February 2016

Billingham man on sex offenders’ register hid his past from young mum

A pervert who hid his prison past when he stayed with a woman and her three children has been jailed.

Wayne Thompson, 27, from Billingham , served a 54 months sentence after he got a 14-year-old girl pregnant.

 He left jail on the sex offender’s register for life and banned indefinitely from having contact with children under 16.

But last September, he met a young mum on a dating website and did not tell her he had been convicted in November 2011 of three offences of sexual activity with a child.

They met on September 19 and from November 13, he stayed almost every night at her home with her and her two girls and a boy.

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told Teesside Crown Court that on November 21, the mum put his name into a search engine and she discovered his convictions.

Russell then told his public protection officer who monitors his activities that he had met someone. He was told he must not stay overnight at her house.

Miss Haigh said that the woman did not want to end the relationship, but she was concerned for her children.

They both lied to Social Services and they continued their relationship.

Miss Haigh said Thompson also spent time with the children of other family members and he went to three family house parties.

She added: “They did not know about his convictions.

“The woman now says she was horrified she did not end it when she knew.”

Rachel Dyson, defending, said Thompson had now lost the relationship, his liberty and his home. He had been recalled on prison licence until May.

She added: “He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

“There is no suggestion of any inappropriate behaviour or sexual behaviour towards the children.

“The children are none the wiser and not affected in any way.

“These are breaches over a three months period and apart from that, he has complied with everything.”

Judge Howard Crowson told Thompson: “You did not tell her of your past, you kept the relationship from the police.

“It caused a risk as far as the children are concerned. One of those youngsters was a 13-year-old girl.”

Thompson, of Station Road, Billingham, was jailed for 20 months after he pleaded guilty to six offences of breaching the sex offender’s registration and two of failing to comply with a Sexual Offence’s Prevention Order.

February 2016

Convicted sex offender who persuaded 14-year-old girl to send him topless pictures jailed

A convicted sex offender who persuaded a 14-year-old girl to send him scantily clad and topless pictures has been jailed for three years.

Daniel Burdett (30) also sent the girl indecent images of himself and showed her pornography on a computer.

He also made suggestions via a phone messaging app, to another girl, aged 12, that she should send him a picture of herself in bed.

Leicester Crown Court heard that Burdett, formerly of Wanlip Road, Syston, had been jailed for 13 months in 2009 for inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and possessing indecent images of children.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: “You’re a relatively young man, but in 2009 you were dealt with for sexual offences, not the most serious of their type, but you were placed on a sexual offences prevention order, made in recognition of you representing a risk to young girls.

“It has proved to be the case.”

Burdett pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching his sexual offences prevention order.

These breaches included having unsupervised contact with a child under 16, in relation to looking after a one-year-old for a short period of time, although it is not alleged that any offence was committed in that instance.

He also breached the order by having contact via phone with the 12-year-old and for possessing a phone and a computer that were not registered with the police for monitoring purposes.

Burdett admitted inciting the 14-year-old victim to engage in sexual activity by getting her to send him pictures in her underwear and topless, and causing her to watch a sexual act by showing her pornography.

Judge Dean said the offence in relation to the 12-year-old girl involved “prolonged contact of a flirtatious nature.”

He said: “Had it been allowed to continue it could have been overtly sexual, but her mother seized her phone (and took it to the police).”

Judge Dean said Burdett’s conduct towards the 14-year-old involved “persuading her to send naked photographs of herself to you.”

He added: “You know the only disposal in this case involves immediate imprisonment.”

He said the defendant would have to enrol on a sex offenders’ register for life.

Burdett was also placed on an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

October 2015

Pervert is ‘on the edge’

A convicted fraudster who threatened to stab a witness has been told he is “right on the edge” of being locked up again.

Barry Dockerty, 29, was released from his last jail sentence in December after being convicted of fraud and witness intimidation, but he was soon in trouble again after sending indecent images of children.

Dockerty, from Bridlington, used his Blackberry to distribute the images but the recipient, who had no idea he was being sent the lurid photos, reported him to police.

