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Steven Macdonald – Dingwall

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February 2015

Already convicted paedophile admits to downloading indecent image of child

A DINGWALL sex offender who downloaded an indecent image of a child on to his computer will remain under supervision for a further three years.

Steven Macdonald (47) of Buchanan Court, Dingwall, admitted being in possession of an indecent photograph of a child between August 14, 2012 and June 17, 2013 and sentence had been deferred for reports.

Sheriff Margaret Neilson was told by depute fiscal Stella Swan at Inverness Sheriff Court on Thursday the image was of a pre-pubescent girl and he had been in possession of the image over a period of time.

At a previous hearing Dingwall Sheriff Court heard police had reason to believe he had been accessing illegal material and one indecent photograph was found on his computer when analysed.

Solicitor Neil Wilson said his client was currently on the Sex Offenders Register and a programme for sex offenders until December of this year.

Mr Wilson said Macdonald deliberately downloaded the picture and he had convictions for similar offending in the past.

What Mr Wilson said was of concern from the reports was that Macdonald could not see the damage he had done.

Current bail conditions banned him from using the internet and Mr Wilson said the court was left with a choice of custody or placing him under stricter conditions.

He asked Sheriff Neilson to take into account that it was a single incident and not a course of conduct and to impose a community based disposal.

Sheriff Neilson imposed a three-year supervision and Macdonald was told he would be on the Sex Offenders Register for the duration of that time.


David Wardle – Stone

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February 2015

Paedophile admits downloading indecent images of children aged as young as five

PERVERT David Wardle downloaded more than a thousand indecent images of children after losing his job.

The 63-year-old grandfather was arrested after police officers raided his Staffordshire home.

Officers seized his computer tower and external hard drive.

The equipment was found to contain hundreds of indecent images of children and images of extreme pornography.

There were also movies including two cartoons depicting sexual activity between adults and children.

Now Wardle has been handed a three-year community order as a judge believes there is a ‘real prospect’ of him being rehabilitated.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that police officers searched Wardle’s home in Jervis Street, Stone, at 8am on June 14, 2013.

They seized the equipment and arrested the defendant. He admitted he downloaded indecent images in the 12 months after he lost his job. He said he liked watching it and was interested in youngsters aged five to 12.

Wardle accepted all the indecent images were downloaded by him but added he had not shared them with others.

He pleaded guilty to six charges of making indecent photographs of children, two charges of possessing extreme pornographic images and possessing prohibited images of children.

Nayan Patel, mitigating, said the defendant, who has no previous convictions, made full and frank admissions before the police viewed the images on his computer.

Judge David Fletcher said Wardle would have gone to jail if he had been convicted after a trial. But because of his candidness and openness he handed the defendant a three-year community order with supervision and a requirement to complete a sex offender programme.

He was also made the subject of a five year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) and will be on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

Judge Fletcher said: “These were disgusting images you were looking at. These are children you did not know. You do not even know where they are but they are children, they are real people and they are being criminally exploited 

“If people like you did not download the images they would have no value and that sort of behaviour would not happen.”

The judge added: “You went down a road which you became embroiled in and it resulted in the police knocking on your door.

“You admitted your criminality before anyone had the opportunity to look at your computer.

“I believe there is a real prospect of you being rehabilitated.”

David Brinkman – Aberdeen

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February 2015

Aberdeen man caught with indecent images was ‘looking for Madeleine McCann’

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A MAN who was caught with hundreds of indecent images of children claimed he was trawling through the images in a “one-person crusade” – to find Madeleine McCann.

David Brinkman, 68, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court after previously admitting a string of charges.

He had admitted being in possession of indecent images of children. He also had extreme adult porngraphic images.

And Brinkman also admitted charges of distributing both extreme adult images and the child images.

The offences took place between April 2013 and January last year.

The court heard that he was bartering them to get further child images as part of his “obsession” with finding missing youngster Madeleine  McCann.

Brinkman had 694 indecent images of children and 88 videos – which had a run time if four hours 57 minutes.

He also had 46 pictures of “extreme” adult pornography and 19 videos.

Defence agent Mike Monro said of Brinkman  –  who has worked as an electrical engineer, in a career that had taken him around the world: “He is totally a first offender and has been a useful member of society.”

He went on to say that Brinkman claimed he had not had any previous desire to look a child pornography.

He said: “All of this was done by the accused in that he deliberately stored these. He has this theory  –  this fixation as to the whereabouts of Madeleine McCann.

“He has this one-person crusade.

“He is perfectly satisfied that she was removed from the property in 2007 and has since found her way into a paedophillia ring  –  either sole or group.

“I have asked him time and again to provide the basis of this theory  –  the basis is in his own mind.

“He became fascinated with the McCann situation from having read a book by her mother Kate.”

Mr Monro went on to say that as a result of his theory Brinkman became “meshed” in looking at indecent child pictures.

He said: “To say it was looking for a needle in a haystack would be an understatement.”

Mr Monro said that in reference to the missing child’s unusual eye marking Brinkman thought if he trawled through the pictures he might find her.

He said: “He finds it sickening to look at these things but he thought that his crusade was such that he had to go through it.

“He then started storing extreme adult pornography – and that’s where the bartering started.”

Mr Monro said that Brinkmsn felt if he gave the images to others he would get child images and “somewhere along the line” find Madeleine McCann.

