December 2013

On the run convicted paedophile arrested by Spanish police after disappearing a year ago

A FUGITIVE pensioner wanted for alleged child sex offences has been arrested by Spanish police.

Runaway Frank Burgon was discovered in an apartment in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, at 12.10am on Sunday, and arrested by two uniformed police officers and a detective.

The 76-year-old was arrested on suspicion of breach of a court order and is currently in the custody of the Spanish authorities awaiting extradition.

An extradition hearing was expected to be held yesterday, the outcome of which is not yet been released.

Burgon, of Field House Farm, in Dalton Piercy, Hartlepool, disappeared a year ago while awaiting trial at Teesside Crown Court for alleged offences of rape, attempted rape, and three allegations of indecent assault against a girl.

He was made the subject of a Europe-wide arrest warrant.

Burgon had already been locked up for 18 months at Teesside Crown Court in 2010 after he admitted two counts of gross indecency with a child. He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and part of that order was to notify the police of change of address

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: “Cleveland Police can confirm that a 76-year-old man was arrested yesterday, Sunday, December 29, by Spanish authorities, on suspicion of breach of a court order.

“He is currently in the custody of the Spanish authorities awaiting extradition proceedings.”

Burgon was due to face a trial in his absence early next year if he was not found, but now it is expected that he will attend the court proceedings, potentially in custody.

The last time he was seen at court was in November last year when he denied the sex charges against him and he was granted bail.

Several trial dates were then fixed at Teesside Crown Court but Burgon failed to turn up each time, the most recent being last month, which was the fifth court appearance in a row he had missed.

Burgon had not kept in contact with his legal team and the trials were put off every time to give the authorities a chance to track him down.

During a previous court hearing, a judge heard he has a boat, or access to a boat, somewhere in the Mediterranean.

It was decided at the latest hearing that the trial would be fixed administratively by the crown court in the new year and was expected to be heard in February at the earliest.

July 2013

Europe-wide manhunt as Hartlepool pensioner accused of raping a child flees country

A EUROPE-WIDE manhunt has been launched after a pensioner accused of raping a child fled the country.

Frank Burgon, 76, from Hartlepool, is to face trial for numerous serious sex attack allegations.

But Burgon is believed to be holed up somewhere in the Mediterranean in a bid to avoid justice, and a European-wide warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Burgon was due to be at Teesside Crown Court yesterday morning for an administrative hearing, but failed to turn up.

It was the third court date in a row he has missed since November when he denied charges of rape, attempted rape and three counts of indecent assault against a child.

Prosecutor Christopher Knox said: “The defendant was a fisherman. He has, I understand, absconded.

“He is believed to have absconded comprehensively in that he is outside the jurisdiction and there is no obvious indication that he can be returned.

“My understanding is he has a boat, or some boat is available to him in the Mediterranean somewhere.

“He has certainly not kept in touch and these matters have now been going on for some time.”

Burgon, of Field House Farm, Dalton Piercy, was due to stand trial at the crown court on March 5 but he did not show up and the case was adjourned.

A new date was set in May but he failed to attend again, and the case was re-listed again for yesterday.

Mr Knox added: “Bearing in mind he was released on bail in November last year and has conspicuously failed to keep in contact since then, in my respectful submission, it’s quite clear he was aware of the date of the trial on March 5.”

Burgon now faces being tried in his absence if he does not attend court when his trial is next set to go ahead.

Money which Burgon’s partner previously put up to guarantee he would answer bail could also be forfeit if he does not show on the next occasion.

Judge George Moorhouse said the trial is unlikely to take place for at least three or four months given the situation surrounding his whereabouts.

A police spokesman said: “Cleveland Police are currently investigating a number of historic sexual allegations which we take extremely seriously and we are actively seeking the alleged offender who may or may not be residing outside of the UK.

November 2010

Abuse victim speaks out after attacker jailed

A VICTIM of sexual abuse says his life has been transformed after he saw his attacker jailed for his vile crimes.

Frank Burgon was locked up for 18 months at Teesside Crown Court after he admitted two counts of gross indecency with a child. 

The victim, now an adult, from Hartlepool, has urged others to come forward so that perverts do not get away with their sickening crimes.

Police say sex offences against children ruin young lives and have vowed that any cases, no matter how many years ago, will be thoroughly investigated by child abuse specialists.

Burgon’s victim, who can not be named for legal reasons, has taken the brave decision to tell the Mail how the abuse affected his life in the hope that others will come forward.

He said he kept the abuse secret since his childhood because he felt ashamed about what had happened.

The brave victim said: “It has ruined my life. I was just a kid then, I was scared and thought I could hide it, put it to the back of my mind and get on with things, but I was wrong.

“You can’t stop thinking about it, it stopped me from getting on with things.

“You feel dirty and disgusting and you don’t want to tell the police because of the shame of it.”

Burgon was also given a Sexual Offenders’ Prevention Order banning him from being around children when he was sentenced on September 20.

The 72-year-old, of Bruce Crescent, Hartlepool, was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.

His victim added: “I no longer blame myself for what happened. But it still hurts talking about it.

“Now I can look to the future. I know I need counselling but since he was jailed everything seems to be going well for me. The nightmares have stopped 

“But the main thing for me is that he won’t be allowed near a kid again for the rest of his life.”

He said that since the truth came out he has been given a huge amount of support to help him cope with his ordeal.

He added: “The police have been fantastic, especially Detective Constable Zoe McCarthy.

“I told my wife and she burst out crying, but she has been absolutely unbelievable.

