June 2016

Wellingborough man jailed for child sex offences

A Wellingborough man has been jailed for four years after being found guilty of indecent assault on a child.

Ian Haywood, 54, of Hidcote Close, was convicted at St Albans Crown Court of five counts of indecent assault on a girl aged under 14 and one charge of indecency with a child.

He has now been sentenced to four years in prison for the offences, which occurred between 1996 and 1998 in St Albans.

DC Mark Winter, from Hertfordshire Police’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team (SOIT), said: “After many years of struggling to come to terms with what has happened to her, the victim, who is now aged in her 30s, was incredibly brave in reporting the offences to police.

“Haywood’s actions have had a huge impact on the victim, who did disclose what had happened to her when she was a child but, tragically, she was not believed by those who should have protected her.

“It is only after many years of counselling that she has felt that she could speak to police about her ordeal.

“Now that Haywood has been jailed, this brave lady wants to concentrate on moving forward with her life and specialist officers continue to give her support to help her do this.

March 2009

Convicted sex offender cleared of sending girl kinky pics of himself

A RUGBY man who was cleared of sending an 11-year-old girl a link to kinky pictures of him in women’s underwear claimed he was being ‘set up’ by the girl’s mother and uncle.

Jeffrey Mitchell, who had ‘several previous sex convictions’ alleged they had done so because they were having an affair and he had threatened to tell her husband.

And a jury at Warwick Crown Court found Mr. Mitchell, 40, of Nelson Way, Rugby, not guilty to two charges of causing a child to watch a sexual act, which he had denied.

The court heard that Mr. Mitchell had previous convictions for indecent exposure and was jailed in 1990 for indecently assaulting a child.

Prosecutor Stephen Thomas said that towards the end of 2006, the 11-year-old girl, who lives in Rugby, received an e-mail from Mitchell’s e-mail address which contained various images of him.

She deleted them, but remembered that they included pictures of him wearing a baby doll nightie, women’s underwear and half-naked, and told her mother.

Mitchell later contacted the girl by e-mail again and apologised, saying they had been sent by accident, so the girl’s mother decided to let matters lie.

But in April 2007, it was alleged that Mr. Mitchell sent the girl five separate links to a site containing pictures of him posing naked and semi-naked and indulging in sexual activity.

Meanwhile, Mr. Thomas alleged that Mitchell contacted the girl’s mother and apologised for what had happened and tried to persuade her not to go to the police – but she did, and he ‘chose to say nothing’ when he was arrested and interviewed.

Philippa Page, defending, put to the girl: “What I am going to suggest is that you have been asked by your mum and (uncle) to support what they say about Jeffrey Mitchell sending these e-mails.” The girl replied: “No.”

Miss Page continued: “Jeffrey Mitchell never sent these e-mails to you in April 2007 or before Christmas.”

But the girl answered: “He did send the e-mails.”

The barrister put to both the girl’s mother and to her uncle that they were having an affair – which they both vehemently denied.

And they also strongly denied her suggestion that, knowing of the site with the pictures of Mitchell, and using the uncle’s computer knowledge, they had decided to ‘set him up’ because Mr. Mitchell had

threatened to expose their alleged relationship.

He said he had put pictures of himself on a site where they could be shared by consenting adults, but denied sending links to the girl and, of an alleged ‘chat log’ between them, claiming: “I think it’s fabricated.”

November 2015

Woman awarded €150,000 damages over sexual abuse by brother

A woman who sued alleging she was raped and sexually abused by one of her brothers over years in their family home when she was a child has been awarded €150,000 damages in the High Court.

Antoinette (46), of Lusk, Co Dublin, sued her brother Patrick Garvey (52), Silverglen Gormanstown Road, Stamullen, Co Meath, over the assaults on her on dates from 1976 to 1980. He denied the claims.

In her action, Ms McLoughlin claimed the abuse began when she was eight, and her brother was 12 or 13, and it continued for four years.

She told her father, Peter Garvey, about the abuse at the time but he did not believe her and slapped her across the face, she told the jury. This made her feel like an “outcast” in her family, the court heard.

Mr Garvey denied all the claims and was supported throughout the eight-day case by his wife, four sisters and his brother.

A consultant psychiatrist told the court he had diagnosed Ms McLoughlin as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of sexual abuse.

The civil action was at hearing for some eight days and the jury of five men and seven women returned with their verdict after over three hours deliberation

In reply to a question whether Mr Garvey carried out assault and battery on his sister on any of the occasions allegedly by her, the jury replied: Yes.

It also replied yes to the question: did he falsely imprison her on any of the occasions alleged.

