June 2015

Man caught with 5000 indecent images of children

A man caught with 5000 indecent images of children has avoided a prison sentence at Lanark Sheriff court

John Stanier (66) admitted taking or permitting the taking of indecent photographs of children at his former home in Castlehill court Symington bewteen 2010 and 2013

Stanier also pleaded guilty to possessing indecent photographs of children at the same address bewteen 2010 and 2014

Sheriff Nikola Stewart told Stanier: “Those that view sexual images of children participate in the abominable trade which sentences children to a life of utter misery”

Stanier was put on a three year community payback order under supervision, with the condition that he attend for sex offender treatment

The court heard his wife is standing by him

Stanier of Birnock water, Moffat was put on the sex offenders register for three years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work 

June 2015

World-renowned music conductor admits sexually abusing two young boys

A world-renowned conductor who was involved with Huddersfield Choral Society for many years has admitted sexually abusing two young boys.

Joseph Cullen – who until recently was the Society’s chorus master – preyed on his victims while involved with choirs in Glasgow in the late 1970s and early 80s.

Cullen’s attacks remained a secret as he later won two Grammy awards for his work with the famous London Symphony Chorus.

But, the married 55-year-old was brought to justice when a victim went to police in 2013, sparking a probe into the abuse.

It lead to shamed Cullen admitting to two charges of using lewd and libidinous conduct when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow today – Thursday.

He was suspended by the Choral Society after he was charged with the offences last September.

He had been involved with the Society since 1999 and has worked with musicians at the town’s annual Mrs Sunderland Festival and was director of the chamber choir of the University of Huddersfield.

During the court case a judge heard how a victim wishes he had a “magic wand” to rid what happened while the other went from “a really talented boy” to ending up homeless due to his ordeal.

Cullen had his bail continued meantime and will learn his fate when he is sentenced next month.

The father-of-three’s abuse spanned between 1976 and 1982.

The first boy was groomed shortly after joining a choir at St Aloysius Church in Glasgow.

Cullen was also a member of the choir.

The child was aged around eight when the attacks began.

St Aloysius Church, Glasgow

Prosecutor Steven Borthwick told how Cullen would secretly give the child “pocket money”.

Cullen – at the time in his mid-late teens – then gained the trust of the boy’s parents and would often visit the family home.

It was there the first incident took place before Cullen again molested the child at the house.

The final more serious attack also occurred there in 1978. The victim did not see his abuser again for more than a decade when they were both at a wedding.

Cullen met his second victim in the early 1980s while choirmaster at singing group at Glasgow’s St Andrew’s Cathedral.

Mr Borthwick told the court: “The boy would go to choir practice. The accused would drive him to and from there and would instigate excuses for the boy to be within his vehicle.”

Cullen again “gained the trust and friendship” of this child’s family. The boy was aged around 11 when first abused.

He was preyed upon at Cullen’s then home in the city’s Riddrie and in the changing area at the cathedral.

Cullen also attacked the boy in his car while driving him from school where he was also a music teacher.

It was only in 2007 when this victim – who by then was in his late 30s – confronted Cullen about what happened.

He got the musician’s contact details from his personal website.

The victim asked Cullen did he remember what he did, but he insisted he could not.

Cullen then said to him: “If I can do anything, give you advice, help you … I’m here for you.”

But, it was not until 2013 that the victim went police. The Archdiocese of Glasgow was also alerted.

It was around this time the first victim revealed to his family that he had been sexually abused.

Glasgow-born Cullen met with the now 46-year-old and his father at the family home.

Advocate depute Mr Borthwick said: “The accused was asked questions with regards to the abuse.

“He admitted to manipulating, grooming and sexually abusing the victim.”

These incidents were also investigated by police in early 2014 leading to Cullen being held at his home in Otley, West Yorkshire.

The court heard how the first victim has been left with “big” mental scars as a result of his ordeal.

In a statement to prosecutors, he said: “No amount of therapy or medication will fix that.

“I feel awkward. I feel guilt and I feel shame.

“I wish I had a magic wand that would fix it. It is part of my make up now, but its just a very difficult thing.”

The second victim also had personal issues growing up after suffering at Cullen’s hands and ended up homeless.

