March 2015

Former teacher banned indefinitely from teaching after abusing young boys

A former teacher at Bedford Modern School has been banned from ever returning to the country’s classrooms after findings that he was guilty of sexually motivated incidents in respect of young boys at the school 40 years ago.

A disciplinary panel has found that Paul Birch, now 65, called an 11-year-old boy into the master’s dressing room and told him to take his trousers and pants off and made sexually motivated suggestions to the child.

The panel also found him guilty of similar allegations against a second boy of the same age on a different occasion.

One of the pupils involved in the incidents at the school, told the hearing in written evidence how he considered Birch would have touched him if he had not made an excuse of feeling ill and run home immediately.

Birch, who was not present or represented at the National Council of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) hearing in Coventry denied in written submissions that he would ever have touched or sexually asssaulted the boy. He denied he got any sexual gratification from what he had done and realised his actions had been “stupid.”

However, in his evidence one of the boys had claimed that Birch got a “cheap thrill” from watching boys run naked through the showers at school.

Birch was employed as a mathematics and sport teacher at the school from 1971 until 2010 when he resigned as head of mathematics.

However, he was re-employed as a part time examination officer and also became a volunteer table tennis coach until he was suspended following a report to police in 2013 that a pupil at the school had overheard a relative speaking about sexual abuse by Birch.

The incidents at the centre of the disciplinary hearing were said to have taken place “in or around 1975” and the hearing was told that he was spoken to by the headmaster of the school in 1975 in respect of his conduct.

The panel’s findings say that Birch’s actions were “sexually motivated” and that he was guilty of “unacceptable professional conduct.”

They add that he “shows no current insight in relation to the severity of his actions, because he considered his conduct would only be of concern if it became public knowledge.”

They say that from the information considered by the panel it does not appear that he had any concern for the effect his conduct had on the two boys.

Imposing a life-time ban on behalf of Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, NCTL deputy director Alan Meyrick said it was a serious case involving “an abuse of the trust that pupils should expect from their teachers.”

He said he supported the NCTL panel’s recommendation that Birch should be banned from the country’s classrooms for life.

“This means that Mr Paul Birch is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Paul Birch shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach,” he said.

March 2015

Hawarden man jailed for grooming schoolgirl

A “suspicious, angry and vengeful” man who groomed a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for six years.

James Evans, of Manor Close in Hawarden, Flintshire, began grooming the girl in 2006, when he was 37.

He had denied sexual activity with a child but was found guilty by a jury and sentenced at Caernarfon Crown Court today.

The court heard Evans – now 45 – sent his victim flattering messages and gave her lots of attention.

He soon began a sexual relationship with the girl which continued for six years until 2012.

Sentencing Evans to six years in prison, Judge Merfyn Hughes QC said: “When (the victim) was 14 you groomed her for the sexual relationship that continued for a number of years, as she told the jury.

“After the first incident, she did not tell anyone because she was scared and she knew it wasn’t right.

“Later in the relationship, she tried to call your bluff and threatened to tell others, but you said you would put pictures of her on the internet.

“At the time she did not see she had not done anything wrong.

“You behaved in a demanding and controlling manner, and because of this it took a long time for her to go to the police.

“You were jealous. You even threatened boys her age who showed her attention.”

The victim tried to start a career to escape Evans, but realised in November 2012 that the only way to stop him was to go the police.

A sentencing report said Evans was “suspicious, angry and vengeful towards other people”.

Simon Mintz, prosecuting, said the victim had been put through the trauma of a trial because of Evans’ denial.

Mr Mintz said: “He maintained the relationship did not start until she was 16. He made it very difficult for her to come and have to give evidence.”

John Hedgecoe, defending, said Evans had no relevant prior convictions.

Evans was also ordered to sign the sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Investigating officer Claire Roberts, of North Wales Police, said: “Evans’ crimes were a gross abuse of the trust that was placed in him as an adult. The sentence that has been given today is welcomed, as it sends out a clear message that sexual offences committed against children remain a high priority for North Wales Police and offenders will be relentlessly pursued.”

March 2015

Former choirmaster who sexually assaulted two teenage boys has been jailed for three years

Andrew Teague, who has performed with cathedral choirs across England, committed the offences as a young music teacher in his early 20s.

Teague, 63, admitted three counts of indecent assault committed against the boys in 1975.

The former master of choristers at Bradford Cathedral was sentenced at St Albans crown court.

He was a freelance music teacher and organist living in Hertford when he committed the offences, the court heard.