It assessed general damages to date and into the future at €125,000 and aggravated damages at €25,000.  It did not award exemplary damages.

In her action, Ms McLoughlin claimed the abuse began when she was aged eight, and her brother was aged about 12 or 13, and it continued for about four years.

She claimed it happened in the girls’ bedroom of the family home in Balbriggan, a home she shared with her parents, five sisters and two brothers.

She told her father Peter Garvey about the abuse at the time it was happening but hedid not believe her and slapped her across the face, she told the jury.

This made her feel like an “outcast” in her family, her counsel Sasha Gayer SC said.

Mr Garvey denied all the claims and was supported throughout the eight day case byhis wife, four sisters and his brother. His sisters, Mary, Assumpta, Linda and Margaret, all gave evidence for him.

Another sister, Susan, who died in 2007, had accompanied Antoinette to a garda station when she made a formal complaint of abuse against her brother in March 2006, the jury heard.

John Gordon SC, also for MsMcLoughlin, said this indicated Susan was sympathetic to Antoinette.

A consultant psychiatrist told the court he had diagnosed Ms McLoughlin as suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of sexual abuse.

The jury was told Ms McLoughlin has had a “hard life” to date, suffering psychiatric difficulties including taking an overdose on one occasion. Two other children suffered illnesses and she had also experienced difficulties in her marriage.

Her life had improved in recent years and she had retrained and returned to work, the court also heard.

Ms McLoughlin alleged the assaults began when she was aged eight and after she made her First Communion. She claimed her brother was in a position of control over her at the time, forced her to commit oral sex on him and watch him masturbating.

It was also claimed he raped her and emotionally taunted and tormented her about sexual and quasi sexual matters. 

An incident during a party at the family home in October 2004, when she met her father on the

landing, triggered a flashback and it was only then she felt able to tell her family of the abuse, she said.

She was dissatisfied with what was described as a “poor apology” from her brother the day after the party.

June 2016

Child attacker sent to prison for 16 months

A man who attacked a toddler has been jailed for 16 months.

Preston Crown Court heard the youngster had bruising to her face and below her eye, a cut to her hand, extensive bruising to her back, and the child’s manner was “quiet and sad”.

Tony Giles, 31, of Lytham Road, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to the little girl on the basis cuts to the child’s arm were accidental rather than deliberate, but accepted all the other injuries had been caused by him.

He also admitted ill treatment of a child.

Judge Pamela Badley said: “You clearly put you own emotional issues ahead of the need for a young child to be properly looked after and properly supervised. So although you say you didn’t set about all of this deliberately, that really isn’t very much comfort. The injuries, particularly on her face, were nasty. The poor child was utterly wretched once she was rescued from your home.”

The child cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Hanifa Patel, prosecuting, said the child’s mother had agreed for the tot to stay with Giles in Blackpool for a few days on April 5.

She said: “The defendant took the child from her mother’s address. He promised he wouldn’t drink when he was caring for her and she states she spoke to her daughter on the phone every day. She seemed fine on the Tuesday and Wednesday and he had put a picture of her online.”

But the court heard when she called the toddler the following day she seemed upset and was crying.

Giles told the concerned mother the girl was “tired”.

But later that day a friend of Giles made a phone call to the worried mum saying he had spoken to Giles on the phone, and could hear the child screaming while on phone.

Miss Patel added: “Within 10 mins she received another call from the defendant’s own brother. His words were that she needed to go straight to his house because he was concerned for her welfare.

Giles cousin, who lived nearby stepped in, the court heard, and went to check on the toddler.”

Miss Patel said: “Eventually he answered the door. When he answered the child was stood naked next to the defendant and was gesturing to be picked up.

“There was bruising around her eye and a cut on her hand. The defendant disappeared into a bedroom and said ‘give me a minute’, then she could hear the sound of broken glass being cleared up.

“She asked for the child’s clothes. She could see broken glass on the floor, an empty bottle of vodka and beer cans on the bed. She grabbed the clothing and some nappies and her pram and left.”

Giles was later arrested and the youngster was taken to hospital, where medics said the injuries were non-accidental.

In a police interview he denied causing deliberate injuries, and said her bruising may have been caused when he slapped her hard when she appeared to be choking on a sweet.

The court heard he had six previous offences for affray, robbery, and order breaches but had not offended since 2008.

Defending, Fraser Livesey said: “It’s an extremely unpleasant case. He fully recognises he is responsible for these injuries.”

June 2016

Baby rapist jailed for 12 years

A paedophile who filmed himself raping a baby was jailed for just 12 years.