In her statement, his mum said: “He was a really talented boy. He changed from such a lovely boy into someone we did not know – and we did not know why.”

While his victims struggled to cope, Cullen meantime carved out a prestigious career as a leading conductor, choir master and organist.

He was most famous as a director of the London Symphony Chorus winning two Grammy awards.

He has also been a conductor in America, France, Italy, Ireland and across the UK including at Westminster Cathedral.

Judge Lord Turnbull deferred sentencing for reports and placed Cullen on the sex offenders register.

June 2015

Bedford man pleads guilty to a string of child sex offences

A MAN from Bedford admitted a string of child sex offences at Luton Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday).

Clint Gilbert, 21, pleaded guilty to a total of 14 charges including nine sexual assaults on five young children in the town and a further five charges relating to possessing and distributing indecent images.

The charges cover between March 2013 and March 2015. Gilbert was arrested after he was linked to another investigation through his computer records.

Detective Constable Tanya Shotbolt said: “This has been a complex investigation and it is shocking how this man groomed these families in order to gain unsupervised access to their children and carry out sickening acts to gloat and share across the internet.

“We are pleased that Gilbert’s admission of guilt to this predatory behaviour has at least spared the families involved the ordeal of going through a crown court trial.

“However, nothing can ever undo the harm he has caused to the children he has abused or those whose pictures he has shared.

“His debauched acts have caused significant harm to the families and children involved. It has been a very emotional time for them all since the offences came to light and we will continue to support them through what must be a horrific ordeal.

“Dedicated officers have worked closely with other forces to gather evidence and ensure no stone is left unturned. This man has been connecting with people all over the world, sharing images and videos that are among the most disturbing I have seen in child sex offence investigations. Child safety is paramount and we are committed to tackling abuse against children in all forms.”

Gilbert has been remanded in custody since his arrest on 30 March.

June 2015

Man jailed for sexual assaults on child in Carlisle area

A man has been jailed for a string of historical sexual assaults on a child.

John Little, 68, carried out the abuse between 1984 and 1988, in the Carlisle area.

He had initially denied six charges of sexual assault, against a single victim, before changing his pleas to guilty.

He was sentenced to six years in prison today (18 June) at Carlisle Crown Court, by Judge Peter Hughes QC.

The Judge told Little, of Briardale Road, Blyth, Northumberland, that he had “grossly abused” the youngster.

June 2015

Private eye jailed for using false name to hide sex offender past

A private investigator has been jailed for creating a false identity to hide his own past as a registered sex offender.

Andrew Ashman ran an agency that looked into historic child abuse cases and miscarriages of justice but used at least two aliases while posting updates on the internet.

He adapted his true name to send Facebook messages as Drew Ashman and Andreales Manashay and start a website for his company Paradox UK.

The agency claimed to be investigating and making television documentaries about the Madeleine McCann case and historic abuse at children at care homes in Devon and Dorset.

However Ashman had his own secret.

He had been on the sex offenders register since being convicted of downloading child abuse images in 2007 and had already breached its conditions five times by failing to tell police about new addresses or false names.

He was advising others about abuse cases despite being subject to a suspended sentence for the previous breaches.

Ashman, aged 48, of Garfield Road, Paignton, admitted failing to comply with the register and was jailed for 12 months by Assistant Judge Advocate Alan Large at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him:”The police had spoken to you about using different names but despite that you did not tell them you were using this alias for perfectly genuine reasons on a Facebook account.

“You knew it was wrong and contravened the registration requirements. The aggravating features are the length of time it carried on, the fact you were in communication with the police about similar matters, and you past failures.”

Miss Felicity Payne, prosecuting, said police from the public protection team carried out a spot check and found Ashman was using a Facebook account under the name of Drew Ashman.

An investigation uncovered other aliases including the name of Andreas Manashay. He told police he was using them to start a new career running Paradox UK, which he said was a research, investigation and journalism agency.

Miss Payne said:”He has a number of past failures to notify addresses. There is nothing to suggest he used the aliases in any improper way. This was the deliberate use of aliases for more than a year.”

