March 2016

Pervert found with child images at highest level of depravity

A man was found with indecent photographs of children some at the highest level of depravity a court was told.

Dean Anderson, 22, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty via court video link to three offences of making indecent pictures of children,

He also admitted breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The offences took place between January last year and January this year at Fleetwood.

Anderson was remanded in custody for sentence at Preston Crown Court by Blackpool magistrates

March 2016

Man possessed more than 500 images of child abuse

A MAN who viewed images of children online as a ‘fantasy’ has pleaded guilty to possessing more than 500 indecent images.

Wrexham Magistrates Court heard Simon Beckett, of Prices Lane, Wrexham, used sharing software to look at pictures of ‘pre-pubescent’ 11 and 12-year-old girls after looking for pornography online.

Former delivery driver Beckett, 46, pleaded guilty to making indecent images of female children aged four, six and 12 as well as possession of 547 indecent images of children.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, said on July 27, 2015, a warrant was executed at Beckett’s home by North Wales Police officers who found large computer stations.

Beckett admitted he had been looking at images and videos of children aged between two and 12 after clicking on a pop up when looking for pornography.

Mr Espie said Beckett had used sharing content to search for ‘pre-teen hardcore’ images and others were found on a specific hard drive that he had not attempted to conceal.

Beckett had built a number of computer towers in the past and had owned his current computer since 2001.

He told police he knew it was illegal because it was child abuse and described looking at the images as a ‘fantasy’.

Beckett said being caught was the ‘wake up call he needed’.

Laura Preston-Heyes, defending, said Beckett had co-operated fully with police, held his hands up and been extremely remorseful and apologetic.

Ms Preston-Heyes said her client was ‘embarrassed and ashamed’ by his court appearance and had been a man of previous good character.

A pre-sentence report has been ordered and Beckett will be sentenced on April 11.

Meanwhile, magistrates ordered that Beckett should not have any unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 18.

March 2016

Husband jailed after wife finds pictures he filmed of unsuspecting schoolgirl

A MARRIED man who set up a secret camera to film an unsuspecting teenager is now behind bars.

Carl Cowburn, of Windermere Avenue, was sentenced to 21 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court after his depraved history came to light.

The 45-year-old would film the girl when she was aged between 12 and 15 and then downloaded it on his computer equipment.

It was only when his wife, who had suspected him of infidelity, came across the images on his laptop that an investigation was launched.

Six months later more images of the unsuspecting victim were also found on his Netbook and two hard drives, said Arthur Gibson, prosecuting.

Cowburn, formerly of Wigan and Atherton, pleaded guilty to one charge of voyeurism, one of taking indecent photographs and 11 of possessing such images.

Anthony O’Donohoe, defending, said that Cowburn, who has no previous convictions, has lost everything because of his behaviour including his wife, employment and home.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones also ordered Cowburn to sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

February 2016

Man avoids prison for child sexual abuse images

A married man who downloaded indecent images of children has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.

Livingstone Sheriff Crown Court was told that Colin Crozier of Polkemmet road, Whitburn had 444 indecent images of children 34 videos on his laptop

The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children at his home between 2010-2015

The Sheriff said Crozier will remain on the sex offenders register for three years.

He will not be allowed unsupervised contact with under-16’s and is banned from possessing any device that can access the internet

March 2016

Jail for pervert bus driver

A bus driver from Kirk Hallam has been jailed for a string of sex offences including making and distributing indecent photographs of children.

Pervert Colin Garrod, aged 56, of Godfrey Drive, who worked for Trent Barton in Heanor, was jailed for three years and four months at Nottingham Crown Court on March 17.

He pleaded guilty to ten charges under the Sexual Offences Act following his arrest in November, including two of sexual assault, possession of indecent photos of children, taking indecent photos of children and distributing indecent images of children.

March 2007

High court hearing

On 27 May 1999 at Worcester Crown Court, after a trial before His Honour Judge Mott and a jury, Steven Milbourne was convicted of murder of Athina Sidhu, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and cruelty to a child.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder with a recommendation that a minimum of 15 years be served before release.

For the offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and cruelty to a child the defendant received concurrent sentences of 18 months’ imprisonment and 9 months’ imprisonment respectively. 

Under paragraph 6 of schedule 22 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 his case has been referred for the court to determine his minimum term. These are the reasons for my decision on that application.

