September 2013

Dover man jailed for ‘hideous’ sexual assaults on child

A Dover man who sexually assaulted a child has been given an 11-and-a-half-year extended sentence.

Colin Ricketts, 35, looked shocked after being told he would receive a seven-and-a-half-year jail term – and a four-year extended period on licence.

Judge James O’Mahony told him that his victim, who was aged 10, would suffer for many years for his sexual assaults.

Ricketts, of Rokesley Road, later complained he could not understand why he had carried out the attacks as he was not attracted to young girls.

But Ian Bond, defending, told Canterbury Crown Court that what Ricketts, who admitted the sex offences, had done was “hideous”.

After the hearing, the detective who carried out the investigation praised the victim.

Det Con Sam Robertson, from the child protection unit of Kent Police, said: “Due to the strength of the victim in this case, we were able to secure a successful prosecution.

“We hope that this will encourage others to come forward and report such abuse.”

September 2013

Paedophile jailed for abusing young girls

A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for abusing three girls after offering troubled families refuge.

Brian Macey-Morris, formerly of York Road, Montpelier, gave shelter to lone parents with drug and other problems, so he could gain access to his victims and abuse them.

He was part of a paedophile ring (click here for more info on the paedophile ring he was involved in) which operated in Bristol in the 1980s, carrying out sex assaults at his home and on camping trips he organised, Exeter Crown Court heard yesterday.

Macey-Morris is already serving a seven-year sentence passed at Bristol Crown Court last year for abusing a girl. The case was reported by the Bristol Post and the publicity saw three more girls come forward.

The 73-year-old is currently held in the hospital wing of Exeter Prison, having had a stroke shortly after being sent to Dartmoor Prison.

After admitting a charge of attempted rape and four indecent assaults, he was jailed for an extra five years, taking his total sentence to 12 years.

The charges related to abuse of three other girls, aged four to 11.

Anna Vigars, prosecuting, said one of the three new complainants came forward during Macey-Morris’ trial last year while the others contacted police shortly afterwards.

Paul Grumbar, defending, said: “The defendant ran an open house. A lot of people visited and stayed there.

“These offences took place when some of the parents were not very good at looking after their children. Some were rather abandoned and left there.

“He feels very strongly that the origins can be traced to a time when he was married and his wife was killed in a motorcycle accident. He says he changed after that.”

Judge Francis Gilbert QC told Macey-Morris he was imposing the sentence which the judge at his original trial at Bristol would have passed had he known of all the crimes.

September 2013

‘Shuffling’ pensioner who sexually abused girl, eight, spared jail

A pensioner who sexually abused a young girl about 20 years ago has been spared jail because of his ill health. He admitted three charges of indecently assaulting the girl when she was eight.

Hull Crown Court heard Thomas Tomlin, 63, of Kirkgate, Bridlington, suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and has the lung function of a 90-year-old.

The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear, told Tomlin: “It is very, very rare for me to pass sentence in a case like this without sending a person straight to prison. It is almost a unique experience to do so. You now, at the comparatively young age of 63, look like, walk like and shuffle like an old man. Time has not been kind to you. Although I’m tempted to lock you up, I can’t see who it would help.”

Alcoholic Tomlin was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and must take part in a sex offender treatment programme.

Note from admin: Although not convicted of paedophilic activities, we regard these men as dangerous individuals to any young females of all ages. We also believe there may be other victims

September 2013

Three men suspected of running underage prostitution ring in East London jailed for 24 years over rape and sex assault on girl, 18

Convicted: Naeem Ahmed, (pictured above) who had bragged to police of his ‘Kama Sutra’ sexual activities with the victim, was jailed for 14 years for two counts of rape

• In total six girls gave evidence about their involvement with the men

• But they were eventually convicted of charges relating to just one teenager

• A fourth man found not guilty of five charges but faces retrial over two

Three men suspected of running an east London sex ring which preyed on girls in care were today jailed for a total of 24 years for raping a teenager.

Naeem Ahmed, 24, Nabeel Ahmed, 25, and Hassan Raza, 23, took turns to abuse the 18-year-old after plying her with drink and drugs.

Naeem, the ringleader and self-styled ‘pimp’, was arrested after police investigated concerns about suspected abuse of two girls under the care of Essex County Council.

When questioned by police about what he had done with one alleged victim, he bragged: ‘Have you seen the Karma Sutra?’

Naeem was jailed for 14 years, Ahmed was given eight years and Raza was locked up for two years.

Nabeel Ahmed, pictured left, 25, was convicted on one count of rape, and Hassan Raza, pictured right, 23, found guilty of sexual assault after they took turns to abuse the 18-year-old after plying her with drink and drugs

In total six girls gave evidence about their involvement with the gang during a seven week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

One girl, aged 17, claimed she was held down and raped by two of the men after she agreed to work as a prostitute for Naeem Ahmed.