“I asked her how she has stuck by me and she said she knew I would do something when I was ready, and I know if I did nothing I wouldn’t be with her because she has put up with so much.

“But that is why people should come forward. It eats away at you and you can’t move on, you end up destroying your own life.

“If I can get justice after so long anyone who has been through what I have can.”

DC Zoe McCarthy, who led the police investigation, said: “The sexual abuse of children ruins lives.

“In this case the sexual abuse has had a devastating effect upon the victim.

“Sexual offences against children no matter how many years ago will be thoroughly investigated by the child abuse investigation unit of Cleveland Police”.

Helen Britton House is a purpose- built referral centre run by Cleveland Police that is designed to provide a sensitive and dedicated service for victims of rape and sexual assault.

May 2008

Child-killer’s sentence reduced

A Reading lorry driver who sexually abused a four-year-old girl before beating her to death could be released in three years.

The decision by High Court judge Mr Justice Owen to cut the minimum sentence of child killer Colin Evans means he can ask the parole board to free him in early 2011 – despite a recommendation by the judge at his trial that he should “spend the rest of his natural life in prison”.

Evans, now 68, was jailed for life in December 1984 after pleading guilty to the gruesome murder of Marie Payne.

After abducting the little girl from outside her Dagenham home on March 11, 1983, Evans drove her to Epping Forest, where he subjected her to a sickening sexual attack, stripping her naked before burying her body under leaves.

The killer then returned to the scene three days later where he dug up her body and mutilated her remains, taking several photographs of them.

The young girl’s body was eventually discovered 14 months later when Evans, of Russell Street, was arrested after making three more attempts to abduct small children.

The father-of-one, whose own daughter died of leukaemia, quickly confessed to murdering Marie and led police to the spot where he had buried her body.

Officers searching his bedsit uncovered children’s books, two wigs hidden in the back of a radio and a hoard of sickening photographs of young girls, including pictures of Marie lying dead on an empty fertiliser bag.

But as reported in the Evening Post at the time, a series of police slip-ups meant the notorious child molester escaped detection for more than a year after the horrific attack.

Vital evidence from an elderly neighbour who spotted a man sitting in a yellow car outside the house on the day of the abduction was discounted, as 19 other witnesses came forward claiming they had seen Marie later that afternoon.

And when Evans was arrested six weeks later for indecent assault on a little Reading girl, he was not questioned about Marie’s disappearance.

Evans, dubbed “the evil Pied Piper”, had a long record of sex crimes against young children dating back to the mid 1960s, serving 13-and-a-half years behind bars.

The then Reading East MP Sir Gerry Vaughan called for an inquiry into the scandal, in particular how Evans was able to work as a babysitter for Berkshire Social Services in 1982.

The Evening Post also revealed how Evans had appealed for psychiatric help to try and curb his sexual desire for children long before the murder, but was turned down by doctors.

Speaking after his sentence, Marie’s heartbroken parents John and Brenda Payne said Evans deserved to be “locked up for life” and even called for the reintroduction of the death penalty.

The judge at his trial, Mr Justice Kenneth Jones, described Evans as “an evil, unfeeling man and a great danger to young children”.

Recommending that Evans serve at least 30 years behind bars, he said his intention was that Evans “should spend the rest of his natural life in prison or at least that he should remain there until age has removed his sexual drive”.

The then Lord Chief Justice, Lord Lane, agreed that Evans “should never be released”.

But following a review of the case at London’s Royal Courts of Justice yesterday, Mr Justice Owen said Evans’s guilty plea “indicated a degree of contrition” and reduced his tariff to 27 years.

The decision means that, with time spent on remand taken into account, Evans can apply for parole in early 2011.

However, the judge emphasised that he will only be released if he can convince the parole board it is safe to do so, and would remain on perpetual “life licence”, subject to prison recall if he puts a foot wrong ever again.

Royal Courts of Justice
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL

Date: 24/04/2008

1. On 17 December 1984 the applicant, Colin James Evans, who is now 68 years of age, pleaded guilty to the murder of a 4 year old girl, Marie Denise Payne.

2. The offence was committed in March 1983 the applicant invited the girl into his car and drove her to Epping Forest.  He began to indecently assault her, removing her tights and knickers.  When she screamed he hit her over the head with a fallen branch fracturing her skull and killing her.  He then buried the child’s body under leaves, first having stripped her.  He returned to the scene three days later, when he disinterred the body, mutilated it by inserting pieces of wood in her vagina and anus, took several photographs of her and then buried her.

3. The child’s body was discovered some 14 months later in the following circumstances.  In May 1984 the applicant attempted to abduct small children for his sexual gratification on three occasions.  The children escaped on each occasion, and the police eventually traced and interviewed the applicant.  He admitted killing Marie Payne and took the police to the spot where he had buried her.  The applicant pleaded guilty to three counts of child stealing in relation to each of the attempted abductions, and was sentenced to three years imprisonment.  On each of three counts of child stealing contrary to Section 56 of the Offence against the Person Act 1861, such sentences to be served concurrently.

4. Prior to his conviction for murder, the applicant had been convicted of sexual offences on four occasions.  On 16 December 1966 he appeared at the Central Criminal Court where he was convicted of an indecent assault on a female under 14, an indecent assault on a male under 14, and abduction of an unmarried girl under 16.  He was fined for each offence.  But on the 29th May 1970 the applicant appeared at the Essex Quarter Sessions where he was convicted of three offences of attempted buggery, two offences of indecent assault of a female under 14 and an offence of an indecent assault of a male under 14, and sentenced to a total of 10 years imprisonment.

