May 2016

Man found with indecent images of children and animals in Northampton to face judge

A Northampton man who has admitted distributing sexual images of children and possessing “extreme” pornography involving animals, will have his sentence decided by a judge.

Mark French of Carrs Way, Harpole, pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child, seven counts of possessing indecent images of children and five counts of possessing extreme pornographic images showing sex acts between humans and animals, at Northampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The 28-year-old, who appeared in court wearing a checkered shirt and beige trousers, spoke only to confirm his address and plead guilty to the charges.

Some of the photographs and videos of children discovered on various devices at his home in Harpole were considered category A offences, the most severe in terms of indecency, by police.

French was given unconditional bail and told to appear at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday, June 21, for sentencing.

May 2016

‘Cold case’ rapist admits 1987 attack on Swindon teenager

A man has admitted raping a teenager in 1987 – after police re-opened the “cold case” almost 30 years later.

David John Mears, 60, broke into the 16-year-old’s home in Swindon and attacked her on 12 August.

He was arrested last month after new forensic techniques uncovered fresh evidence.

Mears, from Plymouth, also pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and indecent assault.

He will be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on 8 July.

May 2016

‘Despicable’ Salisbury paedophile guilty of 20 counts of abuse of four children

A ‘despicable’ paedophile has been found guilty of a string of horrific sex attacks on four children dating back 12 years.

David Weightman was found guilty at Swindon crown court of 20 charges of rape and indecent assault on a child going back to 2004.

The four victims of the sick 55-year-old from Linkway, Salisbury, were praised by police chiefs for their bravery after Weightman’s ‘not guilty’ plea meant they had to relive their ordeal in court.

Weightman has shown no remorse for his despicable actions and his not guilty plea meant that his victims had to relive their horrific ordeals once again

Weightman will be sentenced next Friday, May 27.

May 2016

Man jailed after grooming young boy during web chats

A Scarborough paedophile has been jailed for grooming a young boy while gaming online.

Ian Alexander Jubb, 24, offered the youngster money and asked him to send pictures of himself during internet chats.

Jubb’s exploitation of the under-age boy occurred while he was on a community order for a similar grooming offence.

Jubb appeared at York Crown Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to contravening a sexual-offences prevention order and three breaches of police notification requirements.

He was brought up from the cells to be sentenced on two indictments including eight counts of making indecent images of children.

Prosecutor Nicoleta Alistari said that in January 2015, the boy’s parents, who live in Wales, reported Jubb to police after discovering the online chats.

She said Jubb had blocked one online account but set up another under a different name, on which he sent the boy messages and Christmas cards. He told the boy he was 19 years’ old and drove an Audi with a personalised number plate.

Jubb was jailed for four years, placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and made the subject of a sexual-harm prevention order, to run indefinitely.

May 2016

“Disgusting” pervert caught with more than 400 images of children being abused escapes jail

A REDDITCH man caught with more than 400 indecent images of children – including videos showing girls aged two and four crying as they were sexually abused – has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Scott Tayler, 26, of Eckington Close, pretended to be a teenage girl on internet chat sites to get some of the pictures, Worcester Crown Court heard.

He admitted a total of 13 counts of making indecent images of children.

Recorder Denis Desmond, sentencing him to 12 months jail, suspended for two years, told him: “Most people would think you are a pathetic and disgusting individual.

“I see you are nodding and think you agree.”

Tayler was put under two years of supervision from the probation service and ordered to attend 25 days of rehabilitation activities.

He was also told he could have no communication with any girl under 18 unless they were with a parental guardian and was ordered to pay £500 towards court costs.

He was further given a sexual harm prevention order limiting his use of computers.

The recorder said that, if he had jailed Tayler, he would have spent only three or four months in custody and it was better he had “something hanging over” his head.

Tayler, who was of previous good character, had made suicide threats and sought the advice of the Samaritans, said Recorder Desmond.

Paul Cook, prosecuting, told the court that police found a total of 105 pictures and six movies in Category A – the most serious kind – when police examined his computer tablets, laptop and mobile phones in April 2014.

Officers also found 93 pictures and two movies in the Category B and 228 Category C still images.

Mr Cook added that Tayler used the alter ego of a teenage girl on chat sites and received images.

“He was pretending to be a sexually active teenage girl,” said Mr Cook.

He added that one movie showed a girl aged four crying that it hurt as an adult forced sex upon her and another involving a two-year-old, crying for their mother.

Nigel Stelling, defending, said members of Tayler’s family were concerned that he should be able to lead a normal family life but that any contact with young female members would be supervised.

