April 2016

Man who sexually abused his young niece three times walks free from court after judge gives him suspended sentence

A pervert who sexually abused his young niece three times has walked free from court after a judge gave him a suspended sentence.

Damien Farrell (40) had a three-year-jail term suspended in its entirety for sexually assaulting Aimee Ford was she was eight years old and he was 16.

The Central Criminal Court heard she was being babysat at her grandmother’s house where Farrell lived while on summer holidays and playing Nintendo in the accused’s bedroom when the abuse happened.

Farrell of Lymewood Mews, Santry admitted three counts of sexual assault between April and September 1992.

He broke down in tears when Judge Margaret Heneghan suspended the sentence.

March 2016

Man with attraction to young girls spent night in Rugby park with 14-year-old

A MAN who admits being attracted to young girls breached a court order for the fourth time by spending a night in a Rugby park with a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

Ashley Dowd had originally denied breaching the Sexual Offences Prevention Order, imposed in 2009 when he was sentenced for having sex with an under-age girl.

But Dowd, 25, of Yelvertoft Road, Lilbourne, near Rugby, changed his plea to guilty on the day of his trial at Warwick Crown Court.

Prosecutor Raj Punia said that in October 2009 Dowd had been given a 12-month suspended sentence at Northampton Crown Court for sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for seven years, banning him from having unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16, because of concerns for his expressed preference for girls much younger than himself.

In June last year, Dowd and two other men met a 14-year-old Rugby schoolgirl and a 21-year-old woman outside a Rugby youth club.

With the girl still in her school uniform, they went to Caldecott Park, where Dowd left them and then returned with a tent which he set up.

He and the schoolgirl spent the next few hours together before she went home in the early hours of the morning.

When he was arrested Dowd claimed he believed she was over the age of 16.

But he agreed he had not taken any steps to establish her age – and he entered his plea on the basis that he thought she was 16, but should have checked.

Judge Alan Parker commented: “It’s difficult to sentence on the grounds that his action was predatory when the prosecution have accepted his basis of plea.”

Miss Punia said it was the fourth time Dowd had breached the order, since 2009, when he was also ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years.

No action was taken in April 2011 when he breached it by being at the same address as his young niece, but the following month he was jailed for nine months for a second breach.

That had arisen when he and a friend were caught on CCTV at Danetre School in Daventry, where they were seen inside during school hours while there were a number of pupils around.

It was said they had been drinking, and had gone there to see his friend’s 15-year-old girlfriend.

There was then a further breach in July 2013, for which Dowd was jailed for 28 months – but Miss Punia said there were no details of that matter.

Colin Charvill, defending, said: “The aggravating feature is the earlier breaches of the order. There is no substantive offence, and no indication of premeditation or predatory conduct.

“The girl regarded this man as a friend, and she makes it quite clear that Mr Dowd had never indicated that he fancied her in any way or did anything sexual. He was just in her company.

“He has been in custody since September, so has served the equivalent of more than 12 months already. I would suggest he has perhaps served enough time,” Mr Charvill submitted.

And the judge observed: “Whatever risk he presents, the prosecution do not ask for a further order although the current one is due to expire in October.

“A custodial sentence would be likely to lead to his release around the time the order expires.

“If it’s possible to engage him in the way recommended in the report, by him residing somewhere approved by the probation service, that might be a better way of protecting the public.”

He adjourned the case until next month for attempts to be made to find a place at a probation hostel for Dowd, who was remanded in custody until then.

April 2016

Online sexual predator jailed for attempting to groom young girls

A sexual predator has been sentenced to four years in prison, after he was caught for a second time grooming a child online.

Steven Richardson, 41 of Salford in Manchester pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity

The court was told that Richardson contacted the second child who was aged just 8-years-old whilst he was on bail for similar offences against another child.

Richardson sent several messages to the girls which included:

“Watch me play with my cock babe xx”

“Don’t be shy, just watch me and its yours xx”

After admitting the first offence against an 11-year-old girl, Richardson was released on bail and told not to use any form of social media or the internet.

However, within months, he was back online and contacting young girls. He was caught for a second time by a quick thinking mother who immediately went to the police who tracked the pervert down.

Richardson pleaded guilty to the offences because there was overwhelming evidence of his depraved acts.

Richardson was told he must register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years

April 2016

Retired police worker, 85, admits child-sex attacks

A retired police worker is facing a jail sentence at the age of 85 after admitting 24 sex offences against young children over a twenty year period.

Bernard Fisher went on trial at Manchester Crown Court after eight girls told how he molested them between 1970 and 1991 – when they were girls as young as eight.

The jury sat through two days of evidence before Fisher decided to plead guilty to 19 counts of indecent assault, four charges of indecency with a child, and one charge of attempted rape on Friday afternoon.

He had faced six rape charges, but they are not going to be pursued in light of his pleas.

Fisher, of Windsor Road, Denton, preyed on his victims while living in east Manchester between 1970 and 1991. He was reported to police in the late eighties, but carried on abusing girls after the case was not pursued against him.

Before retirement Fisher worked in police stores at GMP’s Chester House headquarters, and at Grey Mare Lane station in Beswck.

He was also an amateur football referee for Manchester Boys’ Federation League, Manchester Amateur League, and the Gorton League.

He attacked victims at locations including buses, a cemetery, secluded beauty spots, and at his former family home at Thomson Street, Gorton.

In a police interview played to the jury in his trial, one of the victims said her family reported him to police after her mother learnt allegations that she and two other little girls had been abused.

But the complaint was not pursued against Mr Fisher at the time – the late 1980s – and she and her family faced a hate campaign from people loyal to him.

The complainant, now a mother, said she was ‘annoyed’ at having to repeat her ordeal to police years later.

“He should have been arrested”, she said. “He should not have been allowed to walk the streets. It should have been dealt with by the police at the time, by whatever means they had. It’s been buried for twenty-odd years and I shouldn’t have to be doing it again – I feel like a child.

“Because we weren’t believed in the first place, because of the time that’s gone by, I haven’t got a lot to give. Apart from the fact I know he touched me inappropriately and I felt uncomfortable. He was nice about it, that was the creepy thing. He was like ‘you’re safe here with me’. He was smiling. But you know what’s going on was not nice.”

Fisher will be sentenced later this month.

Update: Now living in Coleridge Street, Derby. 

This pervert was not actually convicted under the name ‘Maxmillan Horseman’

He changed his name by deed poll to hide his conviction.

June 2002

Pervert jailed for sexually abusing two young children

A pervert who sexually abused two young children in Germany has been convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.

The court heard that the man repeatedly sexually assaulted the children who were aged just 5 and 6-years old.

The offences took place in 2001.

The defendant was told he must register as a sex offender for an indefinite period.

