September 2013

Wrexham rapist who groomed schoolgirl is jailed for 11 years

A DANGEROUS sexual predator who raped a vulnerable schoolgirl and then started to pay her for sex has been jailed for 11 years.

Matthew Ali, of Pentre Gwyn, Wrexham, was said to be in complete denial despite being convicted of raping the victim and committing various sexual offences against her when she was just 13 and 14.

Judge Philip Hughes said the 29-year-old roofer posed “a significant risk of serious harm” to young girls as he sentenced him at Mold Crown Court yesterday

Ali was placed on the sex offender register for life, given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and had his license on release from prison extended by four years in order to protect the public from future offending.

The rape charge arose from the first time they had sex behind a community centre when she changed her mind and said no.

But he carried on regardless and gave her £20.

Ali had seen the victim in her school uniform, befriended her, and Judge Hughes told him: “It is quite obvious that you took a fancy to her.”

The court heard how Ali had told her that she was “fit”, became a Facebook friend and obtained her mobile number. When he discovered her family were very short of money he “took his chance” by persuading her to earn money by providing him with sexual favours.

The police investigation showed that he contacted her 1,781 times by phone, he persuaded her to have sex with him and he paid her for it.

“She was a vulnerable girl who succumbed to the temptation to make money”, said Judge Hughes. “You were twice her age and you coerced her to prostitute herself for you.”

Judge Hughes said that the girl was for the most part willing because she desperately wanted money but her vulnerability and naivety must have been obvious to Ali.

She had never had sex before and initially agreed to meet him for intercourse behind a community centre, but then changed mind and said she did not want full sex.

“But you carried on regardless and paid her £20 for her trouble,” the judge told him.

The effect on her life had been catastrophic and she had repeatedly tried to kill herself.

“Your abuse of her has contributed to her present plight,” said Judge Hughes.

At a previous hearing, the jury heard that Ali got her to send a photograph of herself to him in a sexual pose.

Wyn Lloyd Jones, prosecuting, said Ali threatened to post it on the internet if she did not have sex with him.

The girl was only 13 and was paid £10 or £20 to engage in various sex acts with him behind a community centre.

Ali denied raping the girl and nine charges of paying a child aged 13 and 14 for sexual services but was convicted.

John Wyn Williams, defending, stressed the defendant had no previous sexual convictions, there was no pattern, and he had been in contact with other children and young people without any problem in the past.

He continued to deny the offences.

July 2013

Caia Park man took advantage of vulnerable girl and paid her for sex

A MAN took advantage of a vulnerable girl and started to pay her for sex.

Matthew Ali, a roofer, got her to send him a photograph of herself in a sexual pose.

He then said he would post it on the internet if she did not have sex with him, Mold Crown Court heard yesterday.

The girl, who was only 13, was paid £10 or £20 to engage in various sex acts with him behind a community centre. He then took her to a friend’s flat while the friend was in hospital where sexual intercourse took place.

Ali said he would make her first time special and initially she agreed because she wanted the money. But when she said no, he told her not to worry, it would soon be over and carried on.

Matters came to light when the girl, in desperation, tried to take her own life and told a hospital nurse what wasgoing on.

Ali, 28, of Pentre Gwyn, Caia Park, Wrexham, denied raping the girl and nine charges of paying a child aged 13 and 14 for sexual services but he was unanimously convicted by a jury yesterday afternoon.

Judge Philip Hughes remanded him in custody pending sentence in September. He said he wanted a pre-sentence report to assess whether he should be treated as a dangerous offender.

Ali was also placed on the sex offender’s register and was told to expect a custodial sentence “measured in some years”.

Wyn Lloyd Jones, prosecuting, told the court the allegations were serious and upsetting.

During late 2011 and early 2012 Ali began to “fancy” a schoolgirl even though he was twice her age. She was vulnerable and had no money and he took advantage of that.

He began to make inappropriate remarks to her and offered her money for sexual services. They often met behind a community centre where various sexual acts took place. It escalated and he said he would not pay her unless she had full sex with him.

The rape charge covered the first time they had intercourse because the prosecution believed there was no real consent.

She said no and described it as horrid but he had intercourse with her then and on other occasions.

Mr Lloyd Jones said a friend of Ali’s had been in hospital and Ali took the girl to the friend’s flat for sex.

The friend had kept as a memento some surgical clips – or stitches in a bowl – and the girl was able to describe them to the police.

Ali denied taking her there but said he had told her sister about the stitches.

But the sister said there had been no mention of the stitches and claimed he had also been flirtatious with her and had also asked her to meet him at the flat.

The victim began to self-harm and while recovering at a Chester hospital told a nurse an older man was paying her for sex.

Police investigated and seized their mobile phones and examined their Facebook sites.

Ali had said there had been no contact between them but Mr Lloyd Jones said Ali was lying. Police found 1,368 phone contacts, calls and texts, initiated from his phone. Deleted Facebook messages between the two of them were also recovered.

Ali told the jury he had never spoken to the girl or had any sexual contact with her. He said someone else must have used his telephone and he would leave his Facebook account unattended and someone else must have impersonated him.

In evidence, he said someone was trying to set him up.

Ali said he had tattoos on his body including ‘Cymru’ on his neck but the girl had not mentioned those.