May 2016

Bridlington paedophile gets 13 years

A serial paedophile has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for stealing the innocence of four children in a 17-year reign of abuse.

Former KC stadium steward Colin Lunn, 43, systematically molested children and physically assaulted them for his own sexual gratification.

He got away with it for nearly two decades despite nine separate police or social service investigations.

Lunn, a self confessed alcoholic, equipped his home in Bessingby Gate, Bridlington, with cameras in the bathroom, bedrooms, toilet and hall – linked to a CCTV video recorder.

Lunn stood a 10-day trial at Hull Crown Court claiming to be a victim of a social services vendetta. A jury found him guilty of 11 charges against four people with a string of offences happening in Bridlington. He was convicted of four charges of indecent assault and two charges of indecency with a child.

He was also convicted of one charge of attempted serious sexual assault, two offences of sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and sexual assault. He was found not guilty of two sex offences against a fifth child.

Lunn stood impassive in the dock as the judge told him: “I have not detected one ounce of remorse in you at all. Your defence has been to blame other people and criticise them without thinking of the affect it has had on them. Therefore the sentence has to be a long one.”

The first boy to be corrupted by Lunn told a jury: “It has ruined my life. I don’t cuddle up to my daughter, because I am scared it is seen the wrong way. If I see an advert on telly about child abuse, it gets me down.

The boy, now a man, twice took part in vigilant attacks on Lunn despite appeals to police. Lunn was told: “Die! Paedo Die!” as he was hit with a spade and rake.

Lunn’s current partner wept in the public gallery at sentence – before storming out.

His victims hugged each other in the public gallery as victim impact statements were read. The women described how his abuse had led to them to feel unable to trust men, anger and hatred.

His abuse started with young boys who fought to try and stop him. The mother of one of the boys said: “The police did not do their jobs right. They did not photograph them and asked the same question five times.

“I swore at them. He (Lunn) should never have been walking the streets. No one has helped us.”

The jury were told Lunn went on to sexually assault two girls and a woman.

Lunn threatened to bomb the headquarters of Humberside Social Services despite never being charged in connection with any of the investigations against him.

He told the jury during his trial: “They threatened me and were going through my file with a fine tooth comb.

“It was a vendetta. Social Services are not going to give up on me until I am convicted or dead.”

The jury were told police files were lost, child interviews did not take place and the police repeatedly dropped cases.

Lunn had three convictions for drink-driving, possession of a knife and cannabis, but no convictions for sexual assault.

He admitted becoming an alcoholic in a love-less marriage. The jury heard his first wife died of a drink and drugs overdose, but not before giving police a statement against him.

May 2016

Retired special constable convicted of indecently assaulting boy

A former Special Constable from a village near Coventry has been convicted of two indecent assaults against a boy – but cleared of raping another.

Ronald Potter, aged 78 and from Tippers Lane, Fillongley, had been on trial at Warwick Crown Court alongside nine other men.

Today, after three months of evidence, Potter was convicted of two offences against one boy in 2001 and 2002 but cleared of raping and sexually assaulting another teenage boy.

Eight others were convicted of committing sexual offences against the teenager, who was subjected to a “horrifying” catalogue of abuse while in council care.

The court was told the teenager was raped and repeatedly sold for sex in Birmingham’s red light district during 2009 and 2010.

Jurors deliberated for more than 30 hours before convicting the defendants from the West Midlands, London and Stoke-on-Trent of offences involving the boy.

A ninth man was cleared by the jury of committing offences against the teenager but had previously admitted facilitating child prostitution in relation to the victim.

The trial heard that the victim who was in local authority care was left “traumatised” by the offences against him, which began in his early teens.

Opening the case against the defendants in February, prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC said the complainant, now aged in his early 20s, was first spoken to by police in 2009.

Ms Cottage said of the victim: “Regrettably his contemporaneous complaints were not fully investigated by West Midlands Police in 2009 and 2010.”

But during a subsequent inquiry in 2012, the teenager, who cannot be identified, was able to point police towards those involved in his alleged exploitation.

The youngster – who was sold “like goods” in Birmingham city centre – had a troubled family background and absconded from a care home in the Midlands for a number of days, the court heard.

Judge Sylvia de Bertodano warned the 10 men convicted of offences that they will face terms of imprisonment when they are sentenced on July 1.

The nine others who were found guilty were :

Robert Bailey, 27, of Watt Road, Erdington, Birmingham. He was found guilty of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, sexual activity with a child, and making indecent photographs. He was cleared of rape.

Michael Godbold, 57, of Uxbridge Rd, Shepherd’s Bush, London, was acquitted of two counts of rape but convicted of sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and possession of controlled drugs. As he was led away to the cells, Godbold shouted: “I am not guilty of half these charges.” Judge de Bertodano responded: “That’s something you can discuss with your barrister.”

