July 2016

Bingley IT expert found with indecent images of children hid ‘nasty secret’

A self-employed IT expert who accessed indecent photos of children over an eight year period felt lonely and isolated while hiding his “very nasty secret,” Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Jeremy Jackson, 46, of Park Road, Bingley, was highly thought of and produced many references before he was sentenced to a three year community order that means he must attend the Sex Offender Treatment Programme and work with the probation service.

Jackson pleaded guilty to three offences that together involved making about 350 indecent photos and movies of children in all three categories of seriousness, between December 2007 and July last year.

Prosecutor Frances Pencheon said Jackson’s home was raided by the police on September 15, 2015, during an investigation by the National Crime Agency.

Illegal photos found on his computers included images of children aged between three and 11, some in pain and distress.

Jackson, who told the police he was “inquisitive” had made searches that included the words “paedo” and “pre teens,” Miss Pencheon said.

His barrister, Kitty Taylor, said he had voluntarily sought help and counselling even before he admitted the offences.

He could very easily have accessed many more images while doing his job and he never shared any of the files.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC told Jackson: “You were a man of impeccable character, very highly thought of, but you were hiding a very nasty secret or habit.”

Jackson must sign on the sex offenders’ register for five years and the judge made him subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

July 2016

JAILED: Darwen sexual predator twice raped 12-year-old girl

A sexual predator formerly from Darwen who twice raped a 12-year-old girl has been jailed for nearly 10 years.

Luke Kennedy, 20, was also convicted of sexually assaulting the same child, who can not be named for legal reasons.

Preston Crown Court heard how all the offences happened between February and April this year.

Kennedy, of Preston was jailed for nine years and four months for the rapes and must also serve an extended parole period of five years.

For each of the sexual assaults Judge Stuart Baker sentenced Kennedy to four years imprisonment, to be served concurrently.

Kennedy was also made the subject of a restraining order, banning him from directly or indirectly contacting his victim.

He was also placed on the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely and put on the Disclosure and Barring list indefinitely.

July 2016

Sex offender sentenced for sex crimes against girl

A sex predator has been jailed for two and a half years following a string of sexual offences he carried out on a girl in the Buckinghamshire area.

21-year-old Jamie Lowe, of Mentmore Road, Rochdale, was found unanimously guilty by the jury of eight counts of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 13 between the years of 2008 and 2013.

He was convicted for four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and four counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity on June 3 at Aylesbury Crown Court and was sentenced on Friday, July 15.

Lowe – who was under 18 when the offences took place – will also have to sign on to the sex offenders register for life and a sexual harm prevention order restricting his contact with children has been put in place.

The fact that Lowe was under 18 was taken in to account when he was sentenced but was told by the court “you knew from the outset what you were doing was wrong.”

Det Con Melissa Lee, of Thames Valley Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “This was a case in which the victim showed great bravery in coming forward and in telling police and the court what had happened to her.

“Although Lowe was under 18 himself when these offences occurred, he took advantage of the vulnerability of a young girl for his own gratification.

“This sentence demonstrates that the damage caused by such behaviour is not something police and the courts will take lightly.”

July 2016

Benwell shelf-stacking pervert hoped to meet schoolgirl for sex

A shop worker hoping for sex with a 13-year-old after he groomed her online was instead met by paedophile hunters Dark Justice.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how shelf-stacker Damian Morton made online contact with who he thought was a schoolgirl called Charlotte.

With sex in mind, he made arrangements to meet her at Manors Metro station in Newcastle. But when he turned up, the 22-year-old was instead confronted by members of Dark Justice and the police.

Robin Thurton, prosecuting, told the court the Dark Justice organisation had established a decoy account under the name of Charlotte on social media website Tagged.

On March 2 this year, Morton contacted ‘Charlotte’ who told him she was 13 and their conversations continued, swapping to another social media platform, WhatsApp, where she again mentioned her age and asked: “Do you remember me?” to which he answered “yes”.

Throughout that day and the next they held conversations referring to meeting up when Morton had finished work at Home Bargains and to sexual activity.

When Morton arrived at the Metro station for their 7.30pm meeting on March 3, police were waiting for him.

Morton, of Gill Street, Benwell, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to attempted grooming.

Jonathan Cousins, mitigating, said his client had no previous convictions and had initially met the girl on an adult website.

He said Morton is an immature and sexually inexperienced man who has had little contact with the opposite sex.

Judge Alistair MacDonald QC sentenced Morton, who has since lost his job, to one year in prison, suspended for two years.