He had not taken her behind the community centre or to the friend’s flat or any other flat.

Ali said he had a normal, healthy sexual relationship with his partner and denied taking advantage of the girl because she had no money, saying he was short of money too.

He claimed the allegations were “a pack of lies“ and said he would never “fancy a child”.

His partner and her mother both gave character evidence and said they were standing by him.

September 2013

Bus driver jailed for sexually abusing girl

A bus driver has been jailed for 20 months for sexually abusing a vulnerable and troubled 14-year-old girl.

Mark Standhaven, 34, left the teenager feeling suicidal after twice molesting her on the same day, Bradford Crown Court was told.

Judge David Hatton QC told Standhaven, formerly of Buttershaw Drive, Buttershaw, Bradford, but held in custody after his arrest, there was a 20-year age gap between him and his victim.

“You now finally have accepted that this activity was entirely your doing and you do not seek to blame anyone else,” the judge said.

Standhaven pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two offences of sexual activity with the girl.

Prosecutor Andrew Kershaw told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that Standhaven first cuddled the girl and then abused her.

Afterwards, he took painkillers and rang the police to confess his guilt.

Mr Kershaw said a significant degree of psychological harm was caused to “a vulnerable and troubled adolescent girl”.

Standhaven worked as a bus driver before his arrest and Mr Kershaw told the court: “I have seen some background information about inappropriate behaviour to girls on the bus.”

In mitigation, Ash Mahmood said that Standhaven admitted the offences and accepted they were entirely his fault. “He wishes to apologise profoundly and cannot explain why this happened,” Mr Mahmood said.

The defendant was unaware of any issues arising relating to his job and hoped to resume work when he could.

Judge Hatton said Standhaven had no previous convictions for any similar matters and none at all for any offences in the recent past.

He himself had called the police but the alarm would have been raised in any event by the girl and her family.

Standhaven was ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register, to notify the police of his whereabouts for ten years.

Judge Hatton made a Sexual Offences Prevention Order prohibiting him from getting in touch with the girl in the future.

He must not have any unsupervised contact with any children or invite them round to his home.

September 2013

Loner is jailed over child abuse movies

A DRUG-abusing loner who downloaded child abuse movies and photos has been jailed for 14 months.

Edwin Osbourne Junior was found to have collected almost 2,000 pictures, including 442 movies, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Osbourne, 26, formerly of Pensford but now of St Matthews Road, Cotham, pleaded guilty to 15 charges of making indecent photographs, as well as a charge of possessing extreme pornographic images, involving bestiality.

Judge Martin Picton told him: “You have downloaded the most appalling images of horrendous child abuse over five years. They are some of the very worst I’ve had to view.

“The level of harm meted out to children and babies is awful, it is disgusting and the suffering is very real.”

Osbourne was handed a ten year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, prohibiting unmonitored internet use, and told to register as a sex offender for ten years. His computer equipment will be destroyed.

Richard Posner, prosecuting, said police found Osbourne had used specific search terms to download improper material, some of which was at the highest abuse category.

He admitted what he had done when police questioned him.

Robert Duval, defending, said: “He had been abusing Class A drugs and downloading indecent images of children from the internet.

“In 20 minutes he admitted it to his father and within hours his father telephoned the police and identified the admissions which his son made to him.”

Mr Duval said his client was making “amazing progress” in kicking drugs and had already taken it upon himself to have his computer use monitored.

September 2013

Pervert walks free from court for distributing child abuse images

A former taxi driver who downloaded and distributed child sex abuse images has walked free from court.

A judge said he was compelled to suspend 12-months imprisonment on Ryan Brenchley because an experienced probation officer indicated intervention, including courses, would reduce the risk of future offending.

Brenchley, of Merleburgh Drive, Sittingbourne, admitted possessing the images and distributing some of them.

Prosecutor Paul Valder said when police officers went to the 30-year-old cabbie’s home on May 23 last year, he admitted they would find the material on his laptop computer.

There were 45 images at the highest level of five, 186 and level four, 355 at level three, 72 and level two and 243 at level one.

Mr Valder told Maidstone Crown Court they included movie clips, including extreme content, and other prohibited images.

Chat logs showed Brenchley had been in contact with “like-minded individuals” with whom he exchanged passwords so some of the images could be accessed.

“When interviewed, the defendant was frank,” said Mr Valder.

“He admitted searching for and downloading material. He said he went to search for music and realised the sort of stuff that was out there.

“He said he preferred movie clips. His preference was for boys aged 10-14.

The chat found on the computer indicated he was abusing his son. He said it was simply fantasy. He doesn’t have a son.

“It was a way of encouraging the person at the other end. He accepted distributing indecent images to others.”

Judge Philip St John-Stevens said Brenchley had demonstrated he had real contrition and regret.

“It has had a profound effect on your life,” he said. “In a way it was a relief you had been caught.”

The judge added that if he sent Brenchley to prison it would not be long enough to allow treatment and the public would be exposed to a future risk.

Part of the sentence, suspended for 18 months with supervision, would include alcohol treatment. He will be barred from working with children.

Tom Stern, defending, said it was not prolific and extensive distribution. Brenchley grew up in Sittingbourne and bought his home. He had been with his partner for four years.

“As a result of this he is no longer working as a taxi driver,” said Mr Stern.

