May 2015

Pervert asked police officer posing as schoolgirl to buy webcam so he could see her ‘perky’ breasts

A pervert who told a police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl to buy a webcam and strip off form him has been ordered to have sex therapy.

Former Companies House employee Matthew Watts, 29, burst into tears and hugged his mother after hearing he was not going to be jailed.

In online chats he had said he wanted the child to change out of her school uniform in front of him and reveal her “perky” breasts.

He said he wanted her to get naked for him and he would perform a sex act on himself for her to see, said prosecutor Michael Hammett.

But what father-of-one Watts, of School Street, Llanbradach, didn’t know was that the schoolgirl he thought he was talking to was in truth a woman police officer based in Scotland.

“The officer, calling herself Lisa, was posing as a 13-year-old on a social website aimed at young people,” Mr Hammett said.

“He asked to exchange details with her and said she should get her parents to show her how to use a webcam when she said she could not do it.

“When he wanted to see her change out of her school uniform she said she wouldn’t like to because she was only 13.

“But he sent a message back checking how big her breasts were and was asking were they ‘perky’ when the ‘girl’ said she had to go because her mother was coming.

“He said they could chat again when her mum wasn’t around and in later contacts asked would she get naked for him and told her she could go to Argos and buy a webcam for £10.

“The following day he told her she really needed to go and get it ‘so that I can see your perky breasts’.”

South Wales Police were tipped off and arrested Watts at home.

He told them he had a two-year-old child but had broken up with his partner and that was when he logged on to the site.

He said he’d only chatted to an adult female in Thailand and claimed to have amnesia about the other contacts but later pleaded guilty to four charges of attempting to incite a child into sexual activity.

Barrister Claire Pickthall, defending at Cardiff Crown Court, said: “It was thoroughly distasteful and inappropriate behaviour but it was restricted to words on a page.

“There was no suggestion that they meet.”

She said Watts was mortified to have brought shame on his family and had resigned from his job because of the case.

Recorder of Cardiff Judge Eleri Rees said men like Watts sought sexual gratification through exploitation of the vulnerable.

She sentenced him to a three-year community order with a a sex offenders treatment programme and put his name on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

A sexual offences harm order was imposed, restricting his unsupervised contact with children and use of the internet.

That order, she warned, could be extended beyond five years if the police thought it was necessary.

May 2015

Anglesey ‘sexual predator’ who targeted schoolgirls jailed for ten years

May 2015

Children’s panel boss abused young victim before official meetings

A children’s panel chairman sexually abused a teenage boy before official meetings to decide the youngster’s future.

The victim wept as he told a jury how Daniel Ross attacked him at the panel’s Glasgow headquarters in the early 1990s. The now father-of-four recalled how Ross “groomed” him and went on to abuse him again before vital hearings.

Ross, who was also a special police constable, had by this time already preyed on another vulnerable boy he met through the children’s panel and attacked a third young man.

The 62-year-old escaped justice for decades until one victim said the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal brought back memories of his ordeal and he went to police.

Ross, who is no longer involved with the panel system, denied the allegations at the High Court in Glasgow. But he was found of guilty of six sex charges after a week-long trial. Ross showed no emotion as he was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.

Ross abused his senior position at the children’s panel to prey on a teenage boy at the offices in the city’s Albion Street in the 1990s. The witness recalled how, as a youngster, he had been in care since the age of 11 and was later expelled from school in second year.

He ended up before the children’s panel due to his problems at the time. The victim, now aged 38, remembered Ross being in charge of meetings to discuss his future at the time. He told the jury: “At the start, I thought Mr Ross was quite a nice person. He came across that way.”

The witness, however, said that changed shortly before a hearing when he was around 14. He recalled: “The first time, when I think back, it was like a grooming session. I was in a room and he put his hand on my lap. This was in the room just off where the panel was to be.”

As Ross continued to molest the youngster, he told him that “because of his position” he would “deny” what happened. The witness remembered being “terrified” at the time. He said Ross then simply went on that day to chair the teenager’s hearing but the abuse carried on, again before meetings at Albion Street.

The victim broke down giving evidence as he remembered a time burly Ross forcing himself upon him. He told the trial: “I was frightened of Mr Ross as he knew what home or wherever I was in. I was upset.”

Ross had earlier abused another young boy between 1985 and 1988. He also met this victim through the children’s panel. Ross then got him a job at a cafe he ran, giving him access to prey on the troubled youngster.

The victim said he was around 13 when the attacks began and that it became a “regular thing”. The abuse occurred at the cafe in Glasgow’s Mount Florida and at a flat in the city’s Kinning Park.

