June 2004

Man jailed for sex attacks on girls

A PAEDOPHILE who gave vodka and cannabis to a 12-year-old girl before sexually abusing her almost 20 years ago was today starting a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

Alan Luxton, 40, of Windsor Road, Wellingborough, carried out two sex attacks eight years apart on two girls, aged 12 and 13 at the time, after getting them drunk.

Judge Thomas Corrie jailed him yesterday and ordered he be put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the rest of his life.

Judge Corrie said: “What you did on two separate occasions was to breach the trust reposed in you for two vulnerable girls and on each occasion you made alcohol available.

“You seem to have thought that the girls were sexually stimulated and that is something that you should have never encouraged or brought about.

“These were distressing offences and as you must now realise, they have left their mark on both of these now adult women. They are bound to have left permanent marks on them.”

One of the girls, who Luxton admitted indecently assaulting in 1984, had drunk so much alcohol that she was sick and passed out but awoke later to find she was being sexually abused.

His second victim, whose identity is also protected by law, was also given vodka to drink and cannabis to smoke on Christmas Eve 1993 before being assaulted.

The victims only recently came forward to report the crimes.

Steven Evans, defending, said: “He fully accepts his behaviour on these two occasions and would never seek to defend them or blame them away.

“I ask your honour to give him full credit for what were courageous guilty pleas which prevented the two complainants from the trauma of a trial and, in particular, from cross-examination.”

March 2015

Teacher put on sex offenders register after admitting to downloading indecent images of children

An investigation has revealed that Neale-Wade Academy decided not to reveal a popular and charismatic English teacher had been convicted for possessing indecent images of children.

The college opted not to tell students, staff, parents or even most governors that an English teacher appeared at Cambridge Crown Court last July when he was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

David Kurt Pomarenski, 36, admitted the offence and was given an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He had been suspended following his arrest and resigned ahead of the court appearance.

His sudden disappearance from the school only came to light after a whistleblower contacted me to reveal details of the case which had quietly slipped through the crown court.

“In this day and age, with all the stories that have come out about irresponsible institutions failing to protect children, it astounds me that Neale-Wade seems to have done nothing,” the whistleblower said.

“I feel so awful about the whole thing and I can’t understand why no-one has done anything about this.

“I’m not looking for a witch hunt of the offender, although the thought of him makes me sick; rather I’m just so angry at the school.”

Pomarenski’s ‘secret’ came to light in autumn 2013 when his wife asked to borrow his computer at their home after her own computer developed a fault.

Whilst scrolling through her husband’s computer she discovered folders containing hundreds of images that shook her to the core.

She reported her findings to police, her husband was arrested and she fled the family home.

In November 2013 Pomarenski was suspended from Neale-Wade – where he had taught since 2003 – and resigned ahead of the court case. He pleaded guilty.

Principal Jason Wing said the school had followed procedures although only a small group of governors were told about the case.

Councillor Andrew Pugh, the present chairman of governors, only found out about the incident this week.

On Wednesday evening, he chaired a governors meeting to discuss the issue. Mr Wing cancelled other appointments to also be there.

Although an academy is outside much of the jurisdiction of Cambridgeshire County Council, Neale-Wade contacted the ­authority’s senior press officer for guidance.

On Wednesday afternoon press officer Simon Cobby issued a statement on behalf of the Active Learning Trust, the organisation that runs Neale-Wade.

The statement quoted Clive Bush, chief executive of Active Learning Trust, who said he was “entirely satisfied that Jason Wing followed all the correct procedures and made the right decisions in this case”.

Mr Bush said: “The offences took place off school premises, using a personal computer, and did not involve any past or present students of Neale-Wade Academy.

“Furthermore, Mr Pomarenski had resigned before the court case began and was no longer a member of staff. He did not return to the school site once we were informed about the accusation.

“All the correct safer recruitment procedures were followed when Mr Pomarenski was appointed. Neale-Wade updates its child protection procedures every two years and has a robust and efficient system for enabling students to make disclosures in complete confidentiality.

“Moreover, police advice was followed at all times. I am therefore satisfied that there has been no risk of harm to students at the academy.”

Cambridgeshire Police were not able to confirm what ‘advice’ they offered the school but did confirm the sentence passed on Pomarenski.

The whistleblower said students and parents would be angry that they had not been able to form a judgement for themselves.

“He was a young and popular teacher,” the whistleblower said. “Pomarenski used to brag about the extra money he earned (from the school) by having 1-1 tutoring sessions with the students. Just a few weeks ago on the ‘rate my teacher’ website, a student asks where he is and says they miss him.”

The whistleblower said: “The courts have dealt with him in regards to the images on his home computer but I’ve been waiting since July of last year to hear whether there’s been a further investigation at the school.

“The police haven’t said anything and the school haven’t said anything. Given the access this man had, I find it astounding that parents weren’t told what has happened and were given the opportunity to talk to their kids in their own way.

“I waited until about last October to see if the school would make any statement, but there’s been silence.”

The whistleblower said: “The whole thing makes me feel sick and mostly I don’t want to think about it.