September 2013

Facebook paedophile from Cheltenham jailed

A man from Cheltenham has been jailed for 16 months after tricking a teenage girl into sending him indecent pictures of herself.

Ben Kesterton, 35, pretended to be a 20-year-old woman on Facebook to start a relationship with the girl, who sent him pictures when she was aged 15.

Gloucester Crown Court heard Kesterton threatened to distribute the images when she called off the relationship.

The girl tried to commit suicide after she learned the truth, the court heard.

Recorder Ben Browne QC described the offending as “sophisticated” and told Kesterton his crimes were so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence was justified.

‘Pornographic images’

“You engaged in a series of online communications with the girl over a period of 18 months and those communications were of a highly sexualised nature.

“What followed I regard as far more serious.

“When she became suspicious and stopped communication you engaged in a campaign of blackmail, although it is not charged as such, you set out to threaten her into continuing communication with you.

“You also made threats to publish them on Facebook and that would reveal to her friends and family the nature of the relationship.

“The trauma that such threats would produce would be perfectly obvious to you as they would to any person. The result, that she would attempt suicide, is all your doing.”

At an earlier hearing Kesterton, of Granville Street in Cheltenham, pleaded guilty to four charges of making indecent photographs of a child and a further three counts of distributing the images.

The court was told the victim was aged 13 when she first made contact with Kesterton in 2010.

The girl, who is now 17, was at the time questioning her own sexuality and believed Millie Rose was a real person, the court heard.

By December 2011 the girl had become suspicious and stopped contact, but Kesterton threatened to publish photographs of her.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said: “The girl was utterly devastated at what happened and she pleaded with the defendant not to publish the photographs.”

Kesterton was placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and given a sexual offences prevention order until further notice.

September 2013

Court order for Cradley Heath paedophile found with images on laptop

A paedophile has been sentenced after admitting making almost 50 indecent images of children.

Mark Troop’s laptop was seized by police after executing a warrant at his address in Archer Gardens in Cradley Heath.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told yesterday that images ranging from level one to level four, which is at the most serious end of the scale, were discovered on the device.

Contact details were found for Troop and he was ordered to attend a police station.

Miss Alka Brigue, prosecuting, said: “He admitted during interview that he had expressed sexual interest in young boys from the age of 10 to 15 years old.

“He had gone onto to Skype and spoken to nine individuals and had various conversations where he said he found it difficult to to speak of his sexual preference,” she added.

Mr Simon Rippon, defending, said: “There are a small amount of images and there’s not evidence that they were distributed.”

Troop, aged 40, pleaded guilty to four charges of making indecent images of children.

He was given a community order for 36 months and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ list for five years.

September 2013

Lewisham paedophile policeman Sergeant convicted over child abuse images

A PAEDOPHILE policeman from Lewisham has been convicted of making indecent images of children after a stash of child porn images were found on his computer.

Sergeant Sanjay Rai, aged 39, was found guilty on September 10 at Southwark Crown Court of four counts of making indecent images of children.

The pictures were found after his computer was seized during an investigation into his business interests by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.

Sgt Rai, who was based on Lewisham borough, has been suspended since his arrest last February and will be subject to a disciplinary board in due course.

The officer, from Strood, will appear on bail at Southwark Crown Court on 7 October for sentencing.

September 2013

Devizes man handed jail sentence for sex with goat

A Devizes man has been sent to prison after admitting having sex with a goat.

Robert Steven Newman, 23, of Potterne Road, pleaded guilty to the offence on August 19 and appeared at the North West Wiltshire Magistrates’ Court, Chippenham, for sentencing today.

The offence took place between April 5 and April 16 at nighttime on a farm in a barn.

A statement read out from the owner of the farm outlined the consequences of his actions that night.

It said: “My husband is worried about my being on the property on my own.

“This person has caused us a considerable amount of money because we have had to have security fitted and pay vets’ bills.”

Mr Newman was given a prison sentence of six weeks for the offence.

He was also given an extra two weeks in prison for breaching a suspended sentence imposed on August 31, which related to a dwelling burglary.

While he was on bail Mr Newman was asked to obey a curfew between 7pm and 7am and was not allowed to enter any land where farm animals are kept.

Mr Newman’s defence lawyer Anna Ellery asked magistrates to consider adjourning the case for a psychiatric report if there was a possibility of a prison sentence.

She said the offence had no aggravating factors. There was no recording of the activity and no circulation of pictures or videos.

She said: “My support for the psychiatric report would be on the basis of Mr Newman’s ability to cope with the sentence.

“I would ask you to consider this is a young man suffering from isolation.

“It’s the unable to remember issue which seems to be the main concern. He has overcome that hurdle and is already on the path to reducing any risks that are of concern.

“This is an offence which is the first of its kind and it’s an isolated incident.”

Ms Ellery also spoke about the burglary which led to Mr Newman’s previous conviction on August 31.

She said: “It was in an empty premise. He went into that premises as a lark with his friends. The items taken were three newspaper flyers.

“He knew the premises was empty but technically it was a dwelling house.”

Towards the end of the hearing she read out a statement from Mr Newman expressing his remorse and his desire to be reconciled with his family.

It said: “I don’t want to be this bad person any more. I just want to get on with my life and do good. I want to stand before you today and then get on with my life.”

