ruled.

Belcher was not in court to hear the sentence after he broke down and became too distressed. He remained in the cells while sentence was passed. Recorder Butterfield told the court Belcher’s actions had left a trail of emotional, psychological and psychiatric damage.

Terry Boston, in mitigation, said “He has co-operated with the police. He has made admissions and told police about things they were not aware of.”

April 2005

Mum’s Anguish at Killer’s ‘Return’

A CHILD killer from Tyrone may be transferred from a high security hospital in Scotland to a new clinic in Belfast, causing more anguish for the victim’s family.

Brian Doherty, jailed in 1994 for the horrific murder of 11-year- old Strabane schoolboy Kieran Hegarty, is believed to be among a number of Northern Ireland patients being accessed at Carstairs State Hospital for a return to the new Shannon Clinic at Knockbracken Healthcare Park in south Belfast.

Speaking about the possible move Kathleen Hegarty, mother of Kieran, said she was distraught and feared for the safety of her family and grandchildren if Doherty should be returned to Northern Ireland

August 1999

‘Walking timebomb’ seeks parole Child killer in bid for freedom

NAZI-obsessed child killer Brian Doherty has applied for early release from the mental institution where he’s being held.

Doherty, who smirked in court as a judge accused him of the “cruellest slaying”, has been locked up for just four years.

But now he’s telling doctors at Scotland’s high security Carstairs Hospital that he’s ready to go home to Northern Ireland.

Doherty, described by worried residents in his home town of Strabane as “a walking timebomb”, was jailed for life in May 1995 for the murder of 11-year-old schoolboy Kieran Hegarty.

Then aged 21, he had signed himself out of Tyrone and Fermanagh psychiatric hospital just days before he bludgeoned the little boy to death.

He returned to the scene the next night and tried to hide the body in marshy ground.

When caught, Doherty confessed to stripping the child, throwing him in a quarry then pushing his head under water before dragging him out.

He then took the boy to a forest, beat his head against a tree and battered him with a stick.

The terrified child’s last pleading words were: “Don’t kill me. I never did anything to you. I’m making my confirmation next March.”

Doherty told police that by the time the beating was taking place the boy was “beyond talking.”

He admitted to holding a lighter to Kieran’s genitals and ears in an attempt to burn the body.

Jailing Doherty for life, Mr Justice Higgins said he was a “menace to society” who should remain behind bars for a long time.

He said: “The killing of this boy was a monstrous offence committed with unpardonable cruelty.

“A more cruel and macabre killing is difficult to imagine.”

The judge also gave Doherty 10 years for kidnapping and ordered that psychiatric profiles of the killer remain in court records to highlight how dangerous he is if he is ever considered for release.

Those records will be the subject of detailed examination now as Doherty’s application for freedom is considered.

During his trial the court heard details of Doherty’s bizarre fascination with weapons, the INLA and Nazism.

December 2014

Child abuser jailed for 13 years for filming himself raping the female victim

A sex offender who was convicted of carrying out a “catalogue of abuse” on a vulnerable victim, including filming himself raping her, has been jailed for 13 years and placed on the sex offender’s register for life.

Kevin Roberts, 49, was convicted following a seven day trial at Norwich Crown Court on 19 sex charges including rape and attempted rape on the girl. Andrew Thompson, prosecuting, said the abuse started when the girl was aged about 13 or 14.

Roberts even filmed one of the rapes on his phone which Judge Nicholas Coleman said was for Roberts “grubby sexual self-gratification.”

Roberts, of Edgerton Road, Lowestoft, had denied all the charges.

Sentencing him, Judge Coleman described him as showing “manipulative, controlling behaviour” and said as a result of the abuse the victim would probably have long term psychological consequences.

He said that it was a “catalogue of abuse” on a vulnerable individual and said Roberts also made her suffer degradation and humiliation.

Judge Coleman said: “The distress all of this has caused her in my judgement is incalculable.”

