May 2016

Child sexual abuse images found on horse trainers computer

A HAWICK man, who was found to have more than 1,300 indecent images of children on his computer, has had his name placed on the Sex Offender’s Register at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Self-employed horse trainer and dog walker Andrew Bell pleaded guilty to the offence which happened at his Ruberslaw Road home between May 2014 and July 29 last year.

The court heard that 157 images were in the most serious category A, involving penetrative sex.

One moving image featured an adult female engaging in oral sex with an animal.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said officers discovered 116 category B images, which involved images of non-penetrative sexual activity and 1,053 indecent images from category C.

The total number of indecent images found on 42-year-old Bell’s computer was 1,327.

Mr Fraser explained that police received information that someone at that address had been accessing indecent images from the Internet and the property was searched under warrant on July 31, 2015.

Bell admitted he had typed “pre-teen” into the search engine when accessing images but more often it was “teen”.

Mr Fraser said: “He told police this happened often at night after drinking or smoking cannabis when his judgement was not at its best.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence until June 13 and in the meantime ordered Bell’s name be placed on the Sex Offender’s Register.

May 2016

Man who had sex with a 12-year-old girl had been spared jail

A man of 19 who had sex with a 12-year-old girl had been spared jail due to “exceptional circumstances”.

Kieran Dalton, from Wirral, admitted the statutory rape of a child under 13, when he was aged 18.

However, the girl – who said it was consensual – refused to make a complaint and the prosecution was based on his admissions

Charles Lander, prosecuting, said the matter came to light when the girl visited a sexual health clinic.

He said she told workers “she had been talking to an older male on Facebook who told her to come to his flat”.

Mr Lander said: “She said she knew he was 18 and mentioned it was all consensual.”

Social services were informed and police visited the girl’s home, but neither she nor her family would give a statement.

Mr Lander agreed with Judge Alan Conrad, QC, that without Dalton’s admissions, “it would have been impossible to launch a prosecution”.

He said there was evidence she made sexually explicit suggestions to Dalton and wanted to meet near his parents’ home.

Judge Conrad said it was an offence that spanned a wide range of culpability, from older “exploitative, predatory paedophiles” to younger offenders like Dalton who have consensual sex with a girl they believe to be older at “the other end of the spectrum”.

The judge said sentencing guidelines allowed for “exceptional cases” where lengthy community orders with sex offending treatment programmes “may be the best way” to change an offender’s behaviour and protect the public.

He said: “I take the view this is an exceptional case.”

Judge Conrad handed Dalton two years in a young offenders institution, suspended for two years, plus a four month home curfew from 9pm to 6am.

He told him to attend a rehabilitation course for 35 days, sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years, and imposed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Update: Now released and living on the Isle of Wight

November 2008

Former crack addict gets seven years for abusing young sisters

A soldier who became a crack addict after seeing a friend shot has been jailed for seven years for sexually abusing two young sisters.

Peter Raggett, 45, forced both his victims to endure years of perverted ordeals, a Crown Court heard. One of his victims vomited after an assault at his hands.

Raggett, who lived in Gossops Green, appeared for sentence at Guildford Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty by a jury of one court of indecent assault, three of sexual activity with a child, two of sexual assault and one of forcing a child to engage in sexual activity.

The defendant denied all the offences during a trial lasting nearly three weeks.

But he finally confessed his crimes to a probation officer while on remand in custody after his conviction, Judge Neil Stewart revealed at Friday’s hearing.

The mother of the two victims shouted “yes” when the judge imposed the seven-year prison term.

The court heard that the offences happened at locations in Surrey and Sussex.

During the trial, a 17-year-old girl said the defendant had put her through a catalogue of sexual abuse from the age of 11 until she was 14, telling her: “I’m preparing you for when you have a boyfriend.”

She said she was so disgusted that she vomited.

A 15-year-old girl told jurors that she was subjected to sex attacks when she was aged between 12 and 14.

She said Raggett began kissing her on the lips when he was drunk but his behaviour got worse and worse.