The court ignored Ms Ellery’s request for a psychiatric report and magistrate Jennifer Nesbitt told Newman: “You have heavily breached all court orders that have been handed to you. This is your second breach of your suspended court order.

“You will go to prison for eight weeks. For this offence today you will serve six weeks and that will be concurrent rather than consecutive because we accept that this is a one-off, isolated incident.”

Newman was also told he must sign up on the sex offenders’ register.

UPDATE: Kelsey served two years and nine months of his sentence and was released to work as a self employed builder in Redditch (Dalee Builders)

February 2001

Pervert jailed for sexual abuse on child

A pervert from Birmingham who sexually abused a young girl is jailed for just four years

David Kelsey, a builder by trade was convicted at Birmingham crown court of four counts of indecent assault on a female child, one count of gross indecency with a child and one count of causing actual bodily harm on the mother of the child. 

The child was aged from nine to thirteen years old when the abuse took place

Kelsey was also found guilty and convicted of two counts of possessing a firearm without a certificate.

Kelsey was sentenced to four years in prison

Kelsey has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life

September 2013

Pervert’s jail term increased for train incident

A CONVICTED pervert has had another six months added to a prison sentence after he was spotted performing a sex act on a train.

A court heard Rikki Soloman followed a young girl on to a train and sat opposite her before the incident took place.

At the time, he was under the terms of a sex ban order for downloading child abuse images and sexual activity with a child.

Solomon is in jail serving six months for breaking the order by going to Castle Park in Colchester.

He was supposed to keep away from parks and play areas where children under 16 may be but was seen sitting on a bench in the park by a police support officer.

The latest incident took place after he followed the girl on to a train at Brentwood station.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said Soloman was seen at the station with his cello on May 3.

When he saw the girl, 14, on to a train and sat opposite her before performing a sex act.

Mr Jackson said: “She stood up and tried to move away. His legs were outstretched so she had to step over and he grabbed her leg and gained satisfaction from that as well.”

“She was shocked and extremely worried by what had happened to her.”

Soloman, 32, of Pownall Crescent, Colchester, had received the sex ban order in 2006 at Gloucester Crown Court for sexual activity with a child and downloading indecent images of children.

The order is in place until 2020.

Soloman admitted committing an act of a lewd, obscene and disgusting nature when he appeared in court and he also admitted breaking his sex order.

He was jailed for six months, added to  the six months he received in July for the Castle Park matter.

Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC told Soloman: “Think about your behaviour or you will become an old lag.

“If you persist in conduct of this kind you will spend increasingly longer periods of time in prison.”

Nneke Akudolu, mitigating, said Soloman, who has a BTEQ in music performance, was a locksmith and security systems engineer for eight years until his conviction in 2006.

September 2013

Sentence stands for indecent images man

A SOUTH Kyme man who shared sickening images of children online has been told by top judges he cannot complain about his jail term.

Martyn Levy was locked up for 16 months at Southwark Crown Court in April after he admitted distributing and making indecent images of children and processing an extreme pornographic image featuring adults.

The 50-year-old, of Low Road, challenged his sentence at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, with his lawyers arguing he should not have been sent to prison for his crimes. But his appeal was dismissed by three of the country’s most senior judges, who said custody was appropriate and the term was “not excessive” in all the circumstances.

Levy was arrested in July 2011 after police intelligence revealed he had allowed other people access to files containing indecent images of children through file-sharing software. The court heard the images were of differing levels of seriousness.

Levy’s lawyers argued he should have been given a suspended sentence, as he was not directly supplying the images to people, but simply enabled access to them.

They also said the term handed to him was over the top in light of his strong personal mitigation – including the fact he had no previous convictions and had suffered anxiety as a result of delays in his prosecution.

But, dismissing his appeal, Mr Justice Dingemans said the crown court judge was ‘entitled’ to impose an immediate jail term and that he took all relevant factors into consideration when setting its length.

Sitting with Lord Justice Laws and Mr Justice MacDuff, he added: “It is the distribution of these indecent photographs of children, whether by permissive file-sharing or direct supply, that is the real vice. We consider that the judge was entitled to impose the sentence of immediate custody that he imposed.”

September 2013

Jail warning after Prestatyn sex offender confronts girl, 10

A convicted sex offender who grabbed a 10-year-old girl by the throat has been warned he faces a substantial jail sentence.

Darrell Mercer, 28, from Prestatyn, was found guilty of trespass with the intent to commit a sexual offence.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard the girl woke up at home to find an intruder crouching over her bed.

Mercer was convicted of indecent assault against a nine-year-old girl in 2002.

The jury heard how in the latest incident the youngster, now aged 11, screamed and crawled out of her bed but he had grabbed her wrist and then gripped the girl’s throat.

“I was really scared,” the girl said in a video interview played to the court. She had been kicking and punching out.

Prosecuting counsel Jayne La Grua said the girl’s mother ran upstairs and met Mercer on the landing and tried to take hold of him.

He gave another name and claimed he thought it was his house and he had to lie down because he had hurt his leg.

Police were called but Mercer left behind a jacket and mobile phone.

Mercer admitted assaulting the girl by grabbing her wrist and neck.

The girl’s mother had been watching TV downstairs when she heard the front door being pushed open and she got up and heard screaming.