Tahir Hussain, 34, of St Josephs Road, Ward End, Birmingham, was cleared of 15 charges, including trafficking for sexual exploitation, but found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child.

Peter Joynes, 58, of Canberra Way, Highgate, Birmingham, was convicted of arranging or facilitating child prostitution and sexual activity with a child.

Stephen Kelly, of Elm Road, Bournville, Birmingham, was found guilty of two counts of arranging or facilitating child prostitution and one of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. The 39-year-old was cleared on three other charges. Kelly was told by the judge that a prison sentence in his case is inevitable.

Ian Prestleton, of High Haden Road, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, was found guilty of sexual activity with a child but cleared of rape. The 54-year-old was told a custodial sentence is the “almost inevitable outcome” when he answers bail in July.

Alan Priest, 63, of Mucklow Hill, Halesowen, West Midlands, was convicted of two rapes and one count of sexual activity with a child.

Ashley Sherrington, 25, of Dawlish Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, was convicted of two counts of rape. The trial judge remanded Sherrington in custody and warned him: “You have been convicted of very serious offences, the result of which will be a lengthy term of imprisonment.”

Kevin Tudor, 55, of no fixed address, was cleared by the jury on four charges, including three rapes, but had previously pleaded guilty two counts of sexual activity with a child and facilitating prostitution.

May 2016

Pervert avoids prison sentence after abusing 5-year-old girl

A pervert who sexually and mentally abused a young girl has avoided a prison sentence

Druggie Liam Kenneth Palmer, 23 years old of Kingswood in Bristol was found guilty of a number of serious sexual offences at Bristol Crown Court which included:

• 1. Rape of a Child under 13

  2. Assault of a child under 13 by penetration

  3. Sexual activity with a child

The court heard that Palmer was 12-years-old when he sexually abused the five-year-old girl

Palmer continued to taunt and make fun of the child for a number of years after, which resulted in mental anguish and torment for the girl.

The court was told that Palmer would call the victim a slag. He would threaten to kill her if she spoke out and would repeatedly tell her that he would rape her again

Palmer was not jailed. Instead he was given:

• Suspended sentence for 2 years

  Supervision sentence for 2 years

  Specified activity requirement to 10 days

  Sign Sexual offenders register for 10 years

Palmer did not show any remorse for his actions throughout the trial.

Palmer pictured below: It is understood that Palmer has a fetish of dressing as a woman

May 2016

Teenage girls given 12 months youth detention over Facebook baby kidnap plot

Two teenage girls who tried to kidnap three newborn babies after setting up a fake Facebook page offering children’s clothes to mothers were jailed on Friday for 12 months.

School friends Holly Kelland, 18, and Codie Farrar, 17, tricked one mother into sharing her contact details, including her address, on the social media site.

Farrar then turned up on her doorstep in Normanton, Derby, on September 21 last year posing as a social worker.

A court heard she told the mother she needed to take her two-week-old son away for 30 minutes for a medical assessment.

But luckily the mother became suspicious when Farrar didn’t hold the child’s head correctly and called police after the teen became nervous and left the house.

Police arrested Farrar who told them Kelland had recruited her to try and snatch the baby saying they planned to take the tot because her sister was unable to have children.

Kelland, who was 17 at the time, had set up a fake Facebook profile under a different name to contact mother’s with young children.

She had used the social network site to message the mothers telling them they had won prizes including designer baby clothes in raffles.

A court heard Kelland was faking a pregnancy at the time of the offences, which had even duped her PCSO mother, and had a “fully-equipped” nursery at her home.

The girls were jailed yesterday after they had previously admitted conspiring to kidnap three babies between September 14 and 23 last year.

They were both sentenced to 12 months detention and training orders when they appeared at Derby Youth Court.

District Judge Jonathan Taaffe said: “By its very nature this is a case of extreme seriousness.

“A plan was hatched to kidnap a baby, this was not followed through, fortunately only the alertness of the mother prevented an actual kidnap taking place.

“This was not a momentary decision, it was a prolonged period of action which involved the setting up of a fake Facebook account to obtain details of newborn babies and family’s details.

“It involved the travelling to areas far away from their home and masquerading as a social worker.

“The baby was held by Codie who was pretending to be a healthcare professional. The distress caused to the babies and mothers should not be underestimated.

“It’s an accepted fact that Holly recruited Codie but then on the other side Codie is the murder mystery actress who impersonates a social worker and goes to the baby’s house.”

The court had earlier heard from Kelland’s solicitor that she was suffering from mental health issues.