Naeem was said to have told her his ‘love for her would grow’ if she slept with other men for cash.

She also claimed she was raped by Nabeel Ahmed and his brother Jameel after being taken to a hotel in Cranbrook Road, Ilford, on January 21.

A 16-year-old claimed Naeem Ahmed told her to have sex with him because he needed ‘to see how good you are in bed’ before asking her to work as a prostitute.

The third teenager, aged 18, was picked up in the street after the men saw her have an argument with her boyfriend and taken to a house in Chadwell Heath.

She was first raped by Naeem Ahmed, also known as ‘Ricky’, before Nabeel Ahmed entered the room shortly after to force himself on her. Naeem Ahmed then went back in and told her ‘I’m not done with you yet’ and raped her for a second time

In the morning, Hassan Raza entered the room where he first comforted the girl before trying to kiss her and have his own way with her. She told the jury: ‘I had just been crying forever. I had just been crying. I felt violated. I felt like absolute s***.

‘I felt dirty and disgusting. I just wanted to go home. I just wanted to have a wash.

‘I just wanted to get away from everybody there, but I just felt like I couldn’t do anything about the matter and I was just panicking and waiting for it to be over.’

Another two girls, aged 16 and 17, alleged they were raped and sexually abused by restaurant owner Anas Iqbal, 26, after he met them on the street.

A sixth girl, aged 18, claimed she was persuaded to work as a prostitute by Naeem Ahmed and slept with a man for £30.

The jury did not accept the accounts of five of the girls and after deliberating for five days only convicted the three men in relation to sex attacks on one of them.

Lloyd-Eley QC, defending Naeem Ahmed, said: ‘It cannot be a fact that the complainant believed she was unable to leave.

‘That was nurtured in her own mind, not by anything that the defendants have said or done.

‘As for the element of abduction, it is entirely voluntary throughout from the victim.

‘There is no attempt to conceal anything about themselves; their names, their occupations, their numberplates or their address.

‘Naeem Ahmed is a completely different man to the man that was in the room that night.

‘He has not been able to see his son and that has been causing him a lot of stress and anxiety.’

Leonard Smith QC, defending Nabeel Ahmed, said: ‘The good part of Nabeel Ahmed is that the very day he came to this country he has worked and worked hard.

‘His family have been dependent on him right up until he came into custody.

‘This is a tragedy for his wife and his child.

‘In a way he is a credit to his family but on the night in question it must be said that he falls to be sentenced for a serious offence.

‘The usual rapist does not usually allow their target to ring their mother and buy some food.

‘This is the case with Mr Ahmed.’

Dominic D’Souza, defending Hassan Raza, said he was described as a ‘completely decent person’ by the victim.

‘She does not absolve him but she effectively said he tried it on and when she said to stop, he did,’ said Mr D’Souza.

‘If there was any comfort to the victim then it came during the two to three hours spent with Mr Raza.

‘He has also been in custody nearly nine months which is the equivalent of serving an 18-month sentence.’

Judge Martyn Zeidman told the three men: ‘Each one of you have exploited this thoroughly honest teenager, who was a superbly honest witness and you all treated her in a despicable and cruel manner.’

Naeem Ahmed, of Barking, Essex, denied five counts of rape against two victims, controlling child prostitution, paying for the sexual services of a child, inciting child prostitution and inciting prostitution for a gain.

He was convicted of three counts of rape relating to the 18-year-old but was cleared of two other counts of rape, controlling child prostitution, paying for the sexual services of a child, inciting child prostitution and inciting prostitution for gain.

Nabeel Ahmed, of Romford, Essex, had denied three counts of rape but was convicted of one.

Hassan Raza, also Barking, had denied a single count of sexual assault of the third girl but was found guilty.

Anas Iqbal, of East Ham, east London, denied five counts of rape against one alleged victim, one of attempted rape against another and paying for the sexual services of a child.

He was found not guilty of five of the seven charges and now faces retrial in respect of one count of rape and one of attempted rape.

March 2012

Child killer from Maiden Newton jailed for brutal attack on partner

A CHILD killer is back behind bars after a violent attack that left his partner with 12 broken teeth and two fractured eye sockets.

Stephen Thomas, of Harveys Close, Maiden Newton, was sentenced to three years in prison for assault occasioning grievous bodily harm when he appeared before Dor-chester Crown Court.

The 59-year-old committed the offence after being released from jail on licence and will now serve the rest of the life sentence he was given for murdering a two-year-old girl in 1990.

The court was told that Thomas attacked his girlfriend of 18 months Carolyn Murphy in his flat on August 21 last year.