The court heard both victims had kept quiet for years about the abuse and only spoke to the police in 2013.

Sally Mealing-McLeod, prosecuting, said Teague assaulted a 13-year-old boy after being employed by his parents as a music tutor in Hertford.

“He recalls sitting on a bed with the defendant, who started touching him,” said Miss Mealing-McLeod.

Teague went on to fondle the boy, she said.

On another occasion Teague performed oral sex on the boy as he lay on a bed.

In the same year, while working as an organist, Teague targeted a chorister in Bishop’s Stortford. He indecently assaulted the 14-year-old on a coach while the choir was on tour.

Following his arrest, he rented out his home in Clayton, Bradford, and moved with his wife to Rue des Marchands de Vin, in Rancon, France.

Antonie Muller, defending, said: “He is 63 and these offences 40 years ago are the only offences in his entire life.

“Deep down he is a decent man, save for these offences he committed all those years ago.”

March 2015

Grandad, 67, had indecent images of children

A HAMPSHIRE grandfather has received a six-month suspended prison sentence for downloading indecent images of children on to computers on which he stored treasured family snaps.

Peter Bamforth, of Oxford Road, pleaded guilty to 21 charges relating to shots of youngsters aged between eight and 15.

A total of 59 pictures were downloaded between July 2011 and May 2014.

Police were alerted after he shared some of the files.

Winchester Crown Court heard how Bamforth, who was described as abusiness professional, had accessed indecent child images for 14 years and also enjoyed adult pornography.

One movie, which the 67- year-old accessed but didn’t save, was of the most serious category of pornographic images, said prosecuting counsel Tessa Hingston.

However a letter from his daughter described Bamforth as “gentle, caring and loyal”, as well as “a man of integrity and honour”.

Katie Quincey, defending, said that Bamforth had young grandchildren, whom he sometimes cared for with his wife.

Handing down a six month prison term, suspended for two years, Judge Jane Miller QC said: “These are serious offences.

You could very easily have gone to prison.”

Bamforth was ordered to attend a sex offenders treatment programme and told access to his young grandson will be monitored by social services.

March 2015

Caernarfon harbourmaster admits possession of hundreds of indecent images of children

A former Caernarfon harbourmaster today pleaded guilty to charges of making and possessing indecent images of children.

Richard Jones, 43, of Ffordd Eryri, Caernarfon, replied “guilty” to each of the 12 charges read out in Caernarfon Crown Court by prosecutor David Mainstone.

The court heard that one of the charges against Jones was the possession of 546 indecent still images of children.

Mr Mainstone said all the offences happened between July 8, 2010, and May 1, 2014.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report by the probation service.

Mr Recorder Timothy Petts said: “You have pleaded guilty to serious offences.”

Jones was given bail, with one of the conditions being that he will not be in the presence of children under 17.

He will next appear in court on April 17 for sentencing.

Jones is understood to have left his role of harbourmaster in June 2014.

March 2015

Ex-teacher who downloaded indecent images of children avoids jail term

A former teacher who downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children has avoided a prison sentence.

Judge Norman Wright told Darren McKenna, 48, that he had escaped imprisonment by “the skin of his teeth.”

McKenna, a former teacher and school governor, pleaded guilty to three counts of downloading indecent images of children and one of possessing them.

Simon Duncan, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that McKenna, of Avon Road, Billinge, had used encryption software to access the images, which included a video.

He said: “Police discovered search terms indicative of an active interest in searching out indecent images of children. He said that he enjoyed the feeling of breaking the rules. He said he started viewing the images six years ago while looking for adult pornography as a way of escaping from marital stress.”

Mr Duncan added that McKenna, a Keystage 4 manager at the Launchpad Pupil Referral Unit, in College Street, Ste Helens, a centre for children and young adults with behavioural problems, claimed not to get any sexual gratification from looking at the images.

St Helens council said he quit his job after his arrest.

Carmel Wilde, mitigating, said that McKenna had been stressed working two jobs simultaneously.

She said: “This behaviour is wholly out of character for a man of previous good character who has previously been a school governor.”

She also read an excerpt from a statement by McKenna, which said: “I’d just like to apologise for my actions and all the people it has affected and for the consequences to my family.”

Ms Wilde added: “He saw his behaviour as a sort of twisted punishment for his marital difficulties. He was seeking solace and his behaviour got out of control, and he suffered a nervous breakdown.”