5. On 22nd June 1978 he was convicted of an indecent assault under 14 at the Reading Crown Court and sentenced to three years imprisonment.  On 3 November 1980 he again appeared at the Reading Crown Court and was convicted of an indecent assault on a female under 14 for which he was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.

6. In his report to the Home Secretary the sentencing judge, Mr Justice Kenneth Jones, recommended that the applicant serve a minimum period of 30 years before his release on licence.  He added, as was obvious from the facts of the case and from the applicant’s previous record, that he was a great danger to young children and added:
“I can only repeat what I said when making the recommendation viz. that my intention was that he should spend the rest of his natural life in prison or at least that he should remain there until age has removed his sexual drive.”

7. Lord Lane CJ made the following recommendation:
“Retribution and general deterrence in my view require that this man should never be released.”

8. In March 1995 the applicant made written representations as to the tariff period which were supported by written representations from the solicitor who had acted for him in 1984.  On 18 November 1996 the Secretary of State, having considered such representations, set the tariff at 30 years.

9. This is an application under Schedule 22 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.  I have to decide whether I should order that the early release provisions under the 2003 Act should apply to the applicant after a shorter period than 17 years.  It is not open to me to order that they should apply after a longer period.  In considering this application I must have regard to the seriousness of the offence of murder that the applicant committed, and in so doing, I must have regard to the general principles set out in Schedule 21 of the Act, and also to the recommendations made to the Secretary of State by the trial judge and by the Lord Chief Justice as to the minimum term to be served by the applicant before release on licence.

10. I am also to have regard to the effect that Section 67 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 would have had if the applicant would have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment; and should therefore, where appropriate, give credit for time spent on remand in consequence of his having been committed to custody by an order of the court made in connection with the proceedings relating to the murder.  I am satisfied that I should have regard to a period spent in custody on remand of 6 months and 27 days.

11. This was a murder of a child involving her abduction and with a sexual motivation.  Accordingly the case falls within paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 21 of the Act for which the appropriate starting point is a whole life order.

12. As the murder was committed in March 1983 I am also required to take account of the guidelines set out in the Practice Direction issued by Lord Bingham CJ on 10 February 1997.  His practice was to take 14 years as the period actually to be served for the “average”, “normal” or “unexceptional” murder.  Amongst the factors that he identified as likely to call for a sentence more severe than the norm was the killing of a child, evidence of sexual maltreatment, and macabre attempts to dismember or conceal the body.

13. Written representations as to the minimum term have been submitted on behalf of the applicant.  It is submitted on his behalf that the starting point under Schedule 21 is not whole life but 30 years.  I do not agree.  The case plainly falls within paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 21 indicating a whole life sentence.  I am satisfied both that the murder involved the abduction of the girl and secondly that there was a sexual motivation.  That is clear both from the brief account of the facts of the killing and from the applicant’s previous record.

14. It is accepted on behalf of the applicant that there were serious aggravating features, the vulnerability of the victim a girl aged 4 and the concealment of the body.  There are further serious aggravating features, the disinterment of the body and its mutilation and by the photographs then taken of the body.

15. As to mitigating factors the applicant is entitled to credit for his plea of guilty.  The sentencing guidelines counsel guidelines indicate that the maximum reduction of the minimum term do reflect credit for a plea of guilty should be one sixth, or 5 years whichever is the less where there has been an indication of willingness to plead guilty at the first reasonable opportunity.  Secondly it is submitted on behalf of the applicant that the killing was not premeditated, but that he reacted violently to her screaming when he sexually assaulted her, and hit her to silence her.  I accept that there is no evidence to suggest that the killing was premeditated, and that the applicant reacted on the spur of the moment to her screaming when he began sexually to assault her.  As I have already indicated the case in my judgement warranted a starting point of a whole life sentence under paragraph 21.  But I bear in mind that I may not set a minimum term greater than that imposed by the Secretary of State.  Secondly whilst it is reasonable to assume that the Secretary of State would have taken account of the plea of guilty in the sense that it indicated a degree of contrition on the part of the applicant, at the date at which he set the minimum term there were not a statutory recognition of the right to a credit for a plea nor the guidelines that followed.  In those circumstances I have come to the conclusion that the appropriate minimum term is one of 27 years less the period of six months and 27 days spent on remand.

16. The minimum term is the minimum amount of time that the applicant will spend in prison from the date of sentence before the parole board can order early release.  If it remains necessary for the protection of the public, the applicant will continue to be detained after that date.  When the applicant has served the minimum term, and if the parole board decides to direct his release, he will remain on licence for the rest of his life and may be recalled to prison at any time if in breach of the terms of his parole. 

October 2013

Charity founder was a pervert

THE FOUNDER of a national children’s charity wore a wristwatch fitted with a secret camera to film children naked.

David Thomas Clapton, 52, the founder of Harvest Trust, also had a shaver with a camera inside.

Clapton went on to become a foster parent but “only to scheme to exploit young people.”

Clapton was jailed for four years and three months after he admitted one offence of sexual assault on a seven year-old boy, five of voyeurism and 14 offences of possessing child pornography.

Swansea crown court heard that Clapton had 11,271 indecent images of children on his computers, including some in the most serious category five.

Harvest Trust arranged holidays in west Wales for challenged children. It banked £648,000 between 2005 and 2009, when it stopped sending accounts to the Charity Commission.

John Hipkin, prosecuting, said in March, 2011, Clapton and his wife were accepted as foster carers by Ceredigion County Council, and they helped several children to have emergency accommodation at their home, Anwylfa, Rhydlewis, near Cardigan.