Dockerty was hauled in by police and charged with distributing indecent material, but pestered the informer to drop the charges.

When the man refused, Dockerty sent him a text warning: “You are going to get stabbed.”

In March this year, Dockerty was spared prison and given a 12-month community punishment with 120 hours’ unpaid work after he admitted three counts of distributing indecent images.

But five months later he breached the order by missing most of his unpaid-work sessions and failing to co-operate with the Probation Service.

As a result, Dockerty, of Vernon Road, was back in the dock at York Crown Court on Friday and due to be re-sentenced for a number of offences including a £500 E-Bay fraud and witness intimidation.

Prosecuting barrister Michael Bosomworth said Dockerty had also breached an ASBO which he had been given for making silent 999 calls.

He said that in the E-Bay fraud, Dockerty and another conman had tricked someone into paying for a computer that never materialised.

Defence barrister Laura Addy said Dockerty had moved from York to the east coast because he had received threats from members of the public who knew about his crimes.

She said he had a very low IQ and felt suicidal during his previous spells behind bars.

Mr Recorder P.W Miller adjourned sentence to November 12 to give Dockerty another chance to prove he could come good on his promise to do the unpaid work.

He said: “I’m giving you a last chance but you’re right on the edge.”

Dockerty was released on bail on condition that he carried out his community work.

January 2011

Man is branded ‘sick, depraved and wicked’ as he is locked up by judge

A child rapist who jumped bail after he was charged has been caught and jailed for eight years.

Ian Matthews, who was arrested on Thursday, was branded “sick, depraved and wicked” by the sentencing judge at Bradford Crown Court as he was locked up yesterday.

Matthews, 64, jumped bail before he was due to attend court in October charged with systematically abusing a girl when she was aged seven to 13.

A warrant was issued for his arrest but he made determined attempts to conceal himself from the police.

Yesterday, Matthews pleaded guilty to 19 offences relating to the girl, including three allegations of rape, as well as indecent assault, indecency with a child and sexual activity with a child.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told him: “You are alienated, shunned and reviled by all members of society as long as you live.”

Although Matthews ran away and hid, his guilty pleas had spared his victim the “horrendous trauma” of re-living her ordeal.

The judge added: “Your sins are extreme. You are a broken and shattered man.”

Prosecutor Richard Wright told the court that Matthews was living in the Keighley area when the offences came to light.

The girl told a teacher about the abuse and Matthews was arrested and interviewed in 2009.

She told the police Matthews drove her on to the moors to molest her in his car.

He showed her pornographic videos and made her copy the sexual activity on them with him.

In mitigation, Matthews’s barrister, Rebecca Young, said he had made a brave decision to confess to his “horrendous” crimes.

“At last, he has done the right thing,” she told the court.

Matthews had lost everything. His family, including his wife, wanted nothing more to do with him.

Matthews was made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order to protect children from him in the future.

He must sign on as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

“You will not be able to move in this country without the police knowing where you are every minute of the day,” the judge told him.

January 2013

Gang of evil paedophiles jailed

A PAEDOPHILE ring gave school truants gifts of cannabis and cash in return for sexual favours.

The boys were “passed around” between members of the gang and targeted for sex orgies.

Judge Anthony Ensor told the men they had scarred the boys’ lives and “blighted their youth” as he jailed them at Manchester Crown Court.

The principal gang member John Hall, 54, was jailed for 14 years. Carlos Figueiredo, 62, was given six years, Mark North, 35, got five years and Geoffrey Greatbanks, 30, three years.

Hall, of St Ann’s Road, Audenshaw, who had previous convictions for sex offences, admitted regularly abusing four boys aged 12 to 14.

Figueiredo, of Middlebourne Street, Salford, North, of Len Cox Walk, Ancoats, and Greatbanks, of Basildon Close, Longsight, either admitted or were convicted of abusing boys.

Hall had initially corrupted boys after becoming friendly with their parents. He gave gifts of money and cigarettes but was banned from seeing victims when parents became suspicious.

By then Hall had turned some of the boys into under-age male prostitutes who then became friendly with other members of the ring.