2. The circumstances of the offence, as set out in the trial judge’s report to the Home Secretary, were as follows:

“The victim was 15 months when Steven Milbourne killed her.

Her mother formed a relationship with, and subsequently lived with, D. Victims father had been violent to the mother who sought refuge from him in a hostel during which time she met him.

He is single and his social life centred upon heavy drinking.

Mother said he was bad tempered with the child but other witnesses (and mother herself in earlier statements) record the child as being apparently fond of him and relating well to him and he to her.

Both adults used to leave the child in the flat while they went out drinking.

This they did on the day she died – from 9am -6.30 pm when D returned on his own leaving mother in the pub.

It was on that visit that he somehow caused a cut to her eyebrow – probably losing his temper while beginning to change her or while giving her a drink.

He spent some time cleaning up blood and returned to the pub where he delayed telling mother about the injury.

They both subsequently returned to the flat and took child to hospital where no more serious injuries were detected. They both returned to the pub with the child and then to the flat.

Steven Milbourne was the worse for drink. At some time during the night, for reasons and in circumstances which will never be precisely known unless and until he admits what he did, he picked her up, shook her violently and banged her head on more than one occasion against some solid surface and then left her – she suffered s subdural haemorrhage and sever diffuse brain injury causing swelling of the brain, and died during the night.

Mother called an ambulance at 10 am. Both adults told false stories about the day before, partly to conceal the leaving of the child alone all day.

In interviews Steven Milbourne  blamed the mother, saying he had seen her dropping the child on its head onto the floor. His defence at trial was the same.”

3. The issue before the court were whether it was the Defendant or Athina’s mother who had caused the fatal injuries. 

4. In determining the minimum to be served by the applicant, I have directed myself by reference to the provisions of schedule 22 to the 2003 Act, in particular paragraphs 6 to 8.

In assessing the seriousness of the offence I am required to have regard to the general principles set out in schedule 21 and to the recommendations made to the Secretary of State by the trial Judge and the Lord Chief Justice as to the minimum term to be served.

5. I have taken into account the Home Office’s file, including representations made by and on behalf of the applicant.

6. The life imprisonment minimum terms section has advised me that it has not been possible to obtain a transcript of defence counsel’s mitigation and the judge’s sentencing remarks.

7. The trial judge duly recommended a minimum period of 15 years, commenting:
“In 1985 D was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm upon the 2 year old daughter of his partner. During the present trial a subsequent partner, Maxine Thompson, gave evidence that in 1989 he had assaulted her 17 month old daughter by throwing her about and holding her upside down out of a window. The strong likelihood is that the jury accepted this. The evidence was given convincingly and sincerely. No report was made to the police.

Steven Milbourne has been convicted of other dissimilar offences of violence most recently in 1992.

He is in my view a man with a temper which he often cannot or will not control, who has himself described it as ‘uncontrollable’.

This temper has now been vented upon 3 very young girls within the home.

Both Miss Thompson and the mother in the present case have alleged that he was violent also to them.

The danger which his temper presents therefore seems to manifest itself most critically in these domestic situations.

It is a danger which is closely related to his excessive drinking. He will remain dangerous until these two defects in his character and behaviour have been eliminated.
…
Bearing in mind his antecedents, lack of any frankness or remorse, that the child was utterly defenceless and had undoubtedly looked to him (together with her mother) for care and protection, I recommend a tariff period of 15 years.”

8. The Lord Chief Justice agreed with this recommendation.

9. A request has been made by the defendant’s solicitor that there be an oral hearing.

Such a hearing would only be appropriate in the most exceptional circumstances. In part the defendant’s solicitor’s representations deal with the question of risk. That is not a matter for me in relation to the minimum term. In relation to factors potentially to the setting of the minimum term, I do not consider that this case is exceptional. I consider that the minimum term can be set fairly and justly without an oral hearing, and I decline the request for such a hearing.

10. In terms of schedule 21, the Defendant was aged over 18 when he committed the offence and the case does not in my view fall within paragraph 4(1) or 5(1).

It follows that the appropriate starting point, in determining the minimum term, is 15 years.

Aggravating factors identified in paragraph 10 of the schedule and relevant to this particular case are the fact that the victim was particularly vulnerable because of age, mental and physical suffering inflicted on the victims before death, and the abuse of the position of trust.