The victim recalled the 80s hit China in your Hand by T’Pau often playing in the background when he was attacked. The man, now aged 42, told the court: “I felt as if I had no choice. It was just through fear and threats…the fear of being put into a kids’ home.

“I was told that I was going to a home because I was having to go to the children’s panel. It was always under that threat…he said that he could stop that happening.”

He went on: “I just did not say no. I was basically a kid. I did not know any different.”

Ross’ first victim was sexually assaulted after they met at a gay club in the late 1970s. They later lived together at a flat in Glasgow’s Ibrox, but the witness said: “I was very much like a slave.

“I did not have a life, compared to what I have achieved now, I had no life.” The victim, now aged 55, later added: “He is evil – evil in every way. Danny never took me seriously with anything.”

Police initially investigated Ross in 2001, but no charges were brought. However, in 2012, the victim Ross abused at the cafe again spoke with detectives. He told the jury: “The Jimmy Savile thing started up and brought everything flooding back.”

It sparked a fresh probe into the allegations and Ross was first brought to court in late 2013. He was charged at that time along with another man, who later died before standing trial.

Ross had also faced an accusation during the trial that between 1979 and 1980 he sexually assaulted a 19-year-old man while wearing his special police constable’s uniform but prosecutors later dropped the allegation.

First offender Ross, now of Oldham, Lancashire, was remanded in custody as sentencing was deferred for reports.

Judge Lord Matthews told the jury after the verdicts that the trial had “not been a pleasant case by any means”.

May 2015

Sex abuser who stole schoolgirl’s childhood in a day jailed as woman shouts ‘Rot in Hell’

A sex abuser who stole a schoolgirl’s childhood has been jailed for seven years as a woman shouted “Rot in Hell”.

Care home worker Joseph Dykes, 54, attacked her in her home and she hid inside a sliding wardrobe to escape from him.

She told nobody until five years later but she self-harmed cutting her arms and leg leaving permanent scars and she missed a year’s schooling.

Dykes denied her allegations but he was found guilty after a three-day trial in March at Teesside Crown Court.

The youngster from Middlesbrough relived her ordeal as she gave evidence, but the judge said yesterday that Dykes had shown complete disinterest in the effect it had on her.

The 15-year-old’s victim impact statement was read out in court at her request.

Prosecuter Shaun Dodds said she wrote: “I have missed nearly a year of school, and I was an A* student in many subjects.

“I want to go back to a new school.

“I started self-harming by banging my head on walls and cutting my arms and legs leaving me probably scarred for life, and I cut off chunks of my hair.

“I can’t really talk to my mum about it, and it makes me feel alone.

“During the court case everyone got to see and hear about it and this has made me more unpredictable and this has hindered my recovery.

“I also suffer from nightmares.

“My childhood has gone for good and I’ll never get it back. I feel relieved that he has been found guilty but I hate him for what he did and for making me relive it in court.”

Paul Cleasby, defending, said that it was conceded that the effect on the girl was there for all to see at the trial.

He said that the two offences were committed on the same day and were not repeated, and he asked the judge to treat it as an isolated offence.

Mr Cleasby added: “I ask the court to deal with this as an aberration committed once and never repeated, although he has continued to deny it.

“He is of positive good character and he brings shame to himself and to his adult children.”

The judge told Dykes that it was clear to him that he was in drink if not drunk when he sexually abused the girl.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC said: “What you did to her by carrying out these acts has affected her life.

“You have listened to her victim statement. In summary she missed her schooling, she began to self-harm, and she has said ‘I do not want to live this life’.

“She will be left with permanent scars, psychological scars from what you did to her and the physical scars that she inflicted on herself.

“I watched you give evidence, you showed no recognition of what you had done, complete disinterest to the effect on her. You showed no regret, no embarrassment whatsoever.

“It shows a complete lack of regret and embarrassment for what you had done. There was severe psychological and physical harm to her and I have taken this into account as a special feature.”

The judge added: “The only mitigating feature is your age and that you are a man of good character.”

Dykes, of Heaton Terrace, North Shields, was jailed for seven years, ordered to register as a sex offender for life and given a life ban on unsupervised contact with children under 16 after he was found guilty of two charges of sexual assault.

May 2015

Norfolk child abuser & rapist jailed for 16 years

A 48-year-old man has today been sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of sexual offences.

Reggie Leveridge, of no fixed abode but from the Norwich area appeared at Norwich Crown Court after being convicted by a jury for 16 sexual offences on Monday 30 March.

Leveridge was charged in September 2014 following a complex police investigation after one of his victims reported being sexually abused by him.