The judge said: “Boys in care and with vulnerable backgrounds have been targeted for use for your base carnal instincts.Their lives have been scarred, their youth blighted and they have been corrupted morally.

“In my judgement you are evil men steeped in wickedness and depravity.”

February 2016

Man admits sexual activity with schoolgirl

A supermarket worker has admitted sexual activity with a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

At the hearing on the 5th January, at Newcastle Crown Court, Mitchell Wilson, 22 of Tilmouth Park Road, Throckley pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child.

The case has been adjourned to 29th February when he will be sentenced.

January 2016

Pervert sentenced for abusing schoolboy

Stuart Wheatley pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court 

The charge being  ‘Gross indecency with child (boy) under 14’ offences taking place between 1981 and 1983 for which the sentence being ‘Conditional Discharge Order of two years

He was told he would remain on sex offenders register for two years’.

The court heard that Wheatley had a history of sex offending after recieving a custodial sentence two decades ago for similar offences

February 2016

Convicted child abuser is hosting major contest for kids in the UK

A sex offending dance teacher is hosting a major contest for kids in the UK

Convicted pervert Sean Gavan, who runs the World Irish Dance Association, plans to welcome over 1,000 youngsters, including under-12s, to the event next month.

Gavan, originally from Glasgow, Scotland, was previously booted out of the USA for molesting a schoolboy.

February 2016

Pervert sentenced for indecent photos of children

John Harold Adams, 76, of Pixton Way, Dulverton, three counts of making indecent photos of a child

Adams received a community order and an eight weeks curfew

He was ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge with £85 costs and required to register with the police for five years.

February 2016

Man jailed for sexually molesting girl, 10

The owner of a Todmorden takeaway has been jailed for a year after a jury found him guilty of sexually molesting a 10-year-old girl.

Wah Ip, who runs the Lucky Dragon premises on Burnley Road, had denied two charges of sexual assault relating to an incident in April last year, but after more than two hours of deliberation the jury at Bradford Crown Court returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both allegations.

The court heard that Ip had kissed the 10-year-old complainant on the mouth and grabbed her between her legs over her clothing.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said the incident had left the girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, “distraught and shocked”.

Ip, a married man with three sons, was in a distressed state as he was led out of the dock to begin his jail term, but the judge said there had been some “grooming” behind his offending.

Judge Durham Hall said during the trial the girl had spoken in a convincing and articulate way about her ordeal.

The judge said 59-year-old Ip, who lives in Manchester, had effectively called the girl a liar and claimed that the whole incident was totally invented from start to finish.

“Whenever the prosecuting counsel dared to suggest you may be guilty you told her off for making the allegations.

“You have no insight, no remorse,” the judge told Ip.

The judge said Ip was a risk to youngsters without careful oversight and he told the defendant that he would now have to register as a sex offender with the police of the next 10 years.

Judge Durham Hall also imposed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order which bans Ip from having unsupervised contact with girls under 16.

February 2016

Rehab for man caught with indecent images

A CROSBY man found with indecent images on his computer has been sentenced to an intensive rehabilitation program.

Greig Peterson, 33, Abbotsford Road, denied that the three category C images of children found on his iPad were indecent but he was convicted after trial and appeared at Ormskirk Magistrates Court on February 16 for sentencing.

His solicitor Joe Cheminais said that the images were a result of online searches: “He is adamant that the images came about through Google searches but he accepts that the court have viewed those images and that they are indecent. He has demonstrated insight that his use of the intent has led him into risky situations, particularly the type of searches being used. It’s that that has put him at risk.”

Mr Cheminais told the court that Peterson did not believe the images were indecent, that they involved no submission and were not erotic, but added: “He accepts that the court deems them indecent.”

The solicitor explained that Grieg has been separated from his family since proceedings began and that there would have to be further meetings with relevant authorities before he could be reunited. That  separation, he said, and the intensive rehabilitation program that was recommended by the reprobation service, were both punishments in themselves.