Prosecutor Angela England said: “Miss Murphy has no recollection of the attack.

“The last thing she remembers is getting out of bed during the night, locking herself in the bathroom and trying to call the police.

“The defendant’s version of events are that he smashed his way into the bathroom, causing her to fall back and strike her head on the toilet. As she was lying on the floor he says he punched her three times and she lost consciousness.

“He then dragged her through the open doorway and says he accidentally stepped on her face because the dog bit him.

“Miss Murphy woke up with her hair matted with blood and stayed in the flat with no medical attention for two days.”

The court was told that she suffered two black eyes, 12 out of 21 teeth chipped or broken, a flip flop mark on the side of her face, a fracture to her right and left eye sockets, slashes across her back and thighs and bruising on her lower back and body.

Miss England said: “The facial fractures have caused Miss Murphy extensive pain and she now has double vision.

“She had a metal plate put in her face and extensive surgery but there is a good chance she will never get her vision back to the way it was. Miss Murphy was a bus driver but can now no longer work because of the difficulty with her sight.”

Miss England told the court that in 1990 Thomas murdered the two-year-old daughter of his partner, who he was living with at the time.

She said: “The toddler was misbehaving and kept getting out of bed.

“Thomas struck her on the stomach rupturing her liver and pancreas which caused her death.”

He was given a life sentence and was released on licence in 2001.

In relation to the 2011 offence Charles Hine, in mitigation, said: “Thomas said the relationship was volatile and there were numerous incidents of going out drinking.

“He is deeply upset by what he has done and still loves Miss Murphy.”

Judge Roger Jarvis told the defendant: “The court is extremely anxious that someone with your record has committed this violent offence.

“It was a sustained attack and the extent of the injuries is of course a cause for anxiety perhaps more worrying is the fact that Miss Murphy remained there for two days or more before receiving medical help.

“This has had a profound effect on her, she now has to rely so very much on other people and cannot continue with her employment.”

February 2013

Jailed for nine years: Killer dad who shook his baby son to death

A killer dad who claimed he had been bouncing his baby son on his knee was today found guilty of shaking him to death.

Lee Clark, 28, was jailed for nine years for the manslaughter of five-month-old son Charlee Cameron Clark just two days before he was due to be christened.

The mother of the child, Clark’s then fiancee, said the tot was ‘smiling’ and ‘happy’ when she left the family home in Gainford, Co Durham to go shopping for clothes for the ceremony on February 25, 2011 at 10.45am.

She returned that afternoon to find him making a ‘funny groaning sound’, with his eyes ‘rolling backwards’. It was obvious he was ‘extremely ill’, a court heard.

Hospital tests revealed bleeding to his swollen brain, with further bleeding in and around his eyes, prosecutor Andrew Roberts said.

Attempts were made to treat Charlee in the intensive care unit of Darlington Memorial Hospital, but he died five days after being admitted to hospital on March 1.

Clark had asked doctors if Charlee’s injuries could have been caused by ‘bouncing’ him on his knee. Police and social services were called in.

Bar manager Clark told doctors: “I have not shaken the baby.”

He had no previous convictions and was a ‘good dad’ but had ‘lost his temper’ with his son, said judge Mr Justice Coulson.

Clark, found guilty after a jury trial, was pictured smiling on several occasions as he arrived at Newcastle crown court to hear evidence.

The judge told him: “The circumstances of what happened will only ever be known by you.

“At some point in the morning, when you were responsible for Charlee, you lost your temper with him and you shook him.

“As a result of the shaking, Charlee ultimately collapsed and died.”

He added: “All of the evidence including from Charlee’s mother is that you were a good dad and I accept that.”

After the verdict, the childs mother said words could not describe the devastation she felt at the loss of her ‘beautiful baby son’.

She added: “It is now almost two years since his death and I cannot say how much we as a family miss him and just how difficult it has been trying to come to terms with our tragic loss.

“Charlee was such a happy, relaxed gorgeous baby boy who was always smiling and we continue to think of him and miss him every day.

“As a family we feel relieved that the truth is out and justice has been done for Charlee.”

Det Supt Adrian Green, the man leading the police investigation, told how Clark refused to co-operate and so brought further pain and anguish to the mother.

“I hope the verdict has provided the answers the family sought and takes them some way further towards coping with the loss of Charlee,” he said.

January 2008

Child molester loses appeal bid

A MAN from Bishop’s Stortford who enticed a little girl to commit a sex act on him has failed to persuade top judges he should be allowed to appeal against his conviction.

Mark Huckerby, 32, formerly of Swallow Court, was sentenced to two years in jail at Luton Crown Court on July 11 last year for two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Yesterday, Thursday January 24, 2008 at London’s Criminal Appeal Court he argued that his conviction was “unsafe” because of alleged flaws in the trial judge’s summing up to the jury.