District Judge Taaffe added: “Such a motivation would lead to impulsive actions rather than then planned and in many ways sophisticated actions in this case.

“I would be failing in my public duty if a custodial sentence was not imposed.

“This is a very serious set of circumstances that involved planning and sophistication to take newborn babies from home addresses.

“That can only in my view be dealt with by the imposition of immediate custodial sentence.”

The court heard three mother were regularly asked for their addresses during conversations with Kelland and Farrar via their fake Facebook profile.

They first plotted to kidnap Baby W in Huddersfield, Yorks., when Kelland contacted the mother on September 14 last year.

The mum was asked if she would like some baby designer socks and was told to provide her address but gave them her mother’s because she thought it was “strange”.

Kelland, of Wolverhampton, West Mids., then contacted the mother of Baby U who gave them her address after being told she had won £100 of baby clothes or a Segway board.

The next day Farrar, of Evesham, Worcs., who had travelled to Derby with Kelland on the train, turned up at her house pretending to be a social worker.

Prosecutor Alma’s Ben-Aribia said: “On September 21 the mother called the police to report she had a two-week-old baby and a young woman had come in to her house pretending to be a social worker.

“Codie said ‘I’m a social worker and you signed something for your baby to have a medical assessment’. Codie went on to ask how old the baby was, he was two-weeks-old, and she replied ‘he is beautiful’.

“Codie then asked to hold the baby and she took hold of the baby but the mum’s alarms were raised because the woman claiming to be a social worker did not hold the baby’s head correctly.

“Codie then asked ‘do you love him?’ She said that she needed the mum to let her have the baby so she could go away and take him for a medical assessment for 30 minutes.

“The mum refused to do so and Codie became increasingly nervous and left the address. The mum informed her mother and social services were called and confirmed this was a not a bona fide visit.

“The day before this the mum had received a Facebook message from the fake account and had been offered some baby socks and it said she had won a raffle where the prize was £100 of in baby clothes or a Segway board.

“She admitted she had given out her address for these items to be posted out to her.”

The court heard the mother of Baby S, who lives in Wolverhampton, was also messaged by the fake Facebook account at around the same time.

She was even shown a video appearing to show her name being pulled out of a glass bowl in attempts to get her to give out her address but she refused.

The court heard Kelland sent Farrar a message saying: “Don’t feel like baby chasing today.”

Prosecutor Ms Ben-Aribia said Kelland had produced a fake 3D scan and sonogram to trick people – including her own mother – into believing she was pregnant.

She added: “The matron at the maternity unit where Holly was said to be receiving treatment confirmed they had no reference of Holly accessing any maternity care.

“The matron also confirmed the 3D scan and sonogram together with a note to Holly’s partner which were found on Holly’s iPad were false.”

Kelland admitted three charges of fraud by false representation and was sentenced to a four month detention and training order to be served concurrent with her 12 month sentence.

In a victim impact statement which was read to the court, the mother of Baby U said: “After it happened I kept breaking down at the thought of what would’ve happened if my baby had been taken.

“I cried all the time, it ruined the process of having a young baby. Even now I don’t trust people and I don’t like being home alone.

“I also feel paranoid when going out and feel distrustful of strangers around my baby. Whenever I hear anybody with the same accent as the suspect who visited my house it brings it all back to me.

“I went to the doctor who has given me a prescription for anxiety and depression.”

In her victim impact statement, the mother of Baby S said: “This incident resulted in me being very frightened, it’s shaken me up really bad.

“I’ve been too frightened to go home, I’ve had to stay at my mother’s house for seven days. I was scared someone would follow me from my mother’s to my house.”

Elaine Stapleton, defending Kelland, said: “It is a very difficult case and a very alarming case. It’s a kidnap by fraud not a kidnap by violence or threat of violence.

“At first glance it’s a very disturbing case but there are reasons behind it. The first real concern was that she went on to the website Fake ABaby.com and produced a scan that was clearly fake in July.

“That was to support a lie that she was pregnant. When the police came to her home there was a nursery there fully equipped with a changing table and cot.

“There were a series of lies that she now takes responsibility for.”

Louise Sweet QC, defending Farrar, added: “She candidly told the police the truth about her involvement. She, although 17, is described as immature for her age.”

May 2016

Shocked mother caught pervert indecently assaulting her son

A paedophile who groomed and sexually abused a school boy has been given a nine year extended prison sentence.

Benjamin James Moreton, 25, was discovered when the victim’s shocked mother caught him indecently assaulting her son.

The boy confided to her the following day that the defendant had been abusing him from the age of eight-years-old.