“Until I was chatting to a friend of mine last week who was abused herself and it made me so angry that the school don’t seem to care that there’s a chance there are other victims of this man out there, but for the sake of their reputation (I can only guess), they’re just covering up that anything happened”.

On the ‘rate my teacher’ website there are three entries for the disgraced teacher.

The earliest was in 2008 when a student described him as “a legend. He is sooooo funny and his way of teaching is brilliant. He is really laid back and yet he can still control the class, even though sometimes he just rambles on and doesn’t know what to say, but that just makes him who he is/”

In 2011 another said “he was my English teacher in year 7 and is my favourite teacher.”

But in February of this year another wrote: “Where are you? You’ve literally disappeared. We miss you.”

March 2015

Paedophile (48) jailed for eight years after he had sex with 13-year-old

A paedophile has been sentenced to eight years in custody when he groomed a 13-year-old girl and had sex with her after he was released from prison for similar offences.

David Eaton, 48, had been before the courts before for sexually assaulting a child, voyeurism and sexual assault of a female but had been released on licence.

He reoffended after he gave the impression to those who helped him he was remorseful and a reformed character.

“Unfortunately, that was for show,” said Judge Andrew Hamilton.

“The Parole Board fell for it. You were released. You were in a hostel.”

A man at the hostel had been having sex with the 13-year-old before Eaton who got hold of her number.

He was arrested after the 13-year-old girl’s mum found text messages between him and her daughter.

The mum called his number and put the phone down when she heard an older man’s voice, then contacted police and handed them the mobile, Nottingham Crown Court heard on March 20.

Tina Dempster, prosecuting, said the messages were “highly sexualised in nature”.

The girl, who cannot be identified, decided to talk to police after she saw a television programme, which dealt with similar matters and she felt it had an impact on her.

Eaton, whose address is now listed as HMP Nottingham, admitted meeting a child after sexual grooming and four offences of sexual activity with a child.

Judge Hamilton gave him the sentence of eight years, added a two-year extended licence when he is released, and ordered he sign the sex offenders’ register.

“You are clearly a paedophile,” he told Eaton.

“You are somebody who is attracted to young girls and when the opportunity arises nothing seems to stop you from having sex with them.

“You represent a considerable danger and risk to prepubescent children.”

And he said Eaton was clearly a skillful and manipulative man after he was granted release from prison on licence.

“You manipulated all those who gave you help and assistance,” said Judge Hamilton.

“You gave the impression you were a reformed character and indicated you had remorse for your [previous] victim.”

July 2007

Fiend kept child sex diary

A VILE Mansfield sexual predator who kept a chilling journal of fantasies about sex with children has been jailed indefinitely.

David Eaton (40), of Edingley Avenue, was branded a dangerous predator of young children by Judge Dudley Bennett –– who sentenced him on Friday.

Nottingham Crown Court was told Eaton had kept a lengthy and graphic journal describing children having sex with him and other young children and adults.

He will now serve a minimum of 18 months for his vile offences –– which included attempting to sexually assault a 12-year-old girl and using the camera on his mobile phone to take secret pictures of a young girl asleep in bed.

Eaton also admitted stealing women’s and children’s underwear and groping a woman on two occasions by grabbing her breasts over her clothing.

The judge told him: “You have an unhealthy interest in children, a fetish for ladies and young girls’ underwear and are willing to act out your fantasies whenever you have the opportunity.

“Your journal is chilling, a catalogue of filth that is quite disgusting.”

Eaton admitted the attempted sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl, two offences of voyeurism towards another young girl, and two further counts of sexual assault.

This included one occasion in 2005 when he had groped a woman’s breasts in a car in which his own wife was a passenger, but was distracted at the time.

Prosecutor James Hett revealed that when officers arrested him they discovered a lengthy journal as well as stolen bras, knickers and a thong.

“It is quite graphic and describes young children having sexual activity together and the defendant engaging in sex with young children and adults,” Said Mr Hett.

Said Eaton’s barrister Laura Dawes in mitigation: “It’s clear from psychiatric and probation reports he is disgusted with himself.

“He has now lost his good character.”

Before the facts were outlined to Nottingham Crown Court, the judge was told Eaton had been assaulted within the court building.

The judge warned he would not tolerate such behaviour –– although he understood the strength of feeling involved.

Yesterday detectives investigating the case welcomed the sentence handed out to Eaton.

Said a spokesman: “Eaton’s actions have caused distress and unnecessary anguish to those involved. We hope that this sentence will provide some comfort to his victims and allow them to move on with their lives.”

Eaton was banned from working with children for life and will be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

He will have to serve at least 18 months before he can be considered for parole.

March 2015

Pensioner, 75, jailed for four and a half years for sexually abusing vulnerable boy, 14

A 75-YEAR-OLD paedophile who sexually abused a vulnerable 14-year-old boy he befriended has been jailed for four and a half years.

Bespectacled pensioner Matthew Wiles abused the teenager at his home over a three-month period, but denied paying the boy for sexual favours.