But Mr Justice Wilkie, sitting with Mr Justice Wyn Williams, said the abuse of the young girl came to light when she told her mother what had happened. She said she had been made to commit a sex act on Huckerby about 30 times.

Refusing the appeal, Mr Justice Wilkie said: “The judge’s summing up was entirely fair. There is no reason to regard the conviction as unsafe.”

September 2007

‘He stole my little girl’s childhood’

AS a Bishop’s Stortford man begins a two-year jail term for sexually abusing a six-year-old girl, the victim’s mother has told the Observer of the life sentence the child now faces.

The girl, now eight, had to give evidence via a video link in the trial of 31-year-old Mark Huckerby, of Swallow Court, off Anchor Street.

He had denied two charges of inciting the girl to engage in sexual activity but was found guilty. The offences were committed between June 2004 and May 2006.

The girl’s mother told the Observer: “He could be out on licence after one year. I knew he wouldn’t get life but she’ll have this for the rest of her life.”

At St Albans Crown Court last Friday, Judge John Bevan QC told Huckerby: “You are a ladies’ man but have had a succession of unsatisfactory relationships. It is an indication of your sexual instability. The facts in this case are as depressing as they are serious.”

Huckerby, who has a son, was also made the subject of an order restricting his contact with children and will have to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

The 29-year-old mother, who is married and living away from Bishop’s Stortford with her daughter, said she had decided to speak out “in the interests of public safety”.

She spoke of the trauma her family have undergone since her daughter revealed in June last year what Huckerby had done to her, but the shock of what the little girl told her mummy is still raw.

The girl had inappropriately touched a young boy at a childminder’s and her mother was talking to her about why she had done that. “She said, ‘He makes me do things’. You don’t expect that to come out of the mouth of a seven-year-old, you just don’t.

September 2013

Eighty-nine-year-old paedophile jailed

An eighty-nine-year-old man has been jailed for three years for indecently assaulting two five-year-old girls more than 20 years ago.

James Arthur Wain, of Rigby Avenue, Crewe, had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecent assault on girls under the age of 14.

At Chester Crown Court on Friday he was sentenced to three years imprisonment, after being found guilty at an earlier hearing.

This week the family of one of his victims said they were delighted justice had been done.

“The girls were between five and nine years old when it happened and we only learned of it by a fluke,” said the mother of one of the victims.

“Neither of them would have said anything if it hadn’t come out the way it did.”

The mother, who can’t be identified for legal reasons, told how the family had no idea at the time what was happening to either of the girls.

“My husband reported it to the police straight away when we found out,” she said. “The police were amazing. They came round the next day.”

And she had nothing but praise for the sensitive way the officers, DC Liz Condon and DC Dave Rowlands, had dealt with case.

The woman told how it had taken 18 months from the day they informed the police to the time Wain was convicted and sentenced.

During that time, she said, he tried to deflect blame from himself by accusing someone else of the sickening assaults.

“My daughter was upset and angry he could try to blame someone else for what he had done. She told the police it was James Wain,” she said.

The victims and their families did not attend Friday’s court hearing when the 89-year-old paedophile was sentenced.

“We were happy with him being found guilty,” said the woman. “That was the icing on the cake, him getting three years.”

Investigating officer DC Liz Condon said Wain had taken advantage of the trust put in him by parents who thought the girls were safe to spend time with him, as a family friend.

“Wain breached this trust and caused untold anguish to his victims. For years they kept the memories of the abuse to themselves and this has affected them greatly,” she said.

“Now they have finally broken their silence, they have been able to get the help and support they need to come to terms with what happened to them, and I hope in some way, this successful conviction has helped in their road to recovery.”

September 2013

Sex beast jailed

A 41 year old PERVERT from Wigan who raped and repeatedly sexually molested a young schoolgirl has been jailed for 11 years.

Terence Brickley had denied the offences, which spanned two years, but was convicted in July by a Liverpool Crown Court jury by a 11-1 majority.

He was found guilty of one offence of raping the youngster when she was 12 and four specimen charges of sexually assaulting the girl beginning when she was 11-years-old.

The abuse, which occurred in Ashton-in-Makerfield, including at his home, came to light last summer when she confided in a relative.

Jailing Brickley, of Bolton Road, Judge Brian Lewis said that a probation report described him as “posing a danger particularly to pre-pubescent girls, aged 12 to 13.”

But he added: “There is no real evidence you are a risk to children at large and I do not think you represent a substantial risk in the future.

“The offences derive essentially from your mental difficulties and social isolation.”

He jailed him for 11 years for the rape with eight years to run concurrently for the other offences.