Police raided 56-year-old Stuart Tomlinson’s home in Liverpool to look for indecent images of children on his computer on July 22 last year.

But as officers examined the sick stash discovered on his equipment, they recognised Tomlinson in a video, which showed him raping the child.

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, said Tomlinson spent hours “trawling the internet in order to satisfy your depraved sexual appetite” then took his offending even further.

He said: “Your victims speak of understandable stress, shock and outrage of what has been discovered.

“Any right-thinking member of society will be horrified and disgusted to hear what you have done.”

Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, said Tomlinson made no comment, both when arrested over the images and when re-arrested over the 11-minute clip.

The lawyer told Liverpool Crown Court the video showed Tomlinson, now of Wakefield Drive, Moreton , “treating it as a game” with the baby.

Tomlinson had also secretly filmed adult women and girls going to the toilet and had five extreme animal pornography videos.

He was found to possess 71 Category A videos – the most serious category – plus nine Category B and five Category C videos.

The baby’s parents told the court “our whole world was destroyed” when police informed them of the abuse.

Her dad said: “I pray to God every day that she can’t remember anything about what has happened to her.”

One of the women who was secretly recorded by Tomlinson said the incident had “changed her life forever”.

Another said she felt “sickened and repulsed” by him and the fact he filmed victims for his “sick and perverted pleasure”.

A third victim said “it was hard to believe someone could be so twisted” and described him as a “dishonest and vile predator”.

Ms Snowdon told the court that Tomlinson’s offending was aggravated by the baby’s age and “the potential extreme impact this will have on her life”.

Tomlinson admitted rape of a child under 13, five counts of voyeurism and two counts of making indecent photographs of children.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of a child and one of possessing extreme pornography.

The pervert, who sat with his head bowed in court, has no previous convictions.

Michael O’Brien, defending, said: “The defendant understands the court’s powers and accepts he will remain in prison for a very long time. He also accepts he deserves to.”

He said Tomlinson had expressed remorse and regret but could not explain his behaviour.

Judge Menary handed Tomlinson 12 years behind bars, with an additional 12 months on licence.

He will only be released after six years if a parole board deems he is no longer a risk and could otherwise serve the entire term.

The judge also gave him an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining order and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

As emotionless Tomlinson was sent down, a family member of one of the victims shouted: “Don’t think it’s over.”

June 2016

Paedophile jailed for 10 years at Luton Crown Court in groundbreaking trial

AN elderly paedophile has made history by becoming the first person in the UK to stand trial – from his own home.

Farouk Kootbaully, 71, took the stand via a video-link to face eight charges of historic indecent assaults on a young girl.

Doctors had ruled he was too ill and frail to physically attend the trial at Luton Crown Court, Bedfordshire.

But they found no impairment of intellectual faculty and said he was well enough to stand trial for the offences committed between April 1998 and August 2001.

Kootbaully appeared before the court via a video-link from his home in the town for a trial last month and was convicted by unanimous verdicts on all eight counts.

Following the verdict on May 5, Bedfordshire Police transferred him into custody from his home address to HMP Bedford.

The court heard the abuse started when the victim was aged just eight and she was subjected to his sickening actions over three years, including being touched indecently on numerous occasions.

At Luton Crown Court on Thursday, he was handed sentences to serve concurrently on all eight charges, totalling 10 years behind bars.

He was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining order.

Speaking after sentencing, Investigating Officer Detective Constable Sharon Ellis, said: “This case is the first time in the whole of the UK that Assistive Technology has been used to enable a defendant to attend trial via his home address, with the courts providing temporary internet access to his home and fitting a live-link facility from his bed.

“This could well set a precedent for other courts in the UK in similar circumstances.”

June 2016

Somerset paedophile guilty of more than 50 sex offences against children

A PROLIFIC child sex offender from Somerset has been found guilty of more than 50 offences against children.

Paedophile Mark Lester, 60, of Riverside Close, Bridgwater, has been found guilty of 51 offences including rape and sexual assault, the majority of which involved children.

Lester was arrested after breaking into a house in Bridgwater last January, where he threatened the two occupants with a knife, tied them up and sexually assaulted one.

June 2016

Disgusting’ pervert exposed himself to girl on Southport to Liverpool train

This is the 50-year-old man who exposed himself to a shocked teenager on a Southport to Liverpool train.

Alfred Thomas boarded a Merseyrail train which had travelled from Southport at Waterloo Station at 6.20am.

His young victim boarded at the same stop.

Thomas then sat opposite the girl and tried to engage her in conversation.

But when she stood up to leave the train at Moorfields station in Liverpool city centre, she glanced back and saw Thomas exposing himself to her.