Wiles, of Central Avenue, Bracken Bank, Keighley, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual activity with a child and was imprisoned at Bradford Crown Court today.

The court heard that Wiles was given a three-year prison sentence in 1993 for historic sexual offences against a male under 16.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told him: “It is clear you have urges and desires within you.”

He said that, even at his late stage of life, the defendant had shown an unwillingness or defiance to subdue his urges.

The judge said: “You befriended the boy. You took the opportunity, once you had created it, to groom him and indulge in escalating sexual abuse.

“He is probably a vulnerable young man. You abused somebody whose trust you secured and you were trusted to be with him. The disparity of age – 61 years – is truly excessive. You are an older man. It was sadly no bar to your committing these offences. You are not particularly well, but that did not bar you from abusing this boy.”

Prosecutor Sophie Drake said the defendant had pleaded guilty on the basis that he did not pay the boy, but the Crown could not accept there was no payment. She said the offences first came to light when the complainant told a friend, who reported it to his mother.

The offences took place between last November and this February and began after the boy carried a bag to the defendant’s house after Wiles had injured his arm.

The defendant began sending notes to the boy asking him to do jobs for him. He indecently touched him and performed different sexual acts on several occasions at the defendant’s house. He told the boy not to tell anyone he was going to his house.

Wiles’s solicitor advocate, Arshad Mahmood, said his client accepted what he did was wrong and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Judge Durham Hall imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order without limit of time and ordered Wiles to register as a sex offender for life.

PC Josie McDonnell, of the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said: “We would like to thank Wiles’ victim for coming forward and hope this will give him some closure.

“It is possible there may be other victims out there, and we would urge them or anyone else who has been the victim of sexual abuse, to contact the Bradford Safeguarding Unit and speak to our specially-trained officers.

“All reports will be investigated sensitively and thoroughly.”

March 2015

‘Wicked’ sexual predator who abused two little girls jailed for 12 years

A sexual predator who abused two little girls was branded “a wicked man” by the judge who jailed him for 12 years.

Stephen David Tilley, 67, was convicted by a jury of repeated indecency with one youngster, from the age of six until she was 13.

As he left the dock at Leicester Crown Court, Tilley defiantly said: “I’m still not guilty Your Honour, I’m not guilty.”

One of the victims, now an adult afterwards, said: “The sentence isn’t long enough and he should serve the full term, not half of it.

“He’s a paedophile and I hope he dies in prison.”

The second victim’s mother, said: “He’s shown no remorse and there’s been no apology, which is insulting.

“He’s deluded and he’s a disgusting man.”

The victims had to relive their ordeals by giving evidence three times, due to the collapse of two earlier trails, one when Tilley fell ill and the other when the jury was deadlocked.

Tilley, of Coppice Road, Rhyall, Rutland, was eventually convicted on 11-1 majority verdicts at the end of a third trial.

He was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault, two offences of gross indecency upon the first victim, as well as attempting to rape her when she was 10-years-old, during the 1990’s.

Tilley was also found guilty of sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl, by putting his hand down her trousers, in August 2012.

It was only when the first victim heard of Tilley’s conduct towards the second victim that she told the police about having suffered years of abuse as a child.

Judge Simon Hammond praised them for their “courage and dignity” and said “They’ve both been believed.

“The courts have duty to protect young people from sexual predators.

“He’s ruined their childhood and robbed them of their innocence – he’s a wicked man.”

He said the first victim, who suffered from depression and has had relationship difficulties, made a moving impact statement.

Judge Hammond said: “She says when she was young she wished she was a bird so she could fly away – fly away from the sexual abuse of this defendant.

“Tilley told her he loved her and wanted her to have his baby.”

The judge said the second victim, now aged 10, had written an “articulate” letter to the court explaining how scared and nervous she felt about giving evidence three times.

Jeremy Jaynes, prosecuting, said both complainants suffered lost confidence and described feeling “hatred” towards Tilley.

They also spoke of feeling “happy” that he had been found guilty and would be punished.

Judge Hammond said the offences were aggravated because of “planning, grooming, the extreme youth of the children, repeated offences, and the deliberate isolation of the youngsters when they were away from their parents.”

Adrienne Lucking, mitigating, said Tilley still maintained his innocence.

She said he suffered from mental health problems and a series of medical ailments which would make his time in prison all the more difficult.

Tilley will be on a sex offenders register for life.

TILLEY’S VICTIM URGES OTHER VICTIMS TO COME FORWARD

Tilley’s first victim, who is now 30-years-old, has decided to speak out in the hope it will encourage other victims to have the confidence to come forward.

She said: “If this is happening to you, you must tell someone. It is not right. Whatever your abuser is telling you, it is not right and it is them that is in the wrong.

“I have had to learn to deal with it in my own way. He started abusing me when I was between six and eight-years-old and I did not speak out until 2012. I thought, ‘now is the time for me to say something or he will get away with it’.

“I want to encourage people who find themselves in a similar situation to speak out and contact the police so the offender can be punished.”

Detective Sergeant Dave Speight from the Serious Crime and Safeguarding Team said: “These incidents took place over a long period of time, some of them many years ago, but finally justice has been seen to be done.