He told him this was a “very, very serious” offence and that he should think himself “very lucky” he met with police that day and not a young teenager or else he would be in a much worse position.

He also ordered Morton to undertake a sex offender programme and a rehabilitation activity.

July 2016

Paedophile who described himself as a “dog” after molesting two girls jailed for eight years

A paedophile who described himself as a “dog” after molesting two young girls was jailed for eight years.

Anthony Westhead, 58, of Thirlmere Road, Everton, abused his victims in Norris Green in the 1990s.

He admitted seven counts of indecent assault in relation to one victim, but was found not guilty of raping her after a trial.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Westhead also pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault in relation to the second girl.

Judge David Aubrey, QC, said anyone who saw the first girl give evidence could not fail to have been moved by her distress.

He said: “You took away her innocence. In truth you have sentenced her to a life sentence, because in all probability not a day goes by when her mind does not wander to when you indecently assaulted her.”

The court heard the two victims met up around eight years ago and realised they had both been abused by Westhead.

The first girl made a victim personal statement in which she said the ordeal led to her trying to take her own life.

She said: “The acts against me made me feel suicidal, as if I had no-one or anywhere to turn to.”

The court heard the girl started self-harming and was hospitalised after taking an overdose of pills.

She struggled in school, failed to pass exams, found it difficult to have relationships with men and suffered panic attacks.

The woman said: “I’ve never been able to have a bond where trust is concerned. I don’t feel like I’m normal like everybody else.

“At times I feel like my life is out of control. I’m unable to get these things out of my head.”

Westhead has a previous conviction for rape dating back to 1980, for which he received three years in prison.

Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, previously told the court: “He said one night he required some money and intended to steal a handbag from a lady in the street.

“In the process of doing that he went on to rape her. It would appear to be what is commonly called stranger rape.”

The paedophile, balding with glasses and wearing a grey zip-up top in the dock, sat with his head bowed.

August 2016

 Pervert talked about raping seven year old in Gibatribe network

A man who engaged in a “grotesque” online conversation about child abuse has been spared jail.

Andres Valez was found with 1,324 indecent images, including movies, of children on his laptop by police when they visited his home last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how officers also discovered he had been chatting to another person in an online chat room called Gibatribe.

The court heard how during the chat they discussed raping a child as young as seven.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said: “The defendant did accept when he was interviewed that he had been part of a network called Gibatribe and had current possession of indecent images.”

Valez, of St Michael’s Court, Gray Road, Sunderland, admitted three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and two counts of possessing an indecent photograph of a child.

David Comb, defending, said: “He accepts he acquired the images deliberately.

“He’s embarrassed and ashamed by what he has done.

“He’s been on bail for the thick end of a year now without committing any offences or breaching bail.

“He’s 30-years-old and he has no previous convictions.

“He’s also married, his husband has not been in the full picture of what has gone on until today.

“He joined the conference for the first time today and it was clear it was the first time we confronted the detail of what the case involved.

“He does continue to be supportive and does appear to be keeping a closer eye on his partner.”

Judge Amanda Rippon told Valez: “I accept that the online chat you engaged in was fantasy but it’s grotesque fantasy and the photographs indicated a sign of risk to children.”

Judge Rippon sentenced Valez to 18 months in prison suspended for two years.

He is also required to abide by the sexual harm prevention order and sign as a sex offender for 10 years.

August 2016

Maths teacher convicted of sexually abusing young boys

A teacher branded “highly manipulative” has been convicted of sexually abusing two pupils.

Ronald Burton got to know the boys while teaching maths at two secondary school in South Lanarkshire.

The 60 year-old groomed the pair by lavishing gifts on them – including underwear and gym memberships.

Read more: Father tells court maths teacher gifted his son underwear during rape trial

Burton – a now retired ex-assistant principal teacher – was finally snared in 2014 after being confronted by his first victim.

Burton told a jury he had shown “nothing but kindness and affection” to the boys.

But he was found guilty following a week-long trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

He was convicted of lewd and libidinous behaviour towards the first victim and a charge of sexual assault against the second boy.

Burton had his bail continued pending sentencing in September. He was ordered to surrender his passport in the meantime.

The jury heard how the offences occurred 20 years apart.

Burton got to know the first victim in about 1994, when he was in first year.

He later went on to tutor the boy with his maths studies.

Burton told the trial: “I made the judgement that I would try and help him improve.”

But, he instead took the opportunity to prey on the youngster.

The victim recalled feeling “very uncomfortable” when Burton used “crude terminology”.

During the abuse, Burton drove to a quiet lane before apparently becoming upset.