Raggett showed no emotion as Judge Stewart ordered him to be put on the sex offenders register and banned him from unsupervised contact with children on his release.

Adrienne Knight, defending, said her client had become addicted to crack cocaine after a spell in the Royal Corps of Transport.

“A friend was shot in front of him while he was serving in the army,” she said.

Ms Knight said that schizophrenia ran in the client’s family.

She added: “For the period of these offences, he was a very sick man indeed.”

Afterwards, the mother of the two victims said: “I’m satisfied with the sentence. Both girls are now trying to put their lives back together.

“Whatever happened to Peter Raggett in the army is no excuse for what he did. Many soldiers suffer terrible experiences – and they don’t go on to abuse children.”

May 2016

Community Payback Order for “socially uncomfortable” Dundee paedophile

A “socially uncomfortable” paedophile snared with more than 1,600 indecent images of children has avoided a prison term.

First offender Robert Donnachie’s attitude to the offence presented a sentencing sheriff with such a difficulty that the 34-year-old will return to Forfar Sheriff Court in three months’ time for consideration of whether or not the accused is ready for participation in the Tay Project for sex offenders.

Donnachie, of Park Avenue in Dundee and formerly of Monifieth previously admitted an indictment alleging the possession of the vile haul on February 11, the majority of the material being at category C on the Sexual Offences Definitive Guideline.

Sentence was deferred for the preparation of criminal justice social work reports, but defence solicitor Billy Rennie said their content might prevent a community-based disposal being considered after the accused was deemed unsuitable for the Tay Project.

“Mr Donnachie is socially uncomfortable in life and to find himself in this position – someone who is educated with a degree in architecture – has made him even more uncomfortable.

“He did not present well to social workers, but understands the damage the dissemination of these images has, even if that did not come across in the reports.

“He has withdrawn from his family, friends and normality in relation to these matters”

Mr Rennie presented a letter to the court which, he said, indicated Donnachie had given “serious consideration” to the offence.

He said it had not been the accused’s intention to minimise the offence, but the reports had not helped in that regard.

Sheriff Murray imposed a three-year Community Payback Order on Donnachie, including 200 hours of unpaid work, the maximum number available in light of the accused’s early plea.

Donnachie’s name will also be added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for the duration of the order, which will include conditions banning him from having any contact with under 16s without prior approval, or possessing any device capable of accessing the internet without its password and serial number being available to supervising officers.

May 2016

Pervert dad spared jail over his collection of pony porn

A PERVERT has escaped jail after he was caught in possession of indecent videos of PONIES.

Father-of-four Ross Burt, 30, had 23 explicit videos on his mobile phone, two of which were deemed of an “extreme pornographic nature” – one involving a pony.

Judge Ian Lawrie took pity on him saying he had “suffered enough” as a result of his public humiliation surrounding the case.

Ali Rafati, defence lawyer for Burt, said his children had been bullied at school after news of their dad’s perverted fetishes got out.

He added: “His offending on this occasion has meant they have all suffered enormously and it will be a very long time before this family can recover.”

Burt was initially arrested for his part in a burglary at a bicycle shop, only for his stash of sick films to be discovered by police.

Plymouth Crown Court heard that the obscene footage was sent to him by a friend.

Burt, of Plymouth, Devon said the phone had automaticallysaved the material and he had not deleted it.

The court heard how Burt was arrested by police on December 19 last year after police searched his home in connection with a burglary at the Rockin’ Bikes shop in Yelverton two days previously.

During the incident eight unique and hand-made bikes worth £17,600 were stolen and all were later found at Burt’s home.

Mr Rafati said that the burglars brought the expensive bicycles to his door because they believed he, as a cyclist, would know people who would buy them.

It was then officers checked his phone forcing unveiling his catalogue of filth.

Burt pleaded guilty to concealing criminal property, receiving stolen goods and two counts of being in possession of extreme pornographic images.

Judge Lawrie told Burt he had “paid a heavy price” in terms of public humiliation.

He added that Burt was hoping to make money from handling the stolen bicycles.

The defendant was handed a nine-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He must also pay £340 costs.