The magistrates ordered that he participate with a 36-week sex offenders’ programme, to be taken over three years, and also to participate with 20 days of a rehabilitative activity.

He is to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Act for five years and comply with a Sex Harm Protection Order for five years, which means that whatever technology he uses to access the internet must have a facility to store his internet search history which can be inspected by police.

Mr Grieg was also ordered to undergo 60 hours of unpaid work and pay a total of £510 n costs and victim surcharge.

February 2016

Student downloaded more than 40,000 indecent images and videos of children

A student was found to have downloaded more than 40,000 indecent images and videos of children being sexually abused when police seized computers from his home in Leeds.

Leeds Crown Court heard officers executed a search warrant at Michael Crawford’s family home in Meanwood on April 27 last year after receiving information that illegal material was being accessed from the property.

Crawford was not at home at the time. He was eventually interviewed and admitted that he had accessed the images as he had been in a “dark place”.

He said he had become reclusive and depressed while studying at university.

Kathryn Stuckey, prosecuting, said officers discovered more than 42,000 illegal images and 5,000 movies but not all were categorised.

In total, 233 movies and 52 images that were graded at Category A – the most serious level of offending.

Crawford, 29, of Towers Way, Meanwood, pleaded guilty to making indecent images of a child.

Marlon Grossman, mitigating, said Crawford had already referred himself to a programme helping people addicted to looking at illegal indecent images online.

He said Crawford had been reduced to tears when he was made fully of aware of the impact his offending had on the victims who appeared in the images.

He was made the subject of a three-year community order, during which he must attend a sex offenders treatment programme.

Recorder Anton Lodge QC said: “These are serious offences because of the encouragement it gives to the people who make those images.”

UPDATE: Now released and in living in Great Yarmouth

September 2011

Police praise bravery of sex crimes victim

POLICE have paid tribute to an “amazingly courageous” teenager who came forward and reported a man more than twice her age for having sex with her.

As 39-year-old Shaun Gascoigne was locked up for four years, a police spokesman said of the victim: “She was faced with a very difficult decision and made the right choice to come forward and report the offences.

“She has been amazingly courageous and should
 believe she has done the right thing.

“No-one should have to go through what she went through.

“We are pleased the courts have handed him a considerable prison term as the harm he has caused the victim is immeasurable.”

Gascoigne, of Cathcart Street, Lowestoft, admitted five offences of unlawful sexual activity with the girl and was jailed for four years, less 181 days he has already spent in custody.

He was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order restricting his contact with teenage girls.

Sentencing Gascoigne, Judge John Devaux accepted he had been suffering from depression at the time of the offences, due to his wife’s ill health.

He said that Gascoigne had no previous convictions and the sexual activity had ended before the offences came to light.

He said Gascoigne had been more than twice the girl’s age and had sex with her on five occasions.

Judge Devaux said the victim of the offences, who had already been experiencing emotional difficuties, had been profoundly affected by what he had done to her.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting said that when Gascoigne had been questioned about having sex with the girl he had accused her of dressing provocatively and “getting him hot under the collar”.

Andrew Thompson, for Gascoigne, said that at the time of the offences, he was acting as full-time carer for his wife who was wheelchair-bound.

Gascoigne had also been suffering from depression
and he had believed the girl was consenting to what went on.

February 2016

Court hears that foster carer destroyed phone & computer to hide indecent images

A foster carer who destroyed an iPhone and computer when he was about to be quizzed over claims he had used them to film young girls in the bathroom was spared jail today 

Patrick Sime, 54, had faced two complaints from young girls alleging he had used his mobile phone to video them while they were in the shower in June 2014.

One of the girls claimed his phone was recording when she knocked it in the bathroom at his home in Birchington, Kent.

When Sime heard he was to be interviewed about the allegation he ‘panicked’ and threw the iPhone away. 

February 2016

Ex-banker jailed for indecent images offences

A former bank worker from Harrogate has been jailed after police found over a thousand lurid images of children on his computer.

Anthony Gibbs, 42, watched extremely-young children being sexually abused, York Crown Court heard.