She quickly moved carriages and left the train in a distressed state, immediately alerting staff.

Thomas was identified after he was recognised from a British Transport Police appeal on Facebook.

Officers arrested him at his home on Mount Pleasant in Waterloo.

In police interview he admitted the offence, but could give no reason for his actions.

Today Thomas pleaded guilty to indecent exposure at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates jailed him for six months, and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £115.

Investigating officer PC Shaun Lee said: “This was an incredibly frightening experience for the young girl, who was shaken and upset by Thomas’ actions.

“His disgusting behaviour that day continues to affect his victim who was left feeling vulnerable and intimidated by what he did.

“She is to be commended for coming forward and reporting the incident.

“We will not tolerate inappropriate sexual behaviour of any kind on the rail network and will do all we can to bring offenders to justice.

“We ask all rail passengers to report incidents to us so we can fully investigate.”

June 2016

‘Happily married’ Barkerend man groped girls

A BRADFORD man who groped three young girls in a “disgusting and perverted” manner by squeezing and cupping their breasts has avoided being sent to jail.

Sona Miah, 48, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court yesterday, having previously admitted four charges of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13.

The offences took place between 2011 and 2013, when the victims were aged between seven and 14.

Prosecutor Ian Howard told the court that Miah would touch the girls inappropriately by hugging them over the top of their clothes.

He said the offending only actually stopped in February last year, when one of the girls confided in a teacher and the authorities became involved.

Miah, of Byron Street, Barkerend, Bradford, was arrested and interviewed and denied any sexual motivation in the touching, only pleading guilty to the offences on the day of a scheduled trial last month.

In victim impact statements read to the court, each girl was said to have been “shocked and angry” by Miah’s actions, which led them to become isolated, lacking in confidence, and unable to concentrate at school.

Judge Jonathan Rose said Miah’s offending had caused “great upset and distress” to each of his three victims.

“You have pleaded guilty to a disgusting and perverted course of behaviour against very young girls,” he said.

“You were, and still are, a happily married man, and your offending can only be explained by there being in you a profound and wholly inappropriate sexual attraction to children.

“Since pleading guilty, you have expressed deep remorse and a determination to change so you will not offend again in the future.

“I ask myself whether it is necessary to send you immediately to prison, and I conclude it is not.”

Miah was jailed for 18 months, suspended for two years, given 180 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to complete a 60-day sex offender treatment programme.

He must also register as a sex offender for the next ten years.

June 2016

Grandad avoids prison over downloading of indecent child images

A grandad from Sawbridgeworth who downloaded indecent images of children – some involving penetrative sex with youngsters aged two years old – was spared jail at Chelmsford Crown Court today (Thursday).

Instead, insurance worker Geoffrey Leeds, 65, of The Four Acres, who pleaded guilty to five charges of making indecent images, was given eight months’ jail suspended for 18 months.

He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours’ unpaid work and made the subject of a 40-day rehabilitation order.

In addition, a ten-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed and Leeds was placed on the sex offenders register, also for a period of ten years.

Judge Christopher Morgan, imposing the sentence, told him: “You said you downloaded the worst images by accident, but your search history shows it is to the contrary.

“You’re a man of 65 who worked until caught for these offences and was of previous good character. You’ve no doubt lost your standing within the community and friends – these are part and parcel of the offences you carried out.

“You understand what you did was to abuse real children, but it may well be you’re burying your head in the sand.”

The names of websites he downloaded from were found on two computers at his address after police had gone there armed with a search warrant. There were 12 images at the highest level A, 34 at level B and 90 level C.

Prosecutor Charles Digby said: “He previously worked in insurance, is married with children and grandchildren and had taken to visiting on his computer internet sites.

“Police were alerted to the activity and went to the address on 4 June last year. His wife phoned him and asked him to return from work and he was arrested. He gave a ‘no comment’ interview.”

He continued: “There were images of children aged two to three and five in sex acts with adult males, acts of penetrative vaginal sex with children aged eight and other images including movies.”

David Baird, mitigating, said: “Although he accepts what he’d done is wrong he doesn’t recognise there’s something underlying sexually wrong and he’s a minimal risk of further offences.”

Granted unconditional bail originally, said Mr Baird, the police and probation have recognised he’s “unlikely to commit further offences – he’s been punished for what he’s done”.

He continued: “He’s resigned from his job of 27 years, warned his grown up children about the situation and lost friends and his status in the community. He had always lived a law-abiding life.”

Mr Baird said Leeds had not elaborated on his motivation, but that his wife had been “disabled in effect for 25 years and he himself has a heart condition”.