But within 18 months police executed a search warrant at the address.

They took away “a large amount of computer equipment.”

Mr Hipkin said it included a watch that appeared to be normal but it could film and record sound. So could a shaver, although it was not clear whether it had been used.

Clapton had also fitted filming devices to the bathroom.

Police located the footage, some of which showed Clapton sexually abusing a boy under the pretext of drying him after a bath.

They also found that Clapton had been accessing child porn sites on the internet.

After his arrest Clapton tried to pretend he had been researching child abuse in his role as a foster carer–until police confronted him with his wristwatch.

Clapton had also searched the internet for jail sentences for paedophiles.

Mr Hipkin said Clapton’s known offending related to his role as a foster carer.

Janet Gedrych, the barrister representing Clapton, said the footage had not been distributed. Police had found it inside a locked safe and although he had received indecent images of children he had sent in return only “naturism” type pictures.

“The charity has nothing to do with his sexual interest in children. The charity is now closed.” she added.

Miss Gedrych urged Judge Paul Thomas to consider a community based sentence to allow time for Clapton to be treated for his sexual interests.

Judge Thomas told Clapton, “Thousands of dedicated people take on the heavy and vital responsibility of acting as foster parents.

“They do so out of good citizenship, kindness and generosity.”

He said the children they looked after often had tragic backgrounds “who arrive in a strange household with strange people, often bewilidered.”

“When you applied to become a foster carer you knew that you had a strong sexual attraction towards children.

“You fooled everyone. You were the founder of a childern’s charity. You schemed to exploit young children.

“You betrayed the high level of trust put in you by social services and assisted agencies, and the children themselves, and not least your own family, and your wife.

“In the guise of giving that boy a bath you fondled him.”

Such was his interest in children that he bought a spy watch, added Judge Thomas..

January 2014

Worcester man ordered to sign sex offender register after flashing teen

AN unemployed man from Worcester has been ordered to sign the sex offender register after admitting exposing himself to one teenage girl and sexually harassing two others.

Simon Palfrey, of London Road, appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to exposing himself to a 16-year-old girl and using threatening words and behaviour towards two 15-year-old girls at an earlier hearing.

Jackie Rogers, prosecuting, told the court the 16-year-old had walked past the defendant’s parked car, near Tesco in Warndon, on Monday, August 12, when Palfrey attracted her attention and exposed himself.

In the second incident on Sunday, August 18, two 15-year-old girls were walking in the same area when they saw Palfrey looking at them with his hands in his trousers. He whistled to attract their attention but when they saw him he ran off and hid behind a bush.

“When they came out of the shop they saw the same man again with his hands down his trousers,” she said.

The 27-year-old admitted the charges on Thursday, December 12, but the case was adjourned while a pre-sentence report was prepared.

Amer Hussain, defending, described the two incidents as “a most unusual and bizarre set of cases”.

“It’s remarkable that he finds himself behaving as he has on these two occasions,” he said.

“He’s accepted that his behaviour was wrong.”

Palfrey was ordered to sign the sex offender register for the next five years and was also sentenced to a three-year community order including supervision and a requirement to carry out a sex offender programme.

He was also fined £50 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

September 2011

Paedophile fined over foreign holiday

A REGISTERED sex offender from Penarth has been ordered to pay almost £1,400 after he left the country without giving police sufficient notice of his intentions.

Lee Nicholas Clarke, aged 65, was sentenced last November to 10 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after he admitted 20 counts of possessing and making indecent images of children.

He was placed on the Sex Offenders List for 10 years, and being a relevant offender he must notify police when intending to leave the country.

Cardiff Crown Court heard on Friday (September 16) that financial adviser Clarke, who travelled with his wife to Cyprus on April 3 this year, notified police of his travel plans via answerphone message two days before he left. However, he is obliged to do so seven days in advance of travel.

After he admitted the offence, Judge Isabel Parry fined him £1,000, and ordered him to pay £350 prosecution costs and £15 victim surcharge. He was given 28 days to pay.

He was also ordered to undertake 20 hours unpaid work.

August 2011

24-year-old Angus man told 7 yr old girl he wanted to kiss her

An Angus man who told a seven-year-old girl he wanted to kiss her was placed on the sex offenders register for three years.

Robert Keenan (24), c/o Angus social work department, sat the girl on his knee and told her: “I’d like to kiss you and I would like to go out with you.”

Keenan later told police during an interview that he was tempted to kiss her but refrained because she didn’t look old enough.

As well as being placed on the sex offenders register, Keenan — who was supported in court by family and carers — was banned from having unsupervised contact with anyone under 17.

Keenan had admitted that on February 2 in a communal front garden, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner, approached a seven-year-old girl, repeatedly picked her up, cradled her in his arms, swung her around, placed her on his knee, wrapped his arms around her stomach and made suggestive remarks to her, all to her fear and alarm, committing a breach of the peace.

The case had previously called at Arbroath before Sheriff Charles McClory. Sheriff McClory had deferred sentence for a social work report and risk assessment to be carried out.

At the time, he refrained from placing Keenan on the sex offenders register until the reports were prepared.

Defence agent Billy Rennie previously told the court his client suffered from myotonic dystrophy, which is a chronic, slow-progressing, highly-variable inherited multi-systematic disorder. He said he also had learning disabilities.

Sheriff Derek Pyle imposed a community payback order for three years with a supervision requirement and banned Keenan from having unsupervised contact with children under 17.

Keenan must also reside only in accommodation approved by his supervising officer and engage with the Tay Project, which runs programmes for adult offenders, convicted of sexual offences.