December 2014

Wirral paedophile paid for Filipino mums to abuse their children on webcam

A Wirral paedophile pensioner who paid for Filipino mothers to abuse their children over webcam was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Pervert Bryan Stanley, 74, joined a seedy worldwide internet ring where he would pay a fixer to organise the vile sex shows.

He chatted online as a mum sexually abused her 14-year-old daughter and urged her to do similar to her six-year-old son.

Stanley was jailed for four-and-a-half years and will serve an extended three-year period of licence as he was branded a “serious risk” to children by judge Mark Brown.

The judge told Liverpool Crown Court: “It beggars belief that anybody can conduct themselves in such an appalling way.

“I have no doubt that the general public will be horrified to learn of your conduct.

“It was exploitation of the worst kind. People living in the Philippines, living in poverty and in very difficult circumstances, are extremely vulnerable to this kind of exploitative behaviour.

“You took advantage of that fact.”

Stanley, of Smith Avenue, Birkenhead, was caught when police investigating the child sex ring in 2013 traced is internet IP address. On a laptop and computer were found 292 indecent images of young children, along with so-called chat logs from where he had been conversing while watching the webcams.

In one, he told a 14-year-old girl that she was “very beautiful” and asked if she had a boyfriend. He watched on as she was abused by her mother.

Judge Brown said: “I accept that the system was already up-and-running and you didn’t create the environment in which the individual was being paid for putting on the sex shows.

“Nonetheless, you joined in – initially paying to watch adults having sex and then it clearly developed to wanting to watch adults sexually abuse children.”

Stanley, who admitted eight counts of possession of indecent images and two of arranging or facilitating sexual activity with a child, left his own adult children “distraught and disgusted” by his behaviour, the court heard.

Chris Williams, defending, told how his client had shown “real remorse and shame”.

He said: “Mr Stanley sums up his behaviour in a letter to your honour when he says: ‘What I did was vile and disgusting”.

“No-one can really argue with that.”

Stanley was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order and will be barred from associating with children in the future.

Judge Brown added: “You continue to deny having a sexual interest in children. That’s clearly not correct. I’m entirely satisfied that you do have a very keen interest in the abuse of children and you can only properly be described as a paedophile.”

December 2014

Biggleswade man admits downloading more than a thousand indecent images of kids

A 50-year-old Biggleswade man downloaded over a thousand indecent images of children on to his computer.

Gary Hughes was arrested in May last year when police raided his home and seized his laptop

Prosecutor Graham Smith told Luton Crown Court today (Thursday, December 18): “Information was received and a warrant was executed at his address.”

1,130 images were discovered. 1,102 were in Category C, the least serious of the three categories. The remaining images were split between Category A and B.

Hughes of Laburnham Road, Biggleswade, pleaded guilty to making (downloading) indecent photographs of a child on or before May 21 last year.

Stuart Sprawson, defending, asked for sentence to be adjourned for a probation report. He said it was agreed with the prosecution that most of the images were in the lowest category.

Hughes was aware that he must sign the Sex Offender Register and that a current condition of his bail is that he should have no access to anyone under 18, said Mr Sprawson.

Judge Stuart Bridge adjourned sentence to the week beginning February 2. He said Hughes must also abide by an extra condition of co-operating with the probation officer who will draw up his report.

He told Hughes: “All sentencing options remain open.”

December 2014

Litherland paedophile faces jail after going on the run

A Litherland man who went on the run after being convicted of historical sex offences was today warned that he faces a lengthy jail sentence.

Robert George Nye fled while on bail after a jury convicted him of a string of sex attacks on young children in Liverpool, dating back to the 1980s.

The 56-year-old handed himself in to police in Cheshire after judge Denis Watson, QC, issued a warrant for his arrest.

He today appeared at Liverpool crown court where Judge Watson remanded him in custody and adjourned passing sentence until Tuesday.

But the court was told of moving statement by his three victims, who were aged between three and seven, when Nye struck.

All told how their adult lives were affected by the abuse they suffered at his hands.