June 2015 – Now living in Acrefair in Wrexham

December 2001

A NORTH Wales man convicted of molesting young boys in Manchester and Kent yesterday won the first round of an Appeal Court bid to clear his name.

Andrew Bell, of Ffordd Tynewydd, Meliden, Prestatyn, was found guilty on November 30 2000, of 44 counts of indecent assault after a four-week trial at Manchester Crown Court.

He was jailed for 16 years.

Bell’s counsel, Stephen Meadowcroft, yesterday told two Court of Appeal judges his client should have had three separate trials because the alleged indecent assaults could be split into three distinct groups and were “different in nature”. 

He also said trying so many offences at the same time was unfair because it implied to the jury the 38-year-old must be guilty.

The trial judge had also failed to adequately warn the jury they must consider each charge separately.

Sir John Blofeld, who heard the case with Judge James Madison, said there was an “arguable case” that Bell’s convictions were unsafe and should be overturned.

He gave permission for Bell to appeal and a full hearing into his case will now take place at a later date.

Bell is also planning to appeal against the length of his sentence if his conviction appeal fails.

September 2000

DISC JOCKEY Graham Turnbull has been jailed for four and a half years yesterday for luring vulnerable young girls into sordid sex games.

Turnbull, 33, plied two teenagers with drink before making them dress in PVC clothing and ordering them to carry out perverted “dares”.

He also indecently assaulted two 13-year-olds at a party.

Ex-wife Valerie, 34, got two years’ probation for her part in the drunken abuse after claiming Turnbull preyed on her too.

She divorced him after he was exposed.

Turnbull’s offences were described by Sheriff Andrew Bell as the worst he had dealt with. He added: “Any normal person would be horrified.”

Sheriff Bell sent him to the High Court in Edinburgh for sentencing because his own powers only allowed a three-year maximum term.

Judge Lord Mackay of Drumadoon yesterday ruled Turnbull should be supervised for three years after his release. Valerie Turnbull sat as far from him as possible in the dock.

The couple befriended a homeless 16-year-old, letting her drink at their home in Gorebridge, Midlothian.

She was dressed two or three times in PVC clothing and told she would be stripped and thrown out unless she picked from bits of paper with “dares” written on them.

A 15-year-old friend of the youngster also got caught up in the game involving sex acts and photography.

Turnbull, a part-time DJ, was caught after the 13-year-olds he attacked told parents and teachers.

He admitted assaulting them, indecent behaviour with the girl of 15 and shameless indecency with the 16-year-old.

Valerie Turnbull admitted the last charge. Her advocate Hugh Irwin said: “She told her father Turnbull made her do sexual things she wanted nothing to do with.

She was completely under his power.”

July 2014

Hull mum jailed for three years for manslaughter of toddler son Riley

HULL mum Kerry Abel has been jailed for three years for causing the death of her toddler son who drowned in a bath. 

Abel, 38, had claimed she became dizzy and fainted as she stood up while bathing her two-year-old son, Riley Lewis.

But a jury ruled that she was guilty of manslaughter after evidence that she was a persistent drug user and had probably left Riley in a bath unattended for up to two hours.

Riley, who had burns across almost his entire body, was found face-down in the water at his home in Orchard Park Road, north Hull, on January 4 last year.

The jury at Sheffield Crown Court took just over an hour to come to their verdict after hearing evidence for the last two weeks.

They accepted the prosecutors’ argument that Abel failed in her duty of care towards Riley after taking a cocktail of drugs before giving him a bath.

Blood and urine tests showed she had taken diazepam, temazepam, nitrazepam, heroin, cocaine and cannabis, along with methadon, tramadol and pain-killer pregabalin.

In sentencing Abel on Friday, Mr Justice Coulson said: “Riley died as a consequence of your gross negligence and you let him down, completely let him down.

“I also take into account your cavalier attitude to drugs.

“You were warned generally and specifically in those long years of addiction by both doctors and drug workers about the dangers of drugs and, particularly about pregabalin.”

But the judge made it clear there was never any suggestion Abel was responsible for the burns, which he accepted happened after Riley drowned.

He accepted that once Abel fell asleep Riley switched on the hot tap.

He then tried to get out when the temperature increased but fell back in and drowned.

The scalding only occurred after his death, Judge Coulson said.