The witness told the court: “At this point he put his head in his hands. He said I thought just like his mother … she always told him he was a pervert and I must think he is a pervert as well.”

The abuse ended when the boy was about 15.

He told the court: “I ended up thinking I was the one in the wrong.”

Burton later moved schools and eventually turned his attentions to a second boy – aged about 12 – in 2013.

This youngster was similarly preyed upon, which included inappropriate touching.

Quizzed about these incidents, the boy said: “He asked and I said I was not comfortable with it.

“He would say ‘you are just like everyone else … you think I’m a weirdo.”

Burton was finally reported to police after the first victim told he felt “worthless” and wanted to kill himself.

But, the jury heard the victim felt like “a weight had been lifted” after confronting Burton.

Burton, of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, denied the allegations.

In his closing speech, Mr Kearney described Burton as “highly manipulative” in carrying out “systematic sexual abuse”.

Burton had faced other charges including claims he raped the second victim and also tried to hypnotise him, but these were dropped by prosecutors.

August 2016

Paedophile found guilty of breaching sexual offences prevention order

A CONVICTED sex offender was back in court after he was caught with two computers he was not allowed to have.

Alexander Korbey, of The Greencroft in Salisbury, appeared in Salisbury Magistrates Court on Friday, after facing two charges of breaching a sexual offences prevention order.

The order had been made in March 2013 after the 31-year-old was convicted of downloading and possessing indecent images of children.

The court banned him from owning any devices with internet access, unless he had told the police beforehand.

But, earlier this year, police seized two Raspberry Pi computers which Korbey had failed to declare.

The Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized computer that plugs into a television and keyboard.

It can be used for most computer tasks, including browsing the internet and playing high-definition video.

Prosecuting, Keith Ballinger said Korbey had received regular visits from the police, who discussed the details of the order with him on a number of occasions, but Korbey failed to tell police about these computers.

He was arrested for breaching his order and pleaded guilty to owning both devices on June 17.

It was not the first time Korbey had breached the order; he was convicted in 2015 of downloading software onto a tablet that prevented anyone, including police, from seeing his browsing history.

Bench chairman Robert Oglesby sentenced Korbey to four weeks in prison, suspended for one year.

He must also complete ten days of rehabilitation at the rate of one day a month.

This came despite a probation worker advising the court that Korbey had already completed the Sex Offenders’ Treatment Programme and would be unlikely to benefit any further from the course.

Mr Oglesby said: “This is to keep tabs on you and remind you how serious the offence was.”

August 2016

Former borstal officer jailed for abusing four young girls

A coastguard has been jailed for 11 years for the abuse of four girls who are still haunted by the trauma of his sexual assaults.

Former prison officer Peter Vowden molested the girls at different times over a 21-year period when they were aged from seven to 15.

At the time he was living in North Devon or at Weymouth, where he worked at the nearby Borstal at Portland, now a Young Offenders Institution.

He moved back to Barnstaple and had worked at a builder’s merchant and for the local council and volunteered as an auxiliary coastguard until his past crimes caught up with him.

Vowden, 60, of Poltimore Lane, Barnstaple, admitted a total of 18 offences of indecent assault or indecency against four victims between 1973 and 1994.

He was jailed for a total of 11 years with a one year extended licence by Recorder Paul Dunkels, QC, at Exeter Crown Court. He was also put on the sex offenders’ register for life and made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which bans any contact with children after his release.

The judge told him: “You were aged 18 to 39 at the time of these offences and the children were seven to 15. I have read their victim impact statements and take into account the profound and long standing damage that your abuse has left to them.

“It has haunted them for decades. You were a persistent offender with a course of conduct involving a number of victims.

“I have read a letter in which you claim to show remorse at this stage. That is remorse which you clearly did not show at any time during the 20 or so years when your crimes remained undetected and unpunished.”

Sean Brunton, for the prosecution, said the offences all happened when Vowden had access to the victims at different times over the years, including while he was working as a prison officer at Portland.

He ensured their silence by threatening to hurt them or their families and by telling them nobody would believe them if they complained.

He even put a knife to the throat of one of the victims when he feared she would tell her mother about his abuse. He told her: “If you tell anyone, I’m going to stab you.”

Brunton said: “Three of the victims have made personal statements. The impact on them has been devastating, and that is not surprising.”

Richard Crabb, for the defence, said: “He describes himself as being in a complete whirl at the time and although he knew what he was doing was wrong, he cannot explain his motivation.

“He says he knows he was not born that way. He has lived an honest and industrious life since 1994 and says there is no chance whatsoever of him reoffending.