“I would like to praise the victims for the bravery they have shown throughout the investigation and subsequent trial.”

He said: “There is a possibility that there are other people out there who have been a victim of Tilley. Please, if you think this could be you, get in touch with us.

March 2015

Brora teen admits being in possession of indecent photos of young boys

A teenager from Brora has been remanded, pending reports, for possession of pictures of young boys at an address in Inverness.

Eighteen year-old Nathan Bradley previously confessed to police he was sexually attracted to young boys and he was receiving counselling.

Bradley of Clyne Manse, Golf Road, Brora appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court today and admitted possession of indecent photographs of children at an address in Ardross Street, Inverness, on May 30 last year.

He also admitted breaching a bail condition at an address in View Place, Inverness, on December 14 by being in possession of a device that would give him access to the internet.

Sheriff Margaret Neilson heard police received information and obtained a search warrant on May 30, 2014, and went to Bradley’s address in Ardross Street.

Depute fiscal Roderick Urquhart said police took possession of various articles including two pen drives.

One contained 184 indecent images of young boys and an indecent video.

The second pen drive contained the same video.

“He was detained and interviewed and confessed the pen drives were his,” said the fiscal.

“He said he downloaded the material from the internet and he was sexually attracted to young boys no younger than 10 and he was receiving counselling.”

The fiscal told the court that on December 24 Bradley was on bail on condition that he doesn’t possess any device which would give him access to the internet.

He was visited by police at View Place and a play station computer was found hidden beneath a cushion on a couch.

The fiscal said Bradley told the police: “I’m 18. I’m bored.”

Sentence was deferred for criminal justice social work reports until April 17

March 2015

Former Nottinghamshire school teacher jailed for child sex offences

A former teacher who abused his position at a Nottinghamshire school has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to child sex offences.

Kenneth David Topham, 51, of Hampden Cresent, Lindhome, Doncaster, admitted five counts of sexual activity with a child while in a position of trust and three counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity while in a position of trust at an earlier hearing.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court today (Friday, March 20), he was told he will serve 18 months in prison.

Topham groomed the victim, who was in her teens at the time, into believing that he loved her and intended to marry her. He then encouraged sexual activity for his own gratification, Notts Police say.

DC Louise Gowan, who investigated the case, said: “Topham consciously became close to the victim, exchanging text messages and making her believe he had feelings for her. This was a total fabrication as he had no intention of having any long term relationship with her.

“Teachers, like police officers and doctors, are in a position of trust and if they abuse that position, they deserve to be brought to justice for their actions.

“Topham pleaded guilty and spared the victim from a trial, however she still has to live with the consequences of what happened, while he will have time in prison to contemplate his actions.”

March 2015

Owner of famous Happy Haggis admits sex offences against a schoolgirl

An award-winning chip shop owner has admitted sex offences against a schoolgirl.

Simon Harkai, who runs The Happy Haggis in Aviemore, pled guilty at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday to possessing indecent images of the 14-year-old, as well as inducing her to engage in sexual activity by kissing another teenage girl in the shop.

Sentence was deferred on first offender Harkai, 41, of Craig-An-Darach, High Street, Kingussie, until April 17 after Sheriff Margaret Neilson ordered a background report.

He was placed on the sex offender’s register and bail was continued.

Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart told the court the 14-year-old girl was frequently in the shop and that she and Harkai became involved in “banter” which then became flirtatious.

Mr Urquhart said: “On one occasion, an older girl of 17 was also in the shop and took photos on Mr Harkai’s phone of the younger girl exposing her breasts. A total of seven pictures were retained on his phone.

“On another occasion, Simon Harkai took the two girls into his office in the shop and asked what they would do for him.

“They kissed each other on the mouth. The incidents came to light when the child’s mother confiscated her phone for being bad.

“She was concerned by what she found on the phone and phoned the police.”

Defence advocate Lorenzo Alonzi reserved his remarks until the report was available.

Mr Harkai pleaded not guilty to taking indecent photographs of the 14-year-old and sending her text messages requesting that she engage in sexual activity with him were accepted.

He also pleaded not guilty to making sexual remarks and causing her to look at a sexual image of a woman’s naked breasts were accepted.

All Mr Harkai’s not guilty pleas were accepted by Mr Urquhart.

He and his 26-year-old wife, Amanda, were also charged with possessing an obscene bestiality image.

Their pleas of not guilty to that charge were also accepted by the Crown.

March 2015

Pervert pensioner caught masturbating in car outside girls’ school – but avoids jail

A pensioner caught masturbating in his car outside a girls’ school was spared jail.

Philip Baxendale, 65, initially denied exposing himself near Greenbank High School for Girls in Hillside, near Southport, Merseyside.

Baxendale claimed he was relieving himself in his car because of a medical problem which means he needs to urinate often, the Liverpool Echo reports.

But after a trial began at Liverpool Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of exposure.

The court heard he committed the offences in Hastings Road on February 6 and 13 last year.

David Polglase, prosecuting, said the defendant knew he could be observed by pupils.