June 2016

Moray man lied about explicit pictures of 15-year-old girl

A Moray man is facing jail after attempting to befriend a teenager online and lying about having explicit photographs of her.

Christopher Jamieson, 30, approached a 15-year-old he had never met via Facebook, and asked her to be his friend on the social media site.

The alarmed youngster informed her mother, who rejected Jamieson’s request and asked why he had contacted her child.

Elgin Sheriff Court heard yesterday that Jamieson told the woman he had previously spoken with the teenager online, and that she had sent him indecent photographs of herself.

Fiscal Kevin Corrins said: “On Sunday, April 10, the 15-year old received a friend request from an account identified as belonging to the accused.

“Her mother thereafter declined that request, and asked Jamieson what his intentions had been.

“The accused responded at 7.45pm on Friday, April 15, claiming to know the teenager well and saying that she had previously sent him explicit photographs of herself while stating she was 18.”

The woman was left “upset and angry” by the claim and reported the matter to the police.

When interviewed, Jamieson confessed that he had never received any photographs from the child in question.

Jamieson, of 8a Nelson Terrace, Keith, later admitted a charge of causing “annoyance and needless anxiety” by sending messages he knew to be false.

His agent, solicitor Robert Cruickshank, said alcohol had “become an issue” for Jamieson.

He added: “My client acknowledges that this is unacceptable behaviour.”

Jamieson narrowly avoided a prison term when he appeared at the court in January, after sending chilling text messages threatening to kill a woman he had become infatuated with.

During a sick campaign against Angela Russell, he alternated between seeking her affections and making obscene threats against her and her family.

At the time, Sheriff Chris Dickson said he “could easily” have jailed Jamieson – but instead ordered him to perform 300 hours of community service by January 2017.

Yesterday, the court learned that Jamieson had thus far completed only 66 hours.

Mr Cruickshank said he was aware that his client could now face a period in jail.

Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov deferred sentence for three months, and said that if Jamieson could complete more hours of unpaid work she would consider an alternative sentence to imprisonment.

June 2016

Pervert gets his computers back

A Loughborough man caught with child abuse images has won his battle to force police to give him his computers back.

Charles Pearson, 21, of Gracedieu Road, was caught with hundreds of images and videos of youngsters being forced to engage in sex acts.

It was found on two PCs when police raided his home in May 2014.

Pearson was handed a 16-month suspended jail term last November at Leicester Crown Court.

He admitted making indecent images of children and was also hit with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Police also confiscated his two computers, London’s Appeal Court heard today.

Now, however, Mrs Justice Elisabeth Laing, Lord Justice Treacy and Judge Melbourne Inman QC have cut his sentence to six months suspended.

They also quashed the indefinite SHPO, reducing it to five years, and ordered the return of Pearson’s PCs, with their hard drives removed.

The court heard Pearson, who is “on the autistic spectrum”, told police he had started viewing indecent images online whilst a youngster himself 

He started looking for images of girls his own age at that time, but continued to do so even when he reached adulthood.

He expressed remorse, saying he felt “hate and disgust towards himself”.

He said he was “relieved” his behaviour “was now out in the open, so he could seek help.”

Mrs Justice Laing said that, in light of his own “vulnerability”, Pearson’s sentence should be cut and the length of the SHPO reduced.

The seizure of his computers also had to be “necessary and proportionate,” she added.

One of them had been brand new and was used by Pearson in his studies, the court heard.

“The removal of the hard drives from the computers is a straightforward matter,” she told the court.

June 2016

Top judges jail Tamworth man who persuaded schoolgirl to send explicit images over Snapchat

A TAMWORTH man who was spared jail after he started up a relationship with a schoolgirl he met online has been sentenced to prison – after top judges ruled his original sentence was too soft.

Jordan Martin Osborne had a sexual relationship with the 14-year-old girl, who he persuaded to send him explicit images over picture messaging service, Snapchat.

Although the service is designed to delete images as soon as they have been viewed, Osborne bypassed the system and stored them on his mobile phone.

The 21-year-old, of Ivatt, was handed a three-year community order at Stafford Crown Court in April.

He admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child and one of making indecent photographs.

But he was today jailed for 30 months by judges sitting at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, who ruled the original sentence was too soft.

The court was asked to review the sentence by the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC, who said it was ‘unduly lenient’ for Osborne’s crimes.

Lord Justice Treacy told the court Osborne met the girl on social media and struck up a relationship with her.

They met and had unprotected sex a number of times before he broke up with her, telling her she was ‘too young’ and that he had met someone else.