He was subsequently convicted by the jury of:

1. Four counts of a serious sexual offence,

2. Two counts of indecency with a child 

3. One count of indecent assault against a boy in the 1980s

4. One count of sexual activity with a child against two girls in the 2000s

5. Two counts of rape of a woman in 2014

6. Two counts of rape

7. Three counts of sexual assault and

8. One count of ABH against a girl between 2012 and 2014.

Detective Constable Christopher Banks, of Norfolk Police, who investigated the crimes, said: “I’m pleased that justice has been done today. These crimes span over 30 years and today’s sentence demonstrates that we are wholly committed as a constabulary, alongside our partners, in bringing these kinds of offenders to justice, regardless of the timeframe.

“We recognise that coming forward can be an extremely tough thing to do and the victims of these offences have been courageous in taking that difficult step.

“I hope that their actions in doing so, as well as the sentence imposed on Leveridge today, will help encourage anyone who may have suffered from similar abuse to do the same.”

May 2015

Dawlish man sentenced over child abuse images

A man who was found with child abuse images on his mobile phone has been ordered to attend a treatment programme.

Kent Mo, of The Strand, Dawlish, downloaded a movie and images showing adolescent boys being forced to take part in sexual activity, but was traced by police and arrested at his home in Dawlish.

A judge at Exeter Crown Court sent him on a programme designed by the probation service to cure offenders of their use of internet pornography after hearing he had accepted what he was doing was wrong.

The 44-year-old admitted possessing indecent images of children and was jailed for six months, suspended for two years and ordered to attend the internet sex offenders’ treatment programme.

Judge Simon Carr also made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which controls his future use of the internet and allows the police to check on his use of computer and smart phones.

The judge told him: “You have admitted possessing images including one movie at the most serious category. I want to make it clear offences of this sort are treated very seriously.

“Children are systematically abused and raped for the sole reason of providing entertainment for people like you. If there was not a demand it would not happen and those who access these images are every bit as responsible as those actually carrying out the acts.

“However, you are of good character and it is clear from the pre-sentence report you have faced challenges in your life and will be assisted by support from the probation service, coupled with a course to ensure you never offend again in this way.”

Gordon Richings, prosecuting, said the offences came to light through Mo’s use of the internet and images were found after his phone and computer were examined.

He said there was one still and one movie at the most serious level, eight images in category B, which shows less serious abuse, and 159 in the lowest category.

He said:”The children in the images were predominantly male and teenagers as opposed to being very young children.”

Peter Seigne, defending, said Mo had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, accepted he needs help and is a suitable candidate for the internet sex offenders course.

May 2015

Man who brandished gun at woman found guilty of Dundee child sex crimes

A Dundee man, who brandished a gun at a woman and told her to undress, committed a string of sex attacks against an adult and children.

Adam Fraser, 32, of Dens Road, was found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh of eight offences.

Three of them involved him using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards children in Dundee.

The court heard that Fraser had induced a child to remove clothing, and removed the clothing of another as well as rubbing his body against the child.

He seized hold of a third child and threw the child onto a bed, before committing a sex act.

At an address in Dundee, in the summer of 2000, Fraser indecently assaulted a child before committing a sex act.

The court heard that on various occasions between February 2004 and December 2009, at a series of addresses in Dundee — including the Wellgate shopping centre — Fraser assaulted a woman, on some occasions when she was pregnant.

He uttered threats of violence towards the woman, punched and slapped her on the head and body, and hit her with a belt.

On one occasion, Fraser threw an apple at the woman and poured alcohol over her head.

Meanwhile, between January and March 2008, Fraser brandished an air rifle or similar weapon at a woman, demanded that she undress in the presence of others and compelled her to undress.

He further indecently assaulted a woman in the presence of others by forcibly pulling her clothing.

Fraser was also found guilty of approaching a woman in the street, shouting and swearing, uttering threats of violence towards her and her friends.

The thug made derogatory remarks towards her and her friends, placing her in a state of fear and alarm, and committed a breach of the peace.

That crime took place between March and October 2011, at the Wellgate shopping centre and other locations around central Dundee.

Fraser will be sentenced when the case calls again later this month.

May 2015

Man downloaded & shared indecent images of children – No prison

A man who downloaded and shared indecent images of children was spared jail this week.

More than a thousand indecent images were found on computers belonging to Matthew Fawcett, of Low Lane, Batley.

On Tuesday April 28, Judge James Spencer QC, sentencing Fawcett at Leeds Crown Court, said: “It seems to me you started this offending at a difficult time in your life and it seems it may not be entrenched in you.

“If you commit offences of this kind in the future you will go to prison.”

When interviewed by police last year, after the images were discovered, Fawcett, 42, said he did not view the images for sexual gratification.

Of the images found on Fawcett’s computers, 324 fell into Category A, the most serious, 341 in Category B and 661 in Category C.