He was also told he must not have any unsupervised access to children.

April 2016

Jailed: Shrewsbury man, 37, gets four years for sexually assaulting schoolgirl

A Shrewsbury man who sexually assaulted a schoolgirl has been jailed for four years.

Andrew Prideaux had admitted two charges of sexual assault on the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at a previous court hearing.

The 37-year-old, of Middlegate in Harlescott, appeared at the town’s crown court to be sentenced.

The court heard the offences happened in Shrewsbury on December 23, 2014.

Sentencing him, Judge Robin Onions said: “These are clearly very serious offences, she was very young.

“In a case like this my duty is absolutely clear.

“Those who sexually abuse children in the way that you did will go to prison.”

April 2016

Callous sex beast gets 8-years in prison

A child abuser has been sentenced to a total of 8-years after being found guilty of five counts of sexual abuse against two children

Russell Christian Wallace of Shorncliffe road, Folkestone had pleaded not guilty to the charges at Canterbury Crown Court. But after a nine-day trial, the jury found him guilty of all five offences.

On Monday, Judge Heather Norton Sentenced 57-year-old Wallace to a total of eight years 

She ordered that he must not have any contact with his victims or unsupervised contact with any other child who is aged under 16-years-old, for the rest of his life.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Wallace, who has been a director of Warren’s estate agents in Cheriton high street since 2000, is expected to serve four years in prison, with the remaining four years on licence.

He remained impassive and showed no remorse when he was sentenced in court.

One person who was in court said: “He showed no emotions, nothing. Absolutely nothing”

“Even when the sentence was passed, he (Wallace) did nothing. It was though he was dead on the inside”

February 2016

Lorry driver sentenced to 14 years for sexually abusing girl

A LORRY driver who groomed and sexually abused an “extremely vulnerable” young girl has been jailed for 14 years.

Robert Mason, 50, made her watch pornography and pose for sexual photographs, once after dressing her in his shirt.

He admitted making indecent photographs of a child, but denied any other sexual impropriety with his victim.

He is now starting a prison sentence after a Hull Crown Court jury convicted him of four other offences.

The jury of seven men and five women unanimously found him guilty of forcing a child to watch a sexual act.

The jury also convicted him by majority verdicts of 11 to 1 of sexual activity with a child and two other sexual assaults.

Mason shook his head as the foreman of the jury delivered each verdict at the end of his trial.

On one occasion, he assaulted her in the cab of his lorry. Another time, when the girl complained he was hurting her, Mason told her to “deal with it”, Claire Holmes, prosecuting, had told the jury.

Sentencing Mason, Judge Simon Jack told him: “I have to sentence you for five offences. You pleaded guilty to one of these offences because you were forced to. The evidence was incontrovertible. You thought you could get away with the other offences, but the evidence against you was overwhelming.

“She was extremely vulnerable. Children are always vulnerable, but she was particularly so.

“You gained her trust. That was part of the grooming process.

“The showing of pornography was also part of that, getting her used to sexual acts and in due course making indecent images of her for your benefit.

“It is a mark of total lack of sexual boundaries that when you felt compelled to admit taking these photos, you said it was ‘fun’.

“Anyone who can think that is fun has no sexual boundaries at all and you accept that you went on to look at them repeatedly before deleting them.

“You began to become concerned that she was getting old enough to know her own mind and to do something about it. She had the strength to tell her dad and the police what had been happening to her.”

Mason, of Brannock Avenue, Motherwell, Scotland, was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

He was given a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim.

April 2016

Perverted tennis coach filmed himself abusing schoolboy

James Wightman, 60, strapped a camera to a fence to video himself touching up the schoolboy player at Clarkston tennis club, near Glasgow.

He also assaulted the young starlet in the changing rooms at the club

Wightman appeared for trial at Paisley Sheriff Court accused of engaging in sexual activity with a child and other offences between July and August 2014.

The jury was shown footage of his encounters with the lad, whose mum had asked him to prepare for a tournament.

In it Wightman – who was not a certified coach but who runs his own tennis racket stringing business – could be seen pressing and manipulating his body every time he served.

In another he stood behind him and touched him several times as he told him how to hit a shot.

When the boy’s mum told Wightman her son had a painful shoulder he took him into the changing rooms and rubbed cream into the injury before wiping off the excess on his stomach.

He then took snaps of the lad topless – telling him he had “a great figure”.

But Wightman was snared when the lad told his mum, who contacted the club – and they brought in the police.

They searched Wightman’s home in Cathcart and found stills of the boy topless as well as screengrabs of him touching him on the buttocks.

Other indecent images of children were also discovered.

Wightman denied the charges – claiming he had taken pictures of the boy’s body as he had a “perfect” physique which he wanted to model himself on.

His solicitor Gordon Ritchie said Wightman regretted touching the boy

He added: “I accept what he’s done is stupid and wholly inappropriate but it’s not criminal.”

But the jury found Wightman guilty by majority. Sentence was deferred.

April 2016

Pervert businessman jailed after downloading child abuse images

An ‘otherwise respectable’ Leamington businessman who downloaded and viewed child abuse images which included an image of a baby being raped has been jailed.

Geoffrey Clark had pleaded guilty to five charges of possessing indecent images of children and two of possessing extreme pornography showing acts of bestiality.

The 57 year-old of The Fairways,  at the time, was jailed for eight months by a judge at Coventry Crown Court who also ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years.

Kevin Saunders, prosecuting, said that police executed a warrant at Clark’s home in December 2014 and told him the reason, he volunteered he was solely responsible for the indecent images on various devices.

Four devices were seized, and on two of them, a Lenovo laptop and an i-Pad, officers subsequently found a number of indecent images of children.

There were 14 stills and two movies classed as hardcore – including an image of a baby girl aged between one and two years old being raped.

There were 920 stills and another two movies, together with 11 stills and 32 movies of extreme pornography involving acts of bestiality between adult women and animals.

When Clark was interviewed, he made full admissions, explaining he had used a peer-to-peer software program to obtain the images, which he said he had viewed intermittently over the previous two years for sexual gratification.

Caroline Goodwin, defending, accepted Clark had searched for the images, but said a doctor’s report indicated ‘how it was a man of good standing came to be looking at this material.’

He was diagnosed as suffering from a depressive episode, but accepted that after looking for pornography he ‘progressed to material of this nature,’ which he repeatedly went back to view.

Judge Philip Gregory remarked: “I accept he is ashamed.

He’s a graduate and he ran his own business.  He lived with his wife and family, and has now moved out and moved into a flat in Nuneaton.”

Miss Goodwin added: “This has driven his family apart.  The issue is now how one begins to grapple with this.  He has begun to address his offending. 