In mitigation, Benjamin Nolan QC told the court no punishment meted out could be any worse than the loss of her son.

He said: “Kerry Abel dearly loved her child and he was well looked after.

“No punishment the court can impose will be as great as the loss she is already suffering.”

Mr Justice Coulson accepted Abel had been a good parent before Riley’s death.

He told Abel: “You did not intend this to happen.

“You were a good mother to Riley with good maternal instincts.”

After Riley was found face-down in the bathwater at their home on January 4 last year, he was pronounced dead at Hull Royal Infirmary at 12.37am the following day.

Miss Abel was initially arrested at the hospital on suspicion of his murder, but was charged with manslaughter on November 29.

October 2014

Paedophile avoids prison after making indecent images of children

A paedophile who admitted making indecent images of children has walked free from court with a community order

At the hearing on 15th October, 2014 at Leamington spa magistrates court, David Hyde (68) of Dunchurch, Rugby pleaded guilty to the following charge:

Making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child

David Hyde was sentenced as follows:

Participate in an community sex offender programme for 100 days

Attend appointments with the Responsible Officer or another person at such times and places as the officer says

To pay costs of £85.00 to the Crown Prosecution Service

Notification requirement to register with the police, namely Rugby Police Station for 5 years from 15/10/2014

Laptop and tower computer were both destroyed

UPDATE: To be released end of June 2015

June 2014

Pervert jailed for grooming schoolgirls after break-up in ‘hideous corruption’ of children

A Deal man who sexually groomed two 14-year-old schoolgirls has been jailed for three years.

Baby-faced Ryan Bailey, 20, secretly pursued the two schoolgirs in what a barrister described as “hideous corruption” of the children.

His sex crimes were revealed because the two girls fell out because of jealousy – and the mother of one of the victims called the police.

Now Bailey, of Mill Hill, has admitted four sex offences.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Bailey’s grooming began in the aftermath of a break-up of a three-and-a-half-year relationship with a lover.

Simon Stirling, prosecuting, said the victims met Bailey at a disco.

Later, one of the girls and Bailey went to the cinema, then to McDonald’s and Deal beach. He lent the girl his coat and kissed her on the forehead.

The prosecutor said the pair met up again a week later when Bailey arrived in his car with the passenger seat lying flat “like a bed”.

He added: “The two then made out, as it is described, for about 10 minutes, which involved kissing with tongues and he undid her bra and such matters.”

Bailey arranged to meet the girl after collecting her from school and the two later engaged in sexual activity.

“These matters came to the attention of the police after a falling out between the two girls caused by jealousy,” added Mr Stirling.

The court heard that Bailey was arrested but denied the allegations.

He was released on bail and then sent one of his victims a message on Facebook, which read: “OK, I will speak to you when you turn 16. Until then I am sorry.”

The second girl was interviewed and admitted meeting Bailey on Deal beach and at a skate park.

Mr Stirling said: “They met 10 times in which they had hugged and kissed and Bailey then texted her: ‘Is that all I get?’. She had replied: ‘Yes!'”

July 2013

A SERIAL sex offender from Exeter was caught on city centre CCTV as he followed two girls through a shopping mall while exposing himself.

Mario Ramirez-Cardenas, 37, has three previous convictions for similar offences and has attended a sex offenders’ course which was intended to prevent him repeating his behaviour.

And one of his previous victims said she was “shocked and repulsed” by his actions.

Sharp eyed CCTV operators in Exeter spotted him walking through the Princesshay Shopping Centre in the early hours of the morning and his trousers were undone when police arrested him nearby.

He followed two girls aged 19 and 15 as they made their way through the closed-up shops towards a club in Gandy Street, Exeter Crown Court was told.

Columbian national Ramirez-Cardenas, of Willow Way, Whipton, Exeter, admitted outraging public decency and was jailed for four months, suspended for 18 months by Recorder Mr John Williams, who ordered him to pay £150 costs. He told him: “It seems to me the best way of stopping you behaving in this way is a suspended sentence because if you do it again you will get this term of imprisonment plus another.

“I bear in mind you have convictions for similar offences and the probation report is far from encouraging. I am not going to recommend your deportation but if you break the suspended sentence and end up with longer and longer terms of imprisonment, it will make it more likely you will be deported.”