The first time he was seen by a teenage girl walking to school shortly after 8am, who reported the incident to staff.

The 15-year-old saw the car again later that day and its registration number was recorded.

On the second occasion one of two girls walking past Baxendale’s car spotted him masturbating.

She took a photograph on her mobile phone of his car, which included his registration number.

Police traced the car to his home in Everard Road, Southport and arrested him that evening.

Baxendale accepted he had parked his car near the school.

He claimed it was less likely to get scratched there than by Hillside train station, which was nearer to his home.

Mr Polglase said: “He told the police he had a problem with needing to urinate frequently and he would use a flask or a bottle in the car to do that.”

The court heard there were no trains operating from Hillside station on the second date due to engineering works.

Baxendale claimed he had forgotten they were not in service, despite the fact it was publicised.

The first victim’s mum said her daughter did not want to catch the train on her own after the incident and was angry that he denied the allegations.

Mr Polglase said: “She broke down and sobbed while preparing to give evidence.”

The second victim’s mum told police it was heartbreaking to listen to her daughter recount the “disgusting” experience and she suffered sleepless nights before the trial.

She said: “I hope he is ashamed of what he put her through.”

Baxendale had no previous convictions.

Simon Berkson, defending, said he was a man of previous good character, whose family were shocked by his actions.

He said the proceedings had a significant impact on his client, adding: “He is frankly a shadow of his former self.”

Judge Brian Lewis said it was impossible to accept Baxendale’s claim that the offences were not sexually motivated and that the impact on the two girls was “appalling”.

He said: “You have lost your good name. You have brought disgrace upon yourself and your family.”

However, he handed Baxendale 38 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, a two-year supervision order and a four-month home curfew from 10pm to 6am daily.

The judge said: “I’m giving you a chance because you have been throughout your life a decent man and you have worked hard.”

He imposed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning Baxendale from going within 100m of any school and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

March 2015

Convicted paedophile who abused boy is jailed, this time for abusing a schoolgirl

PERVERT Brian Edwards has been jailed after he indecently assaulted a schoolgirl

The 30-year-old abused the vulnerable youngster when he was a teenager, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard.

He sat the girl, who was aged seven or eight, on his knee and asked her to touch his private parts.

But the victim only felt strong enough to report the abuse in November 2013.

Now Edwards – who has a previous conviction for indecent assault on a boy – has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Prosecutor Kevin Grego said the girl’s mum often took her to a flat and while she was in a room with adults the victim played on a computer in a spare room. Mr Grego said: “The defendant had come into the property.

“He manoeuvred his trousers down to his thighs and then started playing with himself.

“He asked her to touch his private parts.

“It probably went on for five minutes or so.”

The victim told her partner about the abuse in 2013 before she reported it to the police.

In his police interview the defendant denied any such incident occurred.

But Edwards, of Brookhouse Drive, Barlaston, pleaded guilty to indecency with a child on the day of his trial in February.

Catherine O’Reilly, mitigating, said the defendant was under 18 when he committed the offence.

Miss O’Reilly said: “He was reckless, immature, was drinking alcohol to excess, and taking cannabis.

“He has expressed real remorse and is deeply regretful for the hurt he has caused.

“He is very ashamed.

“This was some time ago. He feels he is a different person to the young man who acted in this manner many years ago. Since that time he has married and became a father himself.”

Judge David Fletcher lifted reporting restrictions which magistrates imposed to allow Edwards to remain anonymous.

Jailing the defendant, Judge Fletcher said: “You victim was a little girl and was vulnerable.

“What you did clearly has had a long lasting effect on her and continues to do so to this day.”

Edwards, who will serve half the sentence with the rest on licence, will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

March 2015

Warrant issued for arrest of man convicted for accessing indecent child images

A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a man convicted for accessing a large haul of indecent images of children, as well as extreme pornography.

Police are trying to trace Patrick Maughan after he failed to turn up for the final day of his trial at Durham Crown Court this week.

The 55-year-old, Helmington Row, near Crook, County Durham, attended the first three days of the hearing, earlier in the week.

He denied 16 counts of making indecent images of a child, one of possession of 713 such images, another of possessing extreme pornography, relating to 54 images of adults involved in sexual acts with animals.

Maughan also denied plus two counts of doing acts tending, and intended to pervert the course of justice relating to threatening messages sent via an inadvertent third party to his ex-partner, after she left him, in November 2013.

The alleged offences spanned a period from June 2010 up to December 2013.

It mainly related to material found by police on examining four items of computer equipment seized in visits to Maughan’s home, in Church Street, in June and December, 2012.

Joanne Kidd, prosecuting, said the browsing history indicated Maughan sought similar material on all computers, appearing to particularly have a penchant for sleeping, naked young girls.

Many of the searches were attributed to ‘Paddy’, but he also used the name of a female relative.

In his defence Maughan claimed other people had access to the computer equipment while he also named people who had visited his home during that period.

He could not explain for the presence of the material or why other people may access it using his computers.