One male victim said: “This process has not been cathartic at all. It has dragged up everything I thought I had dealt with.

“Being made to speak about it has brought it back to the front of my mind. Now I will have to put it to bed.”

One of Dye’s two female victims added: “In the past I have self-harmed and attempted suicide.

“I attempted to hang myself, threw myself under a bus and cut arteries in my arm.

“Sometimes I can cope and put it behind me, but sometimes it comes up again.”

Telling how Nye had “destroyed” her life, she added: “I don’t care about revenge, I just want people to how what he has done and for him not to have access to children.”

His third victim said: “I’m relieved the court case is over but it is not really finished because he didn’t turn up and went on the run.”

Nye, of Vincent Road, Litherland, was found guilty of one serious sexual assault and six of indecent assault after a week-long trial. He attended each day of his trial before breaching his bail.

Judge Watson heard how all three victims had suffered “severe psychological harm”.

He said: “I will sentence you on Tuesday. Between now and then you will remain in custody.

“You are facing a very lengthy period of custody.”

December 2014

Bradford man jailed for sex attacks on girls

A man has been jailed for seven years for sex offences against two girls in Bradford.

Jamal Mohammed Raheem-ul-Nasir, 31, carried out the offences in 2010 and 2011 when his victims were aged nine and 14 years old.

Leeds Crown Court heard he attacked the girls at his house in Willow Street, Girlington.

He was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child and two of sexual assault.

Raheem-ul-Nasir, of Firthcliffe Grove, Liversedge, was also made the subject of a sexual offenders prevention order.

Det Con Helen Riley, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “Raheem-ul-Nasir took advantage of his victims’ young ages and vulnerability to carry out these attacks over a period of time.

“I would like to thank them for coming forward and reporting his crimes to the police, and hope that the sentence passed down today will give them some comfort.”

December 2014

‘Nonce’ Eltham football referee jailed for sex offences against schoolboys

An Eltham football referee has been jailed today (Dec 18) after posing as a 13-year-old girl on the internet and tricking schoolboys into performing a “catalogue of sexual depravity”.

George Taylor, 21, has refereed football games across the Kent area including games in Bromley, Erith, Belvedere and Welling.

He was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court to two years in prison for 10 counts of making indecent photos of children and 12 of inciting or attempting to incite sexual activity of a child.

He pleaded guilty to all the charges.

When police sized his computer on March 20 they discovered 352 indecent images of children with 10 of the most serious level of child porn.

Prosecutor Gregor McKinlsey said: “He pretended to be a 13-year-old girl called Holly Phillips or Leah Higgins.

He was promising to send naked pictures of himself, as a 13-year-old girl, and asking them to send naked pictures of themselves.

“Or he asked them to perform an act of masturbation during the chat. A number of the boys came from the same school.

“There is some indication he infiltrated the network between the boys in the school.

“All the boys declined to give a victim impact statement. They felt upset and embarrassed and they didn’t want to reduce this in writing.”

The court was told Taylor “made a full and frank confession” when he was arrested.

Shakeel Jamil, mitigating, said: “There is no doubt these are serious offences but they are also very complex.

“When he was 14 the same thing happened to him. He was also abused.

“He is so young, there isn’t funding for many of the treatment courses at the Lucy Faithfull Foundation (a child protection charity) and so he has spent his 21st birthday money on it instead.”

The court heard how Taylor had enjoyed a full-time job and helped care for his elderly mother with arthritis.

After his arrest he was prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping pills and sent to the Bracton Centre mental health facility in Dartford.

Judge Paul Lawton said: “I think the court can understand how the boys felt when they realised what had taken place.

“Before March 20 this year to the world you were a normal young man. Then the Devon and Cornwall Police seized your computer and on it was a catalogue of sexual depravity.”

A father of one of the boys who Taylor approached spoke to News Shopper after the sentencing.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “He’s a scumbag.

“I felt physically sick when I found out. I found out in August when the police sent me a letter and have punished myself over the last four months trying to work out who it was.