The court heard Osborne has a low IQ and was described as ’emotionally immature’.

However, Lord Justice Treacy said there was a six-year age gap between him and the victim and it was obvious he knew what he was doing was wrong.

Sitting with Mrs Justice Elisabeth Laing and Judge Melbourne Inman QC, the judge said Osborne should have been jailed.

He added: “He has of a reasonable level of intelligence and knew that what he was doing was wrong, and repeated his conduct on a number of occasions.

“In the circumstances of this case, even when taking into account the mitigation available to this offender, we have concluded that an immediate custodial sentence should have been passed, given a number of features – including the repetition of this offending, when he clearly knew it was wrong, and the impact on the victim.

“All of those matters lead us to conclude that the sentence passed was unduly lenient.”

Osborne was given until 6pm today (Thursday, June 9) to hand himself in at Burton-on-Trent police station to start his sentence.

As a result of his new sentence, he will remain on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Wright said: “The impact of Osborne’s behaviour on his victim cannot be underestimated.

“Even though he knew his victim was underage he deliberately began a relationship with her anyway.

“I did not think the original sentence reflected the seriousness of offending and I am pleased the Court of Appeal has increased the sentence.”

June 2016

Man jailed after having sex with 14-year-old girl on camping trip

A MAN who had sex with a schoolgirl he had invited on a camping trip has been jailed for more than five years.

Wesley Scott’s 14-year-old victim was one of three children he took to Crompton Lodges in July, 2014.

Wayne Jackson, prosecuting at Bolton Crown Court, said Scott had permission from the girl’s mother for the overnight stay at the Farnworth beauty spot.

After pitching two tents the group went for a walk to Red Rock and then Scott gave the girl a small cup of alcohol.

“He was smiley and being nice and everything,” she later told police.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went to sleep in the larger of the two tents, but during the night she felt someone touching her.

She fell asleep again, only to be woken again by Scott, who took her to the smaller of the two tents where they were alone.

Mr Jackson said Scott undressed the girl and himself and then had sex before using her sock to wipe himself.

“He didn’t speak to her during the course of the act and she didn’t speak to him,” he said, adding that before the girl went back to the larger tent Scott warned her not to tell anyone.

The next morning Scott, made breakfast for everyone and his pregnant wife arrived at the camp.

But as they were packing up, the girl grabbed her soiled socks and stuffed them in her pocket before secreting them under her bedroom floorboards. She did not tell anyone until several months later when she confided in a boyfriend and he persuaded her to tell her mother.

Police were called and the socks were handed over to officers.

When arrested Scott, 36, a father of two, denied having been in a tent with the girl and touching her.

When faced with forensic evidence from the sock, he claimed that it was his and had fallen out of his gym bag.

It was only on the day of his trial that Scott, of Catterick Drive, Little Lever, finally pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child.

In a statement the victim said she has suffered recurring nightmares and has even attempted suicide since the incident. She said: “I couldn’t get what happened out of my head.”

Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC heard that Scott has 18 previous convictions for dishonesty and assault but non for sexual matters.

Recorder Clarke told Scott that while he accepted the offence was out of character, the crime was aggravated because he had not used a condom, had denied any sexual contact and had caused psychological damage to his victim.

Scott was jailed for five years and four months and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for an indefinite period.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also made banning him from having any contact with girls under the age of 16, except his own children.

June 2016

Paedophile who Googled child beheading videos spared jail

An unemployed paedophile who scoured the web for videos of children being beheaded and asked chat room users for sexual abuse videos has been spared jail.

Nathan Smith’s internet activity was first spotted by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP), part of the National Crime Agency.

They discovered messages posted on a chat room asking someone in the USA for videos of children engaging in sexual intercourse.

The 30-year-old of Station Road in Wickham Bishops, pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children on May 4, and today (June 10) Chelmsford Crown Court heard how Smith had also used search engines to look for videos of children being beheaded.

Prosecuting, Shauna Ritchie said: “The offences relate to information received by Essex Police from CEOP on April 27 of last year, in relation to an email address which started a conversation with a chatroom user from the USA.

“Discussions involved sexual intercourse with minors and mention was made by the defendant to wishing he knew how to get videos of children having sex.

“There was a comment from Mr Smith asking the American user if he could send him copies of any videos he had.

“A check on the email address showed it was registered to Mr Smith and provided an address.”

On August 6 of last year, a warrant was executed by officers from Essex Police, during which a number of Smith’s electronic devices were seized from his bedroom.

During investigations of the objects, police were also able to access his internet search history and among a number of searches for children engaging in sexual activity with adults, a search was found looking for videos of children being beheaded.