Marlon Grossman, mitigating, said it was not clear which category the images shared on the internet fell into and possessions of the Category A images was the most serious aspect of his offending.

Fawcett admitted 21 counts of making indecent images and two counts of distributing indecent images at Kirklees Magistrates Court, on March 31.

He was given a five year sexual harm prevention order, a three year supervised community order, £60 victim surcharge and an confiscation order was imposed for the computers he used.

May 2015

Pensioner, 69, jailed for 15 months for sexual assault on 14-year-old boy in skegness toilets

A Horncastle pensioner who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old Lincoln boy after pushing his way in to a public toilet cubicle was today (Fri) jailed for 15 months.

69-year-old Colin Paul exposed himself and manhandled the teenager around the cubicle during the terrifying incident in Lumley Square, Skegness.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Paul was caught after the boy managed to get free and alerted his sister who was able to give police a description of the offender’s car as he drove away.

The court was told police used CCTV to trace Paul. During police interview Paul admitted he was in the toilets and told officers he had never behaved in that way before.

Jeremy Janes, prosecuting, told the court Paul used physical force to move the boy around after pushing his way in to the cubicle and at one point the child’s trousers were pulled down.

Mr Janes read out a victim impact statement from the boy, in which he described how he was previously always a “happy and fun person” but now worried about everything and felt anxious away from home.

Michael Cranmer-Brown, mitigating, told the court Paul had no previous convictions and his actions seemed totally out of character.

Mr Cranmer-Brown said at the time of the assault Paul was very lonely and had very little contact with family or friends for nine months.

Paul, of Queen Street, Horncastle, admitted a charge of sexual assault on August 1 last year.

Passing sentence Recorder Gareth Evans QC told him that his actions on this occasion were disgraceful.

The Recorder said: “This really was a physical, abusive attack on a young boy who must have been terrified.

“It has had an effect on him, hopefully it will be temporary, but there is no way of knowing that.”

May 2015

Teaching assistant sexually touched schoolgirl

A former teaching assistant who sexually touched a schoolgirl after messaging her on Facebook has been given a suspended sentence.

Richard Warlow (21), of Middlefield Road, Sawtry, was working as a learning support assistant at Sawtry Community College last year when he started messaging the teenager.

The messages started as friendly notes, but then he started sending sexually inappropriate notes online to her.

They arranged to meet up, and he touched her bottom and kissed her.

The girl reported him to her mum, who contacted police, and he was arrested.

Last week Warlow appeared at Peterborough Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to one charge of offender aged over 18 engaging in no- penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged between 13 and 15.

He was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, ordered to take part in a sex offender treatment programme for 90 days and be supervised by the probation service for two years.

A restraining order was put in place for five years banning him from contacting the girl.

Speaking after the case, Sarah Wilson, acting principal at Sawtry Village Academy, formerly known as Sawtry Community College, said: “Mr Warlow worked at Sawtry Community College as a learning support assistant after being appointed in April 2014. All Safer Recruitment Procedures were followed prior to his employment; he also had a clear Disclosure and Barring Service (formally CRB).

“Mr Warlow was suspended as soon as the allegations were raised with the college’s leadership team in November 2014. We co-operated fully with the police throughout the investigation.

“During his suspension, Mr Warlow resigned from his position with immediate effect and is no longer an employee at the college.”

She added: “We have stringent measures in place to check the suitability of all employees, and quick and decisive investigative procedures in place should any issues arise.

“All members of staff undertake child protection training as part of their induction and ongoing professional development following guidance from Cambridgeshire County Council, and know what is expected of them.”

May 2015

Pervert with “preoccupation” with young children jailed over 3rd conviction for indecent images

A MAN found in possession of indecent images of children for the third time conceded his “preoccupation” could result in an actual sexual attack on a young person.

Richard George Goundry’s fears were aired as he was jailed for two years for the large haul of offending images amassed on a computer hard drive at his home in Seaham, County Durham, which came to light last October.

Durham Crown Court heard an investigation begun in Canada into the world-wide exchange of indecent child images and film footage, led police to raid his home and remove computer equipment.

Forensic examination of the hard drive contents revealed 4,833 such images, including some video clips, of which 844 were in the most serious category.

Joanne Kidd, prosecuting, said several featured very young children, considered to be only a few months old, involved in penetrative sexual activity with adults.

She said there was also evidence that some of the children featured appeared to in pain and distressed at what was taking place.

Following expert analysis it was not possible to prove that Goundry distributed any himself, but some of the people with whom he was involved in chat room conversations had made them available for sharing to the defendant.