Sheriff Graeme Napier deferred sentence in Brinkman, whose address was given in court as Richmond Street, Aberdeen, until next month for a psychologist’s report.

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Richard Roberts – Telford

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February 2015

Telford man gets eight years in jail for raping young girl

Richard_Neil_Roberts

A Telford man has been jailed for eight years for the rape of a girl under the age of 13 during the 1990s

Richard Neil Roberts, 51, from Telford, was sentenced to prison at Shrewsbury Crown Court today.

Roberts was a 32-year-old man when the offence took place in 1995 and was living in the Donnington area of Telford.

It is believed he also went by the name Richard Bates when the crime was committed.

Detective Inspector Mark Jones, who led the investigation, said: “I am satisfied with the sentence handed down by Judge Barrie and I feel it properly reflects the seriousness of the offence.

“Obtaining this conviction demonstrates how seriously all allegations of this nature are taken by police. The passage of time will not detract from our determination to uncover evidence and prosecute offenders. I offer my reassurance to victims and witnesses who are considering coming forward. We will offer complete support and the utmost patience, care and respect when dealing with reports of this nature.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the courage of the victim in this case. The woman, who is now an adult, was a child when this dreadful offence occurred in the safety of her own home. It is only recently that she has found the courage to report this matter.

“Finally, I am keen to hear from anyone who may recognise Roberts and who may have any further details or information in relation to this or other incidents.”

Anyone who feels they may have any further information is asked to contact Telford CID on 0300 333 3000 ext 5912.

If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, or are worried about someone you know being abused, please contact West Mercia Police on the non-emergency number 101.

You can also contact the Glade which offers a service to men, women and children who have experienced rape or sexual assault in the Shropshire, Telford, Herefordshire and Worcestershire areas.

24-hour self-referral number 0808 178 2058 or http://www.theglade.org.uk/

Information can also be passed on anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Darren Haszczyn – Torfaen

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November 2014

Torfaen sex predator gets 26 years

A “sexual predator” who raped and assaulted seven victims over a 25-year period has been jailed for what a judge says amounts to a life sentence.

Darren Haszczyn (44) attacked women and young girls in a catalogue of sex crimes including three rapes and seven sexual assaults including three on children under 13.

He targeted a “vulnerable” young girl who had spent time living on the streets, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Cardiff Judge Stephen Hopkins said the harm he had caused his victims was “incalculable”.

There were cheers from the public gallery as Judge Hopkins passed a sentence totalling 26 years.

Judge Hopkins, QC, said: “In my view you are not just an evil man but an exceptionally dangerous man.

“The hurt and psychological damage you have caused your seven victims and others is incalculable.

“You’re a man without conscience and remorse.

“You are and have been a sexual predator and one who presents a high risk of harm to the public.”

He pleaded guilty to a total of 10 offences before his trial was due to begin.

The rapist remained impassive as Judge Hopkins jailed him.

He received three years for one count of rape, one year for a sexual assault, three years for another rape and six years for two sexual assaults on a child under the age of 13 to run concurrently, totalling 13 years.

In addition, he was given 18 months for two sexual assaults to run consecutively, totalling three years, plus three years for a sexual assault on a child under 13 and three years for another sexual assault to run concurrently totalling three years, plus 10 years for one rape to run consecutively with the other offences, totalling 13 years.

The two sets of offences are to run consecutively, totalling 26 years.

Judge Hopkins said he would have to serve half his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

He has already served about six months on remand, meaning he will have to serve at least 12 and a half years before he is released.

The defendant will also have to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Kiaran Bradshaw – Devoran/Redruth

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February 2015

Pervert sentenced to eight years in custody for sex offences against four under-age girls

A 19-YEAR-OLD has been given eight years in custody after being found guilty of a series of sexual offences against four underage girls.

Kiaran Bradshaw went on trial at Truro Crown Court last month accused of raping and sexually assaulting seven girls.

On Friday the jury returned mixed verdicts in the case.

Bradshaw, who lived at various addresses at the time of the offences including a children’s home in Redruth and with foster parents in Devoran, was found guilty of raping one girl and three charges of penetrative activty with a child in relation to her.

He had previously admitted another count of penetrative sexual activity with the then 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Bradshaw was convicted of assault by penetration in relation to another girl who was aged 14 at the time and of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old.

He was also found guilty of sexual activity with a 13-year-old.

Bradshaw was originally charged with 20 sexual offences relating to seven young girls at locations around Cornwall between 2012 and 2014, when they were under 16.

He was acquitted of charges of rape and sexual assault in relation to three other underage girls.

After the verdicts, Philippa McAtasney, QC, for the defence, said Bradshaw, of Balfour Street, Leicester, was an immature young man who suffered from problems of autism and a low IQ.

She said he had been taken into care aged 11 and had not lived with his mother full time since then.

He had also been affected by the death of his biological father which he found out about on Facebook when he was aged 15.

Sentencing, Judge Christopher Harvey Clark, QC, said Bradshaw carried out the offences despite being warned that engaging in sexual activity with girls aged under-16 was illegal.

He said: “I have got to take into account the effect on your victims.

“[They] have been emotionally affected by your activities.

“All of them seem to have been what one might describe as happy-go-lucky teenagers before they encountered you.

“Now it maybe that they had other troubles in their lives but clearly since these offences were committed they have suffered psychologically … so that innocent happy-go-lucky nature has been betrayed.”

