March 2015

Banbury sex abuse gang ‘groomed girls at parties’

A gang which groomed vulnerable young girls at parties they had organised on social media has been convicted of a string of sex offences.

The group, five men and a teenager, were found guilty of subjecting the girls to offences including rape.

Attacks took place over five years on seven victims, aged 13 to 15, in cars, woods or at the defendants’ homes.

A jury at Oxford Crown Court took 15 hours to consider 26 charges. The men will be sentenced on 17 April.

Prosecution barrister Stuart Trimmer QC said the defendants identified their targets by organising parties for under 18s.

He said the group was known as “BB or B2” and they subjected their victims to a “cycle” of abuse, which in some cases culminated in “rape and even gang rape”.

Det Insp Steve Raffield, from Banbury CID, said: “These offenders abused the trust of the vulnerable young victims for the purpose of their own sexual gratification.

“The girls were subject to horrific sexual offences including, in some cases, rape at the hands of these defendants.

“These horrific crimes will have a lasting impact upon the victims’ lives.”

The verdicts were -

• Ahmed Hassan-Sule, 21, of Glyndebourne Gardens, Banbury, was found guilty of 13 counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of assault by penetration

• Kagiso Manase, 20, of Warwick Road, Banbury, was convicted of three counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of sexual assault

• Takudzwa Hova, 21, of Broughton Road, Banbury, was found guilty of one count of rape, one count of sexual activity with a child and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. He was found not guilty of one count of rape

• Mohamed Saleh, 21, of Orchard Way, Banbury, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child. He was found not guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of rape

• Said Saleh, 20, of Orchard Way, Banbury, was convicted of one count of sexual activity with a child but was found not guilty of another count

• The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was found guilty of one count of rape

• Alexandru Nae, 19, of Broome Way, Banbury, was acquitted of one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of rape

April 2011

Child sex abuser jailed for three years after touching two girls

PERVERT Paul Bowen, who sexually abused two young girls and had pornographic pictures of children on his computer, has been jailed for three years.

Bowen, from Stone, was branded a dangerous offender by Judge Paul Glenn.

Stafford Crown Court heard Bowen indecently touched two 10-year-old girls, who cannot by law be identified.

Anthony Johnson, prosecuting, said Bowen was arrested in Stone and an examination of his computer revealed that indecent images of children at all levels of seriousness had been accessed. The defendant denied that he had downloaded them.

Bowen, aged 58, of West Close, Stone, admitted three charges of indecent assault and five of possessing indecent images of children.

The court heard Bowen had a previous conviction for a sexual offence against a youngster.

In 1994 he admitted indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl, a boarding pupil at a school in the north of England, where he was a house parent.

Judge Glenn told him the offences against the two Staffordshire girls had “a profound effect on the victims”.

“Your conduct was planned, for your own sexual gratification,” said the judge. “There were elements of grooming.”

The images found on the defendant’s computer showed “real children being abused for the entertainment of perverts”.

Along with the jail sentence, Bowen was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and banned from working with children. He was also made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order that bans him from seeking the company of children.

Andrew Baker, defending, said Bowen now recognised the terrible psychological effect his offences had had on the two girls.

March 2015

Drug addict mother gave toddler heroin substitute to ‘knock him out’ so she could smoke crack – He died – Jailed for six years

A drug addicted mother who fed her toddler son a heroin substitute to ‘knock him out’ so she could smoke crack has been jailed for six years.

Kelly Emery, 34, was convicted of the manslaughter of son Fenton Hogan, two, at Nottingham Crown Court after a jury heard she had deliberately given her son methadone to make him sleep.

The mother refused to give evidence at her trial insisting that she had never given her child the drug, despite being negligent in leaving bottles of it ‘lying around’ her house.

The Crown alleged that Emery gave the heroin substitute to Fenton to ‘knock him out’ so she could smoke crack cocaine.

Fenton, who had no obvious injuries, was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital from the family’s former home.

Emery, formerly of Frankley, Birmingham, was given a concurrent 12-month prison sentence after admitting gross neglect of Fenton by allowing him access to methadone.

But the seven woman, five man jury cleared her of giving the toddler methadone on two other occasions before his death in July 2013.

In a statement issued after the case, Detective Inspector Bob Sutton, who led a West Midlands Police investigation into the death, said: ‘Any child death is a tragedy.

‘Fenton Hogan should have had the rest of his live to look forward to.

‘Instead his short life was taken by the actions of his mother, who should have been there to safeguard and protect him.’

The officer said of Emery: ‘Her daily routine revolved around the consumption of drugs. This was to the detriment of those she had direct care for.

‘Fenton’s extended family agrees that no sentence is sufficient or will help to heal what happened to Fenton. The impact of Kelly’s actions will remain with all of the family forever.’

Blood samples taken from the child showed he had as much of the drug on his system as an adult on methadone maintenance therapy.

And hair samples showed that, in the months before his death, he had ingested the drug on at least two other occasions.

When he opened the case, prosecutor Christopher Hotten QC told the jury: ‘That Sunday evening, she had crack and she wanted to smoke it.

‘We say she gave Fenton methadone knowing, to put colloquially, it would knock him out and enable her to do what she wanted without the interference from a fractious child that was difficult to put to sleep.’

Emery, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by gross negligence and a charge of child neglect, wept in the dock as she was jailed for six years.

Mr Justice Robin Knowles told her she had not faced a murder charge because she had no intention of killing her son.

The judge told her; ‘Fenton died because you actively administered about 10mg of methadone to him.

‘That is about half the amount you, as an adult, were taking for you addiction, at that point, to heroin.

‘You did this to get him to sleep so that you could focus on what you saw as your need to take drugs.’

Emery was sentence to six years for manslaughter and 12 month concurrent for a charge of child neglect which she pleaded guilty to.

The jury, by their verdicts, the judge said, found Fenton had consumed methadone in the past from bottle left lying around by Emery.

However it was only on one occasion, on June 30 2013, she actively gave him the drug.

The judge went on; ‘I accept the death of Fenton is crushing in itself.

‘I accept there is genuine remorse. This case is a tragic one.

‘The offending was so unnecessary yet so culpable, the consequences so grave.

‘The offence is so serious that a prison sentence is necessary.’

Before she was taken down, the judge said finally to Emery; ‘Your options include dedicating yourself now to your own recovery in honour of the memory of Fenton and in respect of the life your daughter has to live.

‘It is not too late to give in memory of Fenton and towards the life of your daughter the gift of a mother who does not take drugs.
‘Few things are irreparable over time.’

March 2015

Neglected kids ‘looked like Oliver Twist street urchins’ with head lice and rotting teeth

A mum and dad are facing jail after leaving two children “looking like street urchins from Oliver Twist”.

Jake Alderton, 22, and Emma Louise Jones, 23, left the family home filthy and kept barely any food in the house.

The two-year-old boy and three-year-old girl had lice crawling in their hair, were unwashed and could grab drugs easily in what was described as a “seriously dangerous house”.


The little girl had to have 16 rotting teeth extracted and her mother told authorities she didn’t think dental care was down to her.

The neglected children didn’t know how to eat properly or even what a bath was.

Police who attending the home described it as one of the worst cases of neglect they had ever seen.

Mrs Lisa Hine, prosecuting, told Furness Magistrates’ Court: “When the foster carers were handed these two children they described them as looking like street urchins from Oliver Twist.

“They were in a terrible state. They were filthy and there was no food in the house. They were both starving. It was a seriously dangerous house for children to be living in.

“There were drugs within easy reach of them both.”

She added that the house was filthy and the young boy had bruising and scratching to his skin.

Mrs Hine said: “In relation to dental care, the older child had not been cared for at all and had to have 16 teeth extracted because they were rotten.

“Her mother said she didn’t think dental care was down to her.

“The children were filthy, they had lice in their hair and didn’t know what a bath was or how to eat properly.”

The pair, from Ulverston, Cumbria, pleaded guilty to one count of the ill treatment and neglect of the children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering or injury to health on June 20, last year.

Alderton also admitted possession of cannabis on the same date.

Mr Graham Jackson, defending, said in light of the admission he would ask for the preparation of reports before sentencing. He made no further representations.

The pair will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on March 27.

March 2015

MP calls for sentence review as paedophile is allowed back into community

Hemel Hempstead’s MP has pledged to call on the Attorney General to review the sentence of a man convicted of sexually abusing children.

Craig Leyman, 19, of Gadebridge Road in Hemel Hempstead, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of inciting a child to watch or look at an image of sexual activity.

The first instances refer to the abuse of a boy aged eight years old, which took place around May last year.

The second counts relate to online offences involving a teenage girl.

Leyman was sentenced to 15 months in prison to run concurrently for all of the offences, which is suspended for two years.

This means he is able to live in the community, though he was also handed a sexual offence prevention order and two year supervision order, as well as being ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

Town MP Mike Penning said he would write to Attorney General Jeremy Wright to look at the possibility of appealing what he called a ‘lenient’ sentence.

In his ministerial capacity, Mr Penning also said he was looking at increasing the number of cases that can be requested to be appealed by MPs, as the process is currently quite restricted.

He said: “I will write to the Attorney General to ask about the leniency of this sentence.

“This sort of offence, in my opinion, should be a custodial sentence.

“I don’t think the public will understand why the judge has postponed the custodial sentence and let him back into the community. It is quite worrying.”

Police were unable to provide a photograph of Leyman or comment on his sentence, but a spokesman for the Herts force moved to reassure the public, saying: “Offenders who are given a sexual offences protection order are subject to rigorous monitoring by police.

“This is handled by officers and staff working on a specialist unit who manage robustly the risk to reduce reoffending.

“Any breaches are dealt with swiftly and in accordance with legal guidelines. Criminal justice partners in Hertfordshire have a positive track record in the management of offenders in our community and constant monitoring takes place.”

This is not the first time MrPenning, the current minister for policing, criminal justice and victims, has asked for a sentence to be reviewed, as he has taken on previous court decisions on murder and sexual assault cases in his constituency.

In 2013, then-Attorney General Dominic Grieve backed the MP’s demands to review the decision not to give vicious Northchurch killer Ian McLoughlin a full life sentence.

A CHILD sex offender banned from associating with youngsters regularly let a 15 year old boy visit his home, a court heard.

John Goodfellow, 52, had been given two jail terms and an indefinite sexual offences prevention order after molesting children.

He flouted the order repeatedly, was recalled to prison and has now been given another jail term.

Burnley Crown Court was told how Goodfellow had not been alone with the teenager when he went to his home in the town and was not said to have interfered with the boy.

Goodfellow, then of Ada Street, had admitted five ” specimen” breaches of the SOPO between last June and November, and had been committed for sentence by Pennine Magistrates.The defendant, who might not be released until 2014, was given a seven month sentence.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said under the SOPO, made in 2005 at Preston Crown Court, the defendant was not allowed to associate with or contact anyone under 16.

The 15 year old went to his home, where the group, including adults, would play a game with coins, during the summer holidays. He was said to have visited at least seven times.

Miss Statham said at no time did Goodfellow interfere with the youth, but the teenager told police he was aware the defendant was “gay” as there had been conversation of that nature whilst he has been in the house.

Goodfellow may have ordered some trainers for the 15-year-old from a catalogue, the court heard.

The prosecutor said: “This was behaviour which the crown say amounts perhaps to preliminary grooming.”

She added the defendant was now on recall on the extended licence from his last custodial sentence, until 2014.

In 2005 – The Lucky Star amusement arcade on the promenade in Blackpool is where John Goodfellow, a convicted child abuser, tried to entice a group of children back to his flat by giving them money to play on the slot machines. He was locked up for seven years for inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and in 2009 he got two years, with the extended licence, for sexual assault.

Philip Holden, for Goodfellow, said there had been no allegation the defendant invited the teenage boy to take part in sexual activity and adults had always been present.

March 2015

Pervert locked up for under-age sex ‘obsessed with young girls and Facebook’

A teen who is “obsessed with young girls and social media” has been locked up for 15 months for pursing two of them on Facebook and having under-age sex with another.

Troubled teenager Lee Daysley, 18, was barred from contacting young girls on the social network after having sex with an underage girl he contacted.

But after the requirements of the Sexual Offences Prevention Order were clearly spelled out, he “flagrantly ignored” them by again targeting underage girls on Facebook and beginning a sexual relationship with a girl aged 13.

Hull Crown Court heard he was arrested after the mother of one of his victims contacted police to say he had sent her text messages in which he “threatened to expose her” by publishing indecent images on social network sites.

He either knew all the girls’ ages or that they were under 16.

The court heard both girls contacted on Facebook rejected his “friend requests” and were “upset” by his approaches.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC said: “He’s obsessed with young girls and obsessed with social media, which is his vehicle to get in touch with these young girls.”

Julia Baggs, defending, said: “The defendant is clearly not only a young man in age terms, but in terms of development and maturity he is considerably younger.

“He would like to start afresh when he comes out of prison.

“He realises now he has a fault; he needs some help and would like to engage in what support is available to him.”

Daysley, of Wivern Road, east Hull, admitted breaching the order and having sex with an underage girl.

Sentencing Daysley to 15 months in a young offenders institution, Judge Richardson, who had issued the original order, told him: “It is apparent to me that you have flagrantly ignored the order I made.

“Orders are to be obeyed and when an individual flagrantly flouts an order there is but one result, and that is a custodial sentence.

“I sincerely hope that whilst you are in custody you will undertake a therapeutic course to assist you with your sexual predilections.

“It is plain to me that you have an abnormal interest in girls under the age of consent.

“You pose a real risk to pubescent girls and I have come to the conclusion that there are real risks here of you reoffending.”

Daysley was also made subject to a new five-year SOPO and a restraining order barring him from contacting his three most recent victims until they are 18.

He must also sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

November 2011

Man jailed indefinitely for sex abuse

A “CALCULATING and devious” man who carried out sexual abuse over many years has been jailed indefinitely.

Peter Boothby, of Kinlet Road, Bestwood, admitted carrying out dozens of sexual assaults against two victims when they were young.

The crimes first came to light in July this year when one of the victims told police Boothby had been sexually abusing her and had raped her twice, Nottingham Crown Court was told.

Following a police investigation a second victim also made allegations against him.

She revealed that Boothby had sexually abused her when she was just six years old and that the abuse had continued until around three years ago.

Boothby was arrested and charged with a total of 26 sexual offences, 13 for each victim.

He admitted all charges and was handed an indeterminate sentence, to serve a minimum of 12 years, at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday.

Boothby, 56, was told by Mrs Justice Macur he was dangerous.

Starting in the 1980s, Boothby successfully “groomed and abused” two young girls, she said.

After he was locked up, Detective Constable Angela Daly, from the police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Boothby was a calculating man who hid his devious crimes for many years.

“He emotionally blackmailed both victims.

“This weighed greatly on both of their minds until they bravely summoned the courage to put a stop to the abuse.”

Both victims, who cannot be identified, have been receiving continued support from Imara, a Nottingham-based early intervention project offering specialist support for victims of childhood abuse.

DC Daly added: “This sort of prolonged and systematic abuse has a huge impact on victims and Notts Police are committed to bringing all such offenders to justice.”

March 2015

Grangetown sex abuser who wrecked a woman’s childhood is jailed for five years

A child molester who wrecked a woman’s childhood with a string of sexual assaults has been jailed for five years.

Ian Jameson, 49, groomed a schoolgirl with treats and subjected her to repeated sexual abuse more than a decade ago.

He was brought to justice – and went to prison still denying his crimes – after the victim came forward as an adult.

“When I think back about it, I feel sick,” said the woman, now a married mother, in powerful victim impact statements read out in court.

“He took advantage of my vulnerability for his own pleasure.

“Over the years I’ve kept it bottled up. I tried to push it to the back of my mind.

“I’ve had vivid dreams and nightmares about what Ian did to me and the abuse he put me through.

“When I think about what he did to me, my skin crawls.

“Looking back on it, I would say that Ian has destroyed my childhood. He took that away from me and he had no right or entitlement to do that.

“I would just like Ian to admit what he did to me.

“I’m just glad there has been some justice and I can start to move on with my life. I wish Ian would tell the truth.

“I’m continuing to have nightmares. I hope these in time will go away.

“I hope he realises the devastation he has caused.”

She said she had suffered depression, underwent counselling and had thoughts about taking her own life.

She told no one about what happened at the time as she did not understand what was happening, Teesside Crown Court heard on Friday.

“She didn’t realise that what he was doing was completely wrong,” said prosecutor Christine Egerton, who described Jameson’s persistent and escalating sexual assaults on the girl.

She came forward and made a complaint to the police about her childhood ordeals in December 2013.

Jameson, of Dovedale Avenue, Grangetown, denied five charges of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child.

A jury found him guilty on all seven counts after a trial – his first convictions.

Shaun Dryden, defending, said Jameson still maintained his innocence to the “opportunistic” offences.

He said Jameson vehemently denied having a sexual interest in young girls, did not pose a risk to them and had not offended in more than 10 years.

He added: “He’s been employed for a number of years at ICI since the early 90s. That job will be lost.”

Mr Dryden said Jameson’s long jail term would have a devastating effect on him and his immediate family.

Judge Tony Briggs told Jameson: “It is perfectly plain that you, in common parlance, groomed her.

“You felt completely confident that she wouldn’t reveal what was going on. I’m quite sure you felt totally able to control and contain the situation.

“She was an impressive witness who gave her evidence with dignity and restraint.

“And it was no surprise that, so far as the jury were concerned, they accepted what she said and convicted you.

“Custody is inevitable. This was serious, prolonged and it’s had a devastating effect.”

He jailed Jameson for five years.

He said Jameson posed “a serious risk of further harm” and gave him an indefinite sexual offences prevention order.

Jameson will be on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and is likely to be barred from working with children.

March 2015

A MIDDLE-AGED man who described having sex with a girl aged 15 as “stepping over the mark” was told by a judge he had grossly understated the crime.

Neil Bees, 44, used the words in a letter he wrote for his young victim, with whom he had full sex five times, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC, who said police should consider whether Bees’ letter should be forwarded to the teenager, told him: “What you did was very serious and you need to understand that.

“To refer to it in a letter to the victim as ‘stepping over the mark’ is to understate it very, very substantially.”

Bees, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to eight charges of having sexual activity with a child.

The court heard three of the charges involved improper touching and the remainder involved full intercourse.

Though he shared cannabis with the girl it was not to facilitate sexual activity, the court was told.

Judge Mercer QC jailed him for four years and told him to register as a sex offender for life.

Bees was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order, banning him from unsupervised contact with youngsters.

Kenneth Bell, prosecuting, said the girl had just turned 15 when Bees talked to her in a sexualised way before touching her improperly.

The touching later moved on to intercourse.

Bees told the girl he knew it was wrong and he had tried to stop it, but it continued.

The victim became very upset, the court heard, and in floods of tears reported to her schoolmate what was going on.

Mr Bell told the court: “She said he didn’t hurt her and she liked him, but she was very upset. It was reported to teachers and the police.”

Bees fully accepted what the girl said and told police he realised he had taken advantage of her.

The court heard he had no relevant previous convictions.

Anna Midgley, defending, said: “He is at pains to say to (the girl) it was entirely his responsibility and his fault.

“He should have known better and she should not blame herself for it. He understands the court will be looking at a substantial prison sentence.

“He is deeply sorry for himself. He is deeply sorry for the psychological injuries he’s inflicted on (the girl).

“His remorse is apparent.”

March 2015

Convicted child sex offender walks free from court after admitting attack on prostitute in alleyway

A former bus driver and convicted sex offender who attacked a prostitute in a dark alleyway has walked free from court.

Michael Reaney, aka Michael Eddy, was seen naked from the waist down with his jeans around his ankles running from the alley where he had assaulted the sex worker.

The child sex offender was in court the next day for breaching a court order meant to protect the public from him.

Reaney, 40, arranged for sexual activity with the prostitute for money in the Stockton area at about 3am.

The woman said she tried to run off when he suddenly changed in the alley.

She said he grabbed her coat, pulled it over her head and flailed his arms as he tried to keep her there.

He ran taking her phone after she screamed and shouted for the police, Teesside Crown Court heard today.

The traumatised and vulnerable woman suffered swelling and scratches under her left eye, said prosecutor Shaun Dodds.

A witness saw Reaney fleeing, naked on the bottom half of his body, saying: “Don’t call the police. She’s a prostitute.”

A police dog followed his scent and tracked him to a nearby shed where the prostitute’s phone was found in pieces.

He told officers the woman started to perform a sex act on him for £20 – which she denied – then started screaming and shouting rape.

He later said to a probation officer he did not feel he had got his “money’s worth”, the court was told.

Reaney, of Droitwich Avenue, Stockton, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and theft, both from October 6, 2013.

The day after he attacked the prostitute, he was jailed for a year by magistrates for breaching notification requirements as a sex offender.

In 2011 he was given a three-year community order and a five-year sexual offences prevention order for sexual activity with a child and harassment.

He touched, tried to kiss and bombarded a 15-year-old girl with texts while working as a bus driver for a Lincolnshire school run.

Nigel Soppitt, defending, said: “He says this is the first and last time he’s ever consorted with sex workers.

“He’s been quite persistently approached by two women and he’s succumbed to that temptation because of drink.

“There was a consensual sexual act that took place. The victim was a sex worker. They went down this cut and it seems that something’s happened.

“It’s a loss of temper by this man who’s frustrated and angry because of what’s happened on that particular night.”

He said the coat was put over her head and her eye was injured in a struggle, Reaney panicked and ran.

He added that there had been an unexplained 18-month delay in the court case.

Since he was released from prison last May, Reaney complied with his licence, and he had no previous convictions for violence.

He was a hard worker, though he had been unable to work since 2011 and had been on invalidity benefits for depression, added Mr Soppitt.

The judge, Recorder Martin Bethel QC, told Reaney: “There are things on your record which give concern, to put it mildly.”

He said Reaney made an arrangement with the woman for sexual activity.

“Exactly what happened then is a matter for some mystery,” added the judge.

“She alleges that you immediately assaulted her. You say that you assaulted her because the sexual activity you had paid for was not fully forthcoming from her.

“But whichever the truth of that, you did assault her.

“She ended up with injuries and a terrifying situation down a dark lane late at night.”

He said Reaney’s pleas saved the victim having to give evidence and gave him a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

March 2015

Paedophile possessed almost 12,000 CSA images

A PERVERTED Rowley Regis man caught with thousands of sickening indecent/abusive photographs and films of young children and animals after serving a two year jail term for similar offending has been jailed for 52 months.

When Stuart Fleming, aged 33, completed his time behind bars he was told he must register as a Sex Offender for the rest of his life and also made the subject of an indeterminate Sexual Offenders Protection Order.

But police officers discovered he had been offending again when he was traced and tracked down after an investigation into another offender, said Howard Searle prosecuting.

He told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Fleming was found to be in possession of 11,725 indecent images of children and there were over 1,500 in the worst category.

Mr Searle said Fleming had 2,582 images in the second worst category and a further 5,872 in the next category together with a number of indecent movies including 797 in the worst category.

Fleming of Holly Road admitted 12 charges of making indecent images and movies of children and four charges of distributing the material.

And possessing a prohibited images of a child, possessing an extreme pornographic image involving beastiality and having access to the internet when he was banned under the terms of his Sexual Offenders Protection Order.

Judge Amjad Nawaz told Fleming it was extremely serious offending because of his previous conviction and only a substantial prison sentence was justified.

The court was told that Fleming was previously sent to prison for 15 charges of possessing indecent images of children and one of distribution.

March 2015

Dudley student spared jail after admitting possessing indecent images

A UNIVERSITY student from Dudley who was caught with hundreds of sickening indecent photographs and films of young children has been spared jail.

“These were horrifying images,” Judge Amjad Nawaz told Luke Hall.

“It beggars belief how someone like you who is intelligent could have got into this predicament.”

He said it was clear Hall had gone looking for the pornographic images and that was a “disturbing aspect” of his behaviour.

The 22-year-old of Elizabeth Grove admitted 18 charges of possessing indecent images of children and he was placed on supervision for three years with a condition he attends the sexual offenders treatment programme.

He was told he must register as a sex offender for the next five years, made the subject of a sexual offenders protection order until further notice and must pay £600 costs.

The judge also ruled at Wolverhampton Crown Court that Hall must not be allowed to work with children.

Howard Searle, prosecuting, said police officers went to Hall’s home with a warrant and recovered his laptop computer.

Hall then later went to police and handed over his mobile telephone.

When they were checked, a number of indecent images were recovered, including 385 at the worst level together with 28 moving images.

There were also 500 indecent photographs in two other categories Mr Searle told the court.

Angela Shergill, defending, said Hall, a man of previous good character, viewed the images after they had been sent on to him adding, “He deeply regrets what he has done and he is full of remorse.”

She went on, “What he did was completely out of character and he has already been punished because he has lost his good reputation. He feels shame and disgust for ending up in this predicament.”

March 2015

Oldbury rapist jailed 30 years after attacking girls at school

A SERIAL sex pest from Oldbury who carried out a string of serious sex attacks on two young girls when he was a schoolboy 30 years ago has finally been brought to justice.

Philip Barrett, who was jailed for seven years, was arrested when the one victim finally revealed to police what he had done and it was not long after that the second girl made an official complaint.

Barrett, aged 46, who started committing the sex attacks over 30 years ago had told the one girl the consequences would be serious if she failed to keep her silence, said Sarah Buckingham prosecuting.

She told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Barrett who had 30 previous offences on his criminal record including rape and robbery had left both his victims psychologically scarred.

Barrett, of Clay Lane, admitted two specimen charges of rape and three of indecent assault and he was told he must register as a Sex Offender for the rest of his life.

Nicholas Smith, defending Barrett, said: “He has reflected on his past behaviour and he feels remorse and sorrow for the suffering he has caused.”

He said Barrett had spent most of his adult life in prison and he had become “thoroughly institutionalised” adding: “These matters have come back to haunt him.

“But he has come to terms with what he has done and the serious effect his actions had on his two victims. That is a good step towards rehabilitation.”

Mr Smith added: “He acknowledges the damage he has done and that it is still ongoing. He was very young when he committed the offences and since then he has served substantial terms of imprisonment.”

The court was told that Barrett was jailed for six years for rape and an eight year sentence followed for robbery.

Judge Peter Barrie told Barrett he had to pass a long sentence for the offences but added, “I know you have come to understand what terrible harm you did with your behaviour.”

March 2015

March 2015

Former soldier avoids prison after police find nearly 46,000 child abuse images

A FORMER soldier, who was also a UN peace keeper during his time in the military, was found to have amassed a depraved collection of child sex photos when police went to his home in Houghton Regis and seized his computer.

Kevin Crump’s sordid collection of young children being sexually abused ran to 45,896 images he had downloaded from the Internet.

Some of the sickening photos police discovered were of extremely young children being abused while they were restrained.

At Luton crown court, Crump, who was living with his wife in Stubbs Lane, Houghton Regis when police arrived, pleaded guilty to six offences of making indecent photos of children, three of possessing indecent images of children, possessing an extreme pornographic image and one offence of possessing prohibited images of children.

Daniel Siong prosecuting said it was 7am on the morning of February 16 last year when police arrived at the defendant’s Houghton Regis home.

Judge Philip Bartle, hearing the case, was told that when officers told Crump they were there because it was believed someone at the address had been using file sharing software to download images, he replied “Everything you said is true, it looks like I am going to prison for a long time.”

Computer equipment at his home was seized and the sick material was discovered.

The 53 year old made a full and frank admission to the police, saying he had hidden the material on his computer so that his wife wouldn’t find it.

He admitted he would download it and tend look at the material when his wife wasn’t home.

Judge Bartle was told that some of the children pictured were as young as one year old.

Charlotte O’Connor, defending, said Crump had served 22 years in the armed services and had served with the UN and NATO in war torn regions around the world.

She said Crump, who is an IT manager, had taken steps himself to address his behaviour and had attended a counselling course.

The court was told the defendant’s wife was sticking by him.

Miss O’Connor said “he tells me that in a way the police arriving on his doorstep is one of the best things that happened because he has been able to break the cycle.

She said since the police raid last year, Crump and his wife had gone to live in South Yorkshire so he could care for his elderly parents.

“He wants to put this behind him,” said the barrister.

Passing sentence, Judge Bartle said the children involved in the images had been extremely young and he went on “In some cases they were restrained when sexual acts were committed on them by adults.”

The judge said Crump had lost his job because of his sordid activities, but he said he taken the unusual step of seeking out out help to tackle his behaviour.

“You were in the army for 22 years and you served in some very difficult areas of the world and you were witness to the terrible atrocities which regrettably soldiers see during the course if their lives in the services.”

The judge said he had concluded that, based on everything he had heard, he could pass a suspended prison sentence.

He sentenced Crump to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years and placed him under the supervision of the probation service for the same period.

He was told he must attend a sex offenders programme and he will also be the subject of a sexual offences prevention order for the rest of his life.

Crump was told he will have to pay £545 prosecution costs

December 2003

Paedophile jailed for abusing young boy

A family of a convicted paedophile has protested his innocence and vowed to clear his name.

Terence Donald was locked up for four years on Friday after being found guilty of three counts of indecent assault at Newcastle Crown Court.

The 51-year-old, from Scotswood, Newcastle, stood accused of systematically abusing a youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, almost 20 years ago after befriending him and taking him for trips away.

A jury was told he touched the boy while they were sleeping in the same room before getting the youngster to do the same back.

Following sentencing last week, the boy’s step-dad said his family’s lives had been shattered by the abuse but today Donald’s daughter slammed both the verdict and sentence.

Nadine Donald told the Chronicle: “My dad is 100 per cent innocent. It’s all lies and they have torn my family apart.

“We’re still in shock at what has happened. We’ve been through eight months of hell since the police first knocked at his door.

“We’ve stood by him from the first moment and we will do whatever it takes to get him out of jail. He’s never been in prison before and this will really hit him hard.”

The 29-year-old, from Heaton, claims the allegations stemmed from a spiteful vendetta against her dad, who formerly worked as a psychiatric nurse at St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth.

Reacting to the sentence today, the victim’s dad, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, said his family was delighted with the outcome and believes justice has definitely been done.

The victim, now aged 23, is rebuilding his life and has a girlfriend and young child.

Donald was sentenced to three four-year prison terms to run concurrently and put on the sex offenders’ register for life.

March 2015

ESTONIAN man who admitted filming up the short skirts of girls as young as 10 praised the English justice system – after he was told he was not going to be jailed

Pavels Beitans, of Penrose Street, Stonehouse appeared at Plymouth Magistrates Court after admitting 10 counts of outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner.

Gareth Warden, prosecuting, explained how Beitans, who was born in Latvia but classed himself an Estonian citizen, was seen by a shopper in the Primark store in Drake Circus on October 4 last year acting suspiciously.

Store security followed him on CCTV and saw him carrying a mobile phone. They noticed him repeatedly bending down behind a young woman who wore a short skirt.

Police were called and Beitans was stopped outside Drake Circus. Officers found the mobile phone’s video application was still running and further examination of the phone revealed a number of other similar videos, all taken in the previous few months.

They included other videos taken at the Primark store, but also at a car boot sale at Plymouth Argyle football ground, in Mayflower Street, inside a Superdrug store, at Wilkinsons store, in Poundland store and in Boots within the mall.

The first offence dated back to July 30 last year and Mr Warden said that of the 48 video files found the CPS was bringing ten specimen charges.

Mr Warden said: “They show a number of films up young girls skirts – different days and at a number of locations. Views included bare thighs, underwear and on one occasion, bare buttock.

“The ages vary from as young as ten to young teens.”

Investigators have told The Herald Beitans had often filmed the faces of his victims, possibly in an attempt to match them with the up-skirt footage. Detectives were able to determine that while the majority of the girls were teenagers, a few were thought to be under 16 and one – wearing as short pink dress at the Argyle car boot sale – was estimated to be as young as ten.

None of the girls could be identified by police and remain unaware they were filmed.

During interview he admitted being in the store but claimed he was just buying “socks” before answering no comment to questions.

As the case against him was read out, Beitans was handed tissues by a Russian-speaking interpreter to dab his tears.

In mitigation, his advocate Graham Kinchin alluded to a pre-sentence report prepared by the probation services and said his client was deeply remorseful and “extremely scared of jail”. He also “welcomed the chance to make recompense to the country and the city.” He said Beitans had met with a psychiatrist and his GP arranged a meeting for him with a sex therapist who concluded the filming incident was due to the “serious nervous stress which was as a result of a previous breakdown of a relationship”.

The chairman of the bench said Beitans behaviour was “totally unacceptable”, but noted his early guilty plea and remorse.

He passed a 16 weeks jail sentence, suspended for 12 months. He ordered Beitans to complete a 12 month supervision order, undertake 150 hours unpaid work, to forfeit the mobile phone, pay £40 costs, pay £80 victim surcharge and be subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years which would see him banned from owning or using any photographic equipment, prohibit him from taking images of children and see him leave his home contact details with police. Any breaches of the order would result in a jail term of up to five years.

Speaking through the interpreter, Beitans said he was grateful to the court and police who “stopped me from this horrible mistake. I feel very guilty and very remorseful.”

He added: “I am convinced now that the justice system in England is very just and very fair and I’m very grateful.”

He said he would do “everything to show that I will recompense what I have done and show my respect for this country.”

March 2015

Bourne man admits grooming and sexual activity with 14-year-old girl

A Bourne man who admitted sex offences against a 14-year-old girl after grooming her over the internet was today (Monday) warned he faces jail.

Darren Hadman (40), of Wetherby Close, Bourne, pleaded guilty to a charge of meeting a child following grooming between February 1 and March 28, 2013 when he appeared before Lincoln Crown Court.

Hadman also admitted sexual activity with the girl and a charge of inciting the same girl to engage in sexual activity.

He further pleaded guilty to distributing indecent photographs of a child, possession of 318 indecent photographs of children and five charges of making an indecent image of a child.

Judge John Pini QC granted Hadman bail to appear back before the Crown Court next month for sentence.

But he told Hadman: “There is no doubt on the evidence that you groomed a girl you knew was 14 years of age and took advantage of her. The offences are very serious and plainly pass the custody threshold.”

March 2015

Man who raped woman and also groomed schoolgirl jailed for five years

A MAN who raped a woman on New Year’s Eve and groomed a vulnerable under-age girl has been jailed for five years.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Luke Matthew forced his rape victim to watch the attack in a mirror following a night out with her in December 2011.

Prosecutor barrister Denise Breen-Lawton said the pair got into bed together and Matthew forced himself on the woman, who cannot be named.

In a victim statement, the woman said the experience had left her suffering from anxiety, periods of insomnia and flashbacks.

The court heard she did not report the incident until later – after Matthew had become involved in a relationship with a 15 year-old girl.

In September 2013, Matthew and the teenager started texting each other and exchanging messages on Facebook while the girl was living away from her parents.

Miss Breen-Lawton said Matthew, of Newhall Park Drive, West Bowling, had suggested the pair meet up, saying they could “have fun, but not sex” as the girl was too young.

At one point, he invited her to bed with him.

The court heard the girl’s mother confronted Matthew about the relationship and the contact then stopped.

He was interviewed by police and arrested in relation to both offences on September 20, 2013, after the rape victim came forward after leaning about Matthew’s relationship with the girl.

Matthew, 37, admitted charges of rape and grooming at previous hearings.

Mitigating, Matthew’s barrister, Andrew Walker, told the court his defendant hadn’t attempted to excuse his actions and had shown remorse for the “harm and distress” caused to both victims.

Sentencing Matthew for the rape yesterday, Judge Peter Benson said: “It is clear to me she made it crystal clear she didn’t want sex and was not consenting in any way.

“You used physical force to force her to have sex with you.”

In relation to the grooming offence, Judge Benson added: “The nature of the communication became more sexually-charged, and you invited her to join you in bed.

“What you proposed amounted to what used to be called heavy petting.

“She was a vulnerable child and you knew that.”

Matthew was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for rape, with an additional six months for grooming a child.

He was also given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and ordered to register as a sex offender for an indefinite period.