“He ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order keeping him away from his victim and unsupervised contact with under-16s.

Judge Lewis said that Brickley, who has autism, had begun abusing the girl when she was 11 in “a most dreadful way” after showing her pornographic films.

“She said it happened at least 100 times. You knew it was wrong and you knew you should not be doing it.

“Despite your difficulties you know the difference between right and wrong.”

The judge said that Brickley had raped her at his own home and had then told her not to tell anyone “which indicates you knew this behaviour was entirely unacceptable and wrong.”

He added that he did not think Brickley would re-offend and there were positive aspects in his life.

Steven Swift, defending, said that Brickley, who has no previous convictions, had been in care until he was 10 and was then adopted.

His loyal adoptive parents are “devastated” by his behaviour, he said.

He has learning difficulties and a low IQ but helped by his father he has been living an independent life and has been able to hold down various jobs.

September 2013

Swindon man is jailed for sex grooming of girl, 13

A FATHER-of-four who groomed and sexually abused a friend’s vulnerable 13-year-old daughter has been jailed for three years and nine months.

James Whelan treated the young girl ‘like a princess’, buying her gifts and taking her out on trips before molesting her.

The 39-year-old, who knew the schoolgirl had been the victim of abuse in the past, also sent her indecent pictures of himself during two years of offending.

He even told the child that he loved her and that when the time was right he would leave his partner so they could be together.

As a result she referred to their relationship as ‘an affair’ believing his lies until the police became involved after a friend saw a vile image of the defendant on her mobile phone.

When the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told of what had happened to her she was branded a liar by the defendant.

Whelan, who worked for Kwik Fit, used to take the teenager out in his work van as well.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court he was a family friend and had known the victim since she was a baby.

She said: “There came a point when she was 13 when she says they became closer. She saw more of him, going to his address and going out with him in his work as a Kwik Fit employee.

“She was vulnerable as she had been abused by another man when she was about 11 years old.

“She told the officer when interviewed that she had not intended to do anything. To use her sad phrase: She ‘got used to it’.

“She said he was kind, taking her on trips. She said they became close and ‘clicked’.”

The abuse started with them kissing and moved on to him touching her and getting her to perform sex acts on him.

Miss Hingston said: “She said he treated her like a princess. He told her that when the time was right he would leave his partner for her.”

In her police interview the girl said: “He said he would do anything for me but that was all lies.”

She said after he found out she had told someone else he called her a ‘whore and a slag’. She added: “His partner said I had forced him to do it.”

When the defendant was questioned by the police he made ‘derogatory comments’ about the girl and when he was shown the image and texts he still said she was making it all up.

She said he lied to the probation service who compiled a report after he had admitted the acts.

“He first tried to suggest he was not guilty and then tried to put some sort of blame on the victim,” Miss Hingston said.

Whelan, of Shalbourne Close, Penhill, pleaded guilty to two ‘multi-incident’ counts of sexual activity with a child.

Rob Ross, defending, said: “James Whelan presents as a weak man. Emotional issues in his own life were happening at the time that this behaviour began.”

He urged the court not to jail him saying he could get treatment for his problems in society.

Recorder Jonathan Fuller QC told him: “Your approach was to treat her with kindness which was the grooming of this child.

“You were described by Mr Ross as a weak man. I do not accept that. You were a devious and predatory man who groomed this child for your own gratification.”

Whelan will also have to sign the sex offenders register for life.

September 2013

Elephant porn man spammed into giving himself up to police

More on this story click this link

September 2013

Pensioner jailed for indecently assaulting young girl

A Farnham pensioner has been sent to prison for indecently assaulting a young girl.

Michael Frizzell, 78, of The Baldreys, was found guilty on two counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency with a child at Guildford Crown Court in March this year.

Last Friday (September 13) at the same court, he was acquitted on five counts of rape and two of indecent assault, allegations which had involved two women.

Judge Michael Addison sentenced Frizzell to a total of 15 months’ imprisonment for the child abuse charges.

September 2013

Ex-prosecutor Stuart MacFarlane avoids jail term over child abuse images haul

May 2013

Ex-prosecutor Stuart MacFarlane had indecent images

A former prosecutor is facing a prison term after he admitted downloading indecent images of children.

Stuart MacFarlane, 45, from Glasgow, was caught with almost 15,000 images at his former family home in Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire, on 28 December 2012.

Sentence on MacFarlane was deferred at Paisley Sheriff Court and his name was placed on the sex offenders’ register.

A case against the ex-depute procurator fiscal, after he was allegedly caught with a prostitute, was dropped in 2006.

‘Dad’s Den’

The court heard how police, acting under a search warrant, searched MacFarlane’s then family home at the end of last year.