May 2016

Sex offender, 69, sentenced for child abuse

A 69-year-old man has today been jailed for committing serious sexual offences against two children.

Stephen Carr, of no fixed abode, was sentenced following a hearing at Preston Crown Court.

Carr was arrested in October for offences against a child in the Kirkham and Wesham area and later arrested for offences against another child in the Longridge area.

The assaults were committed over several years.

When initially questioned by detectives, Carr denied the charges and maintained his denial up to and beyond the start of his crown court trial.

Having protested his innocence, witnesses were called to court and fully expected to give evidence.

It was only after the prosecution was opened and evidence began to be heard Carr opted to change his plea to guilty.

The court accepted guilty pleas to a number of charges including counts of rape and causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual acts.

At today’s hearing, Carr was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

May 2016

Jail for Torquay child sex offender

A CONVICTED child sex offender has been jailed after police found a hard drive containing indecent images under his bed.

Mark Turner, 31, was sent to prison for 42 weeks by a judge at Exeter Crown Court and given an order banning him from unsupervised contact with boys.

Turner, of South Street, Torquay was found in possession of dozens of indecent images of children.

He admitted four counts of making indecent photos of children.

The court was told that police searched his house on July 10 last year and found a hard drive from a discarded desktop computer under his bed.

When it was analysed it was found to contain 30 Category A images, six Category B photos, and 31 category C photos. The courts classify Category A as the most extreme.

In 2007 Turner was convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 13.

Barry White, mitigating, said Turner had not had ‘not had a terribly happy young life’.

The court was told the defendant had previously been on a course designed to stop his reoffending and was not suitable to do it again.

Recorder Martin Meeke QC said: “The images were discovered when police searched the address where you were living. There is a significant aggravating factor that in 2007 you were convicted of an offence of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

“I’ve considered the pre-sentence report but it does not give me the option of making you subject of some order involving you being treated as you were subject of a programme requirement in 2007 for three years.”

Turner was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will last 10 years.

June 2007

Victim of pervert told mum by text

A nine-year-old boy got so upset after a man exposed himself that he texted a cry for help from his bedroom.

The victim had gone to bed but sent the phone message to his mother as she watched TV downstairs.

She found him sobbing and he revealed that 18 months earlier, Mark Turner had shown him his private parts after first luring him into a house.

Turner, aged 22, of Tallow Hill, Worcester, pleaded guilty to inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity.

He was given a three-year community order and banned from working with children or contacting them upsupervised. He must also sign on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

The boy was playing in a Worcester street when the defendant called him over and invited him into a house to watch DVDs, said Gareth Walters, prosecuting.

They watched one film before Turner undid his own trouser zip in a bedroom and exposed himself.

He asked the boy to do the same but he refused, Worcester Crown Court heard.

After the victim texted his mother on January 20, Turner was arrested.

He regretted what he had done but insisted he did not do it for sexual gratification.

Andrew Davisdon, defending, said Turner was confused about his own sexuality but was getting therapy.

He said custody would not have dealt with the root cause of the offence.

Judge Richard Rundell told Turner: “What you did was a wicked thing and terrified that little boy so he bottled it up for 18 months.”

But he agreed the defendant needed help and also pointed out that the jails were at bursting point.

May 2016

Former Tiverton plumber is jailed for abusing girl as she sat on his lap playing computer games

A former plumber has been jailed for abusing a girl as she sat on his lap playing computer games.

Stephen Cracknell touched the girl when she was aged just ten and had been lured into his room at a house in Tiverton to play games including Football Manager.

He was jailed at Exeter Crown Court after a Judge told him he had inflicted severe psychological harm on the victim, who has problems allowing some sorts of physical contact with her partner more than ten years after she suffered the abuse.

The girl did not tell anyone at the time and made her first disclosures about two years later to a stranger during an internet chat.

Her mother learned of the abuse because she was monitoring her daughter’s online activities but the victim was too scared and confused to tell police the truth at the time.

Cracknell, aged 59, escaped justice for a decade before the victim felt strong enough to go back to the police and tell them the truth.