Moreton, of Kings Walk, Leicester Forest East, admitted four counts of indecently assaulting a child under 13.

 Sentencing him at Leicester Crown Court via a live video link with the prison where he is being held, Judge Philip Head said the nine year sentence comprised of a custodial term of five years and eight months with an extended licence period of three years and four months.

He told Moreton: “It’s right you’ve never been in trouble before.

“When you started that (abuse) you must have been around the age of 19.

“It was done after what can only be described as grooming him and gaining his confidence.

“It became an obsession.

“There was an adult who had a shrewd idea of what was going on but you ignored warnings.

“You bombarded the boy with texts and when his mother intervened you switched to contact by Facebook and then e-mail.

“You continued until you were literally caught in the act by the boy’s mother.

“He told you he didn’t want it and didn’t like it and you were blind to the objections of your victim.

“Experience shows the court there’s deep-seated long-standing damage caused to victims.

“He’s going to carry the memory of what you did and is likely to be deeply affected.

“You pleaded guilty on the day of trial.

“You didn’t put him through the ordeal of giving evidence, but he did have the ordeal of many months of thinking about having to give evidence.

“He came to court on that day with the horrid thought of having to talk to grown-ups about it.”

Mary Prior, prosecuting, said that on one occasion he gave the boy a lift in his van and exposed himself.

He also repeatedly touched the child in a sexual way and once performed another type of sex act upon him.

Karly Mee, mitigating, said: “He’s been awaiting sentence in custody for seven-and-a-half months since pleading guilty.

“It’s been an extremely anxious time for him and his family who sit in the public gallery to support him.

“He’s expressed deep regret.

“He’s immature for his age.

“There’s no suggestion he tried to approach any other children in a similar fashion.

“He has an understanding of the impact it’s had on the complainant and he’s willing to accept help and undergo courses offered to him.

“He’s a father of two (a baby girl and a four year old boy), and his partner still supports him and the intention is to resume their relationship following his release.

“It will impact on what contact he will have with his children and he’s willing to work with social services in relation to that.”

Moreton was placed on an indefinite restraining order, banning any future contact with the victim and forbidding him from going to the child’s school or home. He was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and will have to enlist on a sex offender register for life.

May 2016

Child abuse images pervert banned from supermarket and library

PERVERT Lee Taylor has been banned from his local shop and library after he downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children.

The 29-year-old also lost his job after receiving a text telling him he would be killed if he went to work.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the defendant became isolated and downloaded the indecent images on his home computers.

Now Taylor has been handed a two-year community order and placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

Prosecutor Kevin Jones said police searched the defendant’s home in Birch Dale, Madeley, on August 27 after ‘receiving information’.

Mr Jones said: “They recovered a computer tower, three laptops and a hard-drive.

“Indecent images were found on all five devices.”

In total there were 115 still images and 17 movies at category A – the most serious; 77 stills and 14 movies at category B; and 356 stills and six movies at category C.

And there were 487 prohibited images of children. Mr Jones added: “The titles of the videos would give a clear indication of what was on them. They included ‘Pre-teen’, ’13-year-old’, and ‘Jail-bate’.

“These images were searched for, rather than found.”

‘He has had to move just so he can walk in the street’

Taylor, of, Birch Dale, Madeley, pleaded guilty to six offences of making indecent photographs of children and one charge of possessing prohibited images of children.

The offending happened between November 28, 2014 and August 29, 2015.

Jason Holt, mitigating, said the defendant had been ostracised since he entered his guilty pleas.

Mr Holt said: “There is a photo of him in the local supermarket which he is not allowed to use.

“And he has been barred from the library. He has had to move just so he can walk in the street.”

Mr Holt said the defendant ran a club involving fantasy role play and warcraft at Madeley Library.

The group’s members were aged from nine to senior adults.

‘He got a text to say if he went back he would be killed’

Mr Holt said: “There was no targeting of children or anything of that nature.

“It took place at the library and is now something he is barred from.”

He said Taylor had lost his job of eight years.

Mr Holt added: “He got a text to say if he went back he would be killed.”

Judge David Fletcher sentenced Taylor to a two-year community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 60 days.

He was also made the subject of a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to pay £535 costs.

Judge Fletcher said: “You downloaded images which are illegal, distasteful, unpleasant and which reflect misery and human pain on a fairly large scale.

The children you were looking at for your own sexual gratification are real people. Their lives are shattered by this sort of abuse.”

May 2016

Mid Devon man had images of young girls

A Mid Devon man has been ordered to receive sex offender treatment from the probation service after he was found with pictures of young girls on his computer.

