November 2016

Eyemouth sex offender Robert Edwards left in charge of baby

A sex offender banned from having any contact with children was left alone in charge of a one-year-old baby, a court has heard.

Robert Edwards, 62, of Eyemouth, admitted breaching the terms of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

He had only been released from prison a few days earlier when he was left in charge of the child in Jedburgh on Wednesday.

He was jailed for 200 days at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

The court heard how he had been invited to stay at the home of a friend in Jedburgh shortly after his release from prison.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said his friend and another woman, who had the child with her, had then decided to go to Hawick leaving Edwards with the infant.

He added that it appeared the baby’s mother had been unaware that Edwards was a sex offender.

Mr Fraser described the offence as a “spectacular” breach of the order and said it was concerning as Edwards had a previous conviction for assaulting a child of a similar age.

Social workers were tipped off that he was alone in the house with the child and the police were called.

Defence lawyer Fiona Hamilton said the child was meant to be watched by a neighbour who was unable to do so.

She said Edwards thought the two women were only going to a nearby shop for 20 minutes and was unaware they had gone to Hawick.

Ms Hamilton said he had tried to comply with the order and there was no planning involved in being in contact with the child.

She added: “He did not want to say no.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson jailed him for 80 days and added another 120 days for an unexpired part of his previous prison sentence after being released early.

Earlier this year Edwards was jailed for 12 months after a jury at Selkirk Sheriff Court convicted him of speaking to two children aged five and two at a bus stop.

Then, on a bus journey between Berwick and Eyemouth, he also offered them money and sweets – which breached the terms of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

November 2016

Montrose man who blamed brother for child abuse images escapes jail

A Montrose man who tried to convince a jury that his brother was responsible for the stash of child abuse and “extreme porn” images found on his computer today (Thursday) dodged a jail term.

Andrew Duncan’s home that he shared with his parents and siblings was raided by police last year following a tip-off.

Computers belonging to him and his toy shop worker brother Steven Duncan were seized by police.

Officers found a large haul of child abuse images on Steven’s computers – an offence that last month saw him sentenced to a community payback order and placed on the sex offenders register after he admitted his guilt.

But Andrew Duncan denied any involvement in downloading and possessing the indecent material found on his computers.

Forensic examiners also found file cleansing software often used by internet sex offenders to cover their trails on his computer.

Duncan claimed he had it as part of an “ethical hacking” course he was taking at Abertay University.

Instead he lodged a special defence incriminating his 29-year-old brother – despite evidence suggesting some of the files had been downloaded to Andrew Duncan’s computer in his bedroom at 2am on one night.

Summing up the case for the jury at Dundee Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Vicki Bell said Duncan “became obnoxious” while he gave evidence and added “he didn’t seem fussed at all” over the “serious charges”.

She said: “That’s not normal.”

Miss Bell added: “He told police in interview that Steven had not had access to his computer for a long time – and certainly not in 2015.

“Indecent images are found to have been previewed on the computer in 2015 and that’s been put to him by police and he can’t explain it.

“There is only one explanation, the Crown says – it was him, unless he is suggesting his brother was sitting in his room at 2.15am watching child porn.

“Steven had his own computer in his room and his own collection of child porn, as we have heard.

“Why would he have to go to Andrew’s bedroom and download indecent images when he can – and did – do so in his own bedroom?”

But defence solicitor Nick Whelan urged the jury to acquit his client.

He said: “This is a very, very emotive subject but all emotions must be put to the back of your mind – they must not interfere with the determination of the facts.

“He had no knowledge his brother had been downloading this illicit material.

“The bottom line is he did not know the material was there.

“It is artificial to ignore his brother pleaded guilty – unexpectedly he says – to the offence of having a fairly substantial amount of indecent images that were of a similar character.”

Duncan (24), of Market Street, Montrose, denied three charges on indictment of possessing and taking or making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornographic images.

However, a jury of eight men and seven women took just an hour to find him guilty by majority of the child abuse image charges and unanimously of the extreme pornography charge.

Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC imposed a community payback order with 240 hours unpaid work and a year’s supervision and placed him on the sex offender’s register for one year.

She said: “The jury found you guilty of these three charges.

“Having regard to the reports and having heard all the evidence about the number of images and their category I can deal with this by way of a community payback order.”

November 2016

Suspended sentence for man who downloaded indecent images of children

A Needingworth man has escaped prison after police found hundreds of indecent images of children on his laptop.

Sean Williams, of Townsend Road, admitted to three counts of making indecent photographs of children, a charge of possessing prohibited images of a child, and a further two counts of possessing pornography involving animals.

Cambridge Crown Court heard that the indecent images were found after a warrant was executed by Cambridgeshire police at his house on July 18.

Williams’ was not present at the time of the warrant but his computer equipment was confiscated and he later made full admissions at Huntingdon Police Station.

“The defendant used a peer-to-peer system to download images externally.

At first he was looking at adults then he started looking at alternatives including children,” said Peter Gair, prosecuting.

Judge Gareth Hawkesworth was told that the 30-year-old was “glad he was caught”.