He was found guilty after the jury at Exeter Crown Court watched a video recorded interview in which she broke down in tears every few minutes. She sobbed as she gave evidence from behind a screen in the courtroom.

Cracknell formerly of Tiverton but now living at Windmill Road, Coventry, denied five counts of sexual assault by touching but was found guilty and jailed for four years and six months by Recorder Mr Martin Meeke, QC.

He told him:”I am satisfied that having seen the complainant give evidence at some length that her childhood was significantly blighted by your offending and she has suffered significant psychological damage.

“We saw her tears and it is easy to understand the difficulties she now experiences in relating to her partner and not being able to let him touch her breasts.”

During a four day case the prosecution say he abused the girl a number of times, including occasions when she sat on his knee while playing on a computer in his bedroom.

She told the jury she tried to bury her experiences but eventually felt she had to report what had happened to her as a child.

Cracknell denied there had been any inappropriate physical contact.

May 2016

Pensioner jailed for seven years at Plymouth court for sexual abuse of girl

A PENSIONER has been jailed for seven years for sexually abusing a girl in her bed more than two decades ago.

Peter Davidson, aged 73, has finally faced justice for the sick crimes he committed in the late 80s, when the child was between just eight and 11 years old.

The brave victim attended his trial at Plymouth Crown Court to speak of the pain she had suffered at his hands.

The woman, now a married mother, still suffers flashbacks and sleepless nights.

The victim told the court in a statement: “I feel like the abuse has held me captive and want to be free of it.”

Davidson was convicted by a jury of indecent assault and indecency with a child.

Judge Paul Darlow said Davidson took advantage of the girl when she was suffering night terrors in bed.

He added: “She has clearly suffered for the tens of years that have elapsed. She still lives with the pain of what happened to her. It is only since 2014 that she has been able to turn to counselling.”

Judge Darlow said Davidson had put his victim through the “pain and humiliation” of reliving her experiences in court.

Davidson, who has lived for years in Erpingham in Norfolk, had pleaded not guilty to five counts of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child.

He was convicted by unanimous verdict after a week-long trial of two counts of indecent assault and one of indecency.

The offences happened in Buckfastleigh in the late 1980s.

The jury cleared him of three other counts of indecent assault after more than three hours of deliberation.

Smartly-dressed Davidson, wearing a hearing loop in the dock, showed little reaction as the foreman read out the verdicts.

Bathsheba Cassell, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said that the victim had told police: “The initial impact of the abuse was a total sense of isolation and loneliness. I did not know what to do or say, or how to feel.

“I slipped into feeling it was my fault. I felt that if I told anyone I would be blamed or would not be believed.”

The woman said she felt the pain would lessen as she grew up, but this did not happen as she realised as an adult the seriousness of what he had done.

She added: “Depression is something which I have had an ongoing battle with since the abuse. At times I have felt suicidal. I have vivid and upsetting dreams and end up waking, shouting and lashing out. I find it hard to trust people.”

May 2016

Rochdale man sexually abused 14-year-old girl after convincing her they were in a ‘grown up’ relationship

A man who convinced a young girl they were in a ‘grown up’ relationship so he could entice her to his house and abuse her has been locked up.

Irfan Mohammed Fiaz, 20, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child and child abduction offences in Rochdale .

A Minshull Street Crown Court judge heard how his 14-year-old victim was reported missing from home overnight three times in October 2015.

Each time Fiaz, of Salik Gardens, had met the girl and took her to his house to sexually abuse her.

Due to concerns raised by a member of the public, officers tracked the teenager to Fiaz’s address where he was arrested.

During his police interview, Fiaz showed no remorse and blamed the child for the incident throughout.

At an earlier hearing, he pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child and taking a child so as to remove them from a person having lawful control.

On Thursday, May 5, Fiaz was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institute and will remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

May 2016

Mum faces jail for poisoning baby daughter by spiking breast milk with painkiller

A mother faces jail after she admitting poisoning her baby daughter by putting a strong painkiller into her breast milk.