Miss Kidd said an aggravating feature was a previous conviction for possession of indecent child images, in 2005, and a caution four years earlier.

There was also an effort to conceal evidence of possession of the images in the latest case, with use of a browser to provide him with some element of anonymity in the chat room and internet use.

She said he also appeared to have made determined efforts to delete some material.

The court was told he previously told a probation report author he feared his behaviour “could progress” to contact sexual offences against a child.

Judge Christopher Prince said Goundry appeared to have been “candid” about his proclivity, but, “of concern” was his admission of a “pre-occupation” with very young children.

Goundry, 33, of Leechmere Crescent, admitted possessing indecent images of children.

Jailing him, Judge Prince told the defendant: “The images recovered were particularly disturbing, showing very young people, including babies, with some element of sadism.”

He made him subject of a sexual offences prevention order restricting future access and use of the internet.

Update: Has now been released and is living back in the woodston area of Peterborough

July 2009

Man groomed three girls over internet

A Peterborough judge has warned parents of the dangers of social networking Internet sites after jailing a 25-year-old sexual predator for grooming three young teenage girls.

Judge Nicholas Coleman said parents should monitor their children when they are using sites such as Bebo, MSN and Facebook after sentencing Shaun Fox to four years in prison.

Peterborough Crown Court heard how Fox, of Wainwright, Werrington, Peterborough, struck up conversations with three girls, aged 13 and 14 years old, on Bebo and MSN, pretending to be much younger than he was, and even giving a false name.

Thomas Elmer, prosecuting, told the court how Fox – who was living with his girlfriend and baby son at the time – had persuaded the three teenagers to meet him.

Mr Elmer said: “His first contact with the first victim was in August 2007 via the social networking site Bebo. He said he was 17, and called Dan.

“He persuaded her to meet in person, and then started sending explicit messages. They started to meet up on a regular basis, and that is where the sexual contact began.

“He started to make contact with the second victim at the beginning of this year.

“Fox made contact through the internet site MSN. From the outset he knew she was 13, but he said he was 21, when in fact he was 25.

“They started to meet once a week at his house when his partner was out.”

Mr Elmer explained there had been the same pattern for the third victim.

However, he was caught out when the victim had an argument with her mother.

After the argument the mother checked the text messages on her daughter’s mobile phone, and discovered an explicit text from Fox.

The mother then contacted police.

Sentencing, Judge Coleman told Fox that the law was intended to protect youngsters from predators such as him.

He said: “What you did shows the problems of social networking sites, and parents should monitor their children’s use of these sites with great care.

“At the time you were suffering from depression – this was not a solution.

“You have displayed manipulative and predatory behaviour.

“You do present a risk of serious harm in the future.”

Fox pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with a child, and one count of grooming. He was given a four-year sentence for each count, to be served concurrently.

He was placed on the sexual offenders’ register and disqualified from working with children for life.

Fox was also given a sexual prevention order, preventing him from being in the company of girls under the age of 16 without permission from their parents, or from using social networking sites to contact girls aged under 16.

May 2015

Pervert found with indecent images of children

First offender Kieran Rodriguez, 21 was found by police making suicide threats, after the Arbroath resident downloaded more than 1,000 images of children.

Rodriguez appeared on indictment at Forfar Sheriff Court

The fiscal said when police arrived at the house of Rodriguez, he pulled out a laptop from behind furniture and said: “I’ll show you. I have a few hundred images of children on my laptop.”

The password to a computer was given

Rodriguez was taken to the Mulberry Unit at Stracathro Hospital near Brechin for observation and was left in the care of staff there. The accused was detained by police after being released from hospital.

Ms Drummond added: “The accused stated they had been downloading images for a few years, in the hope he would be imprisoned… The accused wanted a roof over his head.”

Police found a total of 1,155 indecent images across the scale of seriousness

Sheriff di Emidio deferred sentence to May 28 for a psychological assessment as well as criminal justice social work reports.

Rodriguez, of Newton Avenue, will attend the Tay Project and be subject to notification requirements of the sex offenders register in the meantime.

The Crown moved for forfeiture of the laptop, an Apple Mac, memory stick, PC tower and a power cable, and this was continued for further investigation.

May 2010

Pervert jailed for six years for sexually abusing three young boys

A HALTWHISTLE man has been jailed for six years for sexually abusing three young boys

Philip Shield (56), of Woodhead Park, put each of his victims through years of torment, telling one he would “wring his neck” if he told anyone what was going on.

Sentencing him at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, the judge, Recorder David Hodson, said Shield’s actions had had a significant detrimental impact on all their lives.

Prosecuting, Christopher Attwool said the most recent spate of abuse had taken place between January 1, 2008, and May 4, 2009.

