September 2007

Spot-check found girl in paedophile’s home

A paedophile banned from having any contact with children was caught hiding a schoolgirl in his bathroom.

The girl was found when a police officer made an unannounced visit to 28-year-old Wayne Thomas’ home in Newcastle Hill, Bridgend, as part of monitoring as a convicted sex offender.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Thomas also had a picture of a baby on his mobile phone and offered schoolgirls crisps and sweets while they were in his flat.

Previously, he showed a group of youngsters pornography and plied them with drink and cigarettes.

Thomas was subject to strict rules governing his behaviour. They prohibited him even talking to anyone under the age of 18.

The sexual offences prevention order was made after Thomas’ release from “a substantial jail sentence” for two sex attacks on a young girl and boy in 1998.

Judge Eleri Rees said he twice breached his licence and was returned to prison in 2005 after breaching the prevention order.

She told him: “There you had up to 10 children on four different occasions visiting your flat where you plied them with alcohol and cigarettes, exposed them to inappropriate comments and a pornographic DVD and book.”

The judge said it was lucky the girl was found.

“The way she was discovered was purely by chance when an officer with responsibility under the multi-agency public protection arrangements (Mappa) called at your flat without warning and discovered a 13-year-old hiding in the bathroom,” she said.

“Not only was she in your flat, but attempts were made to conceal the fact, thereby involving the child in the deceit.”

Jailing him for two years, Judge Rees said he had “persistently and repeatedly” violated the order.

He admitted three breaches.

Speaking after the case, South Wales Probation Service’s chief officer, Ian Lankshear, said: “This is an example of the close working between probation, police, housing and other agencies sharing information.

“We were able to ensure this man was apprehended before there were further victims. When he is released he will be under Mappa supervision and the public can feel a degree of confidence that Mappa does work to manage people who pose a risk.”

September 2012

Victims of a convicted paedophile have revealed their anger after he escaped a jail sentence, despite admitting his crimes

Leslie Arthur Davies, 75, who used to live in Walsall, admitted four historic cases of sexual assault – three involving offences against two children aged eight and ten.

He was given a three-year community order, and placed on the sex offenders register for five years at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

His victims called for his sentence to be increased – but the Attorney General’s office stood by the original judgement.

One of them, now in their 20s, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “He should have served at least two years behind bars for what he did to us. Now he’s walking around as a free man. It’s unbelievable.” 

Police were alerted in January when one of the victims went to them.

Another incident happened at a party when Davies groped a man in the mid-1990s.

The victim said: “It disgusts me to know he wasn’t given any time in jail.”

A spokesman from the Attorney General’s Office said: “The former Solicitor General, Edward Garnier QC MP, gave this case careful consideration.

“He acknowledged the appalling nature of the offences and extended his sympathy to the family and the victims.

“He took advice from an experienced and independent barrister not previously involved in the case with specialist knowledge of sentencing. He decided it would not be right to refer it to the Court of Appeal as he did not believe they would increase the sentence.

“The Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme attracts a high threshold – there must have been a ‘gross error’ when the original sentence was imposed, or the sentence must be one that falls outside the range of sentences which a judge, applying his mind to all the relevant factors, could reasonably consider appropriate.

“Mr Garnier did not believe that in this instance the necessary threshold for a referral was met.”

October 2014

Chased off paedophile put back into same house

A PAEDOPHILE hounded out his home by vigilantes has been rehoused two weeks later — in the same house.

Rodney Boyd, 67, fled after a hate mob discovered he had two convictions for abusing two boys aged just six and eight years old.

The gang smashed down the door of a nearby house in Edinburgh, mistaking it for Boyd’s.

He was taken to temporary accommodation in another part of the city. But after a fortnight, council chiefs have decided it’s safe for him to return home.

Yesterday, a terrified neighbour said: “We are living in fear this gang will return and pick on an innocent person.” One of the vigilantes said: “This guy is a risk to our children.”