He distributed some of the files to other paedophiles via Skype and even suggested they should meet up to view child-porn images together.

Gibbs, of Stonefall Avenue, was arrested on September 5 last year after police searched his home and seized a computer.

Analysis by North Yorkshire Police’s cyber-crime team showed that Gibbs had sent a large number of files to others on the internet chat site between October 2011 and April 2015.

At least 12 of these images featured child pornography and were rated Category A – the most serious kind.

Prosecutor Nick Adlington said North Yorkshire Police’s cyber-crime team caught Gibbs out after arresting a convicted paedophile in Scarborough who had been chatting with the defendant on Skype.

Gibbs, who has also worked in retail, admitted downloading and distributing indecent images.

“He said he was intrigued by the images and the (online) chat,” said Mr Adlington.

Police’s Hi-Tech Crime Unit found 1,354 indecent files on the computer.

Some of these were duplicates, but 426 were “unique” files. Of these, 154 were Category A images and they included a movie clip featuring child abuse.

Mr Adlington said Gibbs – an only child who has lived with his parents all his life – was involved in “disturbing” online conversations and was often the initiator.

“It was discussed about finding young children – the age wouldn’t matter,” added the prosecutor.

“Child rape was a common subject theme.”

Defence barrister Ben Campbell said Gibbs was “living in a world of fantasy and fiction” and would never have acted upon his fantasies, although he recognised that real children had been abused in the making of the images.

Judge Paul Batty QC said that “by far the most disturbing” aspect of the case was that Gibbs had arranged to meet up with other paedophiles.

“That wasn’t, in my view, fantasy at all – it was something that you wanted to occur, given your sexual proclivities,” he added.

“I do accept that you are emotionally and, in fact, sexually, extremely immature, but the probation officer (in the case) does not see much remorse in you for what you have done.”

Gibbs was jailed for 20 months and ordered to sign on the sex-offenders’ register for 10 years.

Mr Batty also made a sexual-harm prevention order, to run indefinitely, which will restrict Gibbs’s activities, including his internet use, when he is released.

February 2016

Rapist gets 20-year sentence for sex crimes

A pervert who carried out a catalogue of sex abuse over many years has been jailed.

And it is likely that Nigel Spencer Asquith, of Huddersfield, will die in jail, having been handed a 20-year sentence.

He was jailed at Leeds Crown Court after a trial in which he had denied numerous offences dating back many years.

Asquith, of Rutland Road, Longwood, was brought before a court last April, having been arrested by detectives in Huddersfield.

He faced 23 serious sexual abuse charges, including five of rape.

The 67-year-old was also accused of five attempted rapes and also 12 charges of indecent assault. The alleged offences involved two young girls.

Det Con Rachel Cooper, of Kirklees Safeguarding Team, said; “I would like to praise the victims in this case for their immense courage and bravery in coming forward and giving their evidence.

“Asquith’s controlling and cruel behaviour over a sustained period of time has undoubtedly had a devastating effect on the victims and I hope that the verdict helps to bring them some closure.

“The passage of time is no barrier to the police thoroughly investigating allegations of sexual abuse, we would always encourage victims to come forward and reassure them that they will be taken seriously and treated with the utmost sensitivity, and that we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”

February 2016

Man who called himself ‘young lover’ jailed for distributing child sex images

A convicted sex offender who distributed indecent photographs of children over the internet has been jailed for two years.

Simon Halliday, described as addicted to child abuse images, used a work computer to upload photographs of children as young as 18 months old using different account names including “young lover”, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

He used the Kik instant messenger app to contact people with similar interests.

Andrew Scott, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court: “Police received information of an email address from which indecent images of children had been uploaded.”

Inquiries led to a company in Beverley, East Yorkshire, where Halliday was the store manager.

Mr Scott said: “He said he used the wi-fi connection to make an internet connection through his phone.

“Using the name ynglvr, short for young lover, he had uploaded indecent images of children. The user had engaged with others with similar interests.

“He told the police he had possession of indecent images and distributed them. He said he gained sexual gratification from others enjoying the pictures and stories that he posted.