Bradshaw sentenced to eight years in custody which he will start to serve in a young offender’s institution.

He was ordered to sign the sex offender’s register indefinitely and comply with a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years.

Thomas Alston – Ribbleton

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March 2010

Man jailed for teen sex acts

A man has been jailed for two years after admitting sexual activity with a 13-year-old boy he befriended on Facebook.

Thomas Alston, 21, of Acregate Lane, Ribbleton, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and a charge of sexual activity with a child.

Kirsten McAteer, prosecuting, told the court the teenager had turned to Alston for comfort and support as he was being bullied.

The pair had been introduced through a friend and began chatting on the social networking site, and exchanging sexually suggestive text messages.

They met up and drove around Preston and Liverpool, during which time Miss McAteer said “touching” took place between them.

Richard Orme, defending, said: “This is not a classic case of grooming, where predatory paedophiles trawl social networking sites.”

Alston sobbed as Rt Hon Mrs Justice Swift handed him his sentence.


Ian Kidd – Norwich

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February 2015

Paedophile jailed for grooming and sexually abusing an 8 year old boy

Ian Kidd

A sex offender, who abused a young boy after grooming him by taking him on fishing trips, has been jailed for 11 years and placed on the sex offender’s register for life.

Ian Kidd, 50, carried out the abuse in 1980s and started when the victim was only eight.

Norwich Crown Court heard that it was only recently the victim found the courage to come forward and report the offences, which were described as having a “devastating effect” and making the victim feel as if he had “lost his childhood.”

The court heard that Kidd already had previous convictions for sex offences.

Kidd, of West Pottergate, Norwich, admitted four indecent assaults

Jailing him, Judge Katharine Moore said that Kidd had groomed his victim by befriending him and taking him on fishing trips.

She said Kidd’s actions had greatly effected the victim: “The effect on him has been devastating. His whole life has been effected adversely.”

She said that Kidd presented a risk to children and also made him subject to a sexual offences prevention order under which he must not have unsupervised contact with anyone under 16.

Jude Durr, for Kidd, said that he deserved credit for his guilty plea and said he had not re-offended since 2002.

Simon Birtwistle – Aigburth

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February 2015

Aigburth pervert abused young girl after creeping into her bed wearing torch-lit glasses

A paedophile from Aigburth who sexually assaulted a young girl after creeping into her bed while wearing torch-lit glasses was jailed.

Software developer Simon Birtwistle, 46, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Birtwistle, of Garston Old Road, also admitted one charge of serious sexual assault on a child under the age of 13.

Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, said Birtwistle handed himself into police after the offences came to light when the victim spoke out.

His home was searched and the torch-lit glasses were seized, along with his mobile phone and laptop.

In police interview Birtwistle said he did not know why he had committed the crimes.

Miss McCloskey said: “He denied he was sexually aroused or got any sexual gratification.”

The court heard the victim had been left emotionally distressed by what had happened.

Miss McCloskey said: “She does not understand that she is not to blame.”

Birtwistle had no previous convictions.

Neil Gunn, defending, said his client, who had suffered from depression, made “significant admissions” to police.

He said: “He does not know why he did it and said he did not derive any sexual gratification from it.”

But Judge Thomas Teague, QC, said Birtwistle was “still in denial”.

He said: “When he comes to terms with the unpleasant fact it was for his own sexual gratification, then he will understand why.”

The bearded and balding defendant, wearing a grey sweatshirt, shook his head in the dock.

The court heard he was a “very intelligent man” who had lost a “high powered job” as a result of his offending.

Mr Gunn said Birtwistle’s dad had run the Merseymart Newspapers and that he worked for the family business, before joining an internationally renowned software development firm.

Birtwistle showed no emotion as Judge Teague sentenced him to five years and four months in prison.

He said: “You are a man of exceptional ability, having enjoyed a highly successful career.

“You were a high achieving software engineer, who until these offences had everything going for you.

“Excellent character does not carry much weight in cases as grave as this. But your remorse is considerable and genuine.

“You have been described as ‘a broken man’ and it’s true.

“You say you have lost everything, but it’s truer to say you threw it all away.”

The judge also made him subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Simon Hay – Moston

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February 2015

Pervert caught hugging 13-year-old on bench after asking her for explicit photos on Facebook

Simon Hay

A pervert who was spotted hugging a 13-year-old girl after asking her for explicit photos on Facebook has been jailed for two years.

Simon Hay, 30, pleaded guilty to child abduction after passers-by saw him with the teenager in Piccadilly Gardens last June.

Manchester Crown Court heard how Hay, a father-of-one, met her after chatting online following a chance meeting on the social media site.

He asked the girl for explicit photos and offered to send her his own indecent images.

Prosecuting, Justin Hayhoe said Hay, from Moston, accepted the girl’s friend request adding that her profile stated she was 17, but that they continued to contact each other after she admitted her real age.

Initial messages on Facebook included the girl asking if Hay missed her, to which he replied: “You’re a kid, why would I?”

The court was told that at one point Hay offered to buy her alcohol for a party and discussed meeting up. He also told her he used cocaine and called her ‘darling’ and ‘sweetheart’.

When the girl said her parents had given her money to buy trainers, he suggested they meet up in Manchester.

He also sent her another explicit message asking for illicit photos, which she did not send.