The beast — who’s already served eight years for sex attacks on two boys — was found guilty of similar offences against two brothers two weeks ago and had his bail continued.

The council declined to comment. A police source said they’d had no complaints about gangs.

August 2007

A PAEDOPHILE who targeted boys as young as six is staking out primary school playtimes

Rodney James Boyd, 60, is free after serving a five-year jail term imposed in 2000 for subjecting two boys to a catalogue of abuse.

The pervert now spends long periods each day sitting in his car watching pupils from Edinburgh’s Flora Stevenson Primary School.

During a week-long investigation, Boyd was observed staring intently at youngsters from the school for periods of up to 40 minutes.

It is believed Boyd’s elderly mother, Mabel, is a resident at the Carlyle Court old folks home next to the school in Stockbridge.

But the sex offender’s daily visits to her are punctuated by long periods sitting in his van in the car park, usually coinciding with school breaks.

Boyd’s antics – which include regularly switching seats in his car – are now creating unease among residents. The pervert, who walks with a stick and is registered disabled, carries on his suspicious behaviour right under the noses of police officers driving in and out of Lothian and Borders’ nearby Fettes HQ.

Boyd was convicted of four sex offences in 2000, involving repeated serious assaults on the two boys. One of his victims was aged between six and eight when Boyd abused the pair over the course of two years in the 1970s, and the other was aged eight to ten.

The Record, acting on a tip-off from a local resident, kept watch on Boyd last week.

The sex offender first pitched up at the care home at 11.45am last Monday.

Boyd sat in his parked car just as the children at Flora Stevenson were getting out for lunch. For 40 minutes the pervert watched.

Boyd drove off after lunch at 1.10pm, returning at 2.45pm – in plenty of time for the final school bell.

He made a brief visit to the home, followed by another 40 minute stint in his van, in the passenger seat.

The next day, we watched as Boyd followed a similar routine.

He left the car park at 1.10pm, driving a mile away to sit in his car less than 400 yards from St George’s school for girls.

After half an hour, he drove back down to the Carlyle Court car park.

On Friday, Boyd again turned up at 11.45am and spent another 40 minutes in his van, in the back seat.

Boyd lived in the Pilton area of Edinburgh when he carried out the sex attacks in the 1970s. His victims were aged just six and eight.

He denied the offences when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh in July 2000 but was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict.

Principal teacher of Flora Stevenson, Ian Marchant, said: “I will be talking to my contacts in Lothian and Borders police. It seems schools are the last ones to know about this kind of thing.”

A police spokesman said: “Without monitoring or supervision, the likelihood of re-offending is far greater than with someone who is closely monitored by the authorities.”

‘Schools are the last ones to know about this kind of thing’

August 2007

Paedophile jailed for six years

A 30-YEAR-OLD man from Leigh who had sexual relations with three under-age girls has been jailed for six years.

And the prostitute who procured the teenagers for him received a four-year term.

James Smith and Kelly Spencer were both also ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and banned from working with children.

During his trial, Liverpool Crown Court heard that Smith, of Heddles Court, Leigh, told drug addict Spencer, whose sexual services he used, that he wanted “something younger”.

Spencer, aged 28, of Orchard Close, Leigh, consequently asked a 13-year-old girl if she wanted to make money by watching them “do stuff”, meaning sexual acts.

They intended that things should go further and they did, with the girl and two of her friends, aged 13 and 14, becoming involved in sexual acts with Smith.

The two younger girls went to Spencer’s flat where they were given alcohol to drink and were pressurised into watching a sex act between Spencer and Smith.

The first girl was also pressurised into performing a sex act on Smith and afterwards the girls were given £10 each.

On the next occasion, they went to his home and engaged in similar acts with him while Spencer watched, said David Watson, prosecuting.

“This form of behaviour with Smith, through physical force or pressure from him and Spencer, became the central theme with all three girls,” he said.

They were offered alcohol and on one occasion cocaine and at times were scared of him. Smith knew their ages and had to swear to it as he thought they looked older.