Rose Jones, 30, confessed to administering a poison ‘with intent to injure’ her one-year-old girl

She previously denied a second similar charge against her two-year-old daughter and prosecutors said this matter would lie on file.

May 2016

Stall holder threatened to plaster indecent pics of under-age girl over internet

A market stall holder from Blackpool threatened to plaster indecent images of an under-age teenage girl over the internet after he asked her to send them to him.

Derby Crown Court was told how Kierron Sumner knew the girl was under the age of consent but “thought he could get away with it” and came to Derbyshire to meet her where they “engaged in sexual activity”.

But when the short-lived relationship ended he then threatened to plaster pictures she had sent to him over social media.

Mary Bray, prosecuting, said the girl, whose identity is protected by law, went to the police after 19-year-old Sumner made the threats to her.

Miss Bray said: “The defendant’s reaction to the relationship ending was to threaten to distribute the images she had sent to him on social media.

“He accepts he had bullied her in that way and that is was disgusting. He said he wanted her to feel as upset as he was.

“In interview with the police he said he knew she was in her early teens and was well aware she was underage but though he would get away with it, in his own words.”

Miss Bray said the offence happened last summer when the victim had gone on a family holiday to the popular seaside resort.

She said: “They met in Blackpool when she was in her early teens and he was 18 and he was working as a market stall trader on a popular local market.

“Something developed and the defendant later travelled to Derbyshire to see her.

“They had been using social media and the defendant received three indecent images of the girl having encouraged her to send them.

“There had also been sexual chat between them online and he admitted that had taken place also.”

Sumner, of Cunliffe Road, Blackpool, was arrested in October and was charged with four counts of sexual activity with a child, all of which he pleaded guilty to.

Guy Mathieson, for Sumner, said his client had no previous convictions and would now “have to suffer the undoubted shame and stigma of being convicted of a sex offence being on him.”

Judge Robert Egbuna handed Sumner an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He also ordered the teenager to obey a three month curfew, containing him to his home address between 9pm and 7am every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

May 2016

Rapist who masqueraded as devout Muslim jailed for string of sex attacks on ‘vulnerable’ schoolgirls

A child rapist who masqueraded as a devout Muslim was blasted as a hypocrite by a judge as he was jailed for 16 years for sexual attacks on schoolgirls.

Mohammed Shaheen, of Harrow Street, Crumpsall, held himself out as a faithful believer who had been framed by his two victims.

But a Manchester Crown Court jury rejected his pleas of innocence and found him guilty of seven sex charges, including specimen charges reflecting multiple incidents of rape.

Jobbing decorator Shaheen, a 43-year-old father-of-seven, raped and groped the underage teenagers in Longsight and Crumpsall and then ordered them to keep silent.

One of the victims was told that if she spoke of what he had done he would kill himself.

He also told her he had an indecent recording of her that he would distribute if she reported him.

However Shaheen’s abuse of the pair came to light in 2014, after the older of the girls finally found the courage to confide in a schoolfriend. By that stage Shaheen had tried to force her into a degrading sex act.

In video interviews taken after his behaviour came to light, the girls were ‘hesitant, anxious, and plainly vulnerable’, Judge Martin Steiger QC said in Shaheen’s sentencing hearing.

But since speaking of their ordeal to police ‘there has been a considerable development in their self-confidence’, the judge said.

Shaheen has no previous convictions, but the court heard evidence there had been accusations of similar offending when he was living in Pakistan.

Adam Watkins, defending, said Shaheen’s relatives were in Holland and Pakistan, so he was not expecting any prison visits.

“Prison will be a particularly isolating experience for him”, Mr Watkins said.

Sending him down, Judge Martin Steiger QC said: “He masqueraded as religious when all along he was behaving in this hypocritical way. He said that if it got out he would kill himself with a knife.

“Most shockingly he appears to have made a secret recording of her naked, he threatened if she said anything he would show that to others, thereby traducing her reputation.

“He alleged these two young naive grls had invented this tale of sexual abuse and more shockingly still he pretended torn papers from condom packets had been planted by the girls themselves, when in reality it was compelling evidence of his guilt.