Jailing Clark, who has been living at an address in Edward Street, Nuneaton, since leaving the family home, Judge Gregory told him: “You are an otherwise respectable and hard-working man who ran your own business for many years.

 “You led a blameless life.  It is therefore particularly regrettable to see someone like you in the dock, having been involved in offending of such a grave nature.

“You abused an internet facility in order to search for pornographic images of children for your own sexual gratification.

“I’ve considered the excellent mitigation put forward on your behalf and a reference from your friend, and well understand you have, in effect, come to your senses and are unlikely to engage in such offences again.

“But when courts pass sentence the purpose is multi-faceted, and it includes not only rehabilitation of the offender, but punishment for the crime and deterrence.

“These are not victimless crimes.  The victims are the poor benighted children who have been cruelly abused for the purpose of making these images.  They are truly abhorrent.

“My public duty, I am satisfied, means I have to pass an immediate custodial sentence. I cannot let you walk free from this court today.”

April 2016

Sex offender who groped two teens on bus ‘for his own sexual pleasure’ dodges jail

A public transport pervert who groped two teenage bus passengers “for his own sexual pleasure” has dodged jail.

On three separate occasions, John Edward Kilgannon sat behind his victims and reached through the gap between the seats in front of him.

He then “stroked” the girls on their sides for periods lasting up to 20 minutes.

The separate assaults on the two victims were committed between October and November last year on the Arriva bus service from Middlesbrough to Peterlee.

Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard on Friday that the assaults continued only because the first victim was initially “too frightened to say anything”.

But after one of the victims made a complaint to police, CCTV evidence led to Kilgannon’s address at Evenwood Close, Hardwick, Stockton, where the 66-year-old was arrested.

Prosecutor Paul Power said that, during a police interview on November 18, Kilgannon said he had been drinking on each occasion and admitted that he had stroked his victims “for his sexual pleasure”.

In a victim impact statement, one of the victims said the assault had a “huge impact from a confidence point of view in terms of public transport” and added that since the incident, she “felt uncomfortable” when men looked at her,

The second victim said she had missed a number of days at college and was “nervous around older men” following the attack and was now “always careful while on public transport”.

Kilgannon pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault in March.

Sentencing Kilgannon, chairman of the bench Paul Harrison said he took such matters “very seriously” – and would follow recommendations set out by the probation service.

Kilgannon was given a two-year community order with a rehabilitation requirement and was ordered to participate in a sexual offenders programme.

Kilgannon is now required to inform police of his name and address and any changes to his personal details.

He was also ordered to pay each victim £200 in compensation as well as £85 court costs and £60 in charges.

April 2016

Father ‘obsessed’ with pornography had child images at home

A MAN ‘obsessed with pornography’ was caught with hundreds of indecent child sexual images after telling his wife he was just playing games on his computer.

Ross Parker, 30, of Jellicoe Drive, Sarisbury Green, would spend hours in front of his computer after work telling his wife he was playing games.

But police who looked at his hard drive found 729 still images, of which 188 were in the most serious category which included the rape of young children by adults.

Edward Philips, prosecuting, said 20 videos were found at Parker’s former home in Portsmouth, 15 of which were the worst type containing footage of children being tortured and raped

Portsmouth Crown Court heard the images had either been deleted or cached when viewed online.

Parker tried to blame members of his family for the images being there, the court heard.

Mr Philips said: ‘It’s clear from (his wife’s) statement the defendant was the person who had the access to the computer.

‘He was spending hours in front of that computer and not returning to bed until one or two o’clock in the morning.’

Some of the children in the images were aged as young as four.

Daniel Hewertson, defending, said: ‘He is a man who properly recognises he had much to redeem.’

He added that Parker apologised to his wife and children for his actions.

He said Parker had first seen legal pornography aged eight and was obsessed with it.

Sentencing, James Watson QC said: ‘It is clear that your wife’s suffering is a pre-eminent issue.

‘The suffering of your own children in future when they grow up to recognise and realise what their father was capable of and your conduct, it may well equal or exceed the suffering your wife now bears.

‘But in addition to those who lie within your own famil,y it’s not only those who bear suffering to your activity, as you must recognise, and is common sense. Those who are addicted to this kind of pornography involving children are simply feeding, encouraging and creating suffering of those children who around the world are abused and photographed.’

The judge sentenced him to a community order for three years, with a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

Parker must sign the sex offenders’ register and pay £400 costs. He pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing indecent images of children on April 25 in Portsmouth.

The judge ordered the computer to be destroyed.

April 2016

Former Newport priest found guilty of indecently assaulting girl

A PRIEST who spent nearly a decade working in Newport was found guilty of indecently assaulting a girl in the city 40 years ago.

John Farmer, who is also known as Barry, worked at St Mary’s Church in Newport from 1970 until 1979. He then moved to a Cardiff parish.

The 84-year-old, now of Cranleigh Road, Guildford, was also a governor of St Joseph’s RC High School in Duffryn.

Farmer was initially charged with 27 charges of indecent assault against one girl, who was between 12 and 14 when the abuse took place, but was found guilty of a remaining nine charges after the rest were dropped.

The jury of six men and five women spent about three hours deliberating, having been sent out by Recorder Richard Williams to consider their verdicts on Thursday at Newport Crown Court.

The woman was abused, as a schoolgirl and one of Farmer’s parishioners, between 1974 and 1976.

She said he referred to his lap as “the soft seat”, and then touched her inappropriately.

But Farmer denied ever doing so.

The woman told police she believed Farmer to be her boyfriend. She said she had seen him wearing a bracelet marked with her name during a mass.

She said the bracelets were worn commonly by couples of her age around Newport at that time and were available at the city’s market.

The court was told that another investigation into the potential indecent assaults was started in 1993 by Bedfordshire and Gwent Police forces but never completed.

Farmer told the court in evidence earlier in the week that the woman had been a “fantasist as a child” and such fantasies had developed over time.

But the jury disagreed by a margin of 10 to two on each count.

Farmer, who walked in and out of court with a walking stick, was released on bail and will return for sentencing at the same court on May 6 at 2pm.

April 2016

Pervert convicted of stalking young girl

A grandad of 15 stalked a 10 year old schoolgirl for three years after becoming infatuated with her

He sent her picture montages set to music including the sinister lyric “rather see you dead little girl than see you with another man”.

Creepy Michael Blanche, of Pencoed, Wales, bombarded the child with Facebook friend requests between 2012 and 2015 and 60 messages telling her he was drunk and loved her.

January 2010

Pervert jailed after grooming teenager

PERVERT Gerald Thompson has been jailed for five years after he groomed a teenage girl before engaging in a sexual relationship with her.

The 46-year-old defendant flattered the schoolgirl and gave her gifts before having full sexual intercourse with her, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told yesterday.