“He worked for a builder’s merchants for 20 years and more recently has been employed by the local authority. He has also done voluntary work as an auxiliary coastguard.

“He tells me he now has no interest in sex and no interest in children. He is remorseful apologetic and ashamed.”

August 2016

Businessman jailed after sexually assaulting 14 year-old

A 14 YEAR-old girl told a court she had thought about killing herself after being sexually assaulted by a successful Southam businessman.

Stephen Mazurek, boss of his family’s optical services company, had pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to two charges of sexual activity with a child.

But on the day of his trial, with his teenage victim at court ready to give evidence, he changed his pleas to guilty.

The 42 year-old, of Pine Tree Crescent, Southam, was jailed for 27 months and ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Prosecutor Caroline Bray said the incident took place after a rugby club function Mazurek had attended, where he had been drinking and also bought drinks for the girl.

He later asked the girl for a kiss, and she gave him a peck on the cheek – but he then tried to kiss her on the mouth and to put his tongue in her mouth.

The 14-year-old froze, and he then began touching her intimately.

After she fled from him, the girl called a friend to whom she revealed what had happened, and her mother was also told – but when her mother confronted Mazurek, he claimed it had never happened and that it was a false allegation. He continued to deny it following his arrest.

At her own request, the girl tearfully read out her impact statement in court, during which she outlined a dramatic impact the incident has had on her.

She revealed: “I have suffered massively. I thought killing myself would end my pain. The only thing that stopped me was wondering how my family would cope.

“People did not believe me because he’s this amazing businessman… but why would I choose to lie?

“Although I have my family around me, I just can’t find closure. I am sick and tired of aching like this.”

After she finished, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC consoled the girl: “You have delivered that with dignity and courage, and it has helped me, and everyone here, to understand. I hope fervently that you will find some closure.

Graeme Simpson, defending, said Mazurek, managing director of Southam-based Mazurek Optical Services, had been doing all he can ‘to deal with the issues which arise out of this,’ and had undertaken counselling.

Handing in a number of references, Mr Simpson said: “He runs the family business, a business he set up himself 14 years ago. It’s a successful business, and employs eight people.

“His accountant is of the opinion that the company is dependent on Stephen Mazurek for its day-to-day decisions and long-term strategy. If he could not continue running the business, there’s a risk of it failing, with all the consequences of that.”

Mr Simpson added Mazurek had been of ‘positive good character,’ and his company had sponsored a local rugby club, of which he had been chairman, and charities, and provided equipment for a promising local teenage boxer.

Jailing Mazurek, Judge Lockhart told him: “No doubt drink had had an effect on you, and you were disinhibited.

“I have heard her relate her victim personal statement. It is plain to me it has had a significant effect on her.

“I accept a custodial sentence will have an impact not only on you, but on your business, but there must be an immediate custodial sentence for this.”

August 2016

‘Sickening movies of child abuse’ downloaded by pervert

DAWLISH man who downloaded sickening movies of child rape has been sent on a internet offender course.

Samuel Walford, 25, was given a three-year community order by a judge at Exeter Crown Court after pleading guilty to four counts of making indecent photos of children.

The court was told police raided his house on July 17 and found movies and images on his laptop and on a tablet.

Recorder Paul Dunkels QC was told 21 movies were in the most serious category A and depicted abuse of children as young as eight.

The court heard Walford, a man of no previous convictions, had endured an extremely difficult upbringing which had left him emotionally damaged. He had also been injured in a car accident in 2010.

Recorder Dunkels said the details of the imagery downloaded by Walford was ‘particularly disturbing’. But he said he was bound to follow sentencing guidelines and offer him the chance of rehabilitation.

The defendant was given a community order with supervision; sent on an internet sex offender’s group programme; made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order; and put on the Sex Offenders Register. He must also pay costs of £350.

August 2016

Soldier escapes jail after being found with sexual images of children and animals

A SOLDIER with an “impeccable” record found himself before the court after his internet provider tipped off the police he was accessing images of child abuse.

Anthony Pearce of Saltash Road came before magistrates in Swindon on Friday to be sentenced to four charges of downloading indecent images of children and animals.

The 56-year-old previously pleaded guilty to making 14 indecent images of children of category A classification, 12 of category B, seven of category C and 25 extreme porn graphic images that depicted sexual acts being performed on dogs and horses. The offences all took place between November 23, 2013 and July 17, 2014.

Crown prosecutor Keith Ballinger told the court that the offences had come to light in January 2014 when Pearce’s internet provider, BT, contacted Wiltshire Police with intelligence that an IP address at the defendant’s home was accessing images of child abuse through a file sharing programme.