“A very substantial sentence indeed is called for, for these shocking offences.”

Update: Now living back in Germany

May 2016

Staffordshire University student caught with almost 1,600 child abuse images

A FOREIGN student was caught with almost 1,600 child porn images – after taking his laptop to a shop to be repaired.

Jannick Wuttke had told staff at the Stoke store that his computer ‘was very slow and kept on freezing’.

But when they analysed the equipment, they found evidence of indecent photos and immediately alerted the police.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how the 21-year-old had been studying at Staffordshire University at the time and was allowed to complete his course.

Wuttke, formerly of Shelton Old Road, Stoke, has since moved back to his native Germany, where he is preparing to start an apprenticeship.

Appearing in court yesterday, he was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and ordered to pay £300 costs.

But as British courts have no jurisdiction over Germany, the terms of his sentence just apply to the UK. He will have to notify the authorities if he returns to Britain in future.

Paul Farrow, prosecuting, said the initial offences came to light on October 1, 2014. Wuttke was arrested and gave a frank interview.

Mr Farrow told the court: “He said he had looked at pornography from 14 years of age, when he first had use of a computer. He then began to look at other images and searched for ‘children’.”

Wuttke said he had started downloading child porn out of curiosity, but continued to view it for several years. Following his arrest, police seized several other computers and a memory stick, where further material was found.

Wuttke pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent photos of a child on December 1, 2014, including 112 images classed as the most serious, category A. There were also 142 category B and 1,306 category C images.

Judge Paul Glenn said the circumstances were unusual as he is no longer a UK resident. He told the defendant: “I don’t think an immediate prison sentence is appropriate. I would like to put your treatment on a proper basis, but you need to go back to Germany.”

May 2016

Serving Metropolitan Police officer pleads guilty to possessing child sexual abuse images

A Metropolitan Police Service detective constable has pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children.

Murder squad detective Kenneth Dymond, 36, who works within the Specialist Crime and Operations Command, appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, May 5 where he pleaded guilty to 10 counts of making indecent images

More than 480 images were recovered from a number of items retrieved from DC Dymond’s home when he was arrested on 19 November 2015.

He was subsequently charged on Thursday, 3 March.

He is due to be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday, 2 June.

The officer is currently suspended.

Misconduct proceedings have been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

DC Dymond did not enter a plea in relation to one count of extreme pornography – which involved humans engaged in sexual activity with various animals

Pictured below: Murder squad detective Ken Dymond trawls 1000 hours of CCTV footage to identify murder suspects in a case of mistaken identity Photo from documentary ‘The MET: policing London’

May 2016

Gardener, 60, jailed for 18 years for raping teen and sexually assaulting two others in east London

A gardener has been jailed for 18 years and two months for the rape of a schoolgirl and sexual assault of her two friends in a disused building in east London 25 years ago.

William McMahon, 60, of no fixed abode was sentenced today, Friday, 6 May, at Snaresbrook Crown Court for the attacks which took place on the evening of 29 June 1990 at The Greenway, Upper Road, E13.

The victims – aged 13, 13 and 12 at the time – were not known to McMahon, who targeted them as they played together near to the scene.

Out of curiosity, the three had gone inside the derelict building to have a look around. Unknown to them, they were followed in by McMahon, who approached them, threatened them and forced them to remove their clothes.

He then anally raped one of the victims, before going on to sexually assault her two companions.

The matter was reported to police at the time and forensics were retrieved, but at that time no one was identified as being responsible for the offences.

A review by the Cold Case Team in September 2010 was able to utilise advances in scientific technology to obtain a full DNA profile. At that time no match was identified within the database.

However, in April 2015 McMahon was arrested in connection with an unrelated domestic matter which led to his being identified.

He was arrested and subsequently charged on 2 September 2015.

On 25 April he attended Snaresbrook Crown court and pleaded guilty to one count of rape, three counts of indecent assault and three counts of false imprisonment.