Prosecutor David Bennett said the victim confided in a school friend last April that she had established a sexual relationship with the defendant and he persuaded her to inform a teacher.

In her police interview the youngster said Thompson did not wear a condom the first time they had sex but he did on all other occasions. She said they had full intercourse four or five times.

“On occasion they had sex at his flat when she should have been at school,” said Mr Bennett.

The court was told the young victim performed a sex act on Thompson on about four occasions in his car.

Thompson was arrested and denied having a sexual relationship with the complainant. He answered no comment to most questions put to him.

But the defendant, of Thorpe Green, Blurton, later pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual activity with a child.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Thompson’s character has been blackened and he is aware what he did was wrong.

Mr Muldoon added that Thompson was deemed a low risk of re-offending.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said there had to be a substantial custodial sentence and jailed Thompson for five years.

The defendant will be on the sex offenders’ register for life and will be disqualified from working with children.

Judge Trevor-Jones told Thompson: “You should be quite ashamed of what you did to the complainant in this case.

“I hesitate to conclude whether you are or not, given your views expressed in the pre-sentence report.

“In part you maintained this relationship was largely provoked by her behaviour to you, you were 44, she was a schoolgirl.”

The judge added: “I am satisfied you had groomed her, you flattered her and gave her gifts. She became infatuated with you.”

April 2016

Jailed after downloading and sending on indecent images of children

A former soldier and already convicted paedophile has been sentenced to three years in jail after downloading and sending on indecent images of children.

Derek Hemphill, 38, also admitted breaching a sexual offences prevention order and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Hemphill, who is a serving prisoner and already a convicted sex offender, was jailed for a total of three years when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday.

His name will also stay on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

Hemphill was sentenced to two years in jail for distributing images between January 1, 2014 and August 30, 2014.

The dad, who previously lived in Chapel Street North, in Colchester, was also handed an extra year behind bars for the breach after being in contact with a child under the age of 16 without supervision between May 30, 2014 and August, 30, 2014.

Hemphill was also sentenced to 12 months in jail for each of the three other charges of making indent photographs, possessing a prohibited image of children and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Those offences took place between January 2014 and August 2014 and the sentences will run concurrently.

Hemphill, who was stationed in Germany, was on tour in Canada in 2010 when he was initially caught and jailed in October of that year for downloading indent images of children.

He was transferred back to Colchester Military Corrective Training Centre to be charged and was given a dishonourable discharge.

This breach is not the first time Hemphill has failed to comply with a court order.

In 2012, he was handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence for failing to let police know his address, under the terms of the sex offenders register.

April 2016

Pervert who sent sexually explicit images to schoolgirls is jailed after he is caught by vigilantes

A pervert who sent pictures of his private parts to ‘young girls’ has been snared by paedophile hunters who pretended to be his victims.

Mark Gosling, a pot-bellied 45-year-old, was convicted of grooming three 15-year-old girls who turned out to be members of hacking group Anonymous.

Gosling sent explicit pictures and messages to the ‘girls’ on Facebook, including one of his erect penis.

Father-of-one Gosling, who lives with his mother, then offered to meet one of them in Trafalgar Square, central London.

But the activists running the social media accounts were waiting to confront him.

The online hunters – who dubbed themselves “Operation Paedophile Hunter” – are from hacking collective Anonymous, notorious for posing in Guy Fawkes masks and their high-profile security breaches.

Gosling, of Bognor Regis, West Sussex, was jailed for 20 months today at Southwark Crown Court.

The court heard he began talking to the ‘girls’ last September and even sent them pictures of his naked body and erect penis.

One let him know she was a virgin, but he still went to the meet-up at Trafalgar Square on December 11th.

Jailing Gosling, Judge Alistair McCreath told him: “There can be no doubt at all that on the occasion when you were arrested you had come to London to meet someone you believed to be a 15-year-old female child.

“Your advocate states on your behalf that you believe it was not against the law to have sexual relations with a 15-year-old child.

“I simply can’t accept that is possibly true.

“You may not be a great reader of newspapers and you may not have many friends, but in overall context you live in a society where there are much publicity in the news I can’t believe you thought it lawful to do what you so certainly intended to do.

“You had met this apparent child and you had groomed her.

“They [Gosling’s messages] included you saying you wanted to have full sexual intercourse with her and included you sending her pictures of your exposed penis and your reason for coming to London, your reason for wanting to meet her, is absolutely obvious.

“I have no doubt if you met a child of 15 you would have done your best to fulfil the intentions you spoke of in texts and other messages.”

He jailed him for 20 months and said he will produce a sexual offenders prevention order in due course.

Paul Walker, prosecuting, said: “This case concerns Mark Gosling’s conversations from September 2015 with three 15-year-old females on a Facebook Messenger account.

“He believed they were 15-year-old females but, unbeknown to him [they] were in fact members of a paedophile-hunting online group.

“In respect to [Girl A] he sent naked pictures of himself and arrangements were made for a meeting which in fact never happened.

“He never met or intended to meet [Girl B] but in relation to [Girl C] he sent pictures of his penis and he arranged a meeting.

“That meeting was going to take place at Trafalgar Square on December 11, 2015.

“He wasn’t met by [Girl C], he was in fact met by three members of the paedophile hunting club.

“They contacted police. Police responding arrived at Trafalgar Square and Mr Gosling was arrested.”

Officers searched one of the vigilante’s phones to find he planned to have penetrative sex with the “girl”.

Mr Walker said: “The person he believed to be the 15-year-old [Girl C] he was telling her he intended to have sexual intercourse with her and there were sexually explicit messages.”

At a previous hearing Ish Sheikh, prosecuting, said the group were from Anonymous and detailed the explicit messages.

He said: “Before that he was saying things like ‘Do you all want my c**k’ because one girl said she was coming with a friend.

“He also asked one if she had had sex before and when she said no he said ‘I’ll be kind, I won’t hurt you’.

“The group confronted him and they recognised him by the fact he sent photos of himself.”

Ghulan Humayun, in mitigation, said Gosling was a “social loner” who has lived with his mum since 1988.

He said: “He currently lives with his mother and has done since 1988.

“He has no social circle. His only social contacts are his brother, his mother and his son and the mother of his son as well.

“He doesn’t have any friends.

“He’s a person you might describe as a social loner.”

Mr Humayan also said in mitigation that neighbours have since started calling him a pervert at the bus stop

But the judge said: “It’s not very kind but it is understandable.

“That’s not very impressive mitigation.”

Before he was jailed there was a discussion over his intentions when he went to the meet-up.

But Judge McCreath said: “He didn’t go there to discuss what particular hobbies she liked, did he?”

He was previously advised in error to actually meeting the girl but he withdrew his guilty plea and instead admitted attempting to meet her.