“In July of that year officers attended his address and executed a warrant,” said Mr Ballinger. “He confirmed to officers that it was him they needed it speak to and he understood what they were talking about.”

In police interview he told the officers that he would download around 30 to 40 files through a file sharing service overnight. When he went through them if he found anything depicting child abuse he would delete them immediately. He said he had not actively gone looking for images of child abuse but accepted there had been some in there.”

He explained that he found child abuse “disgusting” and got no sexual gratification out of such images.

Defending Pearce, Ben Worthington told the bench that not only did his client have no previous convictions recorded against him, but he was a man of “impeccable” character. “He has been in the military for some 35 years, 22 years in the army and the last 13 in the Territorial Army,” said Mr Worthington. “During the course of his time in the military he has done two tours of Northern Ireland, a tour of Kosovo, Cyprus, Germany – he has been placed all over the world.

“He is now a sergeant instructor and helps with the day to day running of his squadron in the TA.

“He admits having some difficulty with emotional management, depression, feelings of isolation and survivor’s guilt.”

He explained that police had found the images in the cache folder on Pearce’s computer, and not deliberately saved in a separate folder. Since then, however, he has sought treatment at a sexual harm prevention clinic.

Having retired to consider the sentence they would impose, chairman of the bench Simon Wolfensohn told Pearce that the decision they had reached was a very borderline verdict. After considering his previous good character, the supportive character references they had received and the fact he had already sought out treatment he imposed a six month prison sentence, which was suspended for 18 months. He also made him subject to a seven year sexual harm prevention order during which he will also be under a period of notification.

Pearce was also ordered to pay a fine of £725, Crown Prosecution Service costs of £85 and a £115 victim surcharge.

August 2016

Pervert with history of indecent exposure jailed 

A PERVERT has been jailed for performing a “totally disgusting” sex act in front of some horses in broad daylight.

Malcolm Downes, 59, was spotted half-naked beside a bicycle in a field full of steeds on June 25 at around 11am.

A court heard when residents nearby in Hull, East Yorks., confronted the creep, he told them he was urinating.

But Downes was jailed for two years at Hull Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard he had a string of previous convictions of indecent exposure dating back to 1974.

One of his most recent convictions came in 2013 after a dog walker spotted him performing a sex act in front of horse.

Sentencing, Judge Mark Bury said: “It [Downes’ criminal record] doesn’t make very good reading as far as he is concerned.”

He added Downes, of Hull, should have seen a doctor “years ago” to get treatment for his libido.

Phillip Evans, prosecuting, said the resident “challenged the defendant about his behaviour and noticed he was in close proximity to some horses.

“The defendant claimed he had been urinating. He apologised and rode away on his bicycle.

“Notwithstanding that, [the resident] had taken some photographic evidence of what he had seen, which corroborated his view of events.”

The perv was later arrested by a community support officer.

He was found guilty of indecent exposure in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, four times in 1980, 2007 and 2013.

Nigel Clive, defending, said Downes was planning to visit his doctor to get treatment for his libido.

August 2016

Man admits sex offences and represents himself in court

A Louth man has admitted inciting a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

Joshua Bagley, 21, pleaded guilty to two charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity when he represented himself during a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court.

Both offences happened between February 3 and February 10 this year when Bagley did not reasonably believe that the girl, who can not be named, was aged 16 or over.

The offences relate to one charge of inciting the girl to commit a sexual act and a second charge of inciting the same child to send him indecent photos.

Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said: “It seems he has gone on Facebook on a whim, not planning his actions, and spoke to her making suggestions of meeting up and having sex.

“He later asked her to send what he described as cheeky photos.”

Mr Scott added: “He is of good character, is unrepresented and will need the assistance of the probation service.”

Judge Michael Heath granted Bagley, of Trinity Court, Louth, bail for the preparation of a probation report and adjourned sentence until 23 August.

The judge told Bagley: “Before I sentence you I want a report on you, that will give me much more information.

“I am not in a position today of saying you will not go to prison, but the fact you have pleaded guilty and were unrepresented will go very much in your favour.

“There is an obligation now to sign on the so-called sex offenders register. The length of time will depend on the sentence.”

August 2016

Teen pleads guilty to sexually assaulting child and possessing and distributing indecent images

AN 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a nine-year-old child, and possessing and distributing indecent images of children.

Jack Langdon, from Watchet but now in the care of HMP, entered the pleas at Taunton Crown Court, via video link from Exeter Prison on Friday, July 29.