He was sentenced as follows:

• – rape – 18 years’ imprisonment

  – indecent assault (penetrative) – ten years’ imprisonment to run concurrently

  – indecent assault (penetrative) – ten years’ imprisonment to run concurrently

  – indecent assault (non-penetrative) – six years’ imprisonment to run concurrently

  – three counts of false imprisonment – four years’ imprisonment for each count to run concurrently

MaMahon was also sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for failing to appear at court on an earlier date – this will run consecutively.

February 2011

Man, 64, faces jail after downloading more than 100 images of child sexual abuse images

A PAEDOPHILE who downloaded more than 100 child abuse images to his laptop is facing jail.

Raymond Drake, 64, of Boston, claimed he had no knowledge of the pictures but was convicted by jurors after a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Judge Jacqueline Beech ordered reports on Drake before bailing the pervert until his sentence hearing on March 15.

Prosecutor Leslie Chinweze told jurors how police found 116 indecent images on Drake’s laptop after they raided his home.

In a separate trial which concluded on Friday, Drake, of Fydell Court, was cleared of three counts of indecent assault said to have taken place against a young girl between 1989 and 1995 in Barking, Essex.

However he was convicted of four charges of making indecent photographs of a child.

April 2013

Perverted husband exposed as paedophile after house search

A “despicable” husband and his wife have been jailed after he admitted indecent images of children and both admitted conning a vulnerable friend for cash and a free holiday.

Confidence tricksters David Hills, aged 64, and Samantha Hills, aged 41, both of Drywell Court, Standens Barn, were jailed at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday for the fraud, between December 2010 and February 2011.

The court heard the pair made friends with the man at a council housing meeting, but took advantage of his health ailments. They went on a holiday, paid for by the victim, and dined out at his expense.

The Hills then fraudulently cashed cheques belonging to the victim – who thought the pair were genuine friends – to the tune of £2,500, allegedly to pay for the holiday. He had already paid for the trip.

Two more cheques, totalling £552.99, were also paid into the pair’s bank account.

Hospital porter Samantha Hills then started paying for goods worth £1,132 on the internet on the victim’s account, buying “luxuries”, such as wine. The pair were finally caught when they took the victim to the bank in a bid to transfer “several thousands of pounds” into their account. A member of staff became suspicious and the police were called.

When officers searched their home, 76 indecent images of children were found on a computer belonging to David Hills, who had previous sexual convictions against children. Both defendants were jailed for 10 months with David Hills also receiving a 12-month consecutive term for possessing indecent images.

Rejecting pleas to suspend their sentences, Judge Sylvia De Bertodano said: “This was a man who viewed you as friends and you chose to use him as a source of income for luxuries. You were in this together for whatever you could get.”

March 2016

Paedophile sentenced to 14 years

A paedophile has been jailed after subjecting a young girl to repeated sexual attacks include rape.

Taxi driver David Houghton, 54 of Oldham was found guilty by a jury of 12 counts of serious sexual offences relating to a child aged under 16-years-old.

The court heard that the child was first abused when she was just six-years-old and it continued until well into her teenage years.

Houghton denied all the charges against him. But was found guilty of:

• One count of child rape

• One count of grooming a child

• Ten charges of indecent assault on a child aged under 16

Just before he was sentenced, a note written by Houghton was given to the judge in which he finally admitted to the offences. 

On 24th March 2016, at Manchester Crown Court, David Houghton was sentenced to the following:

• 14-years imprisonment

• Must sign sex offenders register for life

• Subject to sexual harm prevention order until further notice

April 2016

Man in underage sex trial gets jail term

A man who was found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl has been jailed

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Dale Holden encouraged the girl to have sex with him. He also asked her to send indecent images of herself. 

Holden previously of Brownhills but now living on Rutter Street, Caldmore had denied having any sexual contact with the girl and it was left to the jury to decide on his guilt.

Holden was sentenced to four years in custody and was told he would have to register as a sex offender for an indefinite period.

Judge Kristina Montgomery QC said: ” It is to your credit that you finally admitted you had a sexual relationship with this girl but I cannot give you any credit for that when sentencing”

“She came to court, she had to give evidence and she was accused of telling un-truths”

“So such admissions as now are made on your behalf are of no benefit to anyone”