A further matter which causes concern is that the Defendant was in 1985 convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm upon the young daughter of his then partner.

This occurred some 14 years before the present offence. I do not have sufficient information about it to enable me to accord it any significant weight as an aggravating factor.

11. As to mitigating factors, I accept that there was no intention to kill. However, by the jury’s verdict this is a case where there was intention to cause serious bodily harm.

The defendant maintains his assertion that he did not intend to harm Athina.

That assertion is inconsistent with the jury’s verdict. I also accept that there was a lack of premeditation, and that the Defendant has expressed deep and genuine remorse. The representations from the Defendant’s solicitor and from the Defendant himself have described his traumatic childhood.

This, too, is a mitigating factor. Taken together, I consider that these mitigating factors balance the aggravating factors, and indeed would warrant a small deduction form the starting point.

This conclusion would have led me to set the minimum term at 14 years. However, by paragraph 8(a) of schedule 22 the minimum term may not be greater than that, which under the practice followed by the Secretary of State before December 2002, the Secretary of State would have been likely to notify.

The best guide to this is the letter sent to judges by Lord Bingham CJ on 10 February 1997, which uses a starting point of 14 years. The factors identified by Lord Bingham would, for similar reasons to those given earlier, have led to a slight reduction from the starting point.

Accordingly, I consider that the Secretary of State would have been likely to have notified a term of 13 years. It follows that I must come down to a minimum term of 13 years for that reason.  I turn to consider what, if any, further deduction from that figure is appropriate.

12. Although it appears that the defendant has made good progress in prison, he cannot be said to fall within the category of exceptional progress that might justified some reduction in the minimum term (see R v Caines [2006] EWCA Crim 2915).

13. I am required by s 269(3) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to take account of the effect of any directions which would have been given under s 240 (crediting periods of remand in custody) if the defendant had been sentenced to a term of imprisonment.  In my view there is no reason why the time spent by the defendant in custody on remand should not count towards the minimum period to be served by the defendant. In order to produce that result, it is necessary to deduct it from the otherwise appropriate minimum term.

14. Accordingly, the specified period is one of 13 years reduced by 6 days.

June 1999

The pain of tragic Athina’s father

A FATHER has spoken out about the death of his daughter after a Coventry man was jailed for life for her murder.

Surker Steven Singh is still struggling to come to terms with how 15- month-old Athina Sidhu died back in September 1997.

The new boyfriend of the child’s mother – Steven Brian Milbourne – was sentenced yesterday at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Milbourne, of Middleborough Road, Radford, had been found guilty of murder last week.

He was also found guilty of actual bodily harm to the toddler and cruelty to a child.

The trial at Worcester Crown Court heard how Milbourne, aged 36, killed Athina on September 14 by shaking and throwing her around the room in a fit of rage at a house in Foleshill.

Mr Singh, speaking of his nightmare 20-month ordeal, said: “‘Since it happened I have had to go through life as normal as possible but this has always been on my mind.”

Mr Singh, who has four other children, said Athina was a special child.

He said: “She was bright, beautiful and lively and I cared for her for the first 11-months when I lived with her mother. I did everything for her and everyone will tell you she was the best-dressed kid around.”

Mr Singh paid tribute to his partner Tracey and his children for helping him get through the ordeal, adding: “They have been wonderful and I would not have been able to do it without them, as the whole thing is so hard to take in.

“Children are such wonderful things as they do no harm but bring pleasure and they are my life.

“How on earth someone could do that to a child, and a little 15-month- old baby at that, is totally and absolutely beyond me.”

The detective who led the hunt for little Athina Sidhu’s killer said the conviction of Steven Milbourne was the most satisfying of his career.

Det Sgt Rich Wassell led a team of officers investigating the death since September 1997.

But he said in his 28-years on the force, no other conviction had given him quite the same feeling of satisfaction.

He said: “All our inquiries and evidence showed the defendant a cruel and vicious bully, particularly towards women and children, and the verdict has substantiated that.

“Without doubt justice has been done and the public has been served today.”

Det Sgt Wassell also paid tribute to witnesses who had come forward and made the conviction possible.

Death was one of six tragedies

IT was Bill Hendley, the former director of Coventry Social Services, who first called in the Social Services Inspectorate following shocking reports of six child deaths in the city between November 1996 and November 1997.