He had sexual activity with the first girl on seven occasions and once with her friends. One victim told a teacher in January and a police investigation began.

Smith had denied three offences of sexual activity but was convicted. Spencer had admitted three charges of inciting sexual activity with a child.

January 2007

Vigilantes abandoned paedophile in Hudds

A paedophile who abused a schoolgirl was kidnapped by vigilantes and dumped in Huddersfield.

James Spencer, 33, suffered multiple injuries in an attack by the three vigilantes.

He was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for treatment after being left in the town.

Spencer was snatched from his caravan home in Kinmel Bay, Conway, north Wales, after the trio learned he had indecently assaulted a 13-year-old girl who was known to their family.

The three attackers assaulted Spencer, before bundling him into a car and speeding off, Warrington Crown Court heard.

They left their homes in Newton Heath and Harpurhey district of Manchester and drove to where Spencer lived.

In a statement to police Spencer said he was aware of being driven around the area for about four hours and stabbed in the hand with a Stanley knife which severed several tendons.

Judge Stephen Clarke jailed one offender for four years and his brother for two years.

The third offender was given a 12-month jail term, but this was suspended for two years.

The three pleaded guilty to one count each of kidnapping at an earlier hearing.

December 2014

Poole paedophile jailed for making indecent movies of children and possessing extreme pornography including beastiality

A paedophile has been jailed for 14 months for eight offences of making and possessing indecent images and movies of children, and possession of extreme pornography to include bestiality.

Jonathon Anthony James, 34, from Poole, was sentenced on Monday 22 December 2014 at Bournemouth Crown Court

In August 2014, detectives were alerted to James’s online activities and the Force’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) launched an investigation.

Various computers and electronic equipment were subsequently seized at James’s home address.

He was found to be in possession of category A movies which show the most severe category of abuse.

On release from prison, James will be given a Sex Offenders’ Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

Deputy Director of Public Protection, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Naughton said: “We are using technology to combat offenders who use the internet as a weapon to attack and abuse children.

“These people try to hide what they do online. Offenders need to know that the internet is not a safe anonymous space for accessing indecent images or grooming children. They leave a digital footprint and we will find it.

“POLIT work closely with similar units both in the UK and abroad to identify and bring to justice those criminals who use cyberspace to sexually exploit children.

“Children are victimised not only when they are abused and an image is first taken. They are victimised repeatedly every time that image is viewed.

“People using the internet to abuse children can get help and stop. There is support in place, through organisations like the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, to help them.”

The Paedophile Online Investigation Team can be contacted on 101. In an emergency always dial 999. 

December 2014

Pervert jailed after admitting five charges of sexual assault on young girl

A man who sexually abused a young girl says he turned himself in to police in an effort to stop his behaviour.

Lawrence Smith, of Park Road, Herne Bay, admitted five charges of sexual assault on a child under 13 and also admitted making indecent photos of children and possessing indecent images of children.

Judge James O’Mahony told Smith: “These offences are so bad that it is difficult to find anything that can be said.

“But you gave yourself up and are knuckling down to being in custody and are doing comparatively well in that way.”

Peter Forbes, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court that Smith had inappropriately touched the girl.

In August this year, when he was drunk, Smith decided to tell the police about his crimes, Mr Forbes said.

He rang his victim and told her what he was going to do.

On October 21 Smith made an attempt on his life because he was ashamed of his actions.

Police found indecent photos of children on his computer and several search terms.

James Howard, defending, said Smith had no previous convictions.

“Alcohol was a factor,” he said. “He lost his business, his home and his parents and he turned to alcohol.

“He felt he and the girl were in a relationship and in love and he used this to justify his actions.”

Mr Howard said Smith came across images of children while looking at adult porn and out of curiosity he clicked on one of the pop-ups.

Smith was sentenced to a total of 46 months in prison.

December 2014

Sex Predator terrorised 38 teens over five years in sick trolling  and sexual campaign of abusive threats

A SEX predator student terrorised 38 teenagers online with threats including rape – and almost drove some to suicide.