Williams, at the time of his arrest, had 55 category A images – deemed the most serious by the police – 46 category B images and 132 category C images on his laptop.

Joseph McKenna, in mitigation, said that Williams suffered from “low self-esteem” which “led him down the road of looking at pornography and ultimately illegal pornography”.

Mr McKenna added that Williams is taking part in a sexual offences programme “which has been helping him understand what he did” and “find out his trigger points”.

“There is clear remorse in Mr Williams’ submission, he was of good character. There have been demonstrations of steps to address the offending behaviour.”

In sentencing, the judge handed a sentence of six months imprisonment suspended for two years along with a 40-hour rehabilitation activity requirement.

He said: “It is quite clear from the pre-sentence report that you have led a rather sad and lonely life. I have no doubt that your isolation has had recourse to looking at pornography which led you to looking at images of children.”

Williams was also ordered to attend a sex offender treatment programme and to take part in a sexual harm prevention order for seven years which includes not being in the company of a child under the age of 18 without supervision, and to make his internet history available to police on demand

November 2016

Newport man found with over 1,250 indecent images avoids jail

A POLISH national living in Newport has avoided prison after he was found to have over 1,250 indecent images of children on digital devices.

Damian Hawran, 34, of Goodrich Crescent, pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images.

He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday morning.

Prosecuting, Paul Hewitt said that officers acting on intelligence attended the property in Newport, where Hawran was living with friends, last month, and examined two items – a Linovo laptop computer and a memory card.

“There were images of various categories,” said Mr Hewitt.

“Eighty-one in category A – 25 videos and 56 still images, 167 in category B and 1,016 in category C. That is 1,264 in total.”

Mr Hewitt added that since his arrest in October, Hawran had been remanded in police custody. He previously appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that the defendant, who has previously obtained a master’s degree while in his native country, moved to Newport in 2007 and had worked full-time since his arrival.

Defending him, Nicholas Gareth Jones told the court that he believed Hawran posed no danger to children and the public, and had accepted his actions were wrong by admitting his guilt.

“There is no suggestion that any children were approached,” said Mr Jones, stating that Hawran had only looked at images.

Mr Jones added that as the defendant had been living with friends and as he was unable to move back in with them, the probation service would have to look into finding accommodation for him.

Concluding, judge Jeremy Jenkins described Hawran as ‘lonely and depressed’ which had prompted him to download the images originally.

“You started out with adult pornography before you sought out images with younger and younger people,” he said.

“It was for your own sexual gratification.”

Mr Jenkins added that although he had not made indecent images, the possession and watching of those types of images made all the children his victims.

Hawran received a three year community order and will be registered on the sex offenders list for the next five years.

He was ordered to pay costs of £250 and to take part in a community sexual offenders group community programme to aid his rehabilitation.

November 2016

Man admits indecently exposing himself in front of children

A man has pleaded guilty to indecently exposing himself and performing a sex act in front of children in Ballymena.

The court was told that there were boys as young as 11 in the area at the time.

Michael Mark (52) of Hazelwood Terrace, in Craigywarren near Ballymena, appeared at the town’s magistrates’ court on Thursday where he admitted a charge of indecent exposure.

He committed the offence at Currells Avenue on the banks of the River Braid at 4.50pm on Monday August 22.

Mark was charged with intentionally exposing his genitals intending that others would see them and be caused alarm or distress.

Originally the case had been listed as a contest but he pleaded guilty to the exposure charge after a second charge of indecent behaviour in a public place was dropped.

A prosecutor said some members of the public said they saw a man standing with his trousers down below his knees performing a sex act upon himself with one hand while his other hand was placed on his “rear”.

Police were called and caught Mark denied exposing himself.

He said he was on his holidays and had cycled to the scene before stopping for a drink and a smoke.

However, at court he entered a guilty plea.

District Judge Peter King adjourned sentencing until December ordering reports prepared in the case before Mark appears again.

November 2016

Retired butcher who robbed teenage girls of virginity jailed for 13 years

A retired butcher who robbed three teenage girls of their virginity was jailed for 13 years at Gloucester Crown Court.

Disabled Michael Davies, 61, of Gloucester Road, Deerhurst, groomed the girls by plying them with gifts and alcohol – and had sex with each of them when they reached the age of 14, the court was told.

The offences took place over a 25-year period starting in the 1970s.

Davies was finally brought to justice by the last of his victims, now an adult, when she contacted him asking for money. He paid her £900 but when she then asked him to settle her £10,000 loan he refused and she reported him to the police.

The court was told he in turn accused her of blackmail and she has been investigated by the police. But before Davies was sentenced today his barrister said he now withdrew that complaint.

“On reflection, and having considered the wrongs that he has committed, he has no wish for the complainant to face further investigation or prosecution for any criminal offences,” said Robert Duvall, defending.

Davies, who ran a successful butcher’s shop in Hewlett Road, Cheltenham, for more than 20 years, pleaded guilty to 26 offences of indecent assault and two of sexual activity with a child.

He admitted 11 charges of indecent assault on his first victim in the seventies and eighties.

The second girl was abused by him in the eighties. He admitted eight offences of indecent assault against