Langdon pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault of a nine-year-old child between December 1, 2015 and December 30, 2015, in Minehead.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of indecent images of children, and nine further counts of possession of an indecent photograph.

Judge David Ticehurst said: “I think he may be dangerous offender, given that it happened within months, if not weeks of a previous offence.”

Mr Langdon was given a community order for a previous offence of sexual assault.

Judge Ticehurst added: “Putting it bluntly, he has had his chance and he has blown it.

“The images show an unhealthy interest in such matters. These offences occurred early on into his community order.

“He represents a significant risk to cause substantial harm.”

The case has been adjourned for further reports from probation services.

Langdon will appear in court again on August 25.

Meanwhile, he has been remanded in custody.

August 2016

Pervert caught with ‘disgraceful’ indecent pictures of children

A man found in possession of “disgraceful and disgusting” indecent images has been told he had no regard for his victims. Police raided Michael Barnicoat’s home in Gleneagles Park, east Hull, on December 7 and seized two laptops.

Some 60 movies, most of which were category A – the most serious – were found on his computers along with a number of still images. Other extreme pornography, including bestiality, were discovered on both computers.

At Hull Crown Court, Judge David Tremberg told Barnicoat, 48, he could easily have sent him to prison. He said: “These were disgraceful and disgusting images and you were prepared to satisfy your sexual gratification at the expense of your victims.

“This is not a victimless crime. The interests of people like you in these images means people will create further images. This means more victims will be created, ruining the lives of more children.

“You have to share the responsibility of the effect on these victims. Some of the children you were viewing were of pre-pubescent age.”

Barnicoat was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, after he admitted two offences of possessing indecent images of children and one of possessing extreme pornography.

Judge Tremberg said: “You could not possibly complain if you had been locked up straight away. But in your favour, you have no previous convictions and you admitted your guilt early.

“If you didn’t understand the full seriousness before then you do now. You have lost your character, your job and your wife.

“I can see in the dock the shame you have for what you have done.”

Barnicoat was arrested and interviewed once the computers were seized and he admitted searching for and downloading the images and having a sexual interest in the images.

Stephen Robinson, for Barnicoat, said: “My client admitted the offences before the computers were even examined. He has lost a great deal from this, including his job. Hopefully, he can put this sordid behaviour behind him.”

Barnicoat was also handed a sexual harm prevention order for seven years and will have to carry out a number of rehabilitation programmes.

June 2013

Predatory sex offender jailed for eight years

A MAN deemed a “paedophilic sexual predator” was jailed for eight years for the first of what became several child sex offences now on his record.

Durham Crown Court was told Shaun James Blakeley, 46, has several convictions in recent years for sexual offences on girls aged 15 and under.

It culminated in him receiving a prison sentence of three years and four months at the court in July 2011 for two counts each of indecent assault and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (Sopo).

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said as he was about to be released, on licence, half-way through that sentence, earlier this year, Blakeley was arrested at the prison gate after new allegations arose.

It culminated in him facing further counts of indecent assault on a girl, dating back more than ten years, prior to the more recent offences.

Blakeley, formerly of William Street, South Moor, near Stanley, who lived in Sacriston and Edmondsley areas of County Durham, at the time of the offences, was convicted by a jury on two of five charges, all of which he denied, after a three-day trial at the court last month.

Formal ‘not guilty’ charges were recorded on the other three charges following directions of the judge.

Blakeley’s barrister, Tony Davis, told the sentencing hearing that the latest convictions all pre-date the more recent offending.

He said: “At the time of these offences he didn’t have those convictions.

“But his offending has since come to light and he has been punished for it.

“Following the breaches of the Sopo in 2011 he accepted his offending and acknowledged he has a problem, with a sexual attraction to those in the 15 – 18 bracket.

“Work was continuing to take place right up to when he was arrested at the gate when he was about to be released earlier this year.”

Jailing him, Judge Christopher Prince told Blakeley: “It’s simple. You committed these offences and lied under oath, calling the victim a ‘liar’.

“She was not a liar. Despite it taking tremendous courage to come forward, she did so and told the truth to the jury.”

On Blakeley’s release he will be subject of a revised Sopo and registration as a sexual offender, both for life.

August 2016

Teen reveals 8-year rape horror at hands of man who demanded she was tattooed with his name

A teenager has revealed how she was abused and raped by a man who forced her to ink his name on her skin.

She says Stephen Reeson, 52, began his sick attacks when she was just 8-years-old – shortly after he got to know her family.

He twisted her mind to the point where she was convinced they were in a loving relationship.