Judge Wright, who gave McKenna a six-month sentence suspended for two years, said that the crimes were not “victimless” and added: “Your viewing these images keeps the market going. You played your part by downloading them in this evil market which has caused children to be abused when these photographs are taken.”

He added because of an early guilty plea, and McKenna’s previous good character led him to suspend the sentence.

He also implemented a two year supervision order and an order for McKenna to attend a sex offenders rehabilitation programme.

The judge went on to emphasise that there was no suggestion that McKenna acted improperly with any children.

March 2015

A NETHERTON man who “betrayed” a teenage girl when he raped her after offering to give her a lift home has been jailed for six years.

Anwar Hussain, aged 23, who also carried out a sex attack on the teenager’s friend, will be considered for deportation back to Pakistan after he has served his time behind bars for the “significant abuse of trust”.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Hussain came across the two girls in Dudley town centre and took them back to his home in Round Street.

Judge Amjad Nawaz said it must have been obvious to him they were the worse for drink and added: “They thought they were being shown some kindness when you told them they could go into the house to charge up a mobile telephone.”

He said Hussain then deliberately used a subterfuge to get the second girl out of the house before raping her friend, adding: “She was foolish and you took advantage of her foolishness.

“I have no doubt she will never overcome what happened to her that night. She will live with it for the rest of her life.”

Hussain denied rape but he was convicted by the six man six woman jury after they retired for nearly three hours to consider the evidence at the end of his trial.

Richard Franck, defending, told the court that Hussain came to the United Kingdom early last year from war torn North West Pakistan and he was suffering from post traumatic stress.

He said Hussain had also suffered stress because he had been in close proximity to a bomb and that had left him needing medication and support.

Hussain, who was told by the judge he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life maintained to the jury in evidence the teenager had consented to all that had taken place and stressed she had been enthusiastic.

The judge told him the Government of this country took in people from battle backgrounds around the world but he had abused the system and must be considered for deportation upon his release.

March 2015

Sex attacker who molested four teen girls claimed he did not know what he was doing because he was fasting for Ramadan

A sex attacker molested four teenage girls then claimed he did not know what he was doing because he was fasting for Ramadan, a court heard today.

Shamsul Islam, 33, sidled up to girls as young as 15 on empty buses and trains across east London then sexually assaulted them.

When one of his victims confronted him he said ‘I’m sorry, I’m fasting, I don’t know what I’m doing,’ Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.

Islam, from Barking, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault, and was sentenced to three years in prison – after which he will be deported to his home country of Pakistan.

Judge Sheelagh Canavan branded him ‘a danger to society’.

Sentencing him to three years’ imprisonment, Judge Canavan described him as a ‘serial, sexual pervert’ and called for him to be removed from the country as soon as possible. 

She said: ‘Your devotion to your religion is only convenient to you when it gives you an excuse for your sexual misconduct.

‘You are not a national of this country, and the sooner you are removed from the country the better.

The first attack took place on a C2C train going from Essex into central London, the court heard.

Prosecutor Karl Masi said: ‘The defendant got onto the train and sat down beside [the first victim] – even though there were plenty of empty double seats on the carriage.

‘The victim noticed Mr Islam was rubbing his elbow up against her. She tried moving away but the defendant kept moving closer to her. He would look away whenever she tried to look at him.

‘At one point, after the defendant had got up and sat back down again, the victim felt him touching her stomach and looked down to find his hand under her top.

‘When she challenged him the defendant got up and moved.’

The second assault, on a 15-year-old girl, happened on a bus in mid-afternoon a few days later, the court was told.

The teenager boarded the bus and immediately felt uncomfortable because Islam had been staring at her at the bus stop.

‘There were other double seats available yet the defendant chose to sit next to her,’ Mr Masi said. ‘He was staring at her before moving his arm and touching her right leg with his hand. He then tried to get his hand under her top and on top of her leggings.’

The third attack, which happened on another bus the same day, left the 16-year-old victim ‘paralysed with fear’.

Islam sat next to her, before using his fingers to caress the girl’s stomach and moved his hand down to her shorts.

A few weeks later he boarded a different bus where he sat next to a girl and grabbed her breast.

When the girl confronted her attacker he replied: ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m fasting, I don’t know what I am doing.’

Mr Masi said that all the victims were upset by the assaults and were left in floods of tears.

The first victim said she now ‘questions how others look at her’ in an impact statement read to the court, while another said she becomes physically sick when using public transport.

Islam was arrested on September 17 after police used his Oyster card to track him down. 