“This man had approached my 13-year-old son on Facebook, in January, pretending to be a girl called Leah. They started chatting on Facebook and then on Skype.

“My son couldn’t see his face though and he realised and said, ‘you’re a nonce, you’re blocked’ and deleted him. Then the man approached my other 16-year-old son and said, ‘can you get your brother to unblock me?’

“Two weeks after my son blocked him, Taylor refereed him in a game.

“I thought the sentencing was all a load of shambles – two years isn’t long enough.”

December 2014

Bradford teacher, 33, jailed for taking virginity of schoolgirl pupil

SAFEGUARDING experts will discuss whether lessons can be learned after a Bradford teacher was jailed for having sex with a 16-year-old pupil.

Jonathan Firth, 33, had sex with the girl on a sofa bed at his home during a “wholly inappropriate and unlawful” relationship.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday Firth was flattered by the sixth form student’s crush on him and groomed her by meeting her in a cafe and sneaking her into the house he shared with his parents.

He sent naked photos of himself to the girl and asked her to do the same.

Firth, of Overdale Drive, Thackley, pleaded guilty to three offences of sexual activity by a person in a position of trust and one of causing a person under 18 to engage in sexual activity by a person in a position of trust, between October 1 and November 30 last year. He was jailed for 21 months.

The court heard that Firth was informal with his students and gossiped to them about other teachers. When the girl, who the court heard had not had sex before, told him she liked him, he said they could “give it a go,” although he was in a four-year relationship with a woman teacher.

The girl is now 17. She and her school cannot be identified.

The court heard how Firth and the girl kissed and held hands while watching films at his home. They had sex on one occasion.

Prosecutor Rebecca Young said that when Firth was told the girl’s mother knew she had an older boyfriend, he stopped contacting her. He was arrested in March after the school found out about the relationship, and was suspended. He resigned immediately.

Jailing him, Judge Jonathan Rose told Firth parents expected children to be safe at school and he had “shattered those expectations”.

“She was a child,” the judge told him.

“You were considerably older than her; a man of education, intelligence and training, perfectly aware of how inappropriate the relationship was.

“This was not merely an abuse of trust, but taking advantage of the thrall in which you were held by this child.”

Firth was ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order bans him from working with children.

After the case, Detective Constable Naomi Brown, of the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said: “Firth had a responsibility for the welfare and safety of the young people in his care. He chose to abuse his position of trust and pursue an inappropriate relationship with a pupil.

“I would like to thank the victim for her courage in reporting these offences.

“Any such allegations against a teacher or other professional working with children will be sensitively and thoroughly investigated.”

Councillor Ralph Berry, the Council’s executive member for children’s services, said Firth’s actions were every parent’s worst nightmare.

“I feel for the family of the girl.

“As the father of a daughter not far short of that age, we expect our children to be appropriately tutored, led, cared for and supported,” he said. “We have to remind everybody that teachers are in a position of considerable power and influence over young people in the formative stages of their lives. It is extremely important there is clarity about the boundaries and rules that are in place.”

Cllr Berry said that after every such incident there was a “learning of the lessons exercise,” which would be done at the Safeguarding Board.

He added: “I have been advised that the school acted properly and used all the right procedures.

“There isn’t a measure to predict someone is going to do this. It’s never going to be possible to stop it completely.

“We should be looking at the issue of teacher training, recruitment and selection to make sure they have appropriate assessment, and understanding about their crucial role.”

The school’s head teacher said the safety of pupils was the priority.

“All school staff are fully trained in safeguarding and are aware that any concern is reported immediately. Safeguarding training forms part of induction and is an annual requirement for all staff.

“We have provided support to the student concerned throughout this period and will continue to do so.”

The school’s chairman of governors said: “As soon as the incident came to light the member of staff was suspended and was not allowed on school premises or to have contact with pupils.

“I have every confidence that the safeguarding of the students is paramount in the work of the school.”