The sheriff asked Keenan if he understood all the requirements. He replied: “Yes.”

January 2014

Peadophile caught out by his own bragging

A paedophile who bragged to a friend that he had picked up a young boy in a park and was “going to have some 
fun with him” in his car 
has been locked up for 12 months.

Carl Fisher sent a text message to the man inviting him to come along and then sent him a picture of a naked boy, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The man was so concerned he contacted the police and officers went to Fisher’s home in Highfield Road, Ipswich, and arrested him, said David Wilson, prosecuting.

His mobile phone was seized and when it was analysed, it was found to contain 300 indecent images of children and four movies.

Mr Wilson said that on a scale of one to five, with level five being the most serious, 296 of the images were at level one and four were at level three, while three of the movies were at level two and one was at level three.

When Fisher was interviewed about the images he answered no comment to questions.

The court heard that in 2000 Fisher was jailed for two years for two indecent assaults on boys aged 14 and 15 and an offence of buggery, and in 2009 he had appeared before another court for an offence of sexual assault on a male.

Fisher, 43, admitted one offence of making indecent images of children.

Jailing him for 12 months and making him the subject of an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, Judge John Holt told Fisher that a pre-sentence report had assessed him as being at “high to very high” risk of sexual reoffending.

“I am satisfied I would be failing in my public duty if I didn’t pass an immediate sentence of imprisonment,” said the judge.

Craig Marchant, for Fisher, said his client had not taken the picture of the boy which triggered the investigation and he had sent it to his friend as “ a wind-up”.

He said Fisher had downloaded the images found on his phone from the internet and hadn’t been in the presence of any of the children when the pictures were taken.

Mr Marchant said Fisher was normally in work but was currently unemployed.

January 2014

Paedophile had sex with young victim and left her pregnant

A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for four years and eight months for starting a sexual relationship with a schoolgirl which left her pregnant.

Lee Hilton, aged 44, of Stanworth Avenue, Breightmet, admitted seven counts of sexual intercourse with a girl aged under 16, at Bolton Crown Court.

The court heard how Hilton repeatedly had sex with the girl over a two-year period, which left her pregnant with a son.

Relations between the girl and her mother became strained, as the girl told her mother the baby was the result of a one-night stand, which led the mother to question her morality.

The court heard how she was not sexually active in any other way at the time, with Hilton having taken her virginity, so she knew no one else could be the father.

Hilton pressured her into keeping the identity of the father secret, and made her feel that she and he would both go to prison if their relationship came to light.

A police investigation only started when the girl felt able to reveal the identity of her son’s father to her current partner.

The court was told how Hilton was “ashamed” of what he had done and had nothing other than “best wishes” for the girl and her family.

Judge Timothy Stead said: “You began a sexual relationship with this girl.

“You never used a condom and applied pressure to a child to keep the matter secret.

“She concealed the truth to protect you, and it has been very difficult for her to come to terms with what has happened to her.

“Her feelings are very strong and negative as one might expect.

“I will give you the fullest discount for your early plea, as I’m compelled to do, but you must still receive a lengthy custodial sentence.”

Hilton was given four years and eight months imprisonment for six of the counts and two years for the seventh, with all sentences to run concurrently.

January 2014

Pervert jailed over sickening child abuse images

A PERVERT who used Skype to distribute child abuse images of boys has been jailed for five-and-a half years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that some of the images shared by Philip Harrison were among the worst police officers had even encountered.

An investigation showed that Harrison had distributed thousands of images to 85 other Skype users and 166 users of the file sharing system Gigatribe.

His use of the messaging service Skype was described in court as “new territory”.

Jailing the 51-year-old Judge David Aubrey QC told him: “You submerged yourself in a sea of depravity.

“The perversions illustrated in so many images defy the imagination of any right thinking member of society. It is difficult to comprehend that such can exist in human nature.”

“Every child depicted in those images will suffer or has suffered untold psychological and emotional harm as a result of that which occurred to them and such harm may well be beyond repair and remain with them for ever.”

While on bail for these offences Harrison had taken up a position at Chorlton Community Centre in Manchester after earning their trust as a volunteer.

However he was entrusted with the security token for their bank account while the manager was away and last April used it to steal £13,822 from their account.

As a result the centre had to close down.

Judge Aubrey continued: “You were in a high degree of trust. The affect on the community centre was catastrophic.”

Claire Jones prosecuting told how the indecent image offences came to light after Merseyside Police Abusive Images Unit received a message in November 8, 2011 from West Midlands Police about on line activities on Gigatribe.

Investigations led officers to an address in Siskin Close in Newton-le-Willows where it was found Harrison had been a tenant but he had moved to a house in Regent Street also in Newton where he was living with a woman friend and her three young children.

Officers visiting the address found that he had moved out three days earlier to the YMCA but they discovered his laptop at Regent Street and his former landlady kept his other computer due to a dispute over money.

When they were examined they were found to contain almost 4,000 indecent images and movies spanning all categories of seriousness and his distribution activities led to other suspects being identified.

Harrison, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to 17 offences involving making, distributing and possessing for show indecent images, theft and failing to surrender to bail.

John Broadley defending said that Harrison has no previous similar convictions and has never been to jail. His behaviour has spiralled out of control after the breakdown of a 15 year relationship and he began drinking heavily.

He said: “He is appalled by his own conduct. He is appalled he could have accessed or made available for distribution these images. He wishes to put it behind him.”

Mr Broadley added that Harrison also admitted that the theft had been “despicable.”