“The victim stated that, when the abuse first started, he was told not to tell anybody what happened or Shield would wring his neck – and he believed that threat,” he said.

The court heard that when arrested and interviewed, Shield admitted the offences.

“He couldn’t give an explanation as to why he had begun this,” Mr Attwool continued.

“He said that he didn’t want to abuse any other children and that he had not committed such offences before.”

However, when charges were brought against him, two other victims came forward, claiming that around 30 years ago, Shield had abused them in a similar way.

One of the victims recalled how he had warned him not to tell anyone, saying no-one would believe him anyway.

Shield initially denied these offences, saying he had not been in contact with the boys during the alleged period. Police, however, were able to confirm this was untrue.

Defending Sarah Mallett said Shield, who pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child, indecent assault and gross indecency with a child, was a man of previous good character, with no criminal record.

She asked for credit to be given for his guilty pleas and “fulsome admissions” to police.

“He is deeply ashamed of his actions and has expressed to me on a number of occasions that he truly regrets doing what he did,” she said.

“He is now ready to accept the consequences.

“It’s accepted that these are very serious offences and there are a lot of aggravating factors.

“But there was a gap of almost 30 years between the two sets of offences, both of which occurred in very similar circumstances.

“The gap suggests that unless those specific circumstances arise again, it is entirely reasonable to assess the risk of re-offending as low.

“And the likelihood of those circumstances arising again is undoubtedly minimal.”

Mr Recorder Hodson accepted this was the case and noted that Shield’s guilty pleas had saved the victims from having to give evidence.

For each set of offences, he handed down a prison sentence of three years. The two sentences for the older offences, however, would run concurrently, making a total of six years’ imprisonment.

The 353 days Shield has spent on remand will be taken off this.

After the court case, a relative of one of the victims said they were stunned that the sentence was not more severe.

“He has ruined so many lives with what he’s done. Our family has gone through hell and back and six years in prison just isn’t sufficient justice.”

May 2015

South Ockendon pervert sentenced after admitting child abuse image charges

Peter Hyam, 57, of no fixed abode, was handed a 32-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to arranging to facilitate the commission of a sex offence and making indecent images of minors.

The paedophile was caught by vigilante group Letzgohunting when he tried to contact what he thought were girls as young as 14 via the internet in an attempt to meet them in hotels for sex acts.

Letzgohunting posed as the under-age girls in order to expose Mr Hyam, and posted the details online.

Hyam pleaded guilty to ‘Arranging to facilitate the commission of a sex offence’ and also to a new, separate charge of ‘Making indecent images of minors’.

A total of 20 images were found during investigations on the criminal’s computer, of varying seriousness.

A spokesman for Letzgohunting said: “We were expecting a longer sentence, but we’re pleased he got a prison sentence – as not all criminals do.”

The images were recovered from Foxglove Road, South Ockendon in December 2014 during police investigations.

April 201

Redditch man jailed for sexual assault on young child

A LAKESIDE man has been jailed for three years in prison after sexually assaulting a girl.

Kevin Robbins of Huins Close was handed the sentence at Worcester Crown Court on Friday, April 17.

The 53-year-old was charged with two counts of sexual assault on a girl under the age 13 and was found guilty by a jury.

May 2015

Elderly paedophile teacher finally facing jail 30 years after his arrest

An 89-year-old paedophile who abused children at a school is finally facing jail – around 30 years after he was first arrested.

Peter Farrands was found guilty last month of attacking two boys at the Folville junior school in the 1970s and early 80s.

The teacher, was allowed to return to the school, in the Braunstone district of Leicester, after he was first arrested on suspicion of abusing a pupil in the late 1970s, after the case was dropped.

Leicestershire police allegedly took the paedophile to his victim’s home where he pleaded with the boy’s father to drop the case.

The pervert then went on to sexually assault another boy in the early 1980s before taking early retirement.

Farrands continues to deny his guilt and said his reaction to be convicted was one of “disbelief”, adding: “It was a shame they [his victims] came forward as they did.”

He is expected to be jailed when he is sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on May 22 for five indecent assaults assaults on Robert and one on a second boy between 1976 and 1981.

Farrands was cleared of a further six counts involving one other alleged victim.

May 2015

School caretaker jailed for voyeurism and sexual abuse of young children

A Stratford school caretaker who set up a hidden camera so he could record children using the toilets before watching the recordings on a laptop has been jailed.

Maciej Kukla had confessed to his wife about what he had been doing after she challenged him about his sexual abuse of a young girl in an incident unrelated to his job.

And after hearing that Kukla had also sexually abused a young boy, a judge at Warwick Crown Court concluded that he posed a danger to children, and imposed an extended prison sentence.