Judge Paul Thomas QC remanded Mercer in custody for a pre-sentence report to consider whether he represented a danger to young girls.

September 2013

Bedford man Jason Manning jailed for child sex abuse

A 40-year-old man from Bedford has been jailed for 19 years after being convicted of sexually abusing three children.

Jason Manning, of Coventry Road, was found guilty at St Albans Crown Court of four charges of rape and 11 of indecent assault.

The attacks on the children happened between 1988 and 2008, the court was told.

He was cleared of one rape charge at court last month.

September 2013

Paedophile jailed for seven years after his victim, 14, hanged herself soon following sex attack

• Bramwell Walls, 38, groomed Georgia Hedges over nearly 18 months

• Schoolgirl killed herself in May after being left in state of ’extreme turmoil’

• Judge said: ’It is difficult to think of a case of worse sexual exploitation in terms of the overall consequences’

A paedophile whose 14-year-old victim hanged herself after he abused her was jailed for seven years today.

Bramwell Walls, 38, groomed Georgia Hedges from the age of 13 after staying at her home because he was a friend of her father.

As he was jailed today at Chelmsford Crown Court, Walls was told by Judge David Turner QC: ‘It is difficult to think of a case of worse sexual exploitation in terms of the overall consequences.’

The court heard that Miss Hedges was found hanging at home in May this year and died at hospital two days later, at the same time as police arrested him for child sex offences.

The prosecution said she was in ‘extreme turmoil’ and had texted Walls warning him that she planned to ‘do something I’ll regret’.

Walls, pleaded guilty to three offences – two of sexual activity with a child and one of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, all between 1 January last year and 14 May this year.

In addition to the jail sentenced the judge that he must remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. 

He was also placed under a sex offences prevention order.

An inquest opening into Georgia’s was told that she had sent text messages to Walls threatening to commit suicide.

The inquest was told that she died from hypoxic ischemic brain damage causing by compression of the neck, consistent with hanging. 

Judge Turner said of Georgia as he sentenced Wall: ‘She was obviously ill-equipped to deal with the distress in her life. 

‘The victim was clearly obviously vulnerable. Less than 24 hours before she was speaking in texts and was in extreme turmoil.’

Walls, now 39, a friend of the girl’s father, had gone to stay at her home when she was 13 and sexual abuse had begun before a police investigation. 

However, no evidence was found but the court was told that sex had then resumed.

Walls’ counsel, Dermot Keating said: ‘He accepts sole responsibility. His conduct was unacceptable. I don’t want to add to the family’s distress.’

Prosecutor, Sarah Przybylska said: ‘Georgia had texted Walls the day before her hanging saying ‘if you don’t talk to me, I’ll do something…I’ll do something I’ll regret.’

August 2013

Man admits sexual activity with a child who later died following suspected suicide attempt

A MAN has admitted three sex charges involving a girl aged 14 who died after being found hanged.

Georgia Hedges was taken to hospital after an incident at her home in Witham, Essex, but died two days later.

Bramwell Walls, 38, of Folkestone Road,Walthamstow , admitted two charges of sexual activity with the teenager and a third charge of inciting her to engage in sexual activity.

The public gallery in court number two at Chelmsford Crown Court was full as Wells, wearing a white t-shirt, sat before a camera in the video suite in Chelmsford prison during the eight-minute hearing on Monday.

Judge Christopher Ball QC told Walls he wanted the probation service to prepare a report on him before he is sentenced on Friday, September 13.

Walls was remanded in custody. There was no application for bail.

The court heard Walls engage in sexual activity with Georgia between January last year and May this year.

Walls incited the teenager to engage in sexual activity between April and May this year.

Police and medics were called to Georgia’s home in Osbert Road, Witham, on May 14 this year after she had tried to take her own life.

Georgia, a pupil at Maltings Academy in Witham, was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford before being transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

A post-mortem examination revealed a provisional cause of death as compression of the neck.

An inquest into Georgia’s death has been opened and adjourned.

September 2013

Jailed: Wythenshawe child sex abuser who fled country and evaded capture for five years

A man who fled the country and was wanted by police for more than five years for historic sex abuse offences has been jailed.

Peter Scott, 58, originally from Wythenshawe, pleaded guilty to 23 offences including gross indecency with a child and indecent assault on a child at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square today.

He was jailed for eight years.

Scott’s abuse predominantly took place in the 1980s and was inflicted against three separate victims, two of whom were as young as 11 when the abuse started.

In 2007, the three victims reported what happened to the police.

It was not known where Scott was so checks were made via a DWP database, flagging up an address in Swansea.

When officers checked, Scott was no longer living at that address.

Intelligence then came in that he may have fled the country and an all-ports warning was issued.

In October 2009, Greater Manchester Police issued an appeal to trace Scott including a picture that had been digitally enhanced to show how he may have aged.

Four years later, Scott, sleeping rough in Foix, France, made an application for a new passport as part of his attempts to secure accommodation.

This application triggered an alert and a European Arrest Warrant was obtained.

In February 2013, Scott was extradited back to the UK by GMP officers.

Detective Sergeant Suzanne Keenaghan said: “Our determination to find Peter Scott was greater than his determination to avoid this day.