They seized two laptops and an external hard drive from an outside shed, which had a plaque outside stating “Dad’s Den”.

After the computer equipment had been fully analysed, it was discovered that there were almost 15,000 still images.

Some showed children posing alone, others showed sexual activity between children and adults, while others featured an animal.

The girls involved in the images are thought to have ranged from three to 14 years of age.

MacFarlane, who now lines in Mount Florida, Glasgow, later admitted downloading the images between March and December last year.

September 2013

Justice for Washington child rape victim 30 years after attack

Raped at the age of 10, a victim has suffered in silence for more than 30 years, carrying a secret she feared would rip her family apart.

The attack, which happened as Raymond Daglish babysat his young victim on Hallowe’en night in 1979, destroyed the girl’s childhood, and left her with pain, depression and shame.

But today the mum-of-one’s life has started over again, at the age of 44, after her abuser was finally sent to jail.

After seeing Daglish, 52, convicted by a jury and sent to prison for eight years, She has bravely decided to tell of her nightmare and fight for justice.

She said: “I feel like this is a whole new chapter of my life. I feel vindicated – 12 complete strangers believed what I was saying and now everybody knows what he is. I can’t believe it’s finally over. It feels like a dream.”

Daglish was just 18 years old when he attacked her at her home in East Howdon, Wallsend, North Tyneside.

The teen had been trusted to babysit her but once her mum was out the house he subjected her to a humiliating and degrading attack.

At the time she told no one. Determined to get as far away from her attacker as possible, the school girl begged to be allowed to leave the North East to live with her father, who was in the army.

“I didn’t tell anybody because I was too worried about the effect it would have on the family,” she said.

“They were all I had. I just wanted to get away. So I used my mam as an excuse and wrote to my dad saying I didn’t want to live with her.”

But no matter how much distance she put between herself and Daglish, she continued to be haunted by the attack.

“As soon as I see the Hallowe’en stuff coming out in the shops it just brings it all back,” she said.

“Then at the age of 14 I started to drink a lot. I went off the rails and was out of control.”

In 1987 Rachel met her husband. With his love and support she was finally able to open up about what had happened to her as a child.

“Things started to fall into place when I met my husband,” she said. “He was a real calming influence.”

The victim, who now lives in Washington, told her husband and her stepmother about the rape, and began to have counselling. Knowing what the truth would do to members of her close family, Rachel still felt unable to report it. But as she got older, and became a mother herself, she felt the time was right to seek justice. In 2012 Rachel’s grandmother passed away and shortly afterwards she called the police.

“I just suddenly felt like I was free,” she said. “I realised there wasn’t anything else holding me back. I waited until after the funeral, then one night I just called the police. Once I had made the decision I just had to do it straight away,”

Daglish, of Kingfisher Road, Longbenton, North Tyneside, was arrested and almost a year later he was charged with sexual assault of a child and rape.

When he pleaded not guilty, the victim, who now suffers from ME and needs a wheelchair, realised she would have to relive her ordeal in a courtroom.

But as Daglish’s trial, at Newcastle Crown Court grew closer, she declined the option of giving evidence behind a screen.

“I decided I wanted to face him,” she said. “I didn’t want to play the victim any more.”

Last Monday the jury at Newcastle Crown Court convicted Daglish of indecent assault and rape. Jailing him for three years for the assault and eight for rape, Judge Penny Moreland said: “Your behaviour has caused immeasurable distress to all those close to you and to the victim.”

September 2013

Paedophile loses bank rule challenge

A convicted paedophile has lost a legal challenge against rules requiring him to disclose bank details to police.

The man, released from jail in 2010, claimed the rules breached his right to a private life and were not necessary.

The recently-introduced measures require convicted sex offenders to reveal bank accounts and credit cards.

But rejecting the challenge, the High Court said the rules were a “very valuable” practical and proportionate way of monitoring sex offenders.

Christopher Prothero, of Birmingham, was convicted in 2007 of nine counts of indecent assault and indecency with a child and jailed for four and a half years.

After his release in 2010, he struggled to get a job and became self-employed. He told the court that he had complied with all of his licence conditions, such as a requirement to tell the police where he was living.

In 2012, following an important Supreme Court ruling, the Home Secretary changed the rules governing the notification scheme. She introduced a right of appeal – but also ordered offenders to hand over bank account details, bringing the system in to line with Scotland.

Prothero was among the thousands of convicted offenders required to hand over information.

But he challenged the order to hand over details of his two bank accounts, saying that it was an invasion of his privacy and he was concerned the information may get into the wrong hands or be used by the authorities for another purpose.

Dismissing the challenge, the judges said that neither the police nor other agencies who had access to the records could use it to find out how the claimant was spending his money. They would need a court order to get that detailed information.