An initial interview yielded few results, with Smith answering “no comment” to all of the police questioning.

A follow-up interview followed in February of this year, during which he was asked to give an account of how the images ended up on his devices, an Acer laptop and a Zoostorm computer.

He said: “Most of the stuff, I have no idea how it got there. The only photos I have are ones that I took, but I have loads of viruses.”

Ms Ritchie added: “He confirmed that he lived at his home with his parents, neither of whom used the internet or owned any kind of computer equipment.

“When he was asked about the search terms, he answered ‘no comment’, but suggested that some of the searches were pure fantasy and he had looked only out of curiosity and not sexual motivation.”

In total, 31 images were discovered in Smith’s possession, including 14 of the more serious category B nature.

Representing the former warehouse worker, Harry Warner added: “It is fair to say that he is a man who is struggling to come to terms with the seriousness of his offences.”

Presiding over the hearing, Judge Christopher Ball QC took into account Smith’s previous good character and lack of convictions in his decision to spare him prison time.

He did however, say: “The reality is that at 12 or 13, children are becoming interested in sex, so they are soft targets to be used and abused by adults to provide titillation.

“People like you that use the internet to access pornographic matter involving young children are not accepted because children have to be subjected to abuse for these images to be created in the first place.

“You need to come to terms with the fact that you can’t do it, and it is harmful. It is probably not much good for you either.

“It needs to be pointed out to you loudly and clearly where the boundaries are.”

Smith was sentenced to a community order and was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

He was also subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will have to undertake an internet sex offenders treatment programme.

June 2016

Recruit avoids jail over sex offences

A star army recruit who stole the innocence of four young female cadets was saved from jail after a plea for leniency from a British Army officer.

Benjamin Mattinson, 19, of Barmby Road, Pocklington, courted four separate young girls on Facebook and Snapchat, impressing them with his status as an army cadet drill instructor and flattering them with compliments to gain their trust.

Despite knowing they were underage, he pestered them to send intimate pictures. He arranged meetings in woods and car parks for sex. He had sex with three young cadets, but became moody when they confided in friends as he wanted it to be a secret.

He knew he was breaking the law and was told if he was an adult he could be jailed for more than five years.

But a judge allowed him to walk free after Lieutenant Saunders of the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment said that Mattinson had a “very bright future with potential for leadership” within the army.

In a letter to the judge he said his performance in training, including physical fitness, was very strong, leading to him to be judged “Best Recruit” at his army passing-out parade.

Crown barrister Charlotte Baines told Hull Crown Court Mattinson seduced the first 
cadet by initially paying her compliments, saying “she looked nice.” Quickly the compliments moved on to how she looked in her shirt, and asking for intimate pictures.

“She initially said she was scared as she had not done anything like that before,” said Ms Baines. He began to ask for the pictures to be more revealing. Ms Baines said the girl told him to delete them. At one stage she blocked him on Facebook, but resumed the relationship after he said he missed her and met up in a Pocklington park. On that occasion he initiated sex. He was later to tell police it was a one-off French kiss.

Ms Baines said the second girl was impressed with his role as drill instructor and was soon receiving a request: “I think we should meet.”

Their first date was a walk where he gave her his coat, but he soon began his trademark requests for sex acts. They would meet regularly on a fence with him pestering for sexual acts and her saying she did not want to do more. She confessed to a friend about her feelings for him.

When Mattinson found out he did not speak to her for five months. He said he could get into trouble because of her age. He had sex at least three times.

The third girl met Mattinson with him using Facebook to request for meetings. They would meet 12-times a month for sex in the woods.

No-one knew about the relationship, but the girl became suspicious he was dating others at the same time as her.

Ms Baines said Mattinson charmed the girl “calling her beautiful” making her feel good. “She said he was there when no-one else was,” said Ms Baines.

The fourth girl met Mattinson in East Yorkshire. “He was flirting and asking her to go to his tent,” said Ms Baines. “She thought his motives were sexual. She declined.” Straight after camp he messaged her, with normal conversation at first and then requesting more sexual pictures. She sent him a picture and he replied: “Very nice, but I want to see more.”

“He messaged her every day for two weeks,” said Ms Baines. During a Skype conversation he encouraged her to undress herself. Her mother discovered what was going on when she found conversations on Skype where he encouraged her to point the camera lower. Her husband called the cadets and the police were informed.

Mattinson pleaded guilty to 11 charges of sexual touching a child and two charges of inciting sexual activity and appeared for sentence at Hull Crown Court on Monday.