Judge Canavan said: ‘I don’t underestimate the impact this has had on the psychological wellbeing of the victims.’

Speaking about the first incident, the judge said: ‘I have no doubt that you knew she knew you were touching her and indeed the thrill for you in part was the fright that you were causing to that woman. I have no doubt that that fed into your sexual satisfaction.

‘When subsequently interviewed you said that you couldn’t remember the incident. You attempted to blame Ramadan as causing you to forget. As became plain during the course of the interview that was a lie – you did know what you had done.’

She said that the second victim, aged just 15, was ‘very uncomfortable’, adding: ‘I have no doubt you targeted her too and I have no doubt that part of the sexual thrill of your offending was the helplessness of the woman who was the subject of your sexual assault.

‘I say “woman”, but she was in fact a child. She got off the bus and burst into tears and rang her mother. But that was clearly not sexually satisfying enough for you because within 90 minutes you were assaulting another woman.’

In relation to the fourth attack, Judge Canavan said: ‘You said you were sorry, and that you did not know what you were doing because you were fasting.

‘It’s my fervent wish that you will be immediately deported from the UK.’

March 2015

Pervert banned from all Bristol coffee shops after exposing himself in Costa and Starbucks

A 67-year-old man has found himself banned from every coffee shop in Bristol.

He admitted exposing himself at a branch of Costa, but while waiting to be sentenced, he again exposed himself to two 15-year-old girls in Starbucks.

In the first instance, Yusef Khan was seen performing two lewd acts at the Costa in Cribbs Causeway shopping centre.

Mr Khan, of Stapleton, Bristol, pleaded guilty to exposure and was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Bristol Crown Court.

When arrested, he had told police he didn’t gain sexual gratification from his acts but could “understand” how someone could be offended by his behaviour.

Jonathan Stanniland, defending, urged for his client’s sex offender’s programme to continue.

“The best thing is that he is rewired not to do it again,” he said.

March 2015

Convicted sex fiend jailed after attacking girl in Rochester street

A convicted sex fiend who attacked a teenage girl on a quiet street at night has been given an extended sentence for a second time to protect the public.

Steven Kinsella served just over three years of a five-year term for sex assaults on young women on a train and at a railway station in 2004.

Now, the 38-year-old pervert, of Cooks Wharf, High Street, Rochester, has been locked up for seven years with an extended licence period of two years

March 2015

Convicted murderer & friend admit sexually abusing young boys in care

A convicted killer who is serving a life sentence for bludgeoning a war veteran to death has returned to court after admitting raping and sexually abusing boys he met in the care system.

Stuart Young, 28, formerly of Broadgate, Preston, was sentenced to life with a minimum tariff of 28 years after he attacked Albert Fielding with a hammer, smashing his skull, and stole £160 from the 89-year-old’s wallet.

Now it has emerged Young, who spent time in a number of care settings as a child, targeted vulnerable boys raping one upwards of 30 times over a three year period when the boy was aged between 10 and 13 years old.

Another man, Brendan Wharton, 29, who met Young in foster care, also admitted taking part in sexual assaults after starting a relationship with Young when they were both teenagers.

The allegations came to light in April last year when one of the four victims told a social worker about sexual abuse he had experienced at a care home in Lancashire.

In the course of the police investigation, White was arrested and put forward the names of a number of other boys he remembered.

Young was also arrested but made no comment when he was questioned about the abuse.

A total of four men said they had been abused by the pair – one man saying Young had raped him repeatedly, and another saying Young had attempted to rape him. One said he had been indecently assaulted by Wharton alone and two that both men had abused him.

The boys were as young as nine years old when they were subjected to their ordeals.

Preston Crown Court heard Young had difficulties as a young child and had a lack of role models and nurture, which led to an unstable adult life with drug abuse culminating in the murder of Mr Fielding in 2011.

Wharton, the court heard, had a confused sexual identity and described Young as “evil” and a “vicious lad”.

Judge Anthony Russell QC, sentencing, said: “You are now in your case Young, 27, and in your case Wharton, 28. These offences occurred when you were very much younger – around the ages of in your case Young, 12 to 16 years and in your case Wharton when you were about a year older until you were 15.

“It is clear from the victim impact statement that (the first man to come forward) suffered psychological consequences which have left him feeling damaged. No doubt that is the case with the other boys as well.

“You Young appeared in front of me two years ago for an offence of murder – a terrible case – and you are serving a minimum term of 28 years.

“You acknowledge your involvement and I take into consideration your lack of maturity when these offences were committed.