Andrew McBride, 21, used bogus identities to conduct his perverted five-year campaign on Facebook and Skype.

He forced his 25 female and 13 male victims, some only 13, to perform sex acts online and send him naked photos.

A 17-year-old boy tried to kill himself after being abused from the age of 13.

And a 15-year-old girl became suicidal when he threatened to slash her family if she didn’t pose topless. She sent McBride a message: “You are driving me to want to kill myself.”

A girl of 13 told police she felt suicidal when the monster said he would delete a Facebook photo of her in her bra and pants — if she came to a hotel to have sex with him.

Social sciences student McBride, from Prestwick, Ayrshire, said he’d rape another girl, aged 14, if she didn’t do as he said.

McBride, of Prestwick, Ayrshire, was caught when a victim’s mum contacted police.He admitted 38 counts of extortion and is facing jail.

Judge Lord Turnbull deferred sentence at the High Court in Glasgow and told McBride that he had shown “a shocking level of manipulation and exploitation”.

Prosecutor Douglas Fairley said: “He induced these teenagers to send him images of themselves in their underwear, naked or engaging in sexual activity.

“He threatened to upload the images to Facebook if they did not send him more photos of a similar nature or perform sex acts on a webcam for him.”

December 2014

Kirklees teacher found with 14,000 indecent images had obsession with boys in soccer kit

A maths teacher with an attraction for boys in football kits has been given a suspended jail sentence after he was found to have 14,000 indecent images and movies of children on his computer equipment.

Jonathan Craven has also been barred from taking pictures of under 16-year-olds at any sporting fixture in the future.

Leeds Crown Court heard police went to Craven’s then home in Laburnum Road, Dewsbury, in April this year as part of Operation Notarise investigating the sharing of such files.

Dave Mackay prosecuting said using specific software people could access the files of others with similar interests. Craven was found to have made own “cache” of indecent material available to others from June 2013.

Craven was traced through his IP address and was found to be a teacher at Batley Business and Enterprise College.

He was also found to have numerous other images of children playing sports. “He does seem to have some addiction towards young boys in football kits, some with their tops off,” said Mr Mackay.

The court heard in total there were 872 movies and 571 images at the most serious Level A, 529 movies and 1249 images at Level B and 324 movies and 10,890 images at Level C. Some of the children were as young as eight.

Mark Brookes representing Craven said he had been dismissed from his job and his future was uncertain.

A single man, he had already sought help from the Lucy Faithful Foundation as to why he had offended in such a way and taken steps to prevent it. He had also sold his home and moved to his parents.

Craven, 47 of Scott Close, Commercial Street, Heckmondwike admitted 24 charges of making indecent photos of children and was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years with a condition of attending the 60 day activity programme.

He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and barred under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order from filming or photographing children under 16 at any sporting event.

December 2014

Derby man jailed for sexual grooming of 14-yr-old schoolgirl

A 21-YEAR-OLD who admitted causing a teenager to send him indecent images of herself and then intending to meet her has been jailed for a year.

Oweyss Lal, who appeared at Derby Crown Court  pleaded guilty to a charge of causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography and also intending to meet a child following sexual grooming, having arranged to meet the girl on at least two earlier occasions.

The charges relate to a 14-year-old girl and took place between July 6 and 27 last year.

Lal, of Derby, was put on the sex offenders’ register and told to obey a sex offences prevention order for 10 years.

He will be barred from working with children.

November 2008

Blackburn sex attacker jailed for six years

A MAN convicted of sexually abusing a young girl in Blackburn has been jailed for six years.

Patrick McCann was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and when he is eventually released, he will be on an extended prison licence for three years.

McCann, 61, now of no fixed address, had denied eight counts of indecent assault. A jury had convicted him following trial. The offences occured in the Blackburn area.

McCann had 51 previous offences on his record, though none of a sexual nature.