Mr Hendley, who always claimed his department was chronically under- funded, hoped inspectors would highlight the desperate need for more cash.

Instead the highly critical SSI report – backed up by a second Audit Commission report – led to Mr Hendley’s own resignation last October. Athina’s death was just one of the six tragedies.

Mr Hendley believed only one of the child deaths – not Athina’s – might have been avoided if better monitoring methods had been involved. But it unleashed a wave of fury from demoralised child protection workers who felt they had been left to “bail out the sea” after a major management re-shuffle left them with a greatly reduced workforce.

Absence from sickness and stress – as in social services nationwide – added to the problems. Letters about low morale and heavy workloads still occasionally arrive at the Evening Telegraph. Some workers were upset a follow-up SSI assessment appeared to have been little more than a verbal “nod” to top management that the wheels were back on the child protection bus.

But in the past few weeks 12 extra social workers have been appointed, along with two extra managers and five back-up clerical staff to help with the vital work of record keeping.

Toddler was not on ‘at risk’ register

LITTLE Athina Sidhu’s death came at a time when Coventry social workers were already stretched to breaking point with a workload that had increased by more than 35 per cent.

In September 1997, 390 Coventry children appeared on an “at risk” register – for those at risk of neglect, physical or sexual abuse.

As an Evening Telegraph report later revealed, an astonishing 80 of those youngsters had not even been allocated their own caseworker.

But baby Athina’s name was never on the “at risk”` list – because in the judgement of all the health visitors, doctors and social workers who talked with her depressed mother, Amrit “Amy” Kaur, the 15-month-old tot had a good relationship with her mum, and was loved.

What Mrs Kaur did not tell social workers was that her lover’s name was not Steve Smith – but Steven Brian Milbourne who was on police records with past convictions for violence. So the routine checks by social services revealed nothing to raise alarm.

Coventry social services development manager Steve Tanner said: “Despite all the pressures upon us at that time, when I looked at Mrs Kaur’s records is appears that everything that could be done was being done.

“Social workers are not detectives. Most people do not give false names.”

He said even though Athina was not on the “at risk” register she did have her own allocated case-worker, and that between May and September 1997, social workers, health visitors and others agencies had about 60 contacts between themselves and with Mrs Kaur.

He added: ”There was no information not shared, no neighbours’ complaints, no clues picked up by anyone that this baby was at physical risk.

In March this year Amrit (Amy) Pal Kaur, was convicted of cruelty to Athina, who she had left unattended at home for almost 10 hours while she watched Milbourne play football and then went drinking with him.

Mrs Kaur, who suffered labour pains while giving evidence against Milbourne during the trial, gave birth to a new baby last week.

March 2016

Sex offender targeted young boys for sex

A re-offending sex offender has been jailed after he was found guilty of grooming young boys

Aiden Hambelton, 19 of Goldthorpe was sentenced to four years in prison with a two year extended sentence for grooming children and multiple counts of sexual activity of a child under 13

He had received a police caution in March, 2015 for similar offences.

The court was told that Hambelton had targeted several boys in the area who were aged around 10-years-old. 

He proceeded to groom the children by showing a interest in them, so to isolate them from their friends.

On one occasion he showed a gay porn video to one of the boys before sexually assaulting him. 

Other sex acts were also described in court.

Hambelton was told he must register as a sex offender for life.

March 2016

Sonning man who groomed victims online convicted of nine sexual offences against children

 A 20-year-old man from Sonning who groomed underage girls on social media has been convicted of nine sexual offences against children.

March 2016

Face of creche worker jailed for sex assault on special needs girl (4)

A creche worker who sexually assaulted and took images of abuse of a four-year-old girl in his care has been jailed for five years.

A court was told that the child, who has special needs, was afraid to go back to the playschool.

She told her mother that Kevin Muldoon, 32, had taken photographs of her “bum” and “pants”.

February 2016

Paedo school bus driver who carried out sickening sex attacks named

A paedophile who carried out sickening sex attacks on two sisters when they were aged just five and seven has been named after his victims waived their right to anonymity today.

School bus driver Leo McFarland, (57), 2 Oak Grove, Millfield, Buncrana, Co Donegal, had pleaded not guilty to 53 charges of indecent sexual assault against the two girls for two years between 1983 and 1985.