“Brendan Wharton, there is no doubt you have led a blameless life since these offences were committed but you must have realised at the time that what you were doing was wrong.

“This was not an isolated incident – there were three different victims in your case. I accept your involvement was less than that of Young and I accept that at the time your sexual identity was confused.”

Young, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to rape and indecent assault of one boy, attempted rape and indecent assault of another boy, and indecent assault of a third boy.

Wharton admitted indecently assaulting three boys and both defendants admitted sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Young was jailed for four years, which will run concurrently to his existing life sentence but will be taken into account by the parole board when he is eligible to apply for release.

Wharton, of Broadfields, Chorley. was jailed for 16 months.

March 2015

Man who left 5-wk old baby blind and with brain damage faces jail after admitting attack on tot

A MAN who left a five-week old baby blind and with catastrophic brain damage later moaned: “I was tired”.

The attack by Stephen Sweeney was so severe medics feared the boy wouldn’t survive.

Sweeney shook the baby and squeezed and shook his tiny body while changing him during a holiday with the child’s mum in September 2013.

A judge heard the boy was able to leave hospital but now suffers from cerebral palsy and is registered blind.

Sweeney faces jail after he admitted assaulting the baby to the danger of his life. The 27-year-old will learn his fate later this month.

The attack happened at Hunters Quay caravan park in Dunoon on September 3, when Sweeney, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, picked up the baby who had woken early.

In the early hours of 3 September 2013, the boy awoke for his regular feed.

Sweeney decided to take the child from his cot to deal with him while the mother stayed in the bedroom where she could see them both

The mother fell asleep but was awoken to hear Sweeney shouting for help. he had the child on his knee while claiming: “He’s not right.”

The mother noticed the boy appeared tired, pale and drowsy. His eyes were half shut and he was taking short breaths. His leg was also shaking and he appeared to be floppy.

They took the child to the local hospital in Dunoon where medics diagnosed a viral infection and allowed them to leave.

When the child refused to feed and looked to be in pain he was later taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill in Glasgow.

Doctors found he had haemorrhages and bruising and signs of rib fractures.

The child’s condition deteriorated and he eventually required resuscitation and ventilation.

The baby’s condition worsened and he was moved to intensive care.

The court heard the boy later improved and was able to move but medics suspected he had been the victim of “abusive head trauma”.

Later that month, hospital staff told Sweeney and the child’s mother his injuries were “non accidental”.

After the meeting, the mother confronted Sweeney who claimed he had “done something” while trying to “shush” the child.

He then blurted out: “Oh my god, I’ve done this. I’m responsible for this.”

The next day, Sweeney told his own mother that he had been bouncing the child on his knee and that the baby’s head had been moving backwards and forwards.

Another relative of the baby then asked Sweeney if he had “lost it”. Sweeney told her: “I don’t know – I was tired.”

He was detained by police on 20 September 2013 and claimed what happened was “an accident”.

Sweeney said he had held the boy tightly that morning as he moved him up and down as well as backwards and forwards.

Leading paediatrician Dr Helen Hammond was asked to provide expert opinion on the case.

She told the court the child’s injuries were consistent with the baby being shaken and gripped.

She added the way the boy appeared at hospital could be explained by Sweeney’s claims he “bounced” the boy on his knee while not supporting his head.

But, the force would have to be “excessive” to cause the brain injuries.

The court heard the prognosis for the boy was “poor” and he was registered blind, had cerebral palsy and suffered from epilepsy.

Sweeney pleaded guilty to assaulting the child to the danger of his life.

Judge John Morris allowed Sweeney to remain on bail pending sentencing later this month.

February 2010

Internet sex beast gets life

A COMPUTER geek from Waltham Abbey who had sex with a 14-year-old girl after grooming her over the internet was given a life sentence this week.

Robert Barwell, 31, of Roundhills, met the girl in an online chat room when she was just 13.

They exchanged mobile phone numbers and Barwell took her on trips to the zoo, ballet and cinema, Blackfriars Crown Court was told.

Barwell, who has resigned from his job working on internet projects at Epping Forest Council, told her that he was not usually interested in young girls but that she was “very special”.

On Valentine’s Day last year, he booked a hotel room where they engaged in sexual activity.

Prosecutor Natasha Tahta said that the relationship got to a stage where the girl felt she could not live without Barwell.

The victim logged into an internet chat room in November 2005 because she was bored. She made it clear she was 13 and female.