Judge Sylvia de Bertodano jailed him for two years for the offences at the school, consecutive to four years for abusing the children, followed by an additional seven years on licence.

He will have to serve at least two-thirds of the six-year term before he can be released, after which he will be on licence for the rest of the sentence and then for another seven years.

Kukla (38) of Warwick Road, Stratford, had pleaded guilty to three charges of voyeurism by recording a person ‘doing a private act’ at the school and one of making indecent images.

He also admitted two unrelated offences of sexually assaulting a girl and two of sexually assaulting a boy, both of whom were under ten years old at the time.

Prosecutor Paul Mytton said that Kukla came to the UK from Poland in 2007, and the following year he was employed as site manager at a primary school in Stratford, where his duties were principally those of a caretaker.

In addition he was responsible for the IT facilities and also gave lessons in IT and ran two after-school clubs.

But after a woman had visited Kukla’s home early last year her young daughter told her that while they were there he had put his hand under her clothing and touched her.

Her mother reported the matter to the police, and the girl then revealed there had been an earlier similar incident.

When Kukla was then arrested he denied the matters – but later admitted to his wife that he had touched the girl.

And he went on to confess to her that he had concealed a video camera in the girl’s toilets at the school where he worked so he could record them using the toilets.

As a result she went to the police, but when he was re-arrested Kukla denied the offences at the school, although he admitted sexually abusing a young boy as well as the girl.

But officers searched his home and found a memory card from the camera which clearly showed girls aged ten or 11, some of whom were recognisable, using the toilets at the school.

And some of the images had even captured Kukla placing or retrieving the covert camera in a wooden box he had made to match the boxing-in of the pipework.

When that damning evidence was put to him, Kukla admitted he was responsible for those recordings, which he claimed he had started doing to detect vandalism – but continued with them to find out more about himself by seeing what reaction he would get to viewing the images he got on the camera.

He said he had put it in the junior girls’ toilets in January 2013 and left it there until the end of the school year before moving it to the boy’s toilets in September and then to the infants’ toilets in November until the Christmas holiday.

Kukla said he watched the footage on a laptop at school after everyone had gone home, but also took the memory card home and viewed it there before deleting most of the recordings.

Cathlyn Orchard, defending, said that at first Kukla’s wife had thought the girl was lying and the school had believed the allegation was malicious, ‘but he was absolutely adamant that the girl was telling the truth.’

 Miss Orchard conceded: “In terms of the offences in the school, there’s plainly an abuse of trust, but no suggestion he ever did anything to any of the children directly, and it came to an end at the end of 2013 of his own volition.”

Jailing Kukla and ordering him to register as a sex offender for life, Judge de Bertodano told him: “You are here because of a number of sexual offences committed against very young children.

“But there is another very serious matter, because since 2008 you were the site manager of the primary school, and you used the opportunity provided by that job to conceal a video camera in a number of the children’s toilets.

“You used this for the purpose of recording the children while they were using the toilet; and you kept these recordings for sexual purposes, and you did it over a period of about a year.

“All this adds up to a very serious course of behaviour indeed.  You said you thought they would never know, but that is a risk you take.

“Quite apart from the children, there are the parents who have a right to think that when they send their young children to school they will be safe there.

“One can only imagine their distress when they find out that not only have their children been recorded in a place which should be private, but that this was done by a man for sexual purposes, a man who has also committed contact offences against other young children.

“I have read about your childhood and other difficulties you have struggled with; and you are, unlike many people who commit such offences, honest about your sexual interest in young children, and I accept this is something you are trying to address.”

December 2014

Caretaker at Stafford school recorded children using toilets with secret camera

A CARETAKER at a Stratford school set up a hidden camera so he could record children using the toilets before watching the recordings on a laptop after other staff had left.

And after his wife challenged him about his sexual abuse of a young girl in an incident unrelated to his job, Maciej Kukla confessed to what he had been doing.

The 38-year-old of Warwick Road, Stratford, pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to three charges of voyeurism by recording a person ‘doing a private act’ and one of making indecent images.

He also admitted two unrelated offences of sexually assaulting a girl and two of sexually assaulting a young boy.

Prosecutor Iain Willis said that in 2008 Kukla had been employed as site manager at a primary school in Stratford, where his duties were principally those of a caretaker.

In addition he was responsible for the IT facilities and also gave lessons in IT and ran two after-school clubs.

But after a woman had visited Kukla’s home earlier this year her daughter told her while they were there he had touched her inappropriately.

Her mother reported the matter to the police, and the girl then revealed there had been an earlier similar incident.

It also later emerged he had touched a nine-year-old boy indecently.