However on the second day of the trial today before a jury at Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court, McFarland asked to be re-arraigned on 11 counts and pleaded guilty to each of the charges.

Judge John O’Hagan asked the victims if they wished to waive their right to anonymity.

The sisters – both now adults – stood up and replied together: “Yes.”

One of the victims was due to have been cross-examined 

During the first day of the trial she told the jury how McFarland, her best friend’s dad, played what he called ‘The Sweetie Game’ when sexually assaulting her at least once a week over a two year period from when she was just five.

She also revealed how McFarland preyed upon her in his mini-bus and would sexually interfere with her by inserting his finger into her vagina and her anus.

Patricia McLaughlin, prosecuting, told the jury the victims lived on the same street as their attacker, Convent Road, in Carndonagh, Co Donegal.

The attacks took place between April 1983 and December 1985 inside the McFarland home and sometimes in McFarland’s minibus parked outside the home.

One victim sobbed as she told Judge John O’Hagan how the neighbour abused her, giving the sexual assaults different names.

She said she was best friends with one of McFarland’s daughters and was always in his house.

The sisters said that some of the assaults involved them playing a ‘sweet game’ with McFarland in which he would ask them to put their hands in his trouser pocket to find a sweet.

His pocket would have a hole in it and the girls would touch his genitals. The youngest of the two sisters told the court that the man would often give her sweets, but only after he had sexually assaulted her.

One of the victims said: “He would ask me to look for sweets in his pocket,” said one victim, who said there were no pockets in his trousers.

“All you felt was skin. He would tell me to move about more, to squeeze it.

“He would take us in turns. My friend had to wait in the hall. When he was finished with me he would call her in.”

These incidents, she alleged, happened every two or three days. After each incident, she claimed the defendant went to a cupboard and gave her sweets.

In other attacks in another room and in a vehicle he would ‘play the touching game’.

These were more serious sexual assaults in which she had to stand with her back to the defendant whilst the attack took place.

She said during one attack in the minibus, her mother had called for her from their home nearby.

“My mum was calling me to go home; he would not let me go and told me not to say anything when I went home,” said the victim who is now a married mother of four.

She said the abuse only stopped inadvertently.

“It was a few weeks before my first communion. I mentioned something to do with games, my mum got quite suspicious and said can you explain the games – and I told her something,” she said in her evidence.

She said her mother, now deceased, went to see Leo McFarland and they were warned never to go into McFarland’s home again.

McFarland and his family moved eight or nine months later, she said.

She had made an initial complaint to the gardai seven years ago but had withdrawn it because she was still friends with her abuser’s daughter.

She had turned to drink in her adult life and had taken an overdose and reported the allegations again in 2010.

Judge O’Hagan today put McFarland on the Sex Offenders Register. 

McFarland, who appeared in court with one of his daughters, was released on bail until sentencing in April.

The judge told both victims to prepare victim impact statements for the sentencing

October 2007

Paedophile sentence appeal fails

A man who was jailed for 12 years for abusing young girls has failed in an attempt to have his sentence reduced at the Court of Appeal.

Gerald Alexander McDonald, 64, formerly of Shropshire, was jailed at Shrewsbury Crown Court in December 2006.

He had pleaded guilty to 35 offences which took place between the late 1980s and the early 2000s.

Dismissing the appeal Mr Justice Gibbs, described the case as one of “extreme gravity”.

He said McDonald had subjected girls as young as five to “incidents which involved unpleasant perversions going even beyond the level of depravity inherent in these types of cases.”

McDonald, who had previously lived in Telford, appealed his sentence on the grounds that it was “manifestly excessive” in total, given his age and his remorse.

Mr Justice Gibbs ruled the abuse extended over a period of more than two decades and involved “gross and repeated” breaches of trust including a rape.

Dismissing McDonald’s appeal, he said the total sentence could not be said to be manifestly excessive or wrong in principle.

March 2016

 Man jailed for sex offences against 13-year-old girl

A man has been jailed after he had sex with a 13-year-old schoolgirl.

Andrew Dallas prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court Robert Pratt, now 22, knew the girl’s age from when they were first introduced last year.

On one occasion they watched films together at a house along with other young people and a week later she began visiting his flat in Dewsbury Moor.