But, after giving evidence as part of his defence case, on Wednesday (March 18), Maughan was unexpectedly not present for the start of the closing speeches and judge’s summing up of evidence, on Thursday (March 19).

Miss Kidd and defence counsel, Andrew Walker, agreed with Judge Simon Hickey, that the hearing could continue in the defendant’s absence.

The jury retired late on Thursday to consider its verdicts.

Following less than 90-minutes’ deliberation, they returned unanimous ‘guilty’ verdicts on 19 of the 20 charges, clearing Maughan of one of the two counts of perverting the course of justice.

In the light of the verdict, with the defendant still not present, Judge Hickey issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Maughan.

A Durham Police spokesman confirmed this evening (Friday Match 20), that 24 hours on from the issuing of the bench warrant, Maughan was still at large.

But he added that the manhunt would continue over the weekend.

March 2015

Dublin man watched young boy being sexually abused by a convicted paedophile live on webcam

A Dublin man who was watching a young boy being sexually abused by a convicted sex offender on webcam has been sentenced to five and half years for possessing, distributing and producing child abuse images.

Glen McGowan (38) met the Meath paedophile through a peer to peer file sharing computer programme called Gigatribe where a number of users were trading images, videos and texts containing child abuse images

The Meath man was jailed for 12 years at the Central Criminal Court in October 2010 for possession and production of child abuse images, rape and sexual exploitation. He was involved in grooming children in the local area and bringing them back to his home where he made pornographic videos.

McGowan, whose address is not to be published by order of Tallaght District Court, pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of indecent images of children, two charges of distribution of those images and one charge of production of child abuse images on dates between December 2010 and July 2012.

Judge Nolan suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today Detective Garda Michael McGrath told Kerida Naidoo BL, prosecuting, that gardaí discovered the images of child abuse at McGowan’s home in July 2011 following an intelligence led operation.

Further analysis of McGowan’s computer equipment showed his use of Gigatribe application and chat logs with the Meath man.

One file shared between the two men showed McGowan having a conversation across Webcam with a 13-year-old boy while he was in the bath in the Meath man’s home. The boy was later abused and this was also filmed and shared.

McGowan was subsequently charged with production of child pornography on the basis that he was an accessory to it.

Det Gda McGrath accepted a suggestion from Mr Naidoo that McGowan was “encouraging the man to produce child porn because he knew the boy was being used as the subject of a pornographic film”.

He said 56,647 files containing videos, texts and images were found on McGowan’s computer equipment following the search of his home on July 25, 2011.

He was arrested in September 2012 and interviewed twice which led to a follow-up search of his home and more computer images were found.

McGowan admitted using the Gigatribe file sharing programme nearly every day to trade pornography with other users. He made his own passwords available so users could also access any material on his account.

Det Gda McGrath agreed with Ronan Kennedy BL, defending, that McGowan lived with his elderly parents who were decent people. He agreed that he had effectively been living as a recluse, was very isolated, drank heavily and spent a lot of his time online.

Det Gda McGrath accepted that McGowan was ashamed of himself, was genuinely remorseful and expressed appropriate empathy for the children.

Judge Nolan said McGowan was charged with “an almost full kaleidoscope of child pornography” which he said was “both unsettling and disturbing”.

He took into account his personal circumstances and acknowledged that the end of a happy relationship led McGowan to becoming a recluse, abusing alcohol, gravitating towards child abuse images and communicating with “a very sinister individual”.

March 2015

Nuneaton man jailed for explicit & sexual Facebook chats with schoolgirl

A NUNEATON man engaged in sexual conversations over the internet with a girl he knew was only 15, and asked her to send him naked pictures of herself.

Yet despite pleading guilty, Benjamin Hughes did not believe he had done anything wrong and claimed to a probation officer that the authorities had over-reacted.

But a judge at Warwick Crown Court disagreed – and jailed Hughes, who had pleaded guilty to inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, for eight months.

Hughes, aged 37, of Bracebridge Street, Nuneaton, was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and made subject to a sexual offences prevention order restricting his use of the internet for ten years and banned from working with children.

Prosecutor John Brotherton said that on Boxing Day last year Hughes and the 15-year-old girl became ‘friends’ on Facebook and exchanged a series of messages between then and January 6.

Their online conversations, in which it was clear that Hughes, who knew her parents, was aware of her age, began with chats about innocent things such as musical tastes. Mr Brotherton said: “But the conversations progressed and he began to talk about sexual experiences

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March 2015

Former squaddie found guilty of possessing indecent images of children

A former Army gunner with a fetish for naturism who had been recovering at a home for wounded military personnel, has been convicted of having indecent images of children on his laptop computer.

Brett Walker was rumbled by his squaddie girlfriend who became suspicious about his apparent sexual interest in both young boys and girls, a jury was told.

The panel, sitting at Reading Crown Court, was told how the 43-year-old trooper had searched the internet for videos showing incest, nudist children and teenage midgets.

Walker had been living at the Mike Jackson House convalescent home for wounded soldiers prior to the images being discovered.

The former squaddie was convicted of making indecent images of a child by a jury of seven women and five men.