“He had no idea of the number of images he had shared. He said he would use his phone daily to access images. He used Kik on the day of his arrest.

“He said he felt sickened and ashamed and said he needed help.”

The court was told that Halliday had previously been jailed in 2004 for child porn offences and was the subject of a sexual offences prevention order at the time of the latest offences.

Halliday, 42, of Field Fare Close, Lincoln, admitted four charges of distributing indecent images of children, four charges of making a total of 231 indecent images of children, possession of extreme pornography and two further charges of failing to comply with a previous order banning him from using a pseudonym. The offences took place between October 2014 and April 2015.

Recorder Graham Huston told him: “These offences were committed blatantly with full knowledge of the consequences of doing so. The reports suggest that there is beginning to be on your part a degree of insight into your addiction but these are very serious offences.”

February 2016

School caretaker jailed after he hid secret cameras in school toilets

A school caretaker has been jailed after he hid secret cameras in school toilets, showers, and in a specially adapted jacket.

Peter Harris, 45, of Leicester Road, Barnet was jailed for 16 months at Harrow Crown Court, after pleading guilty to two dozen voyeurism offences.

Harris’ hidden spy system came to light when a member of staff at the school discovered a camera taped to the side of a locker in the school’s disabled toilet.

February 2016

Man jailed for shaking baby daughter to death

A man who shook his baby daughter to death has been jailed for life after being found guilty of her murder.

Tomas Driukas, 26, from Birmingham, was told he would serve a minimum of 21 years for killing four-month-old Deimante Driukaite.

An investigation found the baby died as a result of a brain trauma consistent with being shaken with force.

Police said Driukas had shaken his daughter because she would not stop crying.

Although he called an ambulance when she had breathing problems last April, he lied to medics, police said.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said Driukas had provided no explanation for the killing and it had been a deliberate infliction of force.

“You intended her to suffer,” the judge said.

Man guilty of murdering his five-month-old baby daughter

A father has been found guilty of murdering his five-month-old baby daughter after shaking her to death because she would not stop crying.

Lithuanian Tomas Driukas, 26, inflicted appalling injuries on the premature little girl – leaving her with 26 separate injuries and squeezing her so hard it crushed her rib cage.

The electrician lashed out at baby Deimante Driukaite in ‘temper and frustration’ because he was struggling to cope looking after her while his partner was at work, a court heard.

On the day of Deimante’s death he called an ambulance to his home in Perry Barr, Birmingham, and told paramedics the baby girl had breathing difficulties.

Deimante, who was born three months prematurely, was admitted to hospital in the early hours of April 1 2015 but died a few hours later.

Officers said an investigation revealed the baby died as a result of a significant brain trauma consistent with being shaken with force.

She also had bruising to her face and body and had several fractured ribs.

Driukas denied inflicting the injuries but was found guilty of murder at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday and will be sentenced later today.

It took the jury of eight men and four women just three hours to convict him following a four-week trial.

Detective Sergeant Nick Barnes, from West Midlands Police Homicide Team, said: “Driukas was her father and should have been responsible for the wellbeing and protection of his daughter, who was just four and a half months old at the time of her death.

“She was entirely vulnerable, requiring complete care, love and compassion. She was just 55cm (21in) tall and weighed less than nine pounds (four kilograms).

“Since the time of her death and the end of the trial, Driukas continued to deny any wrongdoing. He has shown no meaningful remorse.”

Sgt Barnes added: “Even when his daughter was gravely ill he neglected to give an honest account to medical experts in order for them to treat her appropriately.

“She had been injured on at least four occasions and had suffered multiple rib fractures caused by her tiny ribcage being squeezed.

“She also had bruising to her face. The force required was well in excess of what would be expected in handling a baby of this size. The cause of her death was non-accidental head injury which had been caused by her being violently shaken.”

February 2016

Former scoutmaster pleads guilty to abusing eight boys

A former scoutmaster has pleaded guilty to 28 charges of sexually abusing eight boys – one aged only 12 – in the 1970s and 1980s.