Mr Hayhoe said the girl’s parents where not aware their daughter intended to meet Hay.

Members of the public alerted the police when the pair were spotted hugging on a bench in Piccadilly Gardens, before Hay was arrested.

Mitigating, Andrew Higginson told the court that Hay, who has a string of convictions for offences including battery and assault, has issues with drugs and alcohol.

He said Hay admitted he needs help to tackle ‘underlying issues of a sexual nature’ and was remorseful for ‘exploiting’ the teenager.

Sentencing, Judge Martin Rudland, told Hay his initial contact with the girl started out innocuous, but quickly became ‘flirty, foolish’ and ‘extremely inappropriate’.

“It rapidly escalated,” he added.

“You gave yourself permission to engage with her in what was an encounter leading purely in a sexual direction.

“She was young, immature and foolish, but you weren’t.

“You should have stopped it and not allowed her to go down this course of contact with you.”

Adrian Rennie – York

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February 2015

Ten years for man who raped girl, 8

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A PAEDOPHILE who abused the same young girl four times in a single day has been jailed for ten years.

The child was eight or nine years old when Adrian Joseph Martin Rennie, 25, visited her home, a York jury heard last December.

On different occasions on the same day, he raped her, tried to rape her and incited her to engage in sexual activity with him.

He told her to keep secret what he was doing, but she eventually told a relative and a friend.

The child, now 12, wrote a letter to the Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, about the crimes. She had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence about exactly what Rennie did to her, because he denied all charges.

The judge told Rennie: “What you did to her has caused her very considerable suffering. It is plainly going to take her a long time to get over these events.

“It was extremely serious offending by an adult male against a child in a gross breach of trust.”

The jury convicted Rennie, of Eason View, Dringhouses, of rape, attempted rape and two charges of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

In addition to the ten-year jail term, Rennie was put on the sex offenders’ register for life.

He will be subject to restrictions on his behaviour when he is released, the court was told.

Detective Constable Theresa Wright, of North Yorkshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable Person’s Unit, said: “Adrian Rennie has quite rightly been jailed for committing some truly unspeakable actions against a young child.

“The court process is difficult for anybody to deal with but is particularly difficult for young children.

“The victim has shown great courage throughout the proceedings.

“I hope the outcome of this case will show that incidents of this nature are dealt with sensitively by North Yorkshire Police and will encourage more victims of sexual abuse to come forward.”

For Rennie, Emma Bennett said there was very little mitigation she could give because he refused to accept that he was guilty.

The day before the court hearing, he had received a Facebook message which was “not particularly pleasant” and she handed a copy up to the judge.

He said the message was similar to those received by people in a similar situation and ordered that a copy be sent to the prison where Rennie will be held.

His barrister said Rennie had no previous convictions and the offences had taken place over a short period of time.

The judge said the offences had had a “devastating impact” on people close to Rennie, who found it difficult to understand why someone they counted as a friend, and had supported, had behaved the way he had.

Rodney Kennedy – Whitehaven

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February 2015

Pervert admits subjecting three young boys to horrific sex abuse & possession of 34,000 indecent images of children

A pervert who subjected three young boys to horrific sex abuse over nearly a decade has been warned he faces a lengthy jail sentence.

Rodney Charles Kennedy, 46, committed many of his sickening offences – which included having a collection of more than 34,000 indecent images of children – while living in the Whitehaven area.

At Carlisle Crown Court, he entered guilty pleas to 14 sex offences against three boys, the youngest just 10 years old.

He also admitted a further six offences relating to him downloading or possessing child abuse images on to his home computer.

Of these, some 1,364 of the images possessed by Kennedy, of no fixed address, were of the most serious category – Category A. The details of his sex attacks on the boys are too distressing to reveal in detail but as each of the charges was read to Kennedy by the court clerk, he calmly answered “guilty”.

Kennedy– who appeared relaxed as he sat in the dock – even filmed some of his abuse of the boys, some of it carried out in a London hotel, the court was told.

Defence barrister Brendan Burke said that before sentencing the court would need background reports on the defendant so right length of sentence could be determined and risk management could be planned for the time when he is eventually released.

Adjourning the case for sentence until March 18, Judge Paul Batty QC told Kennedy that he should be under no illusion about the severity of the sentence he faces, saying: “You face an extremely lengthy sentence.”

The judge ordered that Kennedy’s name should immediately go on the Sex Offenders’ Register, noting that he is likely to remain on it for life. Kennedy was remanded in custody until he is sentenced.

Jason McCall – Alfreton

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February 2015

Judge says: Derbyshire paedophile poses ‘a very grave risk to public’ – Then does not jail him

A PAEDOPHILE who has previously been locked up for watching young girls through binoculars and looking at indecent images of children has now admitted downloading more illegal photographs.

Jason McCall posed “a very grave risk” to members of the public from further offending, Judge Hilary Watson told Derby Crown Court.

She said she had “a very stark choice” to make in sentencing the 38-year-old, who admitted having more than 800 images on his mobile phone in the latest set of offences.

She concluded that the best way of protecting young girls would be to put McCall, who has been locked up since November, on a three-year community sex offender group work programme and to give him a suspended sentence so if he breached the order he would be back behind bars.

Laura Pitman, prosecuting, told the court that McCall was first convicted for sex offences in September 2006, when he was jailed for two years with a four-year extended licence period for possessing more than 10,000 indecent images of girls.