Janice Eagles, prosecuting, said CCTV showed Ramirez-Cardenas touching himself as he walked through the Princesshay centre near two girls.

She said the images showed he was following them but they showed no signs of distress at the time. Police traced them and found they were two girls aged 19 and 15 and they said they were upset by what they saw.

He was arrested and told officers he was walking home from the bus station after a day out in London and had drunk four pints of lager. He said following the girls had excited him.

Nick Bradley, defending, said Ramirez-Cardenas had no way of knowing the ages of the girls and had not targeted them.

He said he lives and works in Exeter and is married to a local woman, which may have a bearing on his immigration status.

He said Ramirez-Cardenas has been in custody for a month since his arrest on June 18 and had learned his lesson.

Among his previous convictions was back in November 2010 when one of his victims who was stalked in the city centre while the defendant carried out a sex act.

The Exeter University student, who was 18 at the time of the incident, said: “We weren’t aware of him following us but I had noticed him behind us at one point.”

June 2015

Indecent child images found on Ellesmere Port man’s ‘lost’ phone

A MAN has admitted downloading indecent images of children on a mobile phone and a tablet device after his mobile phone was found in the street.

Lee Nutall, 36, of Cressington Gardens, Ellesmere Port, appeared at West Cheshire Magistrates Court yesterday charged with making and possesing a total of 19 indecent images of children.

Alan Currums, prosecuting, told the court that a person walking down Westminster Road, Ellesmere Port, found a Samsung mobile phone switched on in the street on January 31. 

The person who found it then looked on the phone to see if there was any way of finding out who the owner was and came across 18 category C indecent images of children and contacted the police.

Police analysis of the phone found the phone was linked to Nutall’s Facebook profile and that a unique code on the phone which was linked to Nutall’s contract.

Police were also contacted by another witness known to Nutall who said they had lent their tablet to Nutall when he was over for the evening. 

After Nutall had left the person found one indecent image of a child on the tablet and found that the internet history had also been deleted so contacted the police.

Mr Currums told the court Nutall was currently on a suspended sentence from the court for a racially aggravated assault but he had no previous convictions for sexual offences.

Adrian Evans, defending, asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared before sentence.

Magistrates agreed and the case was adjourned for reports until July 8. Nutall was granted unconditional bail but has been told to sign the Sex Offenders Register.

June 2015

Birstall man who accessed almost 2,000 indecent images of children jailed

A man who accessed almost 2,000 indecent images of children on the internet has been jailed for two years and four months.

Leigh Bedford, 39, was also banned from going abroad without permission from those responsible for supervising him on his release.

Leicester Crown Court was told he was viewing child pornography for 12 years, before he was caught.

He also distributed 10 pictures of youngsters being abused to two other people.

Kate Plummer, prosecuting said the police paedophile online investigation team seized five CDs and two laptop computers from the defendant’s home in Denegate Avenue, Birstall.

They contained 1,983 images, with 365 of them in the most serious classification, category A, 818 in category B and 731 in category C, the least serious.

Almost half of the images featured youngsters under five, with about 14 per cent of those involving babies.

Miss Plummer said: “There was evidence he had distributed 10 of the images, across all three categories, via Skype to two others, between February and August 2013.

Officers discovered he had discussed indecent images with at least one other person.

They also found 68 extreme pornographic images involving adults and bestiality.

Bedford admitted three counts of possessing the indecent pictures of children, of which five per cent were moving images, March 2002 and September 2014.

He also admitted three counts of distribution, one of possessing extreme pornography and one of involving a prohibited pseudo indecent image of a child.

Miss Plummer said: “It’s clear he’s been travelling abroad to meet former girlfriends and there are (holiday) pictures of him with girlfriends and their children in other countries.”

Judge Robert Brown said: “These offences are too serious of anything other than immediate custody.

“There are a significant number of category A images and a high preponderance of those images involved babies.”

Nathan Smith, mitigating, said: “He has fantasies about having sex with babies but would never do that.

“He’s thoroughly ashamed.

“He has elderly parents and a younger brother who suffers from a rare illness, for whom he’s the main carer, and they will struggle without his help.