Things subsequently progressed to them kissing and cuddling on the sofa while watching a film and he suggested they have sex together.

Mr Dallas said a few days later Pratt and the girl again had sex this time at her home.

The offences came to light when another person told the girl’s mother. She challenged Pratt about that and forbade him seeing her daughter. In spite of that he continued to try and contact her on Facebook.

The court heard in 2010 Pratt was convicted of two offences of indecent exposure to an elderly woman.

Robin Frieze, representing Pratt, said he had not specifically targeted the girl but had been introduced by a mutual friend. He realised knowing her age there should have been no sexual contact between them.

Pratt of School Crescent, Dewsbury Moor, admitted sexual activity with a child and was jailed for two years 10 months. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Recorder Caroline Wigin said he had known her age throughout.

“You had a significant disparity in age with this girl, you did indeed use grooming behaviour with her and after her mother told her to have nothing to do with you, you continued to try to contact her on Facebook inviting her to see you again.”

March 2016

Pensioner made indecent images of children

Pensioner Gordon Colclough has admitted six charges of making indecent still and moving images of children

The 65-year-old of Clough hill road, Kidsgrove appeared in court to plead guilty to the offences which happened between 2011 – 2014

He was granted unconditional bail.

March 2016

Man asked schoolgirl to model underwear

A MAN who groomed a 13-year-old girl and asked her to model underwear for him has been jailed, as the youngster and her parents watched from a court room.

Terence Rafferty, 44, now of Alley Green, Clitheroe, admitted a string of counts including engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and two specimen counts of sexually assaulting her.

The victim, a Leyland schoolgirl, eventually wrote a heartbreaking letter to her mother after nearly two years of abuse and the police were contacted.

The judge Recorder James Adkin, sitting at Preston Crown Court imposed a five- year sentence.

Paul Brookwell, prosecuting, said: “She first met him when she was 11 years of age. They lived in Leyland.

“She would say that from around that age she lacked confidence, and considered herself to be chubby.

“He would pay her compliments, and told her she was beautiful. The comments over a period of time became sexual and he would say things like ‘You look sexy.’

“He asked her to model for him. Initially she would say no.

“The sexual conversations became more explicit when he told of her a fantasy of watching her walking along a catwalk wearing a red thong while her mother and grandmother – who is deceased – watched.

“He essentially used money as an act of bribery.”

His behaviour escalated and he started to touch her. An incident in June 2015 led the schoolgirl to come forward.

Rafferty indicated the allegations were true in a text to his brother.

In an emotive statement shown to the judge, the girl said she felt “felt dirty” and had lost her pride and innocence.

March 2016

Man given 200 hours unpaid work for sexually assaulting schoolgirl

A man has been given community service for sexually assaulting a young girl.

James Sutherland, 24, of Western Road, Wolverton, was sentenced at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court on Thursday to a 12-month Community Order of 200 hours unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay costs of £460 and a £250 Compensation Order. He also received a five year Sex Offender Registration Order.

Sutherland pleaded guilty to one count sexual assault of a female aged 13 years and over and one count of the purchase of alcohol for a person aged under 18 years at a hearing at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court in December last year.

He was arrested on July 24 and charged on November 10, 2015.

October 2014

Man who raped and sexually assaulted step-daughter caged for 12 years

A beast who raped and sexually assaulted his step-daughter over an eight year period has received a 14 year prison sentence.

Twisted Noel Maher, from Laois, began sexually assaulting Amy in August 2001, when she was ten years old and began raping her when she was aged 13.

The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim was waiving her right to anonymity so that Maher can be identified.

Last July, after a seven day trial, a jury found Maher, 42, guilty of three counts of sexually assaulting the girl on dates between August 2001 and August 2007 at different locations in Co Laois.

Maher, formerly of Barrow Way, Spa Street, Portarlington was also convicted of 34 counts of raping the girl on dates between August 2005 to November 2009 at different locations in Co Laois.

As part of his bail conditions Maher was living at Barrack Street, Cork City from 2012 to 2014.

Justice Garrett Sheehan said that the victim has undergone great suffering. “She has shown great courage and resilience,” he said.

He said that the appropriate sentence was 14 years and, noting the absence of any expression of remorse, he found no mitigating circumstances in Maher’s defence.