During the episode he seemed confused and became teary.

Gosling, who wore a white shirt and pink tie, admitted one count of attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming.

April 2016

Mother weeps as she is jailed for stamping her toddler to death

A CALLOUS mum has been jailed for 24 years for murdering her 21-month-old daughter by stamping on her chest.

Kathryn Smith of Sloan Drive, Bramcote, Nottingham has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 24 years. She was told that he shall no have any contact with children for life. She was also sentenced to four years for child cruelty to run concurrently.

Her thuggish ex-boyfriend Matthew Rigby, 22, was cleared of murder and cruelty but was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child by a unanimous verdict.

Rigby, of Sloan Drive, Bramcote, Nottingham, mouthed the words “thank you” to the jury of seven men and five women when the verdicts were read out.

Rigby was caged for three years and six months in prison for causing or allowing the death of a child.

Passing sentence at Birmingham Crown Court today, Mrs Justice Geraldine Andrews said: “You are a devious, manipulative, selfish, young woman who would stop at nothing to get your own way.

To that end you were prepared to tell lie after lie.”

The judge described Ayeeshia as a “particularly vulnerable victim” who was thin and slight of frame.

“She was killed in her own home by her own mother – that is the grossest breach of trust,” she said.

Ayeeshia suffered a fatal tear in her heart, an injury usually only found in car crash victims, had several broken ribs, dark bruising and swelling of more than 3.5ins on her back and had bitten through her own tongue.

Ricky Booth, her 21-year-old father, said his daughter had been “let down” by the system.

Social services had been supervising Ayeeshia, who was taken away from Smith in 2013 and placed with foster carers for five months. She was given back to her mother seven months before her death.

Ayeeshia Smith’s short life told through the court trial…..

July 15, 2012: Ayeeshia is born to 19-year-old Kathryn Smith who was no longer in a relationship with Ricky Booth, the father.

Her midwife, Hilary Sayles, said Kathryn had been living in garage at her father’s home. Mrs Sayles had concerns and that the living conditions were not of a standard and she seemed isolated. She was also concerned about Kathryn’s ability to put the needs of her child before her own

By March 2012 Kathryn went to Swadlincote and was attending Burton and South Derbyshire College. The flat was supported housing for vulnerable young women. Kathryn was appointed a social worker Denise Leavesley. Before her birth, there was a child protection conference in June 2012 to assess potential risk to the child. The child protection plan was required due to possible risk of neglect. Both midwife and social worker had no concerns, and no concerns about weight.

August 2, 2012, Denise Leavesley said she found out Kathryn had waited for three days before going to walk in centre due to Ayeeshia’s vomiting. The walk-in centre told her to get to A&E but she never went as she said she had no way of getting there. Mrs Leavesley tried to encourage her to go to Incredible Babies course but Kathryn was not enthusiastic. She also had concerns about the number of people visiting the flat which placed her daughter at risk of harm.

August 17, Samantha Thompson, a children’s social worker, was appointed to Kathryn and Ayeeshia. She was hoping to try and help her get out, develop cooking skills. When she discussed the support Ms Thompson got impression it was something she didn’t want. Kathryn did not want professionals interfering in her life, which was just one example of Kathryn expressing her views in forthright manner when she decided she didn’t wish to do something.

Ms Thompson repeatedly tried to contact her. She felt uncomfortable going to groups. She went to Stay and Play session which went well but she never went back.
health visitor, derby community health service, Sarah Shaw visited, noting the flat was clean and tidy, toys were available and there was appropriate interaction between mother and child. She encouraged her to go to cooking groups.

Nov 28, 2012: Ayeeshia was weighed at 5.25kg and mother and baby relationship was good.

December 10: There was a core group meeting at her flat to discuss developing cooking skills. These sessions never happened.

Dec 18: Ms Thompson made an unannounced visit during the late morning. She met Kathryn’s boyfriend, who was not Matthew Rigby. Kathryn was in her nightclothes. Ayeeshia was asleep and had been awake during the night.

Jan 2013: Ms Thompson made efforts to meet without success and told Mrs Leavelesey she wasn’t getting anywhere.

Jan 24, 2013: Mrs Shaw went to visit at 11am. There was no response at the door. At 1.15pm she received text from Kathryn apologising saying she had no credit and had been in bed. Mrs Shaw was worried she was in bed because she noted it as a regular occurrence.

Feb 2013: Kathryn told Mrs Shaw that weaning wasn’t going well.

Feb 20: Mrs Shaw made a home visit. She said Ayeeshia was thriving and there was a good relationship. She was having two meals a day, half a jar at lunch, and pudding at 3pm.

Feb 26: Police made a domestic violence referral about Kathryn. She said her boyfriend had damaged the flat but refused to give a statement to the police. At another home visit by Mrs Shaw she gave Kathryn a copy of the report of a safeguarding meeting. Kathryn said she wasn’t bothered reading it and thought they wanted to take child from her. Her boyfriend was banned from entering the property and she was not happy that he had been banned.

Feb 27: Kathryn attended a conference. It was agreed to keep Ayeeshia on a safeguarding plan under the category of emotional abuse. Three days earlier her boyfriend had smashed three doors.

March 5: Mrs Shaw found out about an out of hours referral to social services. Her boyfriend had broken a mirror. Kathryn was invited to sign a written agreement that she had no more contact with her boyfriend. Kathryn was denying that Ayeeshia was present during the mirror incident despite police saying she was. She refused to sign the agreement saying she was not happy that he must not have contact with Ayeeshia.

March 6: Mrs Shaw made an emergency visit, and saw damage to the front door. She noted emotional warmth from the child. Kathryn didn’t want to sign the agreement, saying her boyfriend was good with Ayeeshia, that she loved him and was going to be around for the long term. She said he had anger issues. Mrs Shaw was concerned. She said domestic violence could have an emotional impact on children but Kathryn failed to understand.

March 11: Mrs Leavesley attended. She noted Ayeeshia was smiling. Kathryn would not sign the agreement, saying if it was ‘going to be like this you might as well take Ayeeshia now’.

She was tired of the child protection plan, and was certain the violence wouldn’t happen again. Her boyfriend said it wasn’t going to happen again and had been prescribed anti-depressants. Kathryn said: “I am not going to be made to choose.” Mrs Leavelesy said he could not stay in the flat.

Over the next few months she accepted he had anger issues but they were no longer arguing and he had changed.

April 24: Mandy Palmer, a coordinator for Stonham Housing Association, saw safety glass smashed and door damage near the flat. Kathryn didn’t engage with her very well.

April 29: Mrs Shaw and Mrs Leaveley visited. Ayeeshia was asleep, and there was further damage to the front door. Kathryn said her boyfriend had damaged the door by kicking and punching it.