Walker, now of Beancroft Road, Thatcham, will be sentenced at the same court on April 30.

During the trial, the jury was told how his girlfriend, who also lived at the convalescent home in Aldershot, had seen an image of a child being sexually abused on his computer during a row.

She had later reported it to the home’s manager, who then told the police.

However, when officers raided Walker’s home they found he had already tried to destroy the laptop by dunking it in a bucket of water and had sent it off to his insurer to be repaired.

The keen angler told detectives who arrived at his flat that he had already reported the images to the police and that he had unwittingly downloaded them from a naturist website.

Forensic examination of the computer’s hard drive revealed images of sick child abuse, as well as around photos of naturist children which did not make up part of the case against him.

March 2015

A PERVERT who sexually abused two young girls over a four-year period is facing a lengthy prison sentence.

William Aitken (42) raped and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old female on various occasions between February 2008 and March 2012.

His victim cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Aitken also repeatedly sexually assaulted another girl between September 2009 and June 2010.

The court heard how the child, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, was aged 14 when Aitken started targeting her.

Police eventually learned of Aitken’s offending behaviour – officers arrested and took him into custody.

The story emerged this afternoon (Monday) when a jury convicted Aitken, of Keir Hardie Terrace, Dunfermline, of rape and sexual assault charges.

He had spent the past two weeks denying the allegations.

The court heard how the beast, who has no previous convictions, targeted the girls at various locations in Fife.

Following conviction, defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin told judge Lady Wolffe that his client knew that he would be sent to prison.

Mr Martin added, “He appreciates that custody is the inevitable disposal..”

Lady Wolffe placed Aitken on the Sex Offenders Register and deferred sentence for the court to obtain reports about his character.

He will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on 10th April.

March 2015

Pensioner, 75, posed as boy to groom girl, 13, online before having sex with her

A depraved pensioner who posed as a 16-year-old boy on social media to groom a 13-year-old girl for sex has been jailed for 10 years.

Maurice McCullough started talking to the girl online when she was just 12 before gaining her trust and convincing her to send explicit pictures of herself.

Having admitted lying about his age but trying to claim he was 46, the pervert went on to meet her in a park shortly after her 13th birthday.

When she realised he was even older he continued to groom her and had they had sex on four separate occasions 

McCullough, 75, from Wythenshawe, Manchester, was arrested after a concerned onlooker saw them acting suspiciously in a park in St Helens, Merseyside.

The pensioner was charged and later admitted 11 counts of grooming, inciting a child to carry out sexual acts and carrying out sexual acts with a child.

The offences took place between October 2013 and the end of November 2014.

Sentencing him to 10 years behind bars, Judge Robert Warnock told Liverpool Crown Court it was one of the worst cases of child sex exploitation he had ever seen.

He said: “You courted your victim via the internet when she was 12 years old and you were in your 70s.

“You tricked her into believing you were 16 years old.

“The case against you is utterly overwhelming.

“This is one of the worst cases I’ve ever had the misfortune to deal with.”

In a witness statement, the victim’s mother said: “The visit from the police to tell us our daughter had been groomed and abused was like a bullet; it shattered our lives.

“My daughter had not shown any outward signs of being upset or distressed, so the news was completely unexpected.

“He had taken away her innocence, her childhood, gone forever.”

March 2015

Man pleads guilty to sex with dog & CSA images

A man has pleaded guilty to a string of offences involving indecent images of children – and to having sex with an animal, believed to be a dog, in Co Down.

Garth Michael Williams, 43 and previously from the Mill Road, Ballyroney in Banbridge but now with an address at Station Road in Portstewart, appeared in the dock of Newry Crown Court on Monday.

He admitted two counts of allowing himself to be penetrated by a living animal on a date unknown between 1 February 2009 and 4 April last year, saying simply “guilty” in a quiet voice.

Williams, a civil engineer originally from South Africa but who was living in Co Down at the time of the offences, also pleaded guilty to 10 charges of distributing indecent images of children.

He also admitted 17 counts of possessing or making indecent images of children and two further charges of possessing extreme pornography.

The indecent images charges all date back to between 10 October 2011 and 4 April 2014.

Following the guilty pleas, Williams was remanded back into custody and will be sentenced at the end of May when probation and other reports will have been filed.

Adjourned passing sentence, Judge Kevin Finnegan QC advised Williams to “be frank” with those tasked with compiling the reports.

February 2011

Deeside man, 21, gets five years in jail for rape of 12-year-old

A MAN who raped a girl aged 12 has been jailed for five years.

Ryan Ashley Draper was drunk at the time of the attack at his flat in Deeside, and insisted he didn’t know how young the frightened schoolgirl was.

The 21-year-old had previously denied the charge but yesterday changed his plea.

The rape came to light when the girl told her teacher, and said she’d lost her virginity to the wrong person.

Mold court heard Draper had demanded and persistently initiated sex with the girl, even though it was clear she didn’t want it and raised fears she could get pregnant.

Judge Niclas Parry told Draper, of Riverside Park, Garden City, he had used the schoolgirl for his own sexual gratification.