“When we realised he may have exiled himself abroad, we put in place a number of controls that meant there was only so much Scott could do without us becoming aware of his whereabouts.

“His extradition came as a result of working in partnership with the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Interpol and the French police.

“Greater Manchester Police is committed to thoroughly investigating all cases of historic abuse. No matter when they occurred and no matter where any perpetrator tries to hide, we will track them down and they will be brought to justice for their crimes.

“The abuse that these victims suffered through the years is unimaginable. Having spent so much time with them through the whole process,

“I am able to see first-hand the major impact this has had on their lives.

“I just hope now that this may bring some closure to them so that they can try to move on.

“They deserve to get their lives back now.

“I commend the way that they have managed with this ordeal.

“They have a lot to be proud of in the way they conducted themselves throughout the entire process bearing in mind they reported it in 2007 and didn’t get their justice until 2013.

“These women should give an example to anyone else who may have suffered similar abuse.

“I understand that many victims feel that the easiest thing to do is simply try and forget about the past and keep their experiences bottled up.

“But you can never really shake off what has happened, and bringing that person to justice is often the only way for victims to truly move on.

” For us, it is never too late for abuse to be reported.”

September 2013

Shropshire sex case man banned from keeping animals

A registered paedophile has been banned from keeping animals after admitting two charges of sexual activity with a horse and dogs

Graham Redfearn, of no fixed abode, had previously admitted two charges of sexual activity with a horse and dogs and two charges of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Redfearn was yesterday given a Sexual Offenders Prevention Order for 10 years, a Community Supervision Order for three years and entered on to a Community Sex Offending Programme when he appeared for sentencing at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

The 41-year-old, who had been placed on the Sexual Offender’s Register in 1998 after admitting gross indecency with a five-year-old child, was also told he could not have access to the internet, would not be allowed to own or keep animals and, if offered work with animals within the next five years, he must make the employer aware of his offences.

Mr Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting, said that Redfearn was living in a caravan, on a small holding near Wem, when his landlady told police there had been a burglary on her premises.

“They attended and saw the defendant who they arrested on suspicion of burglary,” said Mr Beardwell.

“As a result of this, police searched his caravan where they found mobile phones which contained pornographic images.”

Mr Beardwell added: “All the activity was filmed on camera, with commentary, and it appears this was not just for his benefit.”

The court heard that three further videos were found which showed Redfearn abusing a horse called Ambrose.

“He claimed he was experimenting,” said Mr Beardwell.

“This is not the case. He did it for his own gratification.”

It was revealed in court that the night before Redfearn’s court appearance he had placed an advert on social networking site Facebook looking for work as a groom or stablehand.

“He did this,” said Mr Beardwell, “despite being aware that he was to appear in court for sentencing. It is clear that this defendant continues to show an interest in animals.”

Mr Steven Scully, for Redfearn, said that his client had been abused as a child.

“He is deeply ashamed of what he has done,” said Mr Scully.

Sentencing Redfearn, Judge Peter Barrie said: “There are unhappy factors in your background that contributed to these offences. There is no evidence that you were disseminating the images in any way or that the animals were distressed.”

December 2007

Judge tells paedophile “You’ve no idea of the risk you pose to young girls”

A CONVICTED paedophile who went on the run from police was locked up for nearly three years yesterday after he was caught thanks to the Daily Post. 

Graham Walker Redfearn was arrested after his photograph was published. 

Redfearn, 35, whose last address was a hotel in Holyhead, was subject to a 20-year long sexual offences prevention order which banned him from working with children. 

He is also banned from allowing any child to enter his home, cannot live where there are children, and must not seek to communicate with youngsters. 

But Caernarfon Crown Court heard yesterday he had breached the order several times since it was imposed in March last year. 

And when he was arrested he had befriended a group of four teenage girls in Gwynedd. 

He pleaded guilty to breaching the order. 

Jailing him for a total of 33 months the judge, Merfyn Hughes QC, said: “In my judgement what you have done in the last two years or so is a deliberate act to seek the company of young girls to develop a friendship, to groom them for sexual purposes. 

You have no insight of the riskyoupose to girls and unless you are prevented you will carry out your intent to sexually assault one of them. 

“There is a great deal of concern regarding your future intentions given a clear pattern is emerging.” 

Simon Medland, prosecuting, said Redfearn was jailed in 1998 at Stafford Crown Court for gross indecency with a young child. 

After his release from prison he had moved to North Wales and had been prosecuted three times for failing to notify police of his address. 

Last year magistrates at Llandudno imposed the 20-year sexual offences prevention order to protect the public. 

But Redfearn broke the order and fled, leading to a warrant being issued by Caernarfon Crown Court. 

Since he absconded he had made friends with another group of young people by telling a parent he had worked for a well-known showjumping family. 

Mr Medland added: “He was asked to help find the family a pony for a 13-year old girl. He did so and helped her learn to ride. He was trusted by the family and is known to have played hide and seek in the wood swith a group of youngsters. 

“It was the mother of one of the girls who recognised his photo.” 

John Wyn Williams, defending, asked the judge to adjourn sentence so Redfearn could undergo assessment by the Probation Service at a bail hostel. 

Rejecting the request the judge said the offences were so serious an immediate jail term was the only appropriate sentence. 