Judge Andrew Woolman told McCann “It is clear that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.

“I have come to the conclusion there has to be a substantial sentence of imprisonment . The normal licence period would not be sufficient to protect the public from you.”

His barrister told a Preston Crown Court sentencing hearing that the defendant’s life had been “turned upside down” when he was charged with indecent assault.

Ken Hind told the court: “At his age, facing a sentence of imprisonment for an offence of this nature, he is going to be on protection all the way through, with the appropriate restrictions.

“He is facing the deep disapproval of the rest of the prison. That isn’t going to make life easy for him, as he has found already while he has been in custody.

“While he has been in custody his ex wife has died. He was not there to look after her in her dying months. He wasn’t able to go to the funeral.

“He has lost his home while in custody and has lost friends who he had met in the local mosque. When he converted to Islam he gave up drink.

“He was regularly at prayers. They have turned against him. The defendant doesn’t have a great deal left in his life.

“He appreciates the sentence must be a lengthy one. His whole future will be surrounded by regulation. He will become a pariah in the community”.

McCann will be on the sex offenders register for life and banned from working with children. He will also be the subject of a sexual offences prevention order for an indefinite period.

December 2014

Man abused as a child by priest achieves closure after legal team secure settlement

A former choirboy whose ‘life was changed forever’ when he was abused by a priest has spoken of his relief after being awarded a five-figure settlement from the diocese of Llandaff to help him tackle the psychological issues caused by the sexual abuse he suffered

The man, named Gary*, says the abuse he suffered at the hands of Father John Frederick Vile at the age of 14 or 15, while staying at the home of another Vicar in the Welsh town of Porthcawl in 1979/1980, has affected his personality and the way he has lived his life since

Police investigated the case and Father Vile, now living in the Clifton area of Bristol admitted the offence against Gary and was given a formal caution by the police

Gary instructed expert child abuse lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him in a battle for justice as he looked to overcome his ordeal.

The victim is now speaking out for the first time after the Diocese of Llandaff settled the case out of court and agreed to pay a five-figure settlement to help with on-going therapy costs.

Gary, now aged 50, met Father John Vile at St. German’s church, Roath, Cardiff at the age of nine. Over the following years Gary said Vile became like a big brother to him, taking him to the cinema, as well as giving him alcohol from the age of 12

At the age of 14 or 15 he travelled with Vile and three other boys to a church in Porthcawl. He was told to share a room with a single bed with the priest. During the night he was indecently assaulted.

Gary, who is a father of two daughters, said:”I felt scared, embarrassed, confused and humiliated by the incident during the night and as I have grown older the seriousness of what I was subjected to hit me more and more and it began to impact my life, particularly as I was not very close to my family and couldnt rely on them for support”

“I had always been the life and soul of the party and was a very bubbly personality, but after the assault I began to skip classes at school and to drink heavily to block out what happened to me”

“Later in life I got in some minor trouble with the police for things like being drunk and disorderly”

He worked numerous different jobs throughout his 20’s and 30’s, but his professional and personal relationships didnt work out and the abuse he suffered continued to haunt him, leaving him regularly depressed and unable to concentrate 

He added:” In 2013 I plucked up the courage to go to the police because I realized that if I did not come forward he would be able to abuse other children who trusted him like I did. In 2000 and 2008 he tried to contact me again via the internet and social media, which brought the memories of the incident flooding back”

“I have hidden the abuse I suffered for over 30 years, but recent high-profile sexual abuse cases gave me the confidence that the police would take my allegations seriously”

“I had always worried that nobody would believe I was telling the truth”

Tom Fletcher, a lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who represented Gary, said:”Abuse as a child can have a massive impact on how people live their lives and develop as adults”

“Unfortunately we deal with a number of survivors of sexual abuse whose lives have been destroyed at the hands of abusers, and, though everyone’s needs are different, the majority of people suffer long-term effects and need professional support and therapy to help them”

 *Name of victim has been changed

January 2015

Paedophile walks free from court after being caught with the most extreme form of child abuse images. 