He was released in May 2007 but recalled to prison in September 2008 for using a pair of binoculars to watch girls playing.

While in custody, clippings from magazines of young girls were found in his cell.

In June last year, he was given a three-year community order and put on the sex offenders group work programme, but was locked up in November after police seized his phone and found the images of 10- to 16-year-old girls either naked or in indecent poses.

In sentencing, Judge Watson said: “He has used binoculars on two occasions to look for young girls in the community and on one occasion was found to have young girls in his vehicle.

“It’s this escalation from viewing to involving young girls in the community that indicates aspects of dangerousness.”

Clive Stockwell, for McCall, said: “He is undoubtedly a risk. He has openly expressed a sexual interest in young girls and has not tried to conceal it.”

But he said that McCall was someone who actually wanted help with his problem. Mr Stockwell said his client had not had a chance to engage in the group work programme last time because he had not begun the course before being locked up in November.

McCall, of Chesterfield Road, Alfreton, must sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and obey a sexual offences prevention order indefinitely, which includes not possessing binoculars or a telescope.

He was given an eight-month jail sentence suspended for two years.

Martin Paul – Rotherham

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February 2015

Care home nurse who took indecent photos of child ‘could be struck off’

A male nurse who was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court after his partner discovered indecent photos he had taken of a little girl could be struck off from nursing.

Mental health nurse Martin Paul was convicted of 18 charges of making an indecent photograph of a child at Rotherham Magistrates Court in December 2013.

He has now been hauled before the Nursing and Midwifery Council after he was jailed for 12 months at Sheffield Crown Court in January 2014.

An NMC Professional Conduct Committee found the conviction against Paul proved, and could ban him from nursing for life it if rules his fitness to practise has been impaired.

Matthew Kewley, for the NMC, told the meeting in Aldwych, London, Paul was imprisoned for 12 months after his shocked partner uncovered the images – seven of which show his private parts.

Paul, who was working at the Chapel Lodge Care Home, in Rotherham, had previously taken the photos of two girls after their mother let him take them swimming and to the park, Mr Kewley said.

Mr Kewley said: “On 21 December 2013, his partner discovered the photos then waited for Mr Paul to leave the house and go to work before taking the photos to the police.

“He was arrested and interviewed by officers, and accepted they were in fact his photographs and that they were inappropriate.

“He told police during his interviews that they were of a woman’s daughter.

“The young girl was interviewed in due course and said there were occasions when they would go swimming.”

The committee heard it was there that Paul took the photos in the changing room.

Mr Kewley added: “At court, a judge said Mr Paul had been trusted to take this young girl swimming and so had abused a position of trust.

“He had sought to take the photos for his own gratification. There was no suggestion he had intended to distribute the photos – the court was just concerned with him making them.

“The judge decided upon a starting sentence of 18 months custody, which was reduced to 12 months in prison on the grounds Mr Paul had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.”

Paul, who was present at the hearing, told the panel: ‘I have always admitted my guilt to the offences from the beginning.

“I had got the photos out of a box intending to destroy them the next day, but they were found first.

“I know it was a gross breach of trust imposed on me by a close personal friend, who I had known for a few years and I was very fond of the girl.

“I believe my actions impaired me and do affect public trust in nurses. I have only ever been a nurse and I do not know anything else.

“I’ve never done anything appropriate or had any problems in a work situation and have enjoyed being a nurse.’

The panel adjourned to consider its decision.


Nigel Anthony – Omagh

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February 2015

Butcher & music teacher convicted of grooming 14-year-old schoolgirl and having indecent images of her on his phone

A LOCAL butcher and drum tutor who sexually groomed a 14-year-old schoolgirl from the Omagh district had indecent images of her on his phone.

Nigel Anthony (32), from Omagh, was convicted of meeting a child following sexual grooming and possessing four indecent photographs of her.

He committed the offences between October 1, 2012 and March 8, 2013. At Omagh Crown Court, Judge Ramsey QC said the case was “unusual” for those offences as it involved a “friendship that developed into a relationship that was entirely inappropriate.”

He also said Anthony had breached the trust of his victim and her family.

Anthony received a two year probation order and was told to take part in any programme of work imposed by his management officer during that time. He was also made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years.

Two of the conditions of the SOPO were removed after an application by defence barrister Ian Turkington, instructed by solicitor Padhraic Cunningham.

Anthony will be able to use a computer and the internet as none of the offences involved that form of communication and he will also be allowed to stay overnight in addresses without informing his risk manager.

The court was told that after he befriended the female child, her parents became aware of an increase in her mobile phone bills.

It was discovered he had repeatedly called her from his phone and sent her texts and images. During police interview he made no admission to the offences. The indecent images were all Category 1.

The court was told Anthony was of previous “good character” and had no other criminal convictions. Judge Ramsey said, “This case is a long way removed from cases of its type which normally find sexual predators trolling the internet for children.

A friendship blossomed which was entirely inappropriate.”

Breach of trust The pre-sentence report indicated the defendant is of lower than average intelligence but does not have a learning disability.

He previously lived with his parents but now lives alone as he had to move after the offences came to light. He has also stopped drumming which the report stated, “is a huge loss to his life.”

The court was told all he has in his life is his work.