“He has no previous convictions and is now determined to address his issues.

“His relationship with his current partner is continuing.”

The judge made a destruction order in relation to the images and imposed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which will allow his supervisors to monitor his future computer use and also restricting him from leaving the country without permission.

His address will also be on a police sex offender register for 10 years.

June 2015

Man Jailed After Performing Sex Acts On Buses Around London

A MAN has been sentenced to a total of 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to six counts of outraging public decency on London buses.

Fabian Downie, 44, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday (Jun 18) to six months imprisonment after pleading guilty to six counts of outraging public decency committed between 25 October 2014 and 1 April 2015 on buses in London.

Downie was also sentenced to a further 14 months imprisonment for breaching a suspended sentence. The offender is also subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for a period of five years, which prohibits him from travelling on the top deck of any double decker bus or coach.

In all six offences, Downie boarded buses and performed a sex act, often in full view of other passengers, before getting off.

In two of the offences, passengers took photos of Downie, which later helped identify him.

The offences took place betweek October 25 2014 and April 1 2015 on buses in different ares of the capital including Lewisham, Camden, Elephant & Castle and Greenwiich.

Officers from the Roads and Transport Policing Command launched an investigation, working with City of London Police and obtained CCTV footage from all the buses, which was vital in linking the offences and the subsequent arrest of Downie on May 20.

Detective superintendent Adnan Qureshi, MPS Roads and Transport Policing Command said: “Downie carried out these appalling crimes in full view of passengers, putting them through an awful ordeal. Thanks to the quick thinking of two of the victims, who took photos of the suspect, we were able to identify Downie and link him to all six offences.

“Sexual assaults on the transport network will not be tolerated and anyone who commits such offences will be caught and prosecuted.

This result comes two months on from the launch of the ‘Report it to stop it’ campaign by the MPS, Transport for London, British Transport Police and City of London Police, which aims to further increase the reporting of unwanted sexual behaviour on public transport in the capital.

The high profile online campaign aims to build on the success of Project Guardian, a long-term initiative to increase awareness and confidence amongst the public to report sexual offences. Particularly those offences which are often unreported, such as sexual touching, exposure, outraging public decency, lewd comments, leering and harassment.

June 2015

Plymouth man admits possessing indecent images of children 

A 46-YEAR-OLD man has admitted possessing and making indecent images of children at Landrake.

At Truro Crown Court on Friday, Anthony Farrell, of Belle Vue Rise, Hooe, Plymouth, pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing indecent images of youngsters at category A to C on the scale used to categorise such material, in which A is the most serious.

He further admitted four counts of making indecent images of children in the same categories.

The offences took place from October 8, 2014 to January 16, this year.

He was granted conditional bail to appear before the court for sentence on July 17, following the preparation of a pre-sentence report by the probation service.

June 2015

Pensioner had dog and child abuse images on his mobile phone

A PENSIONER who showed a mobile phone clip of horrific child sexual abuse to a member of staff at a city betting shop has been branded “foolish” by a top judge.

Kadem Nouri, of Bracknell Crescent, Whitemoor, was spared jail – despite police later finding another clip on his phone of a woman engaged in sexual activity with a dog.

The 66-year-old instead received a four-month sentence, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to downloading an indecent photograph of a child and possession of extreme pornographic images.

Prosecuting at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday, Sarah Munro said: “A member of staff at a Coral bookmakers was approached by this customer – a regular customer.

“He showed the employee a clip of two very young children, aged five.”

Ms Munro described how Nouri then left the shop. When he revisited the bookies the following day, the same member of staff called the police.

It was after Nouri was arrested that officers discovered the second clip on his phone.

In interview, he denied showing the child porn clip to the shop employee. It was only when investigators showed Nouri CCTV footage from inside the shop that he admitted doing so.

In mitigation, Nicola Hunter said: “There is no suggestion Mr Nouri was searching for such images – they appeared on his phone by way of social media.

“He has no access to internet any other way than his phone and he has no previous convictions.

“He is now retired but was a hardworking man and useful member of society.

“Mr Nouri only had his phone for a month and tells me he had not got to grips with it – he did not know how to delete the clips.”