November 2007

One of North Wales’ most wanted paedophiles behind bars

A CONVICTED paedophile who went on the run was behind bars last night – after his picture was splashed in the Daily Post.

The Daily Post printed Graham Walker Redfearn’s photograph on Saturday and a member of the public on Anglesey recognised him the day after and alerted police.

Redfearn was arrested near Mona on Sunday night, and appeared beforeCaernarfon Crown Court yesterday charged with breaking a sexual offences prevention order.

He pleaded guilty to breaching the order, and faces jail when he is sentenced later this month.

And it emerged yesterday that Redfearn had worked at a children’s play centre on Anglesey – a matter Social Services officials said was “hugely concerning”.

Redfearn, from the Conwy area, was jailed in 1998 at Stafford Crown Court for gross indecency with a young child.

He was placed under a 20-year sexual offences prevention order to protect the public.

Redfearn had also made two under-age girls pregnant.

He was banned from allowing any child to enter his home, could not live where there were children, and was not allowed to seek to communicate with children.

The order, however, did not prevent him from going into shops.

Magistrates last year heard a woman alleged Redfearn had acted strangely towards her son’s 14-year-old girlfriend.

He would follow her with his eyes and had once kissed her and tried to put his tongue in the shocked teenager’s mouth.

He had also watched an eight-year-old girl playing in a neighbour’s garden.

One officer said Redfearn’s behaviour “shows a propensity for offending against impressionable and vulnerable young people”.

Magistrates said the prevention order was necessary “to protect the public from serious sexual harm.”

But Redfearn absconded after breaking his prevention order, leading to a warrant being issued by Caernarfon Crown Court.

The Daily Post exclusively revealed on Saturday how Redfearn was still on the run, along with a suspected rapist who also fled while on bail.

The reader who recognised Redfearn, who is also from Anglesey, said: “I knew who he was straight away – there was no question about it.”

Before his conviction, Redfearn worked at a children’s play centre in Marianglas, Anglesey, although the centre closed a number of years ago.

The centre, called Puffin Billy’s, was attended by children under the care of the island’s Social Services department, although a spokesman said no-one was in danger during the time.

An Anglesey County Council spokesman said: “The children and young people who attended were always accompanied by members of staff and we have absolutely no reason to believe that they came to any harm whilst using the facility.

“As employers, the facility’s owners had a responsibility to ensure that all staff underwent Criminal Records Bureau checks.

“Although we have no evidence to suggest that Redfearn was employed at Puffin Billy’s during the time we made use of it, it is still hugely concerning to think that such a person could have been working in close proximity to children and young people.”

September 2013

‘Intelligent’ man used charms to groom teen for sex

AN “intelligent, articulate” man used his charms to groom a girl for sex, a court heard.

During an afternoon walk in the countryside, Matthew Spurgeon told the girl she was beautiful and no-one compared to her before trying, unsuccessfully, to have sex with her twice, Durham Crown Court was told.

When the girl, who later told police she was worried she would lose her virginity, told him to stop, he did so, saying it was “time to get the dog back anyway”, Aisha Wadoodi, prosecuting, said.

The incident, in April 2011, came after a text message exchange between the two, in which Spurgeon had said: “I really like you”.

He had also kissed her.

She told no-one about what happened until confessing to her mother five months later, saying he made her feel special.

Spurgeon, 32, of Dormand Court, Wingate, County Durham, admitted sexual assault.

Jane Waugh, for Spurgeon, said he had suffered a difficult childhood but reviewed his whole life following the death of his step-son earlier this year and hoped to never appear in court again.

Sentencing, Judge Christopher Prince told Spurgeon he was intelligent, articulate and capable of being quite charming; but he had brought those personal attributes to bear in grooming his victim, who had been left disturbed by his actions.

Spurgeon was sentenced to 37 months in prison. He will be on the sex offenders’ register for life.

September 2013

Nine years’ jail for cross-dressing rapist who is a “danger to women of all ages”

A BALDING cross-dresser who wanted a sex change and lived a string of sexually adventurous identities has been jailed for raping a vulnerable girl at a party.

Bearded Dean Sawley had been dumped five months before the rape after telling his girlfriend he wanted a sex change and he had started wearing women’s clothes, Durham Crown Court heard.

The 30-year-old would also assume alternative personalities, using names such as Vince and Dee-Anne, to have sex with different people.

Sawley’s barrister, Scott Smith, said his client was a very troubled person.

The rape took place on April 6 this year, when both Sawley and his victim attended the party.

Sawley had been drinking during the party, making inappropriate comments and had exposed himself to two females, aged 15 and 23, Sarah Mallett, prosecuting, said.

His victim was sleeping on a sofa when he began touching her, first over her clothes and then underneath.

He told her to go to the kitchen, where he stripped and told her to do the same.

After she refused sex, he committed several sex acts.

At one point, the girl said: “I’m a child, you’re an adult.”

He then warned the girl to keep what he had done a secret and they went to sleep.

But the next morning she told a friend, the police were called and Sawley was arrested.

When interviewed, he told officers he had been too drunk to remember what happened.

Sawley, of Kentmere, Spennymoor, County Durham, admitted rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault.

In mitigation, Mr Smith said Sawley acted in a completely different manner when in his different personalities.

He had been unaware of his victim’s learning difficulties, he added.