Referring to the pre-sentence report, Judge Ramsey added, “He has acknowledged the relationship is one that should not have happened. He has apologised to his victim, her family and his family. “

It is a salutary lesson and there are no further investigations pending. The concern is he took advantage of a physical attachment and emotional attachment with a teenage child. He breached the trust of her and her family.”

The report also indicted Anthony was not assessed as being a significant risk and there was no evidence of sexual offending prior to these offences.

The judge stated that a jail term or suspended jail sentence would not enable Anthony to address the issues that led him to commit the offences.

Defence barrister Ian Turkington took issue with two of the conditions of the SOPO and said they were “disproportionate to ensure the public is protected from any sexual harm.”

He pointed out a computer was not used in the offending and his client did not target hostels or anywhere else.

Judge Ramsey agreed with Mr Turkington’s assessment and erased two conditions from the SOPO, that ban sexual offenders from using computers without the supervision of their risk manager and staying overnight at other addresses with prior permission.

Anthony was warned he cannot contact any child under the age of 16 and not take any work, paid or voluntary, that would involve contact with children under 16 without permission from his designated risk manager.

Sean Johnson – Ireland

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February 2015

Con man, actor, child sex offender

Sean Johnson

A sex offender who held talent show auditions to gain access to children has been jailed for 10 months.

Sean Johnson, sentenced in Galway organised and promoted talent-show auditions around Ireland for children as young as seven.

He had a plausible manner, multiple identities and a dark past

Alexander Matthews, Alexander Quinn and Lexan Reid were just three of the aliases that Sean Johnson used. The 33-year-old performing-arts graduate from Derbyshire, in the English midlands, was articulate and boyish-looking and seemed bright.

But the life he led was at odds with what a judge this week called his very plausible manner. In late January a reporter interviewed Johnson by phone about his life as a homeless man in Cork. He had pitched a tent on scrubland outside the suburb of Douglas.

Johnson said he had ended up there as a result of “a bit of turbulence” in his life, although he expected things to improve soon. He said he was unable to work because he had no identification; it had been stolen, he claimed, from a warehouse in Dublin that he had been staying in.

Asked about his family in Britain, he said that he had been raised by his grandparents, who had died, and that he had no other family to help him now.

Johnson was hesitant about revealing his real identity, giving only the name “Dave” to me, the same name he gave in a radio interview for the local station RedFM. But he did offer his email address, which was under the name Lex Matthews.

SeanJohnson1

Galway

I saw Sean Johnson in person for the first time last Wednesday, February 11th, in Galway District Court. Dressed in a dark jacket and not quite clean shaven, he alternated between watching court proceedings and staring into space.

He kept his head low and his eyes to the floor as he was sentenced to 10 months in jail for offences under section 12 of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001.

It emerged in court that, over more than a year, Johnson had organised and promoted auditions for talent shows around Ireland under various aliases. On February 1st, 2014, while living in Galway, he held auditions at the city library for a talent show for children as young as seven, and hired a photographer to document their try-outs. Parents had submitted CVs on their children’s behalf and accompanied them to the event.

When the Garda discovered that the man running the auditions was a danger to children it arrested Johnson for violating his obligations as a sex offender. It held him in custody for two months, then released him after the Director of Public Prosecutions said to drop the charges.

Dublin

Around April 2014 Johnson moved to Dublin, where he again immersed himself in theatre and acting circles. He held scriptwriting classes and acting workshops and helped to organise a food and theatre event at the warehouse that he lived in for some weeks.

People who worked with him knew little of his background and said he initially came across as creative and persuasive. But, as they came to know him, some found elements of his conversation disturbing. One woman who worked with him in drama circles says, “He said that when he was young his father had tried to kill him. He didn’t say how he had tried to kill him. He said his father had been in prison but that he had not seen him for many years. He said he never wanted to see him again.”

Johnson spoke about working with the film director Ridley Scott and told his acting group in Dublin that when he hit the big time he planned to have plastic surgery, to change his looks so that his father would never recognise him.

Another woman, Denise, says she met Johnson in June 2014 after he invited her to his classes. Johnson charged his students €20 for theatre classes and €20 for film classes every Sunday. Denise took both.

“He was very well dressed. He looked like a professional,” she says. But of the 30 or so people at an introductory session, about half did not take up the classes. “They got the feeling he was a little bit dodgy,” Denise says. “They did not fully trust him.”

As the classes got under way the group of actors under Johnson’s direction grew closer. “We were like a family almost. We were spending a lot of time with him. He talked about this amazing flat he lived in, in Dublin city centre, paid for by this company he worked for called Synergy.” He was charismatic, optimistic and highly supportive of those in his class, Denise says. “We got so close to him that we ended up telling him things about our lives.”

Johnson told members of the group that his father had also sexually abused him. “But he told two different stories,” says Denise. “He never wanted anyone to take pictures of him or record him. He said the people who had taken advantage of him would come after him, that it was a group of people that had abused him, not just his father.”

Denise now believes that Johnson is extremely dangerous. “I’m upset with myself, because I Googled him and there was nothing. I thought there should be information online about him, since he’d said he worked on big projects like Dr Who and Skyfall. That should have been a warning sign.”

Johnson had little money and appeared to subsist on the generosity of others and on money from acting classes and workshops.