Ms Tahta said: “He [Barwell] initially advised her to leave the chat room because she was too young. She offered him her email so they could talk. She found him supportive of her difficulties that she had in her life.

“She became more and more dependent on the relationship she had with him and by Christmas they were exchanging 15 texts a day.

“The emails contained sexually explicit references from extremely early on.”

The girl’s parents became suspicious when Barwell met her at Victoria station and he was arrested by British Transport Police after they followed his car.

He told police that their relationship was more counsellor and patient rather than girlfriend and boyfriend.

But he accepted he had received a photo of her in her underwear and bra.

Ms Tahta said: “He admitted kissing her and touching her. He said she touched his genital area while he was driving in the car.”

Psychiatrists found Barwell had a paedophilic instinct and deliberately groomed the girl for an “unhealthy and perverted relationship”.

Laura Brickman, defending, said Barwell is “a sensitive and highly intelligent man” who “lacks ordinary common sense”.

She continued: “He’s a geek. He’s not physically attractive and initially must have been flattered by the attention of a young girl who was very attractive. There was genuine affection between them.”

Barwell pleaded guilty to the offences of sexual activity with a child and meeting a child following sexual grooming.

He was detained indefinitely and will serve a minimum of three and a half years.

He was also ordered to sign the Sexual Offenders’ Register and was disqualified from working with children for life.

Judge Charles Byers told him on Tuesday: “Let there be no mistake that those who groom children on the internet behave in my view in a manner as badly as someone who prowls the street looking for a victim or loiters outside the school gate waiting for young girls.”

May 2007

Synagogue bans convicted paedophile

A CONVICTED paedophile has been banned indefinitely from returning to a Stanmore synagogue and the synagogue plans to exclude all such offenders in future.

Andrew Josephs, 29, of Parklands Court, Edgware Way, Edgware, was found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on February 27, 2006, of four charges of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with boys.

He was jailed for two years for four indecent assaults on one boy, and a further nine months for two incidents of sexual activity on a second child.

The conviction followed a detailed investigation by Barnet police’s child abuse investigation team but Josephs is due for release in July.

Since he was put behind bars Josephs, a former primary school teacher at Michael Sobell Sinai School, Kenton has requested to return to the Stanmore synagogue’s congregation But he has been told he will not be permitted to pray at the Stanmore and Canon’s Park Synagogue, London Road where he is a member, because of parental fears about child safety.

A special committee appointed to decide his case recommended last week that Josephs should be banned along with all those “charged or convicted of similar offences”.

Shimon Cohen, a spokesman for United Synagogue, explained that the board of management at the synagogue had taken advice from Harrow Council, police, child protection agencies and had consulted widely with the community at the synagogue.

He said: “As a result of this process the synagogue took notice of this and decided to ban Mr Josephs from the synagogue.

“There are plenty of places where he can go and pray, just not in our synagogue.”

Mr Cohen added that the synagogue was a community and that it was a “common sense decision” to put the welfare of the children at the synagogue first.

He said:”The bigger question for us is the preservation of community life and our children.

“We have a code of forgiveness in Judaism but it is up to the victims to forgive this person.”

March 2006

Teacher jailed for abusing 12-year-old boys

A teacher who sexually abused two boys during private lessons at his home was jailed today.

Andrew Josephs, 28, was jailed for two years and nine months at London’s Wood Green crown court on four counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual activity with boys.

His victims were both 12-years-old when he attacked them at his home in Edgware, west London, two years ago.

His conviction is “a testament to the courage of the boys involved,” Detective Sergeant Diane Lesley said after sentencing.

Police launched an investigation in August 2004 after a parent complained that Josephs had inappropriately touched her son during a tutoring session.

Other boys later came forward to police with complaints.

Ms Lesley said: “Andrew Josephs was a respected member of the community entrusted with the care of children. These offences were a grave abuse of that position of trust.

“Other victims of child abuse should be encouraged not to suffer in silence, but to speak out and help us put a stop to this.”

Josephs, who privately tutored 12 and 13-year-old boys at his home, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for four counts of indecent assault on boy A, and nine months for two counts of sexual activity on boy B.

He has been banned from working with children. A further sex offences prevention order was made to stop him from having unsupervised contact with children under 16 and using the internet to access pornography.

Josephs was charged with four counts of indecent assault on boys, four counts of sexual activity with boys, five counts of possession of indecent photographs of children and three counts of abuse of a position of trust in March last year.

The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the possession of indecent child photographs charges before the trial.

The judge directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts on abuse of the position of trust charges.