He said: “You gratified yourself, you used no protection and showed a total disregard for her. The law is there to protect children from people who are too drunk to care. You had as much disregard for her wishes as you did for her welfare.”

The judge accepted that Draper had pleaded guilty, and that he was young himself and had no previous relevant convictions.

Caroline Harris, prosecuting, said the girl and a friend were at the defendant’s flat and he had started to kiss her. He said he wanted sex, she refused, he repeatedly asked her and then started to undress her. She tried to pull her clothing back up but he pulled her on top of him and she was too scared to say or do anything as he had intercourse with her.

Later she felt stupid and felt she should have done something to try and stop him.

Draper was placed on the sex offender register for life and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was made under which he must not approach the victim.

After the case, Detective Chief Inspector Graham Talbot said: “The young victim did the right thing in reporting this horrendous crime and can feel confident justice has been served. North Wales Police are committed to preventing these crimes.”

March 2015

‘Dangerous’ paedophile who sexually assaulted 10 children over 30-year period jailed for 26 years

A “dangerous” Northamptonshire paedophile who sexually assaulted young boys and girls over a period of more than 30 years has been given a 26-year jail sentence.

Richard Cornwell, aged 67, of Highfield Road, Kettering, appeared at Northampton Crown Court on Friday after he was found guilty of 29 sexual offences, including indecent assault of two boys and rape of a girl aged under 16.

Cornwell was convicted of the child sex offences after two trials, one held in May last year and one in February this year.

The court heard that Cornwell’s crimes took place between the 1960s and 1990s, involving 10 children.

His Honour Judge Timothy Smith sentenced Cornwell to 26 years, with a minimum of 13 years in prison. The judge said he would not be released from custody before he had served his full sentence unless he showed some remorse.

Speaking after the sentencing, DC Toni Orwin, from Northamptonshire Police, said: “We are very pleased with the verdict and sentence in this case and I hope it will go some way in helping the victims come to terms with what happened to them.

“It has been a long and challenging investigation and has been a very difficult time for the victims.

“I would like to acknowledge their bravery in coming forward and reporting these offences, as well as the tremendous courage and determination they have shown throughout the investigation and trial.

“They now have closure and can start to rebuild their lives knowing that justice has finally been served, and they have helped remove a dangerous man from the public domain where he is no longer a risk to young children.

“Northamptonshire Police takes all reports of sexual offences seriously and is committed to investigating such crimes and doing all we can to bring offenders to justice, no matter how long ago the offence took place.

“We hope Cornwell’s conviction and significant sentence will encourage victims of historic sexual offences to come forward, safe in the knowledge they will be supported and believed and that the police will investigate their allegations.”

March 2015

Pervert plied youngster with cigarettes and sweets before sexually molesting him

THE family of a Wearside boy who was abused in the 1980’s have spoken of their relief after the paedophile who made his life hell was caged.

Scott Wood, 47, subjected his victim to a series of harrowing sex assaults in the mid-80s.

In his late teens Wood, who until recently worked at Nissan’s Sunderland plant, tempted the youngster with cigarettes and sweets before sexually assaulting him on a number of occasions.

As Wood was jailed for eight years and forced to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, his victim’s mum said: “My son has lived with what happened for 30 years and it still affects him to this day.

“It’s like a life sentence for all of us.”

The victim was a schoolboy when he was abused by Wood.

He was unable to tell his family what had gone on after Wood had warned him it would get the boy into trouble.

The abuse stopped suddenly, but it was only a number of years later, as a man, that the victim felt able to let his family know of the horrendous ordeal he had been put through.

His mother said: “My son came to me one day and told me he had been sexually abused as a child.

“When he said it was Scott Wood I didn’t know what to say.

“He said he used to give him money, sweets and cigarettes and then abused him when they were alone together. He groomed him.

“Then I think he put the fear of God into my son so that he wouldn’t talk about it to anyone.”

In 2013, the victim contacted Northumbria Police and gave a statement, leading to Wood’s arrests and charge by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The victim and members of his family took to the witness box to give evidence at the hearing.

“Harrowing isn’t the word for what that was like,” said the victim’s mum.

“We’re a law-abiding family and to have to appear in court like that was such a shock to the system.

“But we got through it together and when the verdict came we were over the moon.”

Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, a jury at Newcastle Crown Court convicted Wood, of Poplar Street, Chester-le-Street, of four sex offences against a child under 16 after a two-day trial.

He will now spend the next eight years behind bars and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.

“My son was preyed on by Wood and it’s been 30 years that he’s had to live with it,” added the woman.

“But he feels proud of what he has done in speaking out about things and it’s such a relief for him and all of us.”

The family also said that if there are any other victims of Wood’s deplorable acts, they should come forward and notify police.

“I can’t praise Steve Smith and the other staff at Northumbria Police enough,” said the victim’s mum.

“They were brilliant with us and if there are any other victims then I hope they do come forward.

“The help and support from the police we’ve had is amazing.”

Nissan confirmed that Wood is no longer employed by the company and the offences against the boy took place before he worked there.