And when she was just 14, he took her to a tattoo parlour and paid to have his name tattooed in Chinese characters on her hip.

Her one attempt to reveal her ordeal to a teacher when she was 13 ended in failure.

Now 17 and having seen vile Reeson jailed for four years, the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also recalled how Reeson got her pregnant and fostered a rift between her and her mother

She said: “I know he didn’t love me, what he did wasn’t right. He is a paedophile who stole my childhood and ruined my family.”

Jobless Reeson, from Plymouth, became close to the girl’s family after meeting them in 2006 in Uddingston, Lanarkshire.

His victim said: “He seemed caring, doting but in reality turned out to be anything but.”

She said the first sex assault happened after her mum had gone out to work.

She said: “I lay there terrified pretending to be asleep as he pulled off my trousers and had sex with me.”

The assaults continued regularly but at 13 she tried to end her torment.

She said: “I told my teacher that I’d been raped. But everybody loved him. He was charming and lovely and no one believed me.

“I didn’t even understand what he was doing to me and how bad it was. So when everyone was so shocked and asked if I had heard the word ‘rape’ in the playground, I just agreed.

“From that point on, I told myself what he was doing was OK. It started to happen so often that it became routine, almost normal to me.

“At one point, he was having sex with me every single day. He made sure we were isolated from everyone else.

“Another time he wrapped a belt around my neck and made me carry out a sex act on him. It seemed to go on forever. I was then violently sick.

“The abuse started when I was eight and lasted until two weeks before my 16th birthday. I began to believe what he was saying and believed that he did love me. I really thought I loved him.

“He paid for me to have his name tattooed on my stomach. He told me to get it in Chinese writing so no one knew what it really said.

“I began to believe him when he said he was my boyfriend. I wanted us to get married. I had no idea what was really going on. I was a child.”

The girl recalled the agony of having a miscarriage. “One Sunday I was at a church group when I had this
unbelievable pain and I ran to the toilets.

“I was 14 and had no idea I was pregnant. He came and picked me up. I had no one else to phone. Then he left me lying in excruciating pain.”

Reeson even promised her that they would elope to the Seychelles and get married when she turned 16.

Instead, he was arrested in January last year by police acting on a tip-off. At first, the girl refused to help. She said: “I didn’t want him to be caught. I refused to co-operate with the police.”

However, it ultimately dawned on her that she had been abused.

She says that her relationship with her mother is damaged beyond repair because she failed to believe her.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Reeson admitted a single charge of repeatedly having sex with the youngster over a period of nine months when she was 14-15.

He is understood to have initially appeared on 14 similar charges but yesterday court clerks claimed they did not keep a record of the charges.

Lord Armstrong called Reeson’s sick crimes “a gross breach of trust” as he sentenced him to four years in prison.

Now his victim wants others to know the reality of sexual abuse and to encourage victims to report their attackers to the authorities.

She said: “A year ago I thought this man was the love of my life. I had no idea that the reality was I’d been groomed and abused.

“Over the past year, his influence has washed away. I can see clearly for the first time in my life. I wanted to tell my story to let victims of abuse know they should not be ashamed.

“I know coming forward to the police about abuse may seem like a long road to begin with but in the end it will be so worth it. Justice is possible.”

Of the tattoo Reeson paid for, she added: “I’m going to have it covered up. It’s a constant reminder. Every time I look in the mirror, it reminds me of something I’d rather forget.”

August 2016

Northern Ireland camera pervert faces mixed changing rooms ban

A pervert who recorded two women in a leisure centre could be barred from mixed changing rooms, a judge has said

After he adjourned the sentencing of 26-year-old Michael Campbell at Newtownards Magistrates Court, District Judge Mark Hamill said there was also the potential of a sexual offences prevention order and him being placed on the police sex offenders register.

The object of sentencing, said the judge, was to have him not coming back to court and “to protect the public.”

During an earlier hearing Campbell, from Cranley Road in Bangor, was convicted of two counts of voyeurism in relation to two women and attempted voyeurism in relation to two boys who were in the changing room at the Aurora centre with their mum.

The charges outline that “for the purpose of sexual gratification,” Campbell recorded another person doing a private act, knowing that the other person did not consent to being recorded for sexual gratification.”

During a contested hearing last month, the court heard how Campbell was in a cubicle at the multi-million pound leisure faculty in his home town when he recorded a woman in the next changing cubicle by putting his mobile phone under the partition.

He also tried to record a female in the cubicle on the other side but was unsuccessful because, as he himself confessed, he “didn’t hit the button right.”