January 2008

Pervert avoids prison whilst paedophile father is jailed

An Egham man who pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault has escaped a prison sentence at Cardiff Crown Court.

Andrew Gasson, 38, originally from Cardiff but who now lives in Egham, was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to register as a sex offender for that time.

Gasson’s father Keith, 67, was jailed in July for 14 years for sexually abusing two girls in the Welsh capital.

Andrew Gasson, 38, had denied 11 charges including rape, indecent assault and gross indecency with a child.

The court heard the attacks took place in their Cardiff home over more than eight years. The trial continues.

The court heard the Gassons were a religious family who would pray twice a day, discuss the Bible over dinner and attend church three times every Sunday.

But the jury was told that married Keith Gasson was abusing two girls and his son preyed on a girl and a boy.

August 2010

Paramedic jailed for breaking his baby’s arm

A paramedic who broke his baby son’s arm in an “unforgivably brutal and shocking” attack – but was cleared of his murder – was jailed for three years today.

March 2015

Company director exposed as paedophile after leaving USB stick at solicitors’ office

A COMPANY director was exposed as a paedophile after leaving a computer memory stick in a solicitors’ office.

Stephen Butterworth, 68, had no previous convictions and had “triumphed” over a difficult childhood, having been brought up in care, Hull Crown Court heard.

But a different side to his character emerged when he dropped and lost the USB storage device during a visit to Heptonstalls solicitors in Goole on April 24 last year.

Keen to find out who the owner was, staff plugged it into a computer and had a “nasty shock” when it displayed indecent photographs of children, as well as documents belonging to Butterworth.

Police were called and searched his home in Bretton Avenue, Goole, where they found a further five memory sticks on which he had stored indecent images of children.

In total, he had 879 indecent images, including 125 films.

Of the photographs, eight were designated at Category A – the most serious – while 13 were Category B, and 733 were Category C.

There were two films at Category A, 18 at B, and 105 at Category C.

The youngest victim was aged five and the eldest 13, but most of the images featured girls aged between eight and ten.

The court heard Butterworth downloaded the images at work and stored them on external devices.

It was not known how long he had been downloading the images for as his work computers automatically deleted their internet search history after a certain period.

Butterworth is a sole director of two companies employing 30 people, and the lead negotiator for a property consortium which is planning to develop farmland, the court heard.

Paul Norton, defending, said: “He has been asked to continue in that capacity even though he offered to resign because of these offences.

“They thought only he was the appropriate person to do it.”

Mr Norton also said Butterworth’s family and friends had shown “significant loyalty” to him by offering support.

Referring to a pre-sentence report, Mr Norton said Butterworth was “keen to address the motivations of his offending and to avoid the commission of further offences”.

He had also engaged with the child protection charity Lucy Faithfull Foundation, Mr Norton said.

Judge Mark Bury sentenced Butterworth to a three-year community order, with a requirement that he attend 45 sessions of the Northumbria sex offenders’ treatment programme.

The judge said each image represented an abusive episode for a young child, and told Butterworth: “The gravamen of these offences is that, while there are people such as yourself to look at these images, there will be a market to abuse children and that’s the serious matter of these offences.”

Butterworth must sign the sex offenders’ register for five years and was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order for the same period.

March 2015

Runcorn rapist jailed for 20 years for a catalogue of historic sexual assaults on two girls

John Kenny, aged 48, of Farnhill Close, Windmill Hill was found guilty of four charges of rape, 12 counts of indecent assault and two charges of gross indecency at Chester Crown Court on March 10 and sentenced the following day.

Claire Lindley, chief crown prosecutor with Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “Kenny used and abused these two women from when they were as young as eight-years-old.

“He did this for his own gratification with no thought of the impact it was having on them.

“They tried to tell other adults what was happening but Kenny always denied their allegations and convinced others that the girls were lying.

“His actions, back in the 1970s and 1980s, have devastated the lives of these women.”

She said the investigation started in 2012 and involved considerable work building the case.

Two earlier trials faltered for a variety of reasons.

Case workers supported both victims through the delays.

Mrs Lindley said: “The eventual conviction and sentence of Kenny has made that long journey worthwhile for all involved and a testament to the strength of the case built by the CPS and Cheshire Police.

“I would like to thank the two victims for their courage and determination to see this case through.

“They have expressed their thanks for simply being believed after all these years.

“The CPS treats allegations of sexual abuse very seriously, no matter how long ago the offences took place.