He stayed for about two months at a homeless hostel run by the Missionaries of Charity, a convent on South Circular Road in Dublin. Sr Edward, who helps run the hostel, says Johnson seemed a very nice man. “He gave no trouble. I didn’t find anything wrong with him,” she says. “We take in homeless people. He just came asking for accommodation. He told us about his background, and that was confidential, of course . . . They are given bed and breakfast. They can stay overnight and go away in the morning and come back in the evening.”

Johnson lived among eight other homeless people at the hostel. “He got on fine with the other residents. He was no problem,” says Sr Edward.

But eventually his behaviour aroused suspicion among members of his Dublin drama circle. As in Galway, Johnson raised money through voluntary investors in film, television and events, sometimes using crowdfunding methods. When his associates accused Johnson of misappropriating funds he left Dublin.

Cork

Johnson is believed to have arrived in Cork in early November 2014. He set about promoting a new agency, Cynosure Talent Management, through social media and local websites.

Posing as an agent on a Facebook casting site under the name Alexander Matthews, Johnson advertised on November 18th for “voice talent” from children as young as four, for a fictitious programme that he pretended was for RTÉ:

“Voice talent wanted for new independent RTÉ pre-school animated series . . .

“Penny – Female, Aged 14

“Paul – Male, Aged 12

“Paige – Female, Aged 10

“Peter – Male, Aged 7

“Poppy – Female, Aged 4 and 3/4

“Male, Adult – Multiple Voices

“Female, Adult – Multiple Voices

“Casting agency: Cynosure

“Apply via email . . .”

On the same page he advertised for a local “boyband project”: “Male singers between the ages of 16-24 wanted . . . genre: rock/pop.”

On January 13th, in a post on the website gaycork.com, “Lex Matthews” is described as “a former stage performer” and “the driving force behind Cynosure, Cork’s newest talent management and training provider”.

While setting up his talent agency Johnson used Cork Simon, Cork Penny Dinners and other homeless services in the city. He was at Cork Simon when a journalist from RedFM arrived to report on the hardships of the city’s homeless.

Johnson, using the name “Dave”, spoke to Neil Prendeville, one of the station’s presenters, in an interview broadcast on Friday, January 23rd.

Speaking to this reporter afterwards, Johnson said he had been living in the tent outside Douglas for three months. “When the rain and the wind is off you, and you are huddled in a sleeping bag, it protects you enough. It’s not ideal, but it’s all right,” he said. “Though I earn no money at all at the moment, I’m working in a sense. I’m getting ready to work. I’m not wasting my time.”

Johnson said the previous three months had been incredibly difficult. “Not having somewhere to sleep is the big issue. I’ve not gone hungry and not gone without warm clothes. People have been amazing. But you have to be resilient. I’m independent and strong willed. I’ve done a lot with my life. I consider this as a hiccup, a bit of turbulence, and I hope to get my life back very soon.”

Sparking suspicion

Johnson’s radio interview prompted much sympathy in Cork. But it also sparked suspicion. Two people who had encountered him in media circles in the city, and had questioned his credentials when he was fundraising for a film project, began to investigate. Searching social media, they unearthed multiple Facebook and Twitter profiles in various names.

By Sunday, January 25th, they had traced the alias Alexander Matthews, through Google Images, to a Myspace profile under the name Sean Letman. A search of this name led them to a newspaper report published in the English town of Tamworth, in Staffordshire.

As Letman, Johnson had been jailed for four months in 2009 for downloading pornographic images and films. Police had investigated after complaints from parents of children attending theatre classes at his Majestic Stage School in the town. His laptop had contained 34 indecent photographs and 23 indecent films, featuring boys under 12 and sex between adults and children.

Johnson, who was then 27, had admitted 16 charges of making indecent “pseudo-photographs” of children and a separate offence of failing to comply with the requirements of the UK sex offenders’ register. He was banned from working with children indefinitely, made subject to a sexual-offences prevention order for five years and ordered to register as a sex offender with police for seven years.

On Monday, January 26th, the people who had made the internet discoveries in Cork went to the Garda and to the journalists and media involved, including this reporter.

Det Sgt Adrian O’Neill and Garda Pat Fahy, who had arrested Johnson in Galway a year earlier, arrived in Cork on Tuesday, January 27th. That day Neil Prendeville contacted Johnson “to catch up” and recorded a telephone interview. In this conversation Johnson said he had experienced some “negativity” because “some people recognised my voice on the phone”.

“For the last couple of months I have been doing stuff and presenting myself as a professional, and people were saying, ‘Well how can you be a professional? You’re on the streets.’ There’s somebody been texting and sending messages out telling people not to trust me,” he said. “I think people are just confused as to what I am about. I’m trying not to allow it get me down, but it has done. I think more people found out about [my being homeless] than I was expecting.”

Prendeville put it to him that there was an allegation that his name was Sean Johnson and that he was a registered sex offender. Johnson replied in a tone of surprised dismay. “No. Where’s this come from?” Asked if he had worked at a stage school for youngsters in Tamworth, if he was investigated after complaints about child pornography and if he had spent time in jail, Johnson replied, “No. This is ridiculous. This is insane.”

After the interview Johnson fled Cork. O’Neill and Fahy picked him up in Tralee on Thursday, January 29th, when he checked into overnight accommodation. He was arrested, charged again with failing to comply with the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 and brought before Galway District Court on Friday, January 30th.