Police in Devon were alerted by the National Crime Agency and raided Simon Oldfield’s home at Dolton, near Winkleigh, where they found he had 886 images of under age girls.

The images showed girls as young as six in sexual poses, some naked and some wearing bathing costumes.

Oldfield, whose hotmail address was ‘The white bull rides again’, was caught with one of the images on his Twitter account, Exeter Crown Court was told.

After his arrest he enrolled with the Stop it Now campaign and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to seek help for his internet use. He has also been restricted from having full access to his three children as a condition of bail.

Oldfield, of Wood Lane, Dolton, admitted one offence of making category C indecent images and was ordered to undertake 60 days of rehabilitation with the probation service as part of a community order.

Judge Graham Cottle also ordered him to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years and made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which allows the police to monitor his internet activity for the same period.

He told him:”One reason this type of offending is so serious is that unless there are people prepared to view images, then children of six or seven would not be targeted by those seeking to make a profit out of this type of crime.

“That is why your contribution to this kind of criminality is serious. You must realise that if it is repeated, you will go to jail.

“You admitted the offence in full in your second interview and started to address your problem with the Stop it Now organisation. This community order will allow you to follow up that work.”

Mr Gordon Richings, prosecuting, said Oldfield was identified by the National Crime Agency after an image was sent to him at the hotmail address of thewhitebullridesagain.

They found the 886 images, all in the lowest category and showing sexual posing rather than any form of sexual activity. One image of a young girl in a swimsuit was on his Twitter account.

He said he had no sexual interest in children and the images had been sent by other users of an internet community called KIK.

He told police:”looking at photographs of young girls was the same as looking at nice cars”.

Mr Paul Grumbar, defending, said Oldfield has already been punished by being kept apart from his children by bail conditions.

He said his client had shown remorse and already taken steps to address his offending. He is keep to carry on the work with the help of the probation service.

He said:”He is not in employment and cannot work because he is clinically depressed. He has cloistered himself at his home and has not had much outside contact for some time.”

May 2016

Bideford man admits child abuse images offences

A BIDEFORD man who was found with numerous indecent images of children as young as five appeared in court on Friday.

Paul David Sharp, 47, of Bidna Lane, Bideford, pleaded guilty to six charges of possessing indecent photographs/pseudo photographs, of a child.

Lyndsey Baker for the prosecution said Sharp had been in possession of a “large amount” of category A and category B images and that this behaviour had taken place over four years.

She said Sharp “accepted in interview it had been going on for a long time.”

Mrs Baker said some of the children in the images were as young as five years-old, which was why she advised magistrates to commit the case to Crown Court.

Tony Dart, for the defence agreed with this assessment, adding he thought the seriousness of the case meant magistrates did not have sufficient power to pass sentence.

The defendant was ordered to attend Crown Court in Exeter at 10am on June 20 for sentencing.

He was granted bail on the condition he did not use the internet unsupervised or have contact with anyone under the age of 18.

May 2016

Beast who raped young girl in his car is jailed for nine years

A rapist who attacked a schoolgirl in his car after driving her to a secluded spot has been jailed for nine years.

His teenage victim hit and tried to push Trevor Thompson off her – but he held her by her hands and arms and raped her despite her protests, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Thompson, who had earlier offered the young girl and her a friend a lift, then had the victim wipe away evidence with a plastic bag for fear his wife would find out.

May 2016

Serial sex offender admits exposing himself to children at Union Terrace Gardens

A serial sex offender has admitted exposing himself to children at the scene of one of his past crimes.

Derek Baillie was placed on the sex offenders’ register in 2014 after he groped a woman who was lying unconscious on the ground of Union Terrace Gardens.

And yesterday, the repeat offender was back in the dock and admitted committing an act of public indecency after he was caught intimately touching himself in the Victorian park while families were out enjoying the summer weather.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that one family had been sitting on a picnic bench inside the gardens, close to HMT, when they noticed Baillie sitting on the grass with a jacket over his crotch.

Fiscal depute Stephanie Ross said the dad had been aware his young son had been playing close to the 63-year-old and had let out a cry.

When he went over to investigate, he could see Baillie’s trousers were undone and his private parts were exposed.

The court heard the police were called and, when they arrived, they could see the sex offender sitting with his trousers undone. Other families had also witnessed his behaviour.

The incident took place at around lunchtime on July 7 last year when the gardens were busy with families enjoying the holidays.

Baillie had previously admitted carrying out two sex assaults on women in the city.

In October 2014, the court heard he had bumped into a woman when she was extremely drunk.

His solicitor at the time, David Sutherland, said he initially tried to help the woman, but she fell to the ground and became unconscious. At that point, he stated Baillie was “overcome by temptation”.