Giving evidence on his own behalf, Campbell denied being a paedophile, claiming he only tried to record his second unsuspecting victim because he heard her tell her 11 and four-year-old sons to go out and meet their dad.

He told the court: “That’s when I thought ‘Ok’, I attempted to take a video over the cubicle, thinking the children were away. But I didn’t do it, because I didn’t press the button right.”

The boys’ mum was alerted when her eldest son spotted Campbell’s hand holding the phone over the top of their cubicle, but when he was eventually arrested, police were unable to retrieve any information from phones seized.

Campbell further claimed he had been on holiday and had inadvertently taken the mobile he had used into the water, damaging it irrevocably, while the prosecution confirmed no offending material had been uncovered on either a laptop or two other mobile phones seized from Campbell.

During his plea in mitigation, defence lawyer Conan Wray conceded that Campbell had significant problems which needed to be addressed and needed support.

Releasing Campbell on continuing bail, Judge Hamill told him to return to court for sentencing tomorrow.

August 2016

Transsexual walks free after admitting child sex offences when she was a man

A child protection charity has hit out at the lenient sentence handed to pervert transsexual Gina Owen, who walked free from court despite admitting sex offences involving a child – committed when she was a MAN.

They slammed the sentencing after Owen, from Leigh, near Sherborne, Dorset, walked free from court with a two-year conditional discharge despite pleading guilty to two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity 12 years ago, before she underwent a sex change. 

The 61-year-old was alleged to have got a young boy to tie her up and humiliate her by hitting her “then male” genitals. Owen had previously denied two charges, one of which had also alleged he had urinated in her mouth, but on the eve of a trial at Taunton Crown Court on Monday (August 2) she admitted modified charges.

The allegation that the boy had urinated was dropped.

The charity said: “This is a complex and disturbing case involving serious sexual offences against a child.

“Such abhorrent experiences have long-term consequences for victims, and it therefore seems very reasonable to state that the sentence does not reflect the seriousness of the crime.

“This view is strengthened by the comments of the abuser after the sentencing. She declared herself free and able to walk out of court with few consequences.

“There is no sign of remorse and no indication that either the requirement to sign the sex offender’s register for two years or the £500 compensation to the victim were seen as robust deterrents.

“We need to ask what message this sends out to others who prey on children and sexually abuse them.”

Owen denied the charges at an earlier hearing but she changed her plea on the first day of her scheduled trial after the wording of her indictment was amended.

Appearing at Taunton Crown Court in a blue and green floral dress, she admitted two counts of abuse of trust by causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The first charge relates to a period between May 1, 2004 and August 14, 2004 while the second charge relates to a period between August 14, 2004 and December 31, 2004.

No further details or an outline of the case was heard during the short hearing on Monday, August 1.

After accepting her new pleas, judge David Ticehurst sentenced her to a two year conditional discharge.

Owen was also ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for two years and pay £500 compensation to the victim.

Speaking after the case outside court, she refused to expand on the circumstances behind her conviction.

She said: “I am free – that is all there is to it. I was slaughtered by the press before all the facts were known and was treated appallingly.

“I am not going to say anymore as me and my family have been through enough. I am free and I have walked out of court – what does that tell you? The judge set me free.

“That’s the end of it and I will now move on.”

Judge David Ticehurst said he had difficulty sentencing Owen because courses designed to help sex offenders reform were only available to men.

The charges detailed the sexual activity was of a non-penetrative nature but involved the boy “binding and humiliating” her, and hitting her on her then male genitals while taking photos of her.

Patrick Mason, who was defending Owen, said the offences had occurred just before she began her gender reassignment and she had been in a “difficult, sad” place.

He added: “She was literally a different person when she committed these offences.”

Judge Ticehurst said he was faced with a difficult decision when he came to sentencing.

He said: “There is no doubt that these offences were very serious.

“The victim who was exposed to your behaviour would have suffered some trauma.

“The problem is that I am afraid that a community order could put you in the path of abuse, and all of the courses run for sexual offenders are only available to men.

“I do not feel that either of those routes would be suitable for your particular circumstances.”

The NSPCC added: “Owen admitted causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity on a number of occasions.

“These intentional acts involved a vulnerable young boy. This kind of activity can ruin childhoods, with the effects lasting into adulthood.”

The Crown Prosecution Service said sentencing was a matter for the court and it would not be appropriate for them to comment on it.

But they said the charges were altered to reflect the “unique” offending that took place.

They said: “The CPS has a duty under the code for Crown Prosecutors to keep cases under continuous review.

“Before trial we determined the indictment needed changing to properly reflect the unique offending which took place.”