Duncan Ferguson, 37, downloaded ‘category four’ and ‘category five’ images – the most depraved level – between May 21, 2010 and December 6, 2013 at his former home in Troon’s North Shore Road.

But he strolled out of Ayr Sheriff Court a free man last week despite admitting downloading the filth for his own sickening gratification.

Ferguson denied intentionally searching for the images despite 15 being saved on his computer, with others uploaded to a pen drive.

His solicitor Hugh Duncan said: “In these cases quite often there’s a list of terms used to search for these types of material, that seems to be missing here. “He didn’t go intentionally looking for these images on the internet. Some of these images have come down with the general searches. “Mr Ferguson accepts that there was these images. There’s an acceptance that he put them on the pen drive.”

Mr Duncan added: “Overall on this computer there was upwards of 23,000 files downloaded and only a very small number percentage of that was this material. “There is a level five image and there are a low number of level four images. “These images were used for his own gratification, work could be done with him under the sexual offenders programme.”

And Sheriff Scott Pattison said: “I’m sure by now that you know how serious these matters are and that the court’s first thought in a case like this, where the images are at the extreme end, is to consider a custodial sentence. “I’m satisfied my public duty can be discharged by the implementation of a community payback order. If the order is breached in any way I’ll send you to prison for these matters. “You need to make sure that you’re not minimising these offences to your social workers.”

Ferguson was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work. He will be on the sex offenders register for three years during which he will have a supervision order.

He will also have his internet usage monitored for a period of five years

January 2015

Gloucester man who sexually assaulted young girl handed six-and-a-half-year sentence

A 46-YEAR-OLD man who sexually assaulted a young girl, but has as yet been unable to admit he has done anything wrong, has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Timothy Vitale, of Southgate Street, Gloucester, had pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting the young girl four times in 2013 but was convicted by a jury after a trial in November.

He returned to Gloucester Crown Court for sentence yesterday and Judge Jamie Tabor QC was told that he still does not accept his guilt despite the jury’s verdicts.

“You are unable at this stage to admit that you did anything wrong,” the judge told Vitale.

“That does not entirely surprise me. When you do admit that you have done something wrong you will have to admit to the wider world that you have done something wholly unacceptable not once but at least four times.

“It may be some time before you acknowledge that.”

The judge said he took into account that Vitale had never been in trouble with the law before.

He said the girl had made “an outstanding witness” during the trial.

Anna Midgely, for Vitale, argued that the judge did not need to impose a sexual offence prevention order on Vitale because he did not represent any threat to children in general.

His offences had been limited to one girl on only a few occasion when he had been drinking, she said.

“I submit there is no necessity for an order,” she said. “I also ask the court to bear in mind that because of his depression and an anxiety disorder the prison sentence he must serve will have a greater impact on him than it might on someone who does not have such difficulties.

“He has reached a fair age with no previous involvement in the criminal justice system. He is a working man.”

As well as the six and a half year jail term, Judge Tabor ordered Vitale to sign the sex offender register for life.

January 2015

Pervert had 100’s of videos of children being abused – Suspended prison sentence

A 32-year-old man from Rock, near Bewdley, who had hundreds of indecent images of children on his computer has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Adrian Goodman, of Rectory Lane, was told by the judge at Worcester Crown Court that people who looked at such images often forgot they were seeing the “real rape and real torture of real children”.

Goodman was appearing for sentence after admitting, at an earlier hearing before Kidderminster magistrates, four offences of making indecent images of children between February and October 2013.

Michael Conry, prosecuting, said police visited Goodman’s home after receiving information.

They found more than 100 movies and 82 photographs showing indecent images of children on his computer, as well as a further 55 movies in files that were no longer accessible.

Judge Michael Cullum sentenced him to 12 months jail, suspended for two years, with a requirement to attend a community sexual offenders group work programme.