When Kukla was arrested over his offences against the girl, he accepted he had seen her on the two occasions, but claimed nothing inappropriate had taken place.

But while he was on bail his wife challenged him about the allegations, and over a number of weeks he began to make admissions that he had touched the girl.

He went on to tell her he had used a hidden camera in the toilets of the school to record children using them.

When questioned for a second time by police Kukla admitted the offences against the girl and that he had also touched a young boy indecently.

Officers carried out a search of his home where they found a video camera memory card containing recordings from the toilets at the school.

There were a number of moving images, including some which had captured Kukla putting the covert camera in place and retrieving it, showing girls aged between nine and 11, who could be identified as pupils at the school, using the toilets.

When that damning evidence was put to him, Kukla admitted he was responsible for those recordings, as well as others in both the girls’ and the boys’ toilets as well as the toilets in the infant section of the school.

He made a small wooden box to hold the camera and make it look as though it was part of the boxing-in of the plumbing.

Mr Willis told the court: “He said he had first used it to detect vandalism but then, as he said, to find out more about himself, to see what his reaction would be to viewing it.

Graeme Simpson, defending, said that none of the children knew they had been recorded by Kukla.

Judge Richard Griffith-Jones commented: “The parents at this school are going to feel horrible knowing this was going on.”

He adjourned the case for a psychiatric report to be prepared.

Kukla, who was ordered to register as a sex offender, was granted bail on the understanding a custodial sentence was ‘virtually inevitable’.

May 2015

Brothers admit indecently assaulting girl, aged 10

A father has spoken of his relief after two Islandmagee brothers were convicted of indecently assaulting his daughter when she was aged 10.

Andrew Kenneth McNeilly, 30, of Island Village, and 28-year-old Craig Robert Alexander McNeilly, whose address was given as Ros, Islandmagee, admitted the charges at Antrim Crown Court on Monday. They were remanded on bail to return for sentencing on May 29.

The guilty pleas end a decade-long ordeal for the victim – now aged 24 –and her family, who have fought for justice since the crime first came to light.

The offences took place on unknown dates between June, 2000 and June, 2002, but it was several years before the victim felt she was able to come forward.

The father – who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the victim – said: “On behalf of my daughter, I would like to thank the police for doing a fantastic job of helping to bring these two men to justice.

“After 10 years of denials and dragging this out, they finally admitted what they did and everyone now knows the truth.”

He hoped his loved ones could put the traumatic experience behind them and look to the future, saying: “This has been hanging over us for years. Now we can finally move on with our lives.”

June 2006

Rapist of girl, 14, jailed – Victim welcomes sentence

A teenage girl picking up the pieces of her life after a pervert lured her to his flat and raped her today welcomed her attacker’s eight-year jail sentence.

The 14-year-old fell prey to a man who is now branded “a serious danger to young girls”.

On the phone she talked to, texted and arranged to meet “Ste”, who she believed was a 17-year-old boy. In reality, he was 39-year-old Stephen Smiles.

Smiles had “a sexual interest, if not obsession, with girls in their early teens”, prosecutor Simon Reevell told Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

Smiles twice took her to his home. On the second occasion he gave her a drink, she felt sleepy and passed out.

She awoke to the pain of Smiles raping her. The girl, now 16, told no one of the attack until October last year.

Today, Detective Constable Jon Tapper said of the young victim: “It is devastating for her and all of her family. She is happy with the sentence and she’s now going to start rebuilding her life and getting on with things.

“I think the sentence reflects the severity of the offence. He was a very plausible person and the extent of his lies obviously took some planning and preparation.”

Det Con Tapper advised young people and their parents to be sure who they were texting, emailing or contacting, to be wary of giving personal details, never to meet unaccompanied by an adult, and to report concerns to adults or the authorities.

Smiles had used another name to try to seduce the 14-year-old’s friend, who resisted his advances and offers of alcohol and amphetamine, the court was told.

When they raided his home, police found several mobiles and SIM cards, and “dozens and dozens” of teenage girls’ phone numbers.

Mr Reevell said that Smiles once used a false name and sent a girl in East Sussex increasingly sexual texts and letters.

Smiles, now 41, of Northumberland Road, Thornaby, who had no previous sexual offences, admitted rape on the basis that he intoxicated the girl with alcohol.

Peter Walsh, defending, said “his interests veered off in an unattractive direction” after love splits, he accepted some responsibility and wanted to take part in a sex offenders’ programme.

Judge Peter Fox QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, told Smiles: “For an extended period of time through 2004, you manifested a perverted desire for sexual gratification from young girls. That culminated in the rape of one of them.”

The judge banned him from working with children for life, with an extended four-year licence period on release from jail, adding: “You need to be watched extremely carefully.”