Judge Aubrey jailed Harrison for four and a half years for the indecent image offences with 12 months consecutive for the theft. He ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order and banned him from working with children

January 2013

Pervert vicar facing prison sentence after pleading guilty to child abuse images offences

A Merseyside vicar is facing jail after pleading guilty to making and possessing thousands of indecent images of children.

The Rev Ian Hughes, who was priest in charge of the Wirral parishes Poulton and Seacombe, admitted 16 counts relating to more than 8,000 images and movies when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today.

Hughes, 46, appeared in the dock wearing a dark suit and tie without his trademark nose ring and dog collar and replied guilty as each charge was put to him.

He also admitted possession of an extreme pornographic image that was “grossly offensive and disgusting”  involving an animal.

Hughes was charged following a search of his home on Brougham Road, Wallasey , on May 22 last year.

Pornographic material recovered included more than 6,000 images and movies at the lowest category of seriousness, more than 1,000 at category two, more than 500 at categories three and four and more than 60 at category five, the most serious.

Judge David Aubrey adjourned sentencing until January 28 so a pre-sentence report could be written and said Hughes would have to sign on the sex offenders register immediately.

He told him: “You will now be subject to the relevant requirements on the register.

“The court will consider all matters on that day and determine what is the appropriate sentence.

“All sentencing options will remain open to the court.”

In recent years Reverend Hughes won a £270,000 Heritage Lottery grant to rebuild the spire at St Paul’s and oversaw the move of the congregation of St Luke’s in Poulton to Park Primary after the church building closed.

Following his arrest on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children he was suspended by both the Church of England and Wallasey school Park Primary where he was a governor.

After charges were brought against him  a spokesman for the Church of England’s Diocese of Chester said: “Ian Hughes was suspended from all church duties as soon as these very serious and disturbing allegations became known to us.”

January 2013

Paedophile pensioner caught with huge stash of child abuse images spared jail after he tells judge: ‘It’s just for me’

A paedophile pensioner who downloaded almost 12,500 images of children being abused avoided jail after he promised a judge the vile stash was for his personal use only.

George Thompson, 79, admitted he had a sexual interest in young boys and had previous convictions for underage sex offences

Thompson used specialist software to wipe his internet history and an anti-encryption programme to hide his sick obsession if police ever sized his hard drive.

The elderly man, who walks with two sticks, has convictions for indecently assaulting boys under 14 in the 1950s and 70s.

But despite the huge child abuse images collection, a judge decided Thompson, from George Thompson, of Hilbre Court, West Kirby, Merseyside, was ‘not a risk to society.’

The pensioner insisted he had never shared the vile images with fellow perverts.

Thompson was caught when a painter and decorator doing work at his home discovered his foul picture haul.

Some of the images, found on October 2011, were collected from the internet while others had been created by the pensioner, transferring the heads of some children onto the bodies of others.

Thomspon admitted to police having a sexual interest in young boys.

He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of possessing and creating indecent images of children, most of which were of the lowest level of seriousness but also included hundreds at levels two, three and four on a scale up to five.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today that Thompson was convicted of underage sex offences when aged 24 and 36, in 1958 and 1970 respectively.

Quentin Neal, defending, said the 12 months he had spent on bail where a “period of trauma” and that since his last conviction he had built up status in the community which he had now lost.

He added: “To a large extent he has subdued the demons in his personality. He feels shamed by his offending.”

Judge Andrew Hatton, said Thompson posed a “limited risk” in the future and added: “In my judgement the offences to which you have pleaded guilty merit a custodial sentence.

“But I think the long term interests of society are best served by you being made the subject of supervision in the community.”

Thompson was given a community order with supervision lasting for three years and was told to attend a sex offenders program.

August 2013

Serial rapist Colin Blake from Watford sentenced to 12 years

A judge has branded a 53-year-old man a ‘serial rapist’ when jailing him for attacking two women  telling him he should never have been found not guilty of two earlier assaults.

Judge Murray Shanks spoke out as he sentenced Colin Blake for attacking a woman in her own home last year and raping a 14-year-old girl in 2010.

He said that he had ‘no doubt’ that Blake had also forced himself on two further victims, aged 13 and 26.

Blake was tried for this alleged assaults in two separate hearings in 2006 and 2007 but found not guilty on both occasions.

Sentencing Blake at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Judge Shanks said: ‘Somehow you were acquitted by a jury of two previous rapes in 2006 and 2007 of a 13-year-old and a 26-year-old.

‘As I say, you have managed to persuade juries on those occasions and were found not guilty.

‘I have no doubt whatsoever that you raped those women.

‘In other words I am sure you are a serial rapist and you are capable of raping more women.

‘You have lied through all four of the trials and even though acquitted it did not influence your behaviour, you just carried on as before.

He added: ‘You appear to have no insight as to the harm you have caused to other people.

‘All the evidence I have heard suggests you are a man who thinks he is entitled to sex at any time without regard to others’ feelings or even their age.’

Blake targeted his most recent victim, aged 26, in her own home in Woodford Green, east London, in August last year.

He had promised to take her out for an evening and asked to come in and wait while she got ready but soon began demanding sex.

When she turned him down, Blake forced her into her bedroom and raped her twice.

The fourth victim was a 14-year-old girl, who was attacked twice by Blake in September 2010.

He arranged to meet the teenager on the pretence of buying her new school uniform.

But instead he drove her to an address in Hackney, east London, before raping her and driving her home.

Later that month she awoke to find Blake groping her in her bedroom.

Blake, of Watford, Hertfordshire, had denied two counts of rape and one of sexual assault.