Nouri, originally from Iraq, was ordered to pay £200 costs within three months. The phone containing the clips will also be destroyed.

Passing sentence and addressing Nouri, judge Andrew Hamilton said: “This is the strangest case of this kind I have come across – it is absolutely disgusting.

“You have got yourself into a pickle and I don’t think you realise how serious this offence is.

“These clips involve children being groomed and manipulated into doing things they shouldn’t.

“I don’t think you are a danger to children but you are foolish.”

June 2015

Jail for Slinfold resident found guilty of sex offences

A man was jailed for eight years after he was convicted of a string of sex offences.

Alan Parker, 60, of Streetfield Road, Slinfold, denied the charges but a jury at Hove Trial Centre convicted him on six counts of indecent assault.

He was found not guilty on two other counts of indecent assault.

The court heard that the offences were carried out in Horsham district several decades ago.

Sentence was passed by Judge Richard Hayward this week.

June 2015

Donna Marie Ball, 33, of Stanley Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to having responsibility for a child who was wilfully assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed.

She was given a 12-month community order with a supervision requirement, ordered to carry out 40 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs.

July 2007

Sex fiend must stay behind bars

A BURNLEY sex-predator who preyed on two schoolgirls deserved every day of his nine-year jail term, top judges ruled.

Roland James Kennedy (51), of Travis Street, received the sentence at Burnley Crown Court last August after he was convicted of seven counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration.

All but one of the offences were committed against one girl, aged 13 at the time, while his other crime involved an younger girl of 12.

Kennedy plied one victim with whisky and cigarettes, London’s Criminal Appeal Court heard. He repeatedly pestered the older girl with sexual advances, touching her breasts and private parts despite her youth.

His case came before the Appeal Court as he unsuccessfully sought permission to appeal his sentence.

Judge Chapman – sitting with Lord Justice Gage and Mr Justice Davis – said Kennedy had previous convictions for offences of violence and dishonesty, but no record of past sexual offending.

He acknowledged the nine-year sentence was “high” – but concluded it was “not manifestly excessive” and dismissed the appeal.

July 2006

Burnley Man Found Guilty Of Abusing Two Schoolgirls

A MIDDLE-AGED man has been convicted of sexually abusing two Burnley schoolgirls after a two-week trial.

Ex-convict Roland Kennedy (50) was found guilty of seven counts of sexual assault after a trial at Burnley Crown Court.

He was cleared of one count of assault by penetration and was led to custody still protesting his innocence.

The defendant, who denied the charges, at first refused to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register when ordered to by Judge Michael Byrne but finally put pen to paper after being spoken to by his lawyer.

Kennedy, a long-time and well-known criminal who has served two five-year jail terms but has no record for sex offences, is facing jail.

He asked for bail until sentence but was remanded in custody by the judge.

Judge Byrne also asked for victim impact statements to show how the offences may have affected the two children.

The defendant, whose past crimes have mostly been dishonesty, faces being made subject of a sexual offences prevention order and being banned from working with children.

One of the two victims, a 13-year-old Burnley schoolgirl, had told the jury how she screamed and shouted as Kennedy molested her.

The girl told the jury Kennedy’s conduct started with touching.

She said the defendant kept asking her to “do stuff ” but she refused and he became forceful and aggressive.

The jury was told when quizzed by police Kennedy told officers he had never touched either child and claimed the 13 year old had made up the allegations against him because she could be vindictive.

Kennedy, formerly of Travis Street, Burnley, and more recently of Whalley Road, Altham West, will learn his fate at Preston Crown Court on August 11th. Judge Byrne called for pre-sentence reports and said he wanted the probation service to make an assessment of any risk the defendant might pose in the future.

June 2015

Man spared jail after being found guilty of making indecent images of children

A BOURNEMOUTH man has received a suspended jail term for having indecent images of children.

Ashley Hiscock was found guilty on six counts of making an indecent photograph of a child after a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. The offence covers downloading or printing such images.

The 34-year-old, from Highfield Road, was sentenced to nine months in prison suspended for 12 months on June 12, and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten years.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order with various requirements, to last for ten years.

The offences took place between 2007-11