Witnesses then observed him placing his hands under the woman’s clothing and pulling up her skirt so her underwear was exposed.

He also admitted sexually assaulting a disabled woman in an Aberdeen shop on June 28 that year.

Baillie had been in the Spar Esso Service Station in North Anderson Drive when he touched the woman on the bottom as she was leaving the store.

Yesterday, Sheriff William Summers placed Baillie, of flat 3, 723 Great Northern Road, on the sex offenders’ register again and deferred sentence for background reports to be carried out.

May 2016

Blackpool pervert jailed for breaches

A convicted sex offender breached his sexual offences prevention order by repeatedly visiting a family with young children in Blackpool, a court has been told.

Frank McCrossan Crampsey, 59, of Johnston Street, Blackburn, would accompany his friend to see his daughter – who has two children aged five and 12 – in the resort.

He was jailed for three years in 2001 for a string of indecent assaults and was later given the order in 2006, stipulating no contact with children under 16.

He was returned to prison by Judge Stuart Baker, who jailed him for eight months and ordered him to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

Preston Crown Court heard Crampsey was questioned after returning from a trip to Blackpool on March last year because he was supposed to notify officers of his whereabouts.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said: “When he returned to his home address he was visited by police. The officers asked him for his mobile phone and on the screensaver was a picture of children.

“It would appear they were the grandchildren of a friend of his he had been to visit in Blackpool and further inquiries revealed police to speak to that friend’s daughter.

“She says she’s known the defendant for about 16 years because he was a friend of her fathers’.

“She was not aware of a previous conviction, was not aware he was on notification requirements. She knew from her own father he had been in trouble but nothing more than that.

“She says her dad often comes to visit her once a month and more often than not the defendant comes to visit her with her father. He has been at other occasions such as Easter and Christmas visiting her 12 to 15 times each year. That puts him in breach because she had two children aged 12 and five. The defendant accepts from the inception of his SOPO he has visited her.

“He made admissions he was aware of the restrictions and thinks he had told her about it.”

The court heard he has previously breached the order.

May 2016

York man had 870 indecent photos of children

A SENIOR BT manager from York was found with indecent images of children as young as 18 months on his computers.

Police discovered 870 stills and videos of children on computers belonging to Wayne Swallow after searching his home in Devon Place, off Hull Road in York.

The 50-year-old was jailed for three years at York Crown Court yesterday where a judge told him his offences represented “real and gross abuse of children”.

Swallow pleaded guilty to the charges only on the day his trial was due to begin last month.

These were four counts of distributing indecent images, five of making indecent images and one of possessing extreme pornography.

Gerald Hendron, prosecuting, said police carried out a search warrant on Swallow’s home, where he lived with his wife and two children, on September 21, 2013.

Police seized 30 computers and hard drives, of which three were found to contain “incriminating material”.

There was evidence Swallow had used file-sharing software to distribute the indecent images.

Police also found he had used other software to “sanitise” and cover up the images he had been viewing.

Swallow had 372 Category A images, which are the most serious kind, and included 43 videos.

His computers also contained 224 Category B images, 274 of Category C, and three images of extreme pornography.

Mr Hendron said the children in these were five to 10 years old and in some cases 18 months to two years old.

Swallow had also used the search terms ‘rape’ and ‘paedo’.

Mr Hendron said: “It was demonstrable that he had a particular knowledge of computers”.

Mark Partridge, defending, said: “It is quite obvious that the defendant is struggling to come to terms with what he has done.

“This has been a catastrophic fall for the defendant, admitting his darkest secret has not been easy for him.

“He wants to get on with his life. He is surrounded by people that love him.

“He feels that he has let them down. He is continually reminded of the shame of what he has done.”

The Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC told Swallow: “You had an extremely responsible job as a manager with BT.

“I have no doubt that your knowledge in that area played a part in your offending.”

Judge Batty said this and the software Swallow used to try to cover his tracks was a “serious aggravating factor” in the case.

He added: “All of this represents real and gross abuse of children.

“The only mitigating factor was your plea of guilty.”

Because this had come at the latest point, Swallow received only a 10 per cent ‘discount’ in his sentence.

Swallow was jailed for three years in total for the Category A offences and a further 12 months for each other count, but those terms will run concurrently.

Judge Batty also gave him a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which had no time limit.

May 2016

Leeds man accessed indecent images

A PERVERT downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children at his home and the home of his parents, a court heard.

Robert Hogger was arrested after police received information that illegal images were being accessed from two internet service provider addresses linked to properties in Wetherby .