UPDATE: Ashill has now been released and currently lives in penarth near Cardiff

October 2004

Rapist jailed for 12 years

A businessman convicted of rape and indecent assault of a 15 year old schoolgirl has been jailed for 12 years.

A woman burst into tears and there were angry shouts that ‘justice is lost’ when the long sentence was handed down at Cardiff Crown Court.

Married Dean Ashill, 34, who runs Phoenix Light Haulage, had denied the charges but had been found guilty by a jury in September. 

He admitted having sex with the victim but claimed she was not underage and had consented. 

Ashill was found guilty of five counts of rape and six of indecent assault. He was sentenced to 12 years and sent to HMP Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight.

Ashill was also placed on the sex offenders register for life and banned of having unsupervised access to children

Judge Christopher Llewellyn-Jones QC told him: ‘You even said she had instigated it – you tried to put the blame on her – but the jury did not believe you. 

‘You subjected her to sexual degradations and through all of this you have shown not a hint of remorse.’ 

Prosecutor Martyn Kelly had told the trial that the girl had been too young to legally give her consent. 

The judge said there had been ‘little violence’ used but there had been threats that her life would be destroyed. 

The court heard the girl at one point withdrew her claims against Ashill, of Whitewell Road, Barry but then went back to the police a second time. 

Defence barrister Tim Evans said people who knew Ashill – a man who provided work both directly and indirectly, through contacts, for many people – found it all very hard to believe.

November 2013

Ex-magistrate is jailed for sex abuse of girl, 10

A DISGRACED magistrate, Church of England minister and music teacher has been jailed for sexually abusing a young girl 10 years ago.

Christopher Tadman-Robins, 66, of Upper End, Shipton-Under-Wychwood, has begun a two-and-a-half year jail sentence.

He was ordained in 1989 but in the last 20 years has only conducted occasional services in West Oxfordshire.

He also sat as a magistrate at the former court in Witney, taught music and was a former musical director of the Northern Ballet.

But Judge Philip Bartle QC said his good character and contribution to society did not spare him from an immediate custodial sentence.

Jailing him yesterday, he told Tadman-Robins: “Your victim was aged from 10 to 12 and you were in your 50s. The impact on her of these offences has been devastating. She has suffered untold stress and has self-harmed.

“Your actions took away her innocence which is something from which she will never recover.”

Tadman-Robins was convicted by a jury at Luton Crown Court last month on five charges of indecent assault. He was found not guilty of a sixth charge.

The victim, who reported the abuse when she was an adult, told the jury he had kissed her passionately and touched her intimately.

In a victim impact statement, she said she had suffered low self esteem, panic attacks and had needed medication and therapy. She also said having to give evidence at his trial was devastating.

Tadman-Robin’s lawyer urged the court to suspend the sentence, saying there had been no other allegations of impropriety.

In a statement released after the conviction, the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Rev Colin Fletcher, said: “Any case like this is a matter of sorrow and regret for the Church of England. We recognise that the suffering of survivors of sexual abuse is profound and long lasting.

We would expect Dr Tadman-Robins to be referred for barring and prohibited from ever holding office in the Church of England again as a result of this conviction. All those involved in this sad case are in my thoughts and prayers.”

November 2011

Driver jailed after sex with schoolgirl

A COACH driver from Redhill who had sex with a teenager after he met her while taking a church group on holiday has been jailed for four years.

Raymond Norton, 48, was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday (November 1) after being found guilty of five counts of sexual activity with a child under-16.

He was found not guilty of one count of rape in relation to the same girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The court heard Norton sent the victim a string of explicit text messages before initiating a sexual relationship in 2004.

Prosecutor Rachel Davies said there had been a breach of trust between Norton and his victim because of the manner in which he met her and began to groom her.

She added: “She was in a vulnerable place and he was aware of that.”

However, Christopher Draycott, defending Norton, told the court that any bond that had started on the coach trip had ended at the conclusion of the trip and what happened subsequently was an entirely new relationship meaning there was no breach of trust.

“Last month was his first introduction into custody and he has found that difficult,” said Mr Draycott, who indicated his client would not be appealing against his conviction.

“Today will end a very long process for Mr Norton and it has been very stressful.

“His family and employer has stood by him and must come to terms with what he has been found to have done.”

Mr Draycott also urged Judge Neil Stewart to consider that his client had not re-offended since 2004 and that this is his only conviction for this type of offence as proof that he is not a danger to the public.

Judge Stewart said: “You were quite clearly physically and sexually attracted to her and you sent a number of text messages which were wholly inappropriate and in my opinion quite clearly demonstrated you had that kind of feelings for her.

On June 30 these messages culminated in the first of these offences. The major aggravating factor is the age gap between you, you were 40 and she was 15.”

Norton, of Canal Side, Redhill, was handed a four-year concurrent sentence for each of the five offences and was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

November 2013

Man jailed for raping 16-year-old girl

A Crewe man subjected a 16-year-old girl to a horrific and prolonged sex attack –  before his friend raped her again just minutes later.

Anthony James Hutchinson, of  Wistaston Road in Crewe, was  found guilty at Liverpool Crown  Court yesterday (Tuesday) of three  counts of rape and two counts of  sexual assault against the former  Nantwich schoolgirl.

He was jailed for 11 years.

His co-defendant, Anthony  Lawrence Barber, (pictured below) of Red Wharf Bay  in Anglesey, was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of  sexual assault, and was imprisoned  for seven-and-a-half years.

Both Hutchinson, 50, and Barber,  45, had denied the allegations,  which date back to March 2008.