Prosecutor Myles Wilson told Caernarfon Crown Court the offences had happened over a period of 18 years between 1967 and 1985.

The court heard the complainants had given statements as a result of publicity generated when Martyn Lewis Tucker was jailed for 12 years in May 2014 at Mold Crown Court for sexually abusing five young boys between 1968 and 1978.

Tucker, who is serving time at Rye Hill prison, Rugby, Warwickshire, for those offences appeared in court today via video-link.

The 69-year-old, previously of Sealand Road, Chester, appeared calm as he pleaded guilty to 28 charges of indecency, gross indecency and indecent assault.

He pleaded not guilty to two other charges of sexual activity in the presence of a child under the age of 16 and inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity which were left on file.

Adjourning sentencing until August or September after the trial of another man, Judge Parry told Tucker: “It is a very serious matter.”

During his previous trial in May, 2014, Mold Crown Court heard how Tucker “knew his day of judgement would come”, when the Jimmy Savile scandal came out.

Police finally knocked on his door after a victim, who said Tucker “stole his soul”, had the courage to come forward after realising that those prosecuted for sex offences in Wrexham children’s homes went back further than the offences committed on him.

Tucker, who worked for the former Alyn and Deeside and Delyn councils before working as a legal executive dealing in social welfare issues for various Chester solicitors, admitted a total of 26 sexual offences during the trial.

The charges originally included male rape but prosecuting barrister John Philpotts told the court that male rape was not known to the criminal law at the time the offences were committed.

Tucker, who had once served as a scoutmaster in Whitchurch on the Cheshire/Shropshire border and also in Flintshire, admitted 12 charges of indecent assault on young boys, nine charges of indecency with a child, and five charges of another illegal sexual act. The offences dated from 1968 to 1978 on five victims, all young teenagers.

Judge Niclas Parry jailed him for 12 years, ordered him to register as a sex offender for life, and banned him from ever working with children again.

May 2014

Scoutmaster accused of sexually abusing children is jailed for 12 years

A Scoutmaster who was alleged to have been part of a secret paedophile ring in the 1970s has been jailed today for 12 years.

Mold Crown Court heard how Martyn Tucker, 68, of Sealand Road in Chester, knew his day of judgement would come, particularly when the Jimmy Savile scandal came out.

Police finally knocked on his door last summer after one of the victims, who said Tucker stole his soul, had the courage to come forward after he realised that those prosecuted for sex offences in Wrexham children’s homes went back further than the offences committed on him when he was a boy.

Tucker said that he wanted to come clear – and admitted that he had done things in the past that he regretted.

It emerged in court that the Scout movement was told of the abuse allegations in the 1970s and while it took statements from a number of boys,the police were never informed.

Officers investigating the matter last year were able to recover those statements from the Scout movement’s HQ.

The court heard how the defendant abused scouts when he was assistant scout master of the Whitchurch scout troop on the Cheshire/Shropshire border.

He also abused others while the manager of the Foster’s menswear in the town, taking boys to the shop’s changing rooms.

Tucker also took victims to Bristol where he instructed them to indulge in sex acts with another unknown man.

While on a canoe weekend in Llangollen he was joined by an unknown primary school teacher who also indulged in sex acts with the scouts.

He would visit a farm at Pontybodkin in Flintshire, owned by a member of the defendant’s family at the time, for outdoor activities. But the defendant and the teacher abused scouts there.

Tucker, who worked for the former Alyn and Deeside and Delyn councils before working as a legal executive dealing in social welfare issues for various Chester solicitors, admitted a total of 26 sexual offences.

The charges originally included male rape but prosecuting barrister John Philpotts told the court that male rape was not known to the criminal law at the time the offences were committed.

Tucker admitted 12 charges of indecent assault on young boys, nine charges of indecency with a child, and five charges of another illegal sexual act (buggery).

The offences date from 1968 to 1978 on five victims, all young teenagers.

Judge Niclas Parry jailed him for 12 years, ordered him to register as a sex offender for life, and banned him from ever working with children again.

He told him that the offences involved a grave betrayal of the trust placed in him.