He suspended the last two years of the sentence in order to encourage Maher to rehabilitate and stressed that this is conditional on Maher taking part in a sex offender’s programme while in prison.

Sergeant Adrian McQueeney told prosecuting council Conor Devally, SC, that in November 2009 gardaí were called to the home address where an argument between the man and his step-daughter was taking place.

In the course of the argument, the victim, who was 18 at the time, told gardaí she had been raped and subjected to sexual assault over an eight year period by her step-father.

She said that he started to sexually assault her when she was between 10 and 13 years of age and told her ‘this is what is going to happen,’ before making her give him oral sex.

He later brought her to a wooded area in the county and to a lane way where he raped and sexually assaulted her on numerous occasions.

She told gardaí she recalled a threat from him that if she told anyone he would kill her and harm her siblings.

The sexual assaults and rapes continued until August 2009 when her mother realised something was happening. The man continued to sexually assault and rape Ms Kenna for a further three months before gardaí were called to the house.

“It was persistent, frequent and unrelenting activity,” Mr Devally told the court.

“He groomed her in a controlled fashion with threats of violence. He would text her to come to him from wherever she was in the house and over time she complied with him.”

“He controlled her social life and went through her phone at times,” he added.

Defence counsel John Peart SC said Maher lost his parents at a young age and had learning difficulties in school. He said he is a father of five. A HSE audit into the family circumstances around Maher found there are no other child protection issues.

In a Victim Impact Statement, Ms Kenna said she ‘panics’ at night but this has lessened since she reported the crime to gardai.

She said that her step-father never allowed her to spend time alone with friends and she tried to cut her wrists in the hope that the abuse would stop.

“When I did report it, I went to counselling but I didn’t like it. But I will go again to help me,” she said.

July 2011

Custody for sex offender who was late to court

A 26-year-old man due to be sentenced for sexual activity with a child has been remanded in custody after failing to turn up to court on time.

James Hardy, from Corrib Avenue in Belfast, arrived at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday two hours late.

Judge Tom Burgess said Mr Hardy had failed to come to court twice, adding: “I can guarantee that the next time… he is going to be here.”

Hardy had earlier admitted having sex with an under-age girl in 2009.

Judge Burgess had told his victim’s family his non-appearance was “very unsatisfactory but we have the ways and means of getting people to court”.

Hardy will now be sentenced on Friday.

March 2016

Paedophile pensioner admits child sexual images offences

A 65-YEAR-OLD from Tidworth has pleaded guilty to possessing 198 indecent photos of children.

Charles Trowers of Cherrytree Avenue appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on Tuesday.

The vast majority of images were category C, considered the least serious category of indecent images of children. But he also admitted to having nine category A images and 12 category B images.

The court heard that while Trowers had not saved the images to his computer, he had saved links to the images.

In adjourning the case until April 26, for pre-sentence reports, Judge Andrew Barnett warned Trowers his sentence might include immediate imprisonment.

March 2016

Paedophile admits to attacks on young girls

A pensioner from Milford Haven is facing a long jail sentence after he suddenly admitted indecently assaulting three young girls.

Gerald Richard Henry Picton, aged 66, of Observatory Avenue, had been due to stand trial at Swansea crown court accused of 13 offences, including one of rape.

But minutes before a jury were to be sworn in he admitted 12 offences of indecent assault and gross indecency with a child.

The rape charge was not put to him.

The assaults happened between May, 1977, and May, 1980, and involved girls who were then aged under 13 and under 14.

Judge Geraint Walters immediately withdrew bail and Picton was remanded in custody.

Judge Walters said only a prison sentence could follow, and warned Picton that it would be “one of some length.”

But he said he would allow Picton’s defence team time to prepare a short report about his medical difficulties.

Picton will be sentenced soon, possibly on Friday.

James Jenkins, prosecuting, said all Picton’s victims had ever wanted was an admission of what he had done.

Two of them were in court to hear his pleas of guilty.

March 2016

Sex offender to be released this month

A child sex offender who was given a three year prison sentence in March 2013 is due to be released back into the community in mid March.

Christopher Barker was jailed for three years after being found guilty on four counts of sexual assault on a child who was aged under thirteen years of age.

He was also given a SOPO and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Barker who is 28 and from Scunthorpe, has at no point show any remorse for the damage he has caused to the child.

It is expected he will be released between the 16th and 19th of March 2016.