The court heard how the young victim, who is now 21, had spent  the evening in question with  friends at a flat on Edleston Road  in Crewe. Both Hutchinson and  Barber were present.

During the night, Hutchinson  repeatedly raped her in the flat’s  bedroom and assaulted her, before  Anthony Barber came in and  raped her as well.

The offence was reported to the  police in July 2011. A jury had  originally heard the case in May this year but failed to reach a  verdict.

Speaking after yesterday’s sentencing, DS Claire Jesson, of  Crewe CID, said: “This was a horrendous and prolonged attack on a  young girl in an extremely vulnerable position. Both defendants  subjected her to a degrading and  brutal sexual attack, which has  affected her for many years afterwards.

“I would like to commend the victim for being so brave, both her  and her family have remained dignified throughout and have all  been through a great struggle to  get to this point today.”

November 2013

North Wales man jailed over rape of 16-year-old girl

Pictured above: Anthony Barber

A man subjected a 16-year-old girl to a horrific and prolonged sex attack – before his friend raped her again just minutes later.

Anthony James Hutchinson was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday of three counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault against the girl. He was jailed for 11 years.

His co-defendant Anthony Lawrence Barber, (pictured above) of Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey, was found guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault, and was imprisoned for seven-and-a-half years.

Both Hutchinson, 50,  of Wistaston Road in Crewe, and Barber, 45, had denied the allegations, which date back to March 2008.

The court heard how the victim  had spent the evening in question with friends at a flat  in Crewe. Both Hutchinson and Barber were present.

During the night, Hutchinson repeatedly raped her in the flat’s bedroom and assaulted her, before Barber came in and raped her as well.

The offence was reported to the police in July 2011. A jury had originally heard the case in May this year but failed to reach a verdict.

Speaking after yesterday’s sentencing, DS Claire Jesson, of Crewe CID, said: “This was a horrendous and prolonged attack on a young girl in an extremely vulnerable position.

“Both defendants subjected her to a degrading and brutal sexual attack, which has affected her for many years afterwards.

“I would like to commend the victim for being so brave, both she and her family have remained dignified throughout and have all been through a great struggle to get to this point today.”

November 2008

Five years for sex offences against children

A LUDGERSHALL man has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a judge in Salisbury for a series of sexual offences.

David Walkling, aged 62, of Crown Lane, Ludgershall, had been convicted of five counts of indecent assault on two girls aged 10 and 14 at a crown court trial in September after pleading not guilty to the charges.

The cases involved allegations as recent as spring 2007 but four other counts, two dating back to the 1980s, were dismissed. The allegations included accusations of inappropriate touching and of a naked cuddle.

At the sentencing in Salisbury Judge John McNaught was told Walkling had previously pleaded guilty, at the earliest opportunity, to having accessed child porn sites. He was found to have 6,501 child abuse pictures and 928 moving films on his computer.

Prosecuting counsel, Lynne Matthews, said: “The defendant admitted interest in this type of material for some five or six years. Investigation revealed the defendant accessed websites such as perverts are us which involved young children.”

Defence counsel Tim Evans said Walkling, of previously good character, had shown remorse and already sought help from the Lucy Faithful Foundation.

“There are no aggravating features and the offences were at the lower end of the scale,” he said.

“As far as the images are concerned – he had these images but there is no evidence of producing them, trading them or passing them on.”

Judge McNaught said: “The offences are serious and happened over a long period of time and some of the images are in the most serious category. The fact that there are two victims makes the case worse.”

He sentenced Walkling to four years’ imprisonment for the indecency and 12 months for possession of the images and was told that half the five-year period would be in prison with the remainder of the punishment on licence.

May 2011

Rapist jailed for series of attacks on teenage girls

A RAPIST has been told he will spend at least eight and a half years behind bars after raping and sexually assaulting two teenage girls.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Charles Knowles, aged 60, of Back Broad Street, Bury, carried out a series of rapes on the two young women, one of whom had cerebral palsy, between July 2005 and August 2009.

One of the women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was just 15 when he first raped her. The court heard that the offences only came to light after the second woman, who had been drinking and was asleep when assaulted by Knowles, came across a recording of the incident made by her attacker.

Knowles had denied the offences but following a trial a jury convicted him of 10 counts of rape, one charge of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault.

Tina Landale, defending, told the court that Knowles still denies his guilt.

Sentencing Knowles to an indeterminate jail sentence for public protection Judge Timothy Clayson stated that it will be eight and a half years before he is eligible to apply for parole and he will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.

“You have no insight whatsoever into your offending behaviour,”

Judge Clayson told him.

December 200

Belfast man jailed for downloading images of children

A pervert who downloaded more than 1,000 images and five hours of film clips of children being sexually abused wept in court as he was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Belfast Crown Court Judge Tom Burgess also ordered 25-year-old Russell James Whiteside, who shared many of the photos and movies with other web perverts, to sign the police sex offenders register for the rest of his life, banned him from having any pornographic material or from owning any device which has internet access.

On occasions Whiteside, the son of a policeman and from the Belmont Church Road in east Belfast, sat in the dock wiping tears from his eyes as it was revealed that a planned wedding was called off after he was caught red-handed downloading the sickening images. He was described as a thrill-seeking addict to porn.

Prosecuting lawyer David Russell told the court that police raided his parents’ home on November 13 last year and seized a computer tower and a hard drive while he was away on holiday.

He said when they were examined, officers found a total of 1,678 images of children being sexually abused and more than five hours of movie clips with all the images ranging from category one, the least offensive, to category five, the most depraved which, according to legal authorities, can include images of incest, bestiality and sado-masochism.