They added, though, that the experience of Scotland proved that handing over bank details had helped detectives to trace people if they committed further offences.

They said: “There can be no doubt about the legitimate policy objective of the regulations – the ability to trace an offender quickly, to guard against the risk of an offender using another identity or to have a means of obtaining quick access to a credit card account to investigate offences in relation to indecent images.”

In their judgement, Sir John Thomas and Mr Justice Hickinbottom, said: “We do not consider that the means employed are in any way inappropriate or disproportionate.

“They are plainly a practical and proportionate means of providing further protection to prevent other persons becoming potential victims of those on the Sexual Offences Register.

“In reaching that judgement we have taken into account the fact that no power is given to access the accounts and that the information provided by an offender will be securely held.”

September 2013

Man jailed for ‘painful, humiliating and never forgotten’ sexual abuse

A man who systematically sexually abused three children in “painful, humiliating and never forgotten” attacks, has been jailed for 11 years.

Frank Simmons began the abusing the girl and two boys, when he was aged just 14 and continued for more than 10 years.

The 54-year-old of Hawthorn, Northway in Tewkesbury was found guilty of 11 charges of indecency, five of indecent assault and two charges of buggery at Gloucester Crown Court earlier this year. During the trial, he was cleared of another count of a serious sex assault.

The court was told Simmons threatened to suffocate the children with a pillow if they resisted his advances.

He even paid one of the victims 50p to keep quiet about the abuse.

There were tears in the public gallery as Judge William Hart handed down the jail sentence today and said he would spend at least half of it in custody.

He told Simmons: “It was predatory, sequential and it was an abuse of trust.

“It was over a very long period and it had the gravest effect on them (the victims).

“It was persistent. It was painful and humiliating and never forgotten.

“You issued threats, you used bribery and what you did to these three children has had an inconceivable effect on their lives.”

Defending Angus Robertson said: “The defendant, when these offences started, was a young person and perhaps unusually so, given the allegations in the case.

“He did not start the abuse when he was an adult, but when he was between the ages of 14 to 16.

“The offending started when the defendant was physically and psychologically immature.

“He is not a person that has continued to commit sexual crime during the rest of his life.

“The defendant has lost everything – he has lost his job, his home and his wife.”

He told Judge Hart, Simmons had worked in the same job at a machinery company since he was 18 and had been a “valuable and useful” member of society.

He left that employment last week.

Mr Robertson said a character reference described him as “the perfect gentleman, helping where and when he can”.

Gloucester Crown Court heard he forced the children to perform sexual acts on him and each other during the attacks.

Judge Hart said one of the victims had spoken of the abuse years earlier, but it was “brushed aside as ludicrous”.

Simmons will have to sign the sexual offenders register.

August 2013

Paedophile threatened to suffocate victims with a pillow

A PAEDOPHILE has been convicted of persistently sexually abusing a girl and two boys – threatening to suffocate them with a pillow if they resisted.

Frank Simmons, 54, of Northway, was found guilty of assaulting the children, aged eight or nine at the time, and committing a serious sexual assault on one of the victims.

The offences took place between 1975 and 1985.

Simmons had denied 11 charges of indecency, five of indecent assault and three of more serious sex assaults.

At Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday he was found guilty on 18 counts and not guilty on one of the most serious charges.

Judge William Hart told him: “I will not sentence you today, but be under no illusion – you will receive a substantial prison sentence. You will go to prison for a long time.”

Addressing the jury, the judge added: “Cases of this nature are among the most difficult to try, often due to the historic nature of them.

“The defendant in the dock during this trial is almost certainly a different person now to the one who committed these offences many years ago.”

Kerry Barker, prosecuting, had told the court that it was not until last year that one of the victims reported the assaults.

He said Simmons “would threaten to suffocate” the victims with a pillow “if they did not co-operate”.

The court was told that Simmons gave one of the victims 50p to keep quiet about the abuse.

Mr Barker also explained to the jury that society was better informed about child abuse now than it was when the offences took place.

He said: “Many children do not disclose what happened to them for years because they are frightened, because they fear they will not be believed and because of the effect it would have on others.”

Simmons will be sentenced on September 18.

September 2013

Man broke baby’s bones during attack while feeding and dressing

A man left a baby with broken bones after he threw him onto a bed when he struggled to feed and dress him.

Michael Lawrence attacked the child, who was several weeks old, which left him with several broken ribs and a broken tibia when doctors examined him.

The 23-year-old, who was looking after the baby because his mother was unwell, claimed he did not notice inflicting injuries on the child. Lawrence was jailed for ten months at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

His lawyer told the court the baby’s bones would have been soft at the time and would have broken more easily than an older child or an adult’s.