He had raised his fist and pressed his forehead against hers. She gathered up Ayeeshia and left. She said he verbally abused her and kicked her in the stomach and later followed her around Swadlincote. She admitted that she had not reported this to the police. She refused to leave her flat and became angry, started swearing and told them to take Ayeeshia away. She later admitted that she had had an abortion.

April 30: Professionals decide it is no longer safe for her to be in flat. Mrs Leavesley makes an unannounced visit, but couldn’t get her. She texted her and received a reply from Kathryn saying: “We are staying here in our home, not going anywhere.” She asked the police to do safe and secure check. No sign of her boyfriend.

May 1, 2013: Mrs Leavesley had a meeting with Kathryn, told her of her concerns and risk of boyfriend and that she needed to prioritise Ayeeshia. Mrs Leavelesy said she was an excellent mother but her choice of partner placing Ayeeshia at risk. Kathryn walked out of the meeting but the same afternoon she came back with friends who said her boyfriend was really nice. An interim care order was made and social worker Steve Crean took over.

Kathryn later said she had ended relationship with her boyfriend, but had been out shopping with his family. Steve Crean was concerned if she maintained relationship with the boyfriend’s family she might come into contact with him.

May 16: A court hearing was held and an interim supervision order was made. Ayeeshia and Kathryn were to live with Kathryn’s mother in Milton Keynes, but Steve Cean discovered Kathryn had come back to Swadlincote and met up with her boyfriend, saying she was bored and had nothing to do and did not want to live there. She went back to the same flat. Steve Crean said he would take legal advice and tried to see her.

May 29: Steve Crean saw her and Kathryn said she had not seen her boyfriend since she got back.

June 5: A court hearing was held. Kathryn said that on June 2 her boyfriend came to her flat, and she refused him entry, taking Ayeeshia from flat. Power to place with foster carer.

From June to October: Ricky Booth saw Ayeeshia at a health care centre once a fortnight. The foster carer noted Ayeeshia was weary of men but came to trust the foster carer’s husband, she was fussy with food, and woke in the night but her feeding pattern improved and she started to gain weight.

August 2, 2013: Steve Crean has an assessment session and Kathryn was put on a domestic violence course. Kathryn said her now ex-boyfriend had moved away and her eye were wide open and could see how abusive situations began in relationships, her priority was Ayeeshia.

August 7: A meeting was held and concluded if Ayeeshia was to come home it would be under a supervision protection order.

August 29: Ayeeshia was weighed. She was not seen naked by the health visitor and was not weighed again until eight months later.

September 4: An advocates meeting takes place. All parties agreed Kathryn has made progress.

September 9: Kathryn was allowed unsupervised visits.

September 18: Foster carer said Ayeeshia’s routine had not been adhered to when she was with her mother.

October 2: A court hearing agreed Ayeeshia would return to Kathryn. Steve Crean collected her tat day.

October 2013: Naomi Pantall moved in to Alexandra Road and introduced her to Rigby.

Christmas 2013: Naomi said she saw some bruising to Ayeeshia’s back and bottom, and fingertip marks on her back and leg. She raised concerns with Kathryn and threatened to tell social services but never carried out threat. She said Kathryn was manipulative and didn’t want to lose contact with Ayeeshia.

November: Lizzie Nugent, a housing association worker and Mandy Palmer went to visit Kathryn, and saw a young man wearing vest top they claim was Rigby. Rigby denies this. And there was a strong smell of cannabis. Mrs Nugent said she heard a bang and then a child crying loudly. Kathryn opened the door and said Ayeeshia had fallen off the bed.

The young man walked past them and into the flat saying Ayeeshia will be ok. Mrs Nugent believed it was compliance and disguise to get rid of them Mrs Nugent said there was a smell of fresh and stale cannabis in the flat.

Two women said this should be raised at a safeguarding alert. She said Ayeeshia’s eyes were quite sunken, and that she would ring a social worker. She asked for safe and well check. Then she rang again the following day and rang on third day. Steve Crean seemed to be dismissive, she said.

November 8: Steve Crean said he her called back, but didn’t input his notes on the computer until November 28.

November 21: Texts sent by Kathryn to Rigby complaining about Ricky Booth and that he didn’t want Ayeeshia again.

November and December: Ricky Booth takes photos of Ayeeshia’s injuries. He was bathing her when he noticed there was bruising. He told Steve Crean about them who he said didn’t seem too interested. Mr Crean made no record but did accept he had spoken to him.

January 2: Kathryn rang the police and said someone kicked her front doors.

January 3: Mrs Shaw made a home visit but didn’t see them. She noted the damage to the door. Kathryn also texted to Rigby saying kicking her door is wrong.

January 4: 5am: Kathryn made a 999 call, saying someone kicked her door. Ayeeshia was with Ricky Booth. Police said the front door had split in two.

January 5: The relationship is fine.

January 7: Mrs Shaw saw Kathryn and Ayeeshia. Kathryn said girls living upstairs can caused damage to the door. She said Rigby had kicked in the door as they were both locked out. Mrs Shaw noticed a cut to the lip and chin. Ricky Booth said the chin injury was due to a trip on the carpet. She noticed a bald patch on Ayeeshia’s head which Kathryn said she had seen when her daughter returned from her father.

Later: a child protection medical was held at Royal Derby Hospital due to the hair loss. It was diagnosed as alopecia.

January 13: Metropolitan Housing told Kathryn that Rigby was banned from the flat and she was being evicted.

January 14: Sarah Slack, a children centre worker for Kathryn and Ayeeshia made several unsuccessful attempts to see her.

January 21: Mrs Slack made home visit to Swadlincote. Kathryn said she only saw Rigby in public. She was asked how she kept Ayeeshia safe in public. Kathryn replied: “We don’t argue in public.”

February 3: Kathryn said she went out to Morrisons to buy nappies, wipes and dinner. She denied she was out to pick up cannabis but Naomi Pantall and Rigby said she had. She went out, believing he was going to have a shower. When she came back she found ambulance outside. Rigby said Ayeeshia was in her cot, saying Kathryn was in a rush. She wanted a spliff and he went to bathroom to get ready to go out. He said he didn’t hear her go out but heard high pitched noise. He saw Ayeeshia was blue. Naomi Pantall heard Rigby’s screams for help and phoned 999. A paramedic was pushed by Rigby on the shoulder. Rigby said he didn’t realise who he was, saying he was making attempts to save Ayeeshia’s life and was in a heightened state of emotions. Kathryn came over and had shopping bag. At Burton’s Queen’s Hospital doctors diagnosed the incident as a febrile convulsion after there was a witness to the seizure and evidence of a sore throat. However, doctors didn’t recollect telling parents to strip her down if it happened again.