He was also placed on the sexual offenders register for seven years, banned from having contact with children under 16 and barred from using any computer unless it was capable of showing his internet searches.

The judge said people often went to jail for similar offences but that Goodman had never been in trouble before.

And he warned him that, if he committed any similar offence again he would go to prison, adding that for someone like Goodman that would be a “terrible place”.

January 2015

Man to be sentenced for indecent child images

Written by Colin Adwent

A man caught with more than 150 indecent photographs of children when police raided his home will be sentenced at the town’s crown court.

David Whiting, of Burke Road, Ipswich, admitted three charges of making indecent images of a child when he appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court.

District Judge Celia Dawson committed the matter to Ipswich Crown Court for sentencing because of the seriousness of the offences.

Prosecutor Emma Howson said Whiting was arrested on February 16 when police officers went to the property where he was living.

They seized a computer tower and two hard drives and found 31 indecent images of a child at level one on the old Copine Scale of grading such photos – level one was the lowest level.

They also found one image at level four, the second most serious level.

On one of the hard drives 45 level one images were discovered, along with two at level two, 37 at level three and 14 at level four. On the other hard drive 27 images were found, including three at level four.

Whiting, 41, initially told police he had not created any indecent images, but did speak about internet adult pornography sites, the court heard.

He then admitted using technology to create one of the images. Mrs Howson said Whiting told officers he had been stupid but had not done it for any sexual gratification. He denied he had been in contact with anybody else or had shared images.

The court was told Whiting has no previous convictions.

He was released on bail until his hearing at Ipswich Crown Court.

January 2015

Pervert (49) had sexual web chats with 13-yr-old schoolgirls

A Hartlebury father-of-two caught with more than 100 indecent images of children on his computer was told by a judge he was responsible for the “broken lives” of young people.

Ian Cockbill, aged 49, of The Birches, had also made indecent suggestions to girls aged about 13 during web chats, even though he would have sought to protect his own children, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The long distance lorry driver appeared for sentencing after admitting, before Worcester magistrates, one offence of making indecent photographs, two of making indecent movies and eight more of making indecent images.

Judge Michael Cullum gave him a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and put him under supervision for two years, with a condition that he attends a community sexual offenders programme for 91 days.

Cockbill was also placed on the sexual offenders register for seven years and banned from using any computer that does not log his internet searches.

The judge told him: “What you were watching was real people being abused and raped.

“You were watching young children’s lives being irretrievably damaged.

“At the time you gained your sexual gratification that was not your aim.

“But you bear responsibility for the broken lives that will follow.”

The judge also said that, as a result, Cockbill, who would have “sought to protect” his own children”, had lost his job, his marriage had broken down and his relationship with his children had been affected.

Michael Conry, prosecuting, said Cockbill, who was previously of good character, was found to have 81 graphic images on his laptop and more photos and videos on his computer tower, including two of “extreme pornography”.

Police, who went to Cockbill’s home on May 13, also found 100 indecent images of children on an external hard disk, which had been deleted but could be recovered.

Evidence was also found of web chat sessions making indecent suggestions to young girls aged about 13.

Jason Patel, defending, said work and family were all that Cockbill had and he had lost both.

He had been “absolutely disgusted” by his actions, added Mr Patel.

January 2015

Hitchin theatre school teacher dodges jail after admitting child abuse images possession

A married theatre school teacher who admitted having indecent images and videos of children has dodged jail.

Simon Green, 38, and his wife, taught youngsters aged between 10 and 18 at the Starlight Theatre group, in Hitchin, which they also ran.

But, Luton Crown Court heard on Friday, they have lost their jobs following a police raid on their home in Upper Caldecote, near Biggleswade, on October 1.

Prosecutor Tim Clark said officers investigating child sex abuse images found an IP address that was linked to the couple’s home through peer-to-peer software.

They obtained a warrant and seized a laptop and a computer tower. 

When the HP laptop was examined the police found 29 Level A videos, the most serious category. 