Lawrence, of High Street, Alyth, admitted culpably and recklessly forcing a bottle into the baby’s mouth and forcing his legs into clothing in November 2011.He pled guilty to throwing the baby onto a bed and then striking the child’s body with his own and causing the youngster severe injury as a result.

Lawrence further admitted attacking a woman by punching her face. The court was told that the baby suffered a break in his leg as Lawrence, who has several previous convictions, twisted his leg to try and put clothing on him.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told the accused: “This was a child who was less than two months old. The child was thrown onto the bed with sufficient force that three ribs were fractured. The child was months old and effectively defenceless. The child was utterly dependant for his care and protection. The child was vulnerable.

“The child’s bones were soft and accordingly, fractures can occur in circumstances where if the child were older they may not occur. You have, on at least two occasions, acted in a way which has caused injury when feeding a child by using excessive force. It also has to be taken into account that you were not just causing injury, but causing severe injury as a result of your actions. I consider it is appropriate for the court to impose a custodial sentence.”

Fiscal depute Stuart Richardson told the court that Lawrence had been taking care of the baby shortly after it was born to help out the child’s mother because she kept poor health. Mr Richardson said the baby fell ill and was taken to a health centre, and because of the injuries seen on the body, he was referred to the child protection team at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

They found evidence of three broken ribs and a tibia break which were in the process of healing. Lawrence eventually came forward and admitted his actions as he struggled to feed the baby a bottle and get him dressed.

The court was told that Lawrence confessed to social workers that he had been struggling with his “anger, frustration and aggression” and had taken it out on the child. Sheriff Foulis heard the child now appeared to be in good health and was unlikely to have any memory of what Lawrence had done because of his age.

September 2013

Evil Canterbury rape bully Jason Etheridge jailed for 18 years

An evil Canterbury man who subjected young girls to an ordeal of rape and debauchery has been jailed for 18 years.

Bully Jason Etheridge even threatened to dowse one victim in petrol and set her alight.

Judge Adele Williams told the 43-year-old: “You are a bully. You used violence, threats, intimidation, bribery and indoctrination.

“Your first victim was a teenager when you made her submit to your degrading sexual demands, including rape.”

Etheridge, of Suffolk Road, had been convicted of seven sexual offences against young girls. He had denied them all.

The court heard one victim would explain Etheridge’s perverted lust was “because she was beautiful”.

Jailing Etheridge, the judge extended his licence by another three years. He will have to serve at least 12 years before considered for parole.

But the judge ruled he still posed a danger to the public and would only be released back into the community when the parole board ruled it was safe.

Etheridge will stay on the sex offenders’ register for life.

He had appeared in court 30 previous times and been convicted for 158 previous offences, none of them sexual.

January 2011

Pervert who took photos of girl he abused is jailed

A pervert who took photographs of a teenage girl he was sexually abusing has been told he will spend at least five years behind bars.

The Recorder of Belfast, His Honour Judge Tom Burgess, told Alan David Moore (45) that because the convicted paedophile will continue to pose a significant risk in the future, he would be spending the rest of his life on licence.

However, the Belfast Crown Court judge warned Moore that at the end of the five years, whether he is released or not will be up to the Parole Commissioners Board.

At the end of a three-week trial last November, Moore, from Windslow Drive in Carrick, was convicted of three counts of indecently assaulting the 15-year-old girl, three charges of sexual activity with a child, one of committing an act of gross indecency, six of taking and making indecent images of children, and one of possessing an image of extreme pornography, all between January 31, 2008 and May 31, 2009.

The jury heard the schoolgirl was bombarded with highly sexualised chat on the internet.

Moore denied sexual contact, describing it as a fantasy world.

September 2009

Cwmfelinfach physio struck off for child cruelty

A GWENT physiotherapist who was convicted of cruelty to a child was struck off a professional register.

Last year a court heard how Gareth Terry squeezed a baby so hard he fractured nine of the infant’s ribs.

Terry, 37, whose address at the time of the court case was Mill Lane, Cwmfelinfach, admitted the charge was given a two-year community order and told to participate in an anger management programme.

A panel of the Health Professionals Council were also told that Terry failed to disclose a conviction for driving with excess alcohol when applying to be placed on the physiotherapy part of its register.

Panel chairwoman Elspheth Metcalfe said the misconduct in not disclosing the 2001 conviction was impairing his fitness to practice because the panel had received no evidence to suggest he would respond differently were comparable circumstances to arise again.

“The very serious nature of these allegations, coupled with the fact that Mr Terry is still subject to the community order, inevitably results in ongoing impairment.”

Members of the panel decided the most appropriate action was to strike Gareth Terry from the register.

He was neither present nor represented at the hearing.