When the case was heard, on Wednesday, February 11th, Johnson pleaded guilty to living in the State between November 13th, 2013, and February 1st, 2014, without notifying the Garda.

Judge Mary Fahy praised O’Neill and Fahy for their commitment. “Let it be a lesson to everyone. It just shows you how vigilant parents must be when they bring their children to these talent shows,” she said. Johnson was taken away, handcuffed, in a Garda car. He is now in Castlerea Prison.

Denise’s name has been changed

Zeeshan Bashir – Blackburn

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February 2015

Man jailed after pleading guilty to sexual activity with 14-year-old girl

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A pervert, whose 14-year-old victim was found under a duvet on his bed, has been sent to prison.

Zeeshan Bashir, of Revidge Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child.

He was given a 52-week jail term when he appeared at Preston Crown Court.

A count of detention of a child was left to lie on file.

Bashir was also made subject to a sexual offences prevention order for five years, sex offenders certification for 10 years and a barring order.

Speaking after the hearing, Det Sgt Mark Whelan, from the public protection unit, said the victim had been reported missing from home and when they went round to his house to look for her, he denied she was there.

He said: “We searched the house and found her under the duvet in his bed.

“She said he had also kissed one of her friends.

“Bashir knew that what he was doing was wrong and therefore he can only be classed as someone who deserves a prison sentence.

“The victims are now getting all the support they need from the Engage Team.”

The team, which aims to tackle child sexual exploitation, is based at Greenbank Police Station, Blackburn. It was set up as a multi-agency partnership in March 2008 to address child sexual exploitation in Blackburn and Darwen.

Adam Fairbrother – Hayling

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February 2015

Hayling man jailed after having sex with girl, 14, who he had groomed

Adam Fairbrother

PERVERT Adam Fairbrother has been jailed after having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

The 22-year-old had denied sexual activity with a child but a jury convicted him after a trial.

The court heard Fairbrother had denied knowing the girl was 14.

Judge Roger Hetherington said Fairbrother now showed remorse but had forced the young girl he groomed to undergo a trial by denying his guilt.

He sentenced Fairbrother to three years in prison.

Judge Hetherington said: ‘You were some seven-and-a-half years older than her.

‘There was an element of pressure that you exerted over her.’

He added Fairbrother had threatened to stop speaking to the girl.

‘It was in those circumstances that she went round to your house,’ Judge Hetherington added. ‘In due course you had sexual intercourse there.’

The court heard that prior to this taking place Fairbrother was warned to stay away.

Judge Hetherington said: ‘You carried on regardless of all that.

‘There was here an element of applying pressure, which perhaps could be described almost as grooming.

‘The law in this area, it’s designed to protect young girls as much as anything from themselves and people like you, particularly when they are considerably older.

‘She will have suffered quite a bit.’

Fairbrother, of Blackthorn Drive, Hayling Island, was convicted of one charge of engaging in sexual activity with a girl 13 to 15 in August 2013.

The victim cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Stephen Clayton, defending, said: ‘This defendant was of hitherto exemplary character. He is young, 21 at the time of the offence, and immature for his 
age.

‘This immaturity, his lack of self-confidence and depression that he was undergoing at the time, played, in my submission, a significant part in the offending.

‘He had recently broken up with his partner, he was out of work.

‘His relationship with his mother had broken down which had caused him to have to move out.’

He added: ‘While there was seemingly a degree of grooming it was not of the most evil kind.’

He said Fairbrother had no father figure in his life to talk to about his feelings.

Fairbrother has to sign the sex offenders’ register and have notification requirements for his entire life.

Craig Brumfield – Sunderland/Leeds

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February 2015

Leeds pervert jailed for sexually abusing two children

A SERIAL sex offender has been jailed for six years over offences against two children carried out more than two decades ago.

Craig Brumfield, 46, was sentenced after a court heard how he preyed on a young boy and a girl in the early 1990s.

The female victim made a complaint to police shortly after the offending but no action was ever taken against Brumfield despite him already having a conviction for rape at that time.

Leeds Crown Court heard the victim had spent much of her time growing up feeling that no one believed her.

The offences against the children took place when Brumfield was living in the Middleton area of Leeds.

He had recently been released from custody for an offence of rape when he targeted the youngsters

Brumfield was interviewed about offences against the female victim in 1994 but denied any offending.

He was arrested in 2013 when the male victim made a complaint against him.

The court heard Brumfield, now of Hylton Road, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to three offences of indecent assault and two of gross indecency with a child. The offences took place between 1991 and 1993 when Brumfield was aged in his early twenties.

Kate Batty, prosecuting, said the female had felt withdrawn from society throughout her life as a result of the offences. Brumfield was also convicted of two sex assaults on a 14-year-old girl in 2004.

For those offences he was given an extended prison sentence of nine years.

Brumfield was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Alexander Burns, mitigating, asked judge James Spencer, QC, to give Brumfield credit for his early guilty plea.

He said his client had spared the victims the ordeal of having to come to court to give evidence at a trial.

Mr Burns said Brumfield was abusing drink and drugs at the time he committed the offences against the youngsters.

The barrister said Brumfield had already served lengthy prison sentences for sex offences.

He added that Brumfield was realistic about the fact that he would be facing another long period in custody.

Judge Spencer said: “You had a terrible impact on those two children because of their age and because of the weird, strange things that you were doing to them.

“They will have lived these events many times over in their own minds since it happened.”

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