Sentencing, Judge Prince told Sawley had drunk to excess, engaged in objectionable and sexualised behaviour and his victim, a vulnerable young lady of real charm and many talents, had suffered a most adverse impact through his actions.

Sawley will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life and was made subject to a lifelong restraining order to protect his victim.

September 2013

Pervert who groomed and raped 12-year-old girl jailed for 15 years

A RAPIST groomed his 12-year-old victim by telling her she was special and assured her she would get used to having sex with him, a court heard.

Damien Stephenson was jailed for 15 years at Bolton Crown Court yesterday after a jury convicted him of twice raping the girl.

The 32-year-old knew the child has a crush on him and “exploited” this, Bolton Crown Court heard.

Stephenson, of Third Avenue, Little Lever, had denied the offences but was found guilty following a seven-day trial.

Judge Peter Davies commented that the child was an impressionable girl who just wanted to be liked.

The court heard the girl was invited to stay at Stephenson’s home.

Stephenson had started grooming her days earlier, telling her he would like to have sex with her and he would find opportunities to be alone with her.

“You complimented her and kissed her. She was impressed by you and I am sure you made her feel special and important,” said Judge Davies.

“Thus, you were manipulating her in the hope you could have sex with her. In short, you groomed her.”

The jury was told how, on the Saturday afternoon, the girl was helping Stephenson move bedding and furniture.

“She was innocently enthusiastic for your company and she did not realise what you intended,” Judge Davies told him.

Stephenson asked the girl for sex and persisted when she refused.

She thought he was joking — but then he told her to trust him, removed her clothes, put on a condom and raped her.

The girl, confused and not wanting to provoke questions by asking to leave, stayed at the house for the rest of the weekend.

But Stephenson did not regret what he had done and preyed on her again that night while his partner was asleep upstairs.

The girl was sleeping in the living room, babysitting a three-year-old boy, when Stephenson, confident the rest of the house was asleep, crept downstairs and sat her on his knee.

He pinned her hands down on a rug and raped her without a condom.

Afterwards he made her promise not to tell police or anyone else.

Judge Davies told Stephenson: “The child was terrified of you. The impact these offences has had on her has been profound.

“You have shown no remorse or concern for what you did. Your only purpose was your own sexual gratification and you succeeded in corrupting an innocent young girl.”

He added that the rapes were aggravated by the age difference between Stephenson and the girl, the abuse of trust and his grooming of her.

“Although I am satisfied that she had a crush on you there can be no question of consent here either in law or in fact,” Judge Davies told Stephenson.

“You twice forced yourself upon, and overpowered, a vulnerable, impressionable girl you knew to be only 12. If she was distressed after the first incident, she was terrified when you raped her again.”

Judge Davies also banned Stephenson from working with children or vulnerable adults in the future and made an indefinite sexual offences prevention order prohibiting him from having contact with under 16-year-olds except when approved by social services.

The girl’s family were in court to see Stephenson sentenced and afterwards the child’s father stated: “He got what he deserved.”

September 2013

BBC helps paedo Escape To The Country

THE BBC helped a paedophile hunt for his dream home on TV’s Escape To The Country.

Darren Robinson, 41, was filmed trying to find a lavish South Wales pad so he could start a new life.

But he hid the fact he was facing sex abuse charges and was JAILED just weeks later.

Robinson was shown a string of rural homes where he could start a new life.

He had insisted on a four-bed pad with period features, plus at least 15 acres of land overlooking the Welsh valleys.

One property he saw was just a stone’s throw from a primary school.

But instead of moving in, the 41-year-old former university administrator was last night languishing in Brixton Prison after he admitted abusing a youngster — thought to be around 15 — in his own home.

And after the show was broadcast last Wednesday, disgusted viewers blasted the BBC.

One said: “After the recent revelations over the BBC and child-sex offenders, they should be doing their research and vetting people more thoroughly before giving them airtime.

“The BBC needs to take some accountability for this in light of everything Jimmy Savile-related.”

Dad-of-one Robinson, from South East London, lied to Beeb bosses to get on the property show — assuring them that he had no criminal record or upcoming cases.

A production company named Boundless filmed him on behalf of the Corporation as he and wife Kasia were led around three stunning houses in South Wales.

They said they were hoping to start a new life as alpaca farmers.

But in reality Robinson had been charged with the sex offences a YEAR before contributing to the show.

And less than a month after filming, he was jailed for 30 months at Woolwich Crown Court in June for eight counts of sexual activity with a child and one of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Peter Saunders, Chief Executive of abuse charity NAPAC (the National Association for People Abused in Childhood) said: “It’s the height of insensitivity to broadcast something that features somebody who’s committed such a vile crime.

“This could have huge psychological effects on a victim. It cries out for more vigilance and I’m hoping to meet the new BBC Director General to discuss things like this.”

The Beeb said they “categorically would not have broadcast” or produced the episode had they known of the police investigation.

Escape To The Country, whose presenters include Nicki Chapman and Jonnie Irwin, follows house-hunters who want to swap hectic city lives for a new rural home.

On Wednesday’s show, during which he was shown a house near a school in Roch, Pembrokeshire, Robinson said: “London seems to have got a little bit more unpleasant. So we think the time is right to enjoy the wilds of the countryside.”