February 5: Steve Crean found out by chance of the incident and phoned the hospital.

February 7: Steve Crean made a supervision order meeting to the flat. At 11.45am, Kathryn opened the door and Mr Crean noticed the Ayeeshia was a little clingy. Kathryn said she was unhappy that Ricky Booth had been looking after Ayeeshia on his own. His attitude he would probably have been preferable if Ricky Booth’s mother was present because he was living with his mother.

February 13: Steve Crean spoke to Ricky Booth on the phone. Mr Booth became angry and said Mrs Crean was only listening to Kathryn. Crean wanted to undertake a parenting assessment for Ricky Booth, who then swore and hung up. The parenting assessment never took place.

Feb 17: Mr Crean visited unannounced. Kathryn said Ricky Booth had not seen Ayeeshia since she was discharged from hospital. She stopped contact because Ayeeshia had been poorly.

Feb 21: They moved to Stretton. Tracey Roberts described hearing arguments which could happen at any time. She heard both voices shouting at each other. They swore. If they disturbed her she would bang on the wall. It was possible to hear people talking but she couldn’t easily make out words. Rigby said Kathryn would kick wall back if Ms Roberts banged on the wall.

Feb 25 11.30am: Mr Crean visited. Ayeeshia looked well and Kathryn was very attentive. It said it was a welcoming home but seemed a bit sparse.

Feb 26: 5pm: Kathryn phoned Mr Crean, saying she had split from Rigby as it wasn’t working out. She was told she had to prioritise Ayeeshia and register with new GP and mother and toddler groups.

March 1: Mr Crean made another visit. She seemed surprise to see him. Rigby and her father were there.

March 11: 7.26pm: Rigby sent text to unknown number (maybe Kathryn), saying: “I hate you.” Kathryn replied saying she never wanted him to leave. At 9.27pm, a 999 was call made to police. Kathryn pretended to be a neighbour. She told the jury she didn’t want to make it worse if Rigby knew she had called the police. Police came over and spoke to both. The couple were watching a film in bed. It was logged as a no crime domestic incident.

March 29: Ayeeshia is seen at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital by Doctor Elizabeth Isaac, who could not remember who came with her to hospital. Rigby said he was there with Kathryn. The notes say she had banged her lower lip on bath, causing a 3x2cm cut. In her notes she said there was no history of vomiting or loss of consciousness, no known medical illness, no history of allergy. The doctor said she would have made a note if she was told the child had suffered a fit. Kathryn didn’t remember being asked about the medical history. Rigby said he wasn’t there. She was also weighed and it later revealed she had almost 1kg in six weeks.

April 1: Mr Crean found out about the lip incident. Kathryn said the relationship had not resumed. She said Ayeeshia had banged her lip when Kathryn was in the bath. There was no mention of Rigby. Kathryn later said she had not witnessed the incident.

April 4: 5am: Kathryn sent text to Mr Crean, saying: “Matthew threatened to text you lies to make you take Ayeeshia, just a heads up.” At the same time, she called 999. Ayeeshia is heard calling out ‘mummy’. Kathryn tells the operator that Rigby is going to cut himself and blame it on her. She was heard saying: “Put it down, Matt.” Kathryn later said she did not know if he had a weapon. She said she heard the kitchen knives box. Rigby said he had a mobile phone.
7.48am: Kathryn called 999, asking police to remove her ‘ex partner’ from her home, saying: “He is getting me killed within a week.” Police came, Rigby was not there. Ayeeshia was there and seemed happy. She signed a restraining order, and the matter was referred to fire service after a threat to burn house down. A secure letterbox was to be installed. During the argument Kathryn said Rigby dragged Ayeeshia’s cot out into the garden, but did not burn it. She left Ayeeshia in the house and ran after Rigby down the street. He later said he would blow up the house.
12.30: Mr Crean sent her a text asking how she was.
1.35pm: Mr Crean sent her a text, and went round. Kathryn was at home with Ayeeshia and no one else. Ayeeshia looked well, flat was fine, and she was asked about the text.
3.05pm: Kathryn sent two texts to Rigby, saying she was in trouble with Mr Crean. She realised it was just an argument.

April 5: Kathryn rang the police to retract the statement. She said they were not going to see each other anymore, and she didn’t believe his threats.

April 7: 4pm Burton watch manager at Burton fire station, Gary Phillips, fitted the letter box at her flat and did a fire safety check. He noticed Kathryn had a glazed expression and was slow in response. He smelt cannabis and saw a young child which is believed to be Ayeeshia. Judge Andrews said: “He was the only witness who said Kathryn was with Ayeeshia under the influence of cannabis. Kathryn said she wasn’t under the influence. His concerns were sent to social services.

April 8: Mr Crean got email from the police about their attendance on April 4.

April 9: 10.45am: Mr Crean had a supervision discussion. Kathryn did not mention the domestic violence incident and that Ayeeshia was present. Later attempted to give Kathryn an agreement to sign to keep Rigby away from her.

April 10: Mr Crean took it around the next morning. Rigby was arrested and interviewed and gave his side of the story about April 4 and denied he burnt a cot.

Mr Crean made unannounced visit to her home. He noticed the door was ajar and pushed it open. Kathryn was tackled about report from police about burning Ayeeshia’s cot. Kathryn said he burnt a Moses basket, and she wasn’t going to sign an agreement to keep Rigby away from Ayeeshia as the previous care proceedings started because of her ex-boyfriend’s agreement. She said she had done everything that had been asked of her and Rigby was nothing like her ex-boyfriend. Mr Crean noticed that Ayeeshia didn’t get upset or distressed while her mother was getting upset and angry.

4.15pm: Mr Crean received a text from Kathryn saying she wouldn’t sign the agreement, saying she did an eight month course on domestic violence so she knew what it was.

Sometime between April 10 and 17: Neighbour Tracey Roberts overheard a particular argument between the couple. She heard raised voices and a bit of screaming and swearing, both were shouting. She heard the voice of a child, saying ‘stop mummy, stop daddy’. The couple said Ayeeshia called Rigby ‘Matt’, not Daddy, but Rigby twice said she did call him daddy in his police interview.

April 14: Kathryn Humphries, health visitor, arrived at the flat at 11.30am and had no response, then knocked again. Kathryn opened the door in her nightwear. Ayeeshia was wearing a nappy. Humphries was unaware she was weighed in hospital.

April 16: Kathryn went to a hair loss follow-up. Doctors found her hair had stabilised and there was no other hair loss. There was no known cause of the alopecia.

April 17: Two community care workers went along to get Kathryn to take a drugs test, after call from the fire officer. There was no sign of Ayeeshia. There was a smell of cannabis strongly in the lounge but Kathryn did not appear to be under the influence. She was asked to take test and refused because she knew she would fail it.April 21: Ricky Booth saw Ayeeshia alive for last time.