Police executed search warrants at Hogger’s home on Rudgate Park and his parents’ home on Grange Avenue in November 2014.

A computer, laptop and a memory stick were seized from the properties and found to contain 449 illegal images which Hogger had downloaded.

John Bull, prosecuting, said 12 of the images were at category A – the most serious level of offending.

Hogger was interviewed by officers and made full admissions about the offending.

He said he had used the computer equipment to view adult pornography but then developed an interest in the unlawful material.

Hogger pleaded guilty to four offences of making indecent photographs of a child.

Alex Boyd, mitigating, said Hogger admitted the offences at an early stage and was a shamed of his behaviour.

Mr Boyd said his client had faced an anxious 18 month period on bail awaiting sentencing since he was arrested.

Hogger was made the subject of a three-year community order, during which he must take part in a sex offender treatment programme. He must also go on the sex offenders register for five years.

Recorder Abdul Iqbal QC told Hogger: “Possession of images is a serious offence. If there had been any evidence of you distributing these images or sending them to any other people or being involved in their production, then you would be receiving a very substantial sentence of imprisonment.”

May 2016

Perverted taxi driver locked up for three years after sickening sex attacks on two victims

A perverted cabbie has been locked up for three years.

Shaven-headed beast Archibald Buchanan, 68, plied a girl aged just 12 with booze, induced her to watch porn and touched himself in her presence.

The 68-year-old sicko also carried out a sex act on a woman.

He showed no emotion as he was led down at Ayr Sheriff Court on Monday, with the words of Sheriff John Montgomery ringing in his ears.

The sheriff told him he had abused the trust of his victims — and made them feel worse by forcing them to give evidence against him.

Sheriff Montgomery said: “The effects of this (abuse of trust) was all too evident during the trial, which added to the way they felt towards you by causing them to have to undergo examination in a public court.

“The sorrow you have shown in my estimation is hollow and self-serving for what were quite clearly grossly abhorrent actions.”

His lawyer Peter Lockhart said Buchanan understood the appropriate sentence was a custodial one. Mr Lockhart said his client was at a moderate rather than high risk of re-offending.

Mr Lockhart added: “His position is he still denies the offences. But there is an inevitability here, my Lord, and he has been prepared for that.”

Buchanan, of George Place, Doonfoot, was given three years in jail, extended for a further two years on release and put on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

During three decades behind the wheel, he has worked with companies including Gribbens, Streamline and Ayr black cabs.

He had denied the charges, forcing both victims to give evidence during a three-day trial.

The first involved a woman at a house in Tarbolton on one occasion between January 1, 1998 and September 29, 2000.

He carried out a sex act on her and shaved her pubic hair while she was asleep.

The jury also found Buchanan guilty of an offence against a 12-year-old girl on October 23, 2002.

That involved making remarks of a sexual nature, inducing her to view sexual images and carrying out a sex act on himself.

October 2013

‘Violent bully’ raped and assaulted partners and teenage girl

A man has been jailed after admitting to a series of sexual and physical attacks on two former partners and a teenage girl.

Leslie Andrew, 42, confessed to raping one woman and subjecting both to multiple physical assaults as well as sexually molesting the teenager.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Andrew was a “violent and aggressive bully” who raped the first woman when she was pregnant and subjected both to repeated physical attacks over “a protracted period of time”.

The court heard how 20 stone Andrew used his weight to terrify his victim into submission, pinning her to a bed and ignoring her protests.

Andrew pleaded guilty to the rape at a house in Broxburn, West Lothian, at some time during 1993 and to later physical assaults on the woman. He also admitted repeatedly assaulting another woman at addresses in Glasgow and Maybole, Ayrshire.

His second victim experienced depression, anxiety and fear and a complete breakdown in her self-esteem and ability to function normally, the court was told.

Advocate depute Bill McVicar, prosecuting also told how Andrew, of Alexandra Gardens, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, sneaked into the bedroom of a 15-year-old girl after dark and tried to pull her clothes off.

The girl kept silent for months, scared she would not be believed. But when she eventually told her story in September 2012 she sparked a police investigation which led to the other charges.

Sentencing Andrew to six years imprisonment, judge Lord Pentland said: “It is clear that in the context of your relationships with these partners you were a violent and aggressive bully with marked domineering and controlling tendencies.

“You made the lives of your two former partners deeply unhappy for many years; for substantial periods they each lived in fear of you and of your explosive temper.

“It is important to stress that these were typically not short-lived outbursts, but sustained abuse lasting for significant periods of time.”

The court heard that Andrew had been diagnosed with serious anger management difficulties and was “determined to address them”.

Lord Pentland said his sentence would have been eight years if not for his guilty plea