Sentencing, Judge Simon Jack told Mattinson if it had not been for his reference and early guilty plea he could have been jailed. “This was serious offending over a substantial period of time on a substantial number of girls. There was an element of abuse of trust. You were in some cases three years older than them – a real difference in age that may have influenced them to give in to your wishes.

“I take the view the nature and gravity offences mean that I have to pass a prison sentence, but I can suspended it. I make it clear that I bear in mind the references when I pass this sentence. The army will not now be obliged to discharge you. You look like you have a good career ahead of you, don’t throw it away.”

Mattinson was given a six-month suspended prison sentence, and ordered to pay £500 in costs. He walked free from court.

May 2013

Suspended sentences for sexually assaulting younger sister

FOUR brothers who pleaded guilty to sexually and indecently assaulting their younger sister walked free from Kilkenny Circuit Court on Thursday after they each received five year suspended prison sentences.

UPDATE: To be released on 21st June, 2016.

May 2006

Fifteen years in jail for stab attack on pregnant partner

A man viciously stabbed his pregnant girlfriend and tried to suffocate her a day after the couple watched a movie depicting similar shocking brutality

Sean Walsh was jailed for 15 years yesterday for the brutal assault.

The 25-year-old Englishman had taken his girlfriend to see a film, ‘The Grudge’ – in which a husband strangles his wife and child – on November 8, 2004, Kilkenny Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Hours later, the girlfriend awoke to find the man she loved putting a pillow over her face.

The woman was also slashed with a knife, stabbed several times and head-butted.

In the bathroom of her house, a three-year-old girl was found unconscious with a pair of pink trousers tied around her neck.

At the time the woman believed that her daughter was dead. There was also a fracture to her daughter’s left elbow and bite marks to her body.

Walsh, of O’Loughlin Court, Kilkenny, but previously of Wigan who has been in custody since 2004, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to a female

He also admitted endangering the life of a child at the same address and on the same date.

Defence counsel John Peart, SC, said the accused suffered from a behavioural dysfunction.

He already has psychiatric difficulties in his life and the incident was completely unpremeditated.

He said his client could describe what he had done but he could not explain it.

The court heard that Walsh had planned the attack and had admitted to ‘vivid and violent fantasies’ about following people at night with a knife.

He had also admitted to a psychiatrist that he had felt ‘a sense of relief and got a buzz’ after what he had done.

Det Gda Luke Kelly said Walsh had absconded when gardai arrived at the scene of the crime. When he was later located at St John’s Quay, he swam across the River Nore on two occasions to escape from officers.

He was later arrested at Kilkenny Castle Park.

Det Gda Kelly said the woman was very traumatised from the events and she still had very visible injuries to her neck from the knife slashes. If they were to be treated properly, she would have to undergo plastic surgery.

Judge Olive Buttimer said the seriousness of the occurrences could not be underestimated and could find no mitigating factor for his conduct as their relationship was not stormy and no alcohol or drugs were involved.

The judge said Walsh had vivid and elaborate fantasies of a violent nature of carrying a knife around at night following people.

She also said the accused seemed to take pleasure or excitement and felt a sense of relief and buzz afterwards.

She sentenced Walsh to 10 years for causing serious harm to Ms O’Carroll and five years for endangering the three-year-old girl.

June 2016

Trucker attempted to murder 26-day-old baby

A truck driver left a three-week-old baby with permanent brain damage by shaking it violently, a court heard.

The child’s mother wept openly as a jury found Damien Menzies guilty of attempting to murder the infant, who was just 26-days-old at the time.

Members of the mum’s family, who filled the public benches at the High Court in Livingston, comforted each other as the majority verdict was read out.

Menzies showed no emotion or remorse as he was convicted for the attack, which has left the child unable to walk or talk.

Judge Lady Scott called for a background report and told Menzies she would sentence him at the High Court in Edinburgh on July 19.

She added: “You will appreciate in terms of the verdict of the court that this is a very serious matter. You will be remanded in custody.”

During the week-long trial, the jury heard that the baby had been well and feeding normally before it was taken to a dance show at Deans Community High School in Livingston on October 10, 2014.

The baby’s mum gave evidence that Menzies volunteered to take it to change its nappy. Less than 15 minutes later, he returned with the infant lying “blue” and “lifeless” in his arms.

She described the youngster as being so limp and floppy it seemed to have no bones.

She described the baby, now around 18 months old, as “still like a newborn with most things”.

Menzies, who was in the Armed Forces before he started driving articulated HGV lorries, had denied repeatedly shaking the baby to its severe injury, permanent impairment and danger of life.

His family live in Bathgate, but he has since moved to Kent.