April 24: Rigby texted Kathryn saying he needed to get out of his bad moods. Ayeeshia is seen by Helen Arnold at the clinic. There was a faint bruise on bridge of nose which Kathryn said was caused by fall off the potty. She only managed to strip Ayeeshia to her vest because she was distressed. She weighed 9.14kg.

April 25: 5.50pm: Mr Crean made an unannounced visit. Kathryn was alone. Mr Crean said she looked spaced out. He couldn’t smell anything, but she wouldn’t let him in. She later text him saying she wanted a new social worker.

April 26: 4.36pm: Rigby sent a text to Kathryn saying: “Don’t bother texting me, don’t be beating the dog it’s not his fault.” Kathryn said she would never beat the dog.

April 30: A multi agency risk assessment meeting was held in Tamworth and convened because of the threat by Rigby to set fire to the house and the police were called. It was decided that Mr Crean, with a domestic abuse prevention worker, would arrange a joint visit to the home. Mr Crean said he was still unsure whether Kathryn and Rigby were in a relationship. She said they weren’t.

Kathryn sent texts to her father to come over with money he owed her. Rigby and Kathryn took Ayeeshia to Rigby’s grandparents in Nottingham. The grandparents saw no marks or bruises when she was being changed. However Judge Andrews said: “But you would see the child lying on her back.”

Texts to her father that day continued where she said: “You know I haven’t eaten for a week. You both (her father and mother) only have your precious James (Kathryn’s brother) to care about, you don’t have a daughter.” Kathryn later said she didn’t mean any of it.

May 1: Kathryn texts her parents about the money. At 10.30am Ayeeshia got up and watched a film. They later went to the co-op, in Stretton. She sent a text to her father about blowing his door off.

Her father later gave her the money at her flat and left. Rigby said he took Ayeeshia in the house and put her on sofa. He said Kathryn was still angry and upset but didn’t ask her anything.

1.30/2pm: Tracey Roberts left her flat, saw Kathryn pulling off the ivy and said hello, she didn’t see Rigby.

2.45: Ms Roberts returned and saw the couple with a pile of ivy.

2.55: Ms Roberts checks the clock.

3.10: She said she heard shouting from flat, a man’s voice, shouting went on for five minutes on and off.

4.30pm and 5pm: police knocked on the door.
Mr Crean later sent a text saying he wanted to visit, but never received response.

4pm: Ambulance was called. Paramedics said she was cold to touch.

4.32pm: Arrived at hospital. Smith said to one paramedic she wanted to call for an ambulance sooner but Rigby told her not to. Kathryn later said this wasn’t correct.

4.30pm: Detectives and child protection officers notified.

5.20pm: Twenty minutes after Ayeeshia died, police spoke to the couple.

9pm: Detectives speak to the couple in a room with Ayeeshia. Things became heated when they said bruising had been found on Ayeeshia’s back. Kathryn said it had been caused by potty.

The couple were described as hostile and Kathryn was aggressive. Rigby questioned police powers to do a search.

Kathryn was angry and accused police of saying she had battered her child. Kathryn was pulling on the door, but police were blocking her. She said if the officer didn’t move she would hit her. The officer said she had never experienced such hostility.

9.45pm: The couple left hospital. Kathryn went to the police station. Rigby was concerned about his dog, which was then taken to kennels. When told by police he will have to come for an interview the next day, he said: “You’ll have to play Where’s Wally to find me.”

September 23, 2015: Kathryn Smith, 23, and her partner Matthew Rigby, 22, appear at Stafford Crown Court on September 23 where they both deny murdering Ayeeshia.

February 25, 2016: Murder trial begins at Birmingham Crown Court.

Smith, of Arnold,. Nottingham, wept as she was found guilty of murder by a majority verdict on Friday after a six-week trial.

She was also found guilty of cruelty to a child by unanimous verdict after the jury deliberated for a total of 11 hours.

Her thuggish ex-boyfriend Matthew Rigby, 22, was cleared of murder and cruelty but was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child by a unanimous verdict.

Rigby, of Sloan Drive, Bramcote, Nottingham, mouthed the words “thank you” to the jury of seven men and five women when the verdicts were read out.

April 2016

Paedophile who left laptop containing almost 1,000 child abuse images on train station jailed

A dimwit paedophile was snared after he returned to claim a laptop he had left behind at a railway station.

Christopher Williams mislaid the laptop at Wolverhampton station in February, 2014.

Days later he returned to the station to ask if the laptop had been handed in at ‘lost luggage.’

But unknown to Williams the laptop had already been examined by police who had found on it child sex abuse images.

Williams was arrested and almost 1,000 indecent images of children were found on devices at his Birmingham home.

During their investigations police discovered that Williams, 52, had been sharing images with another man, 42-year-old Harjit Sian (pictured below)

When police searched Sian’s Birmingham home they found a laptop and storage card containing more than 900 images and four videos. The images covered all categories of child sex abuse.

Williams admitted possessing and distributing indecent images of children at an earlier hearing at Birmingham Crown Court and was put on the sex offenders’ register for five years, given a three year community order and told to attend a sex offenders’ treatment programme.

Sian admitted the same offences at Birmingham Crown Court on April 1, this year, and was jailed for 18 months and put on the sex offenders register for ten years.

Sian’s sentence was more severe than Williams’ because of the nature of the images he possessed and distributed.

April 2016

LSDsex offender convicted of rape, drugs and firearms offences

A Ramsgate man of 66 has been convicted of a string of child abuse offences dating back as far as 1990.

Brian Dubey, of Princess Margaret Avenue, had denied six indecent assaults, two assaults and two rapes against a young girl.

But a jury at Canterbury Crown Court unanimously found him guilty of all 10 offences.

The court was then told of Dubey’s previous convictions, which included dishonesty, possessing cocaine and LSD, possessing cannabis with intent to supply and possessing a .22 rifle with a shortened barrel and 42 rounds of ammunition.

Judge Adele Williams remanded Dubey in custody and will sentence him on May 20.

The victim told the court that Dubey had carried out the abuse and had raped her.

He had also hit her and she said she was frightened of him. But Dubey told the jury that the abuse had never taken place.

“Nothing like that happened at all,” he said. “It just never happened.”

Steven Talbot Hadley, prosecuting, said the abuse started as touching and led up to rape.

“It is the Crown’s case that the victim has given a clear and complete account of the abuse from this man.”

The victim went to the police in April 2013 and Dubey was arrested and denied all the allegations.

Dubey told the court he had been badly hurt in a car accident and the head injury had led to a loss of memory which took a long time to return.

Cross examined by Mr Talbot Hadley Dubey denied grooming the girl and denied being a paedophile.