Tucker, he said, got himself into a position where he could exercise control and power over his victims.

There had been “a deliberate, calculated, sophisticated grooming process” to “fulfil your thirst for excitement and thrill seeking” at the expense of his victims.

Victims were taken on outdoor expeditions involving over-night stays which parents quite innocently and trustingly agreed to because of who he was.

“You created safe locations to offend against them, you exploited your power for your own sexual gratification, and showed a total disregard for their physical and psychological well being,” he said.

“You arranged to be alone with them out of reach of those who could ensure their safety.”

Some of the boys had been in extreme pain, the defendant was said to be domineering and Judge Parry said that the incidents in which other adults had been involved were “extremely grave”.

Some victims had since been unable to trust their fellow human beings, and one victim had told how the defendant’s acts had set him on a path of self-hatred and self destruction.

Judge Parry said that the offences took place between 36 and 46 years ago and only came to light last year as a sea-change in attitude towards historical sexual offences had taken place.

“These matters only came to light because of publicity arising from other high profile cases,” he said.

He had caused severe psychological harm to at least one victim, there had been a significant degree of planning, it occurred on a regular basis, it was a great breach of trust and there had been multiple victims.

The defendant had also shown some of his victims pornographic material.

But it was accepted that he had not committed any offences for 36 years, had led an industrious life, supported his family including a severely disabled step-son and had raised thousands of pounds for charity.

Stephen Edwards, defending, said: “He knew that one day judgement day would come. Judgement day has come today.”

He made immediate admissions to the police who arrested him and told them he had been waiting for it to happen.

In his interview, Tucker said: “I have been waiting for this, particularly since the Jimmy Savile stuff came out. I hoped it would never happen but I knew that one day it would. I deeply regret what I did then. I have lived with it. I ruined my life and I ruined others.”

Mr Edwards said that his immediate guilty pleas were a genuine indication of his true remorse.

“He is genuinely contrite and sorry for his appalling behaviour and the effect it has had on their lives,” he said.

One victim who read his own victim impact statement to the court nodded as the defendant was led away to start his sentence.

He told the court that the offences on him occurred when he was 12 or 13 and added: “They destroyed my life.

“At the time, I had never put a foot wrong. In my future I never seemed to put a foot right. This man stole my soul and set me on a path of self-hatred and self-destruction that persisted for many years.”

May 2014

Former scout master admits sexual offences against teen boys

A former scout master has admitted a series of serious, historic, sexual offences against four teenagers.

Defendant, legal executive Martyn Lewis Tucker, 67, of Sealand Road in Chester, admitted to the offences which occurred during his time as a scout master in Flintshire, Cheshire and elsewhere in the ’60s and ’70s.

He appeared today at Mold Crown Court where Judge Niclas Parry warned he could expect a significant prison sentence.

Lewis was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender pending his sentence, which may be held next week although the date has not yet been fixed.

Judge Niclas Parry agreed to re-bail him in the meantime.

Tucker entered the dock at Mold Crown Court and admitted a total of 26 sexual offences.

The charges originally included male rape but prosecuting barrister John Philpotts told the court that male rape was not known to the criminal law at the time the offences were committed. He had therefore amended the charges.

Tucker went on to admit 12 charges of indecent assault on young boys, nine charges of indecency with a child, and five charges of another illegal sexual act (buggery).

The offences date from 1968 to 1978 when he worked as a scout master and occurred in Flintshire, Cheshire and elsewhere and relate to four victims, all young teenagers.

Stephen Edwards, defending, said that it would be a difficult and lengthy sentencing exercise and asked that sentencing be adjourned to a convenient date.

Judge Niclas Parry agreed but said that he would consult the presiding judge over the issue.

He said that in view of “recent events” it should be considered whether sentencing of such cases should await a decision of the court of appeal.

It is thought that the judge was referring to the sentencing of publicist Max Clifford who received a total of eight years.

Judge Parry adjourned sentence to a date to be fixed which he said may or may not be next week.

Mr Philpotts said that one of the victims would wish to address the court at sentencing stage to present his own victim impact statement.