There were 23 at Level B and 4 at Level C. There were also 7 Level C images. No indecent images were discovered on the computer tower, but search phrases indicating an interest in children were found. 

The prosecutor said software had been installed in an attempt to delete the computers’ viewing history.

Green was arrested and initially made no comment to police questions, but when he was told that his wife would also be arrested he agreed to be interviewed. 

He said he was ashamed of himself, that he had no sexual interest in children, but he confessed to looking at indecent images since 2009.

Green pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one charge of possessing indecent images of children and five of downloading indecent images of children. 

Defending, Henry Day, said Green was of previous good character.

He had a BA degree in Performing Arts and his wife, of 15 years, was standing by him.

The couple ran the theatre company but have now lost their jobs as a result of his conviction and may have to sell their home.

He said that Green was remorseful and had sought counselling from the NHS.

His wife, a nephew and a parent of one of his pupils had written character references for the judge.

Judge Richard Foster told Green: “What you have to realise is that this type of offending involves real victims.

“These children are abused for the sexual gratification of the likes of you. By accessing this material you are creating a market for that abuse and degradation.”

He passed a 6 month jail sentence suspended for 12 months with 12 months’ supervision so that he can be given professional psychological help. 

He also ordered Green to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work. He must pay £340 costs and sign the Sex Offender Register for 5 years.

Green, who will no longer be able to work with children, will be subjected to a 5 year Sexual Offences Prevention Order. 

The police will install specialist risk management software on any computers and phone he has to prevent him accessing illegal material. The judge ordered that the HP laptop and computer tower should be forfeit and destroyed.

The judge told him: “You are very lucky to be leaving court by the front door.”

August 2006

Confession rapist gets five years

A YOUNG father from Maybury was jailed for five years on Thursday for a date rape attack after he was damned by his own confession.

David Charman, 23, of Beaufort Road, forced himself on a 17-year-old virgin after a night out at a local pub. She blacked out in the Goldsworth Arms on August 13 last year and woke up on an industrial estate in nearby Poole Road.

She could remember nothing of the rape but went to police complaining of a sore groin and bruises on her thighs.

Traces of Charman’s semen were found on her underwear along with blood, but medical forensic swabs did not show Charman had actually penetrated the girl.

He was charged with rape only because he told police he had already had consensual sex with the girl four times before the incident.

After a jury convicted him of the attack last month Brian Stork, defending, said: “But for this defendant’s admission in his own prepared statement, he would not have been charged with rape.”

There was no forensic evidence he used a date rape drug but Caroline Carberry, prosecuting, said: “We couldn’t prove she had taken any drugs but whatever she had taken she was still incapacitated and incapable of giving her consent.”

Charman, who has a one-year-old son, claimed he had consensual sex with the girl that night and had done on several previous occasions, including against a wall behind a Wetherspoon’s pub in Woking.

Jailing Charman — a shop assistant at a Gregg’s bakery — for five years, Judge Peter Rook QC said: “This was a very serious offence. The victim quite clearly did not have the capacity to consent.

“She described how, in the public house, the room was spinning and her vision was blurry. It must have been obvious to you that she was in no position to consent.

“She was a virgin and you knew that she was a virgin. You knew the limits of the sexual activity that she would have agreed to.”

Charman said he had sex with her up against a wall behind Wetherspoon’s on an earlier night out, adding: “I instigated it but I asked her if she wanted to have sex.”

But a jury of nine women and three men returned an 11 to one majority verdict of guilty on July 7. Charman had denied rape.

Mr Stork said: “He is generally speaking a decent, honourable, hard-working, well brought up, responsible and honest young man. What happened back in August last year was entirely out of character.”

Charman will be released on licence after serving half the five-year sentence as is usual under current Home Office guidelines but will be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

The judge recommended that it should be a condition of Charman’s licence that he has no contact with the victim and stays outside an exclusion zone in Woking to avoid meeting her in the future.

December 2014

Derby child rapist searched for brutal rape images on internet – Jailed 15 years