“We hope that this conviction and others like it give victims the courage to seek justice.”

DC Greg Thomas said: “Cases of this nature often go unreported due to the fact that victims feel that they will not be believed, and due to the very nature of offences victims can find it extremely difficult to talk about what they had been subjected too.

“Both victims have shown great strength and dignity throughout the investigation.

“It is hoped that victims of sexual abuse will see that cases of this nature are taken serious and that there are agencies including police who are willing to listen and support them through the court process.”

March 2015

Redditch man jailed for just two years for sexually assaulting & taking pictures of six-year-old girl

A REDDITCH man has been jailed for two years and four months after admitting sexually assaulting a girl aged jut six – which led to his “secret habit” of looking at child abuse images being exposed.

54-year-old Kerry Jones had thousands of indecent images of children on his computers, Worcester Crown Court heard.

They included 10 images of his indecent assault victim, one of which showed her in a dress without underwear.

Jones, of Abbotswood Close, Winyates Green, admitted the indecent assault, which happened almost two years ago, and 14 allegations of having child abuse images dating as far back as 2004.

Jailing him, Judge Michael Cullum told Jones that the indecent assault led to his “secret habit” of looking at indecent of images of children being exposed.

Looking at such images to obtain gratification was also “abusing children” – but he went on to “unforgivably” assault the young girl, said the judge.

“What was a relatively fleeting physical act had a more serious background,” he added.

And, the judge said, “crossing the line from internet abuse” had caused actual and life-long damage to the little girl he assaulted.

Telling Jones he would serve half of his sentence and spend the rest on licence, Judge Cullum also placed him on the sexual offences register and made an order limiting his contact with children for 10 years.

Peter Grice, prosecuting, told the court that Jones touched the girl intimately while she sat on his lap.

The girl later told her parents what had happened and they reported it to police.

Officers then found more than 3,000 indecent images of children on computers at his home, including some of the most serious kind.

There were also 58 “extreme” images showing sex between adults and animals.

There were other pictures on his mobile phone.

At first Jones denied sexual activity with the child but he eventually pleaded guilty last November, as he was awaiting trial.

Andrew Baker, defending, said Jones was of previous good character and by eventually admitting the indecent assault charge he had spared witnesses the trauma of giving evidence.

Mr Baker added that Jones had been married for many years and his wife, who was substantially older than him, had suffered a series of mini strokes.

He was responsible for paying their £48,999 mortgage and his actions had left his sick wife “isolated”.

Mr Baker said Jones was “deeply ashamed” and knew he needed help.

March 2015

Pervert teacher who filmed young boys showering is banned from teaching

A PERVERT teacher jailed for offences involving child abuse images has been banned from the classroom for life by a disciplinary panel.

Brian Foakes, 61, was said by watchdogs to have abused his position of trust to carry out a “planned, deliberate” campaign of sexual gratification.

He had set up a secret camera to film boys showering naked at a previous school before joining the staff at Queen Ethelburga’s College at Thorpe Underwood.

He was working as an assistant house-parent at the college when he was arrested two years ago by police who confiscated his computer and two video cameras disguised as pens.

More than 600 indecent images of children were found on the equipment and more than 670 videos, 15 of which had been made available for distribution.

A number of the images were ranked in the most serious category of child abuse, the National College for Teaching and Leadership panel was told.

The offences have already cost Foakes his liberty and now they have cost him his career after he was banned from teaching indefinitely by a fitness to practise panel.

Some video footage showed Foakes installing a camera in a shower cubicle while others showed pre-pubescent boys showering. Police identified the shots as having been taken at a previous school where Foakes taught.

In 2014, he was jailed for 18 months at York Crown Court for four child abuse images and voyeurism offences dating back to 2005.

Foakes had held a number of teaching posts since 1975, including head of music and housemaster, and spent years teaching in Zimbabwe and Kenya.

Giving the final decision on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, Paul Heathcote said: “The panel has found that the allegations against Mr Foakes involved acts of abuse of trust, and the violation of pupil rights, which affect the reputation of the teaching profession.

“The conduct of Mr Foakes was planned, deliberate and maintained over a period of time.”

The panel noted that the trial judge had referred to a number of mitigating circumstances, including an early plea of guilty, and aid work by Foakes in Africa.

But Mr Heathcote said: “The four relevant convictions are serious and likely to have an impact on the reputation of the teaching profession.

“Teachers are regarded as role models and influence pupils.

“The panel is satisfied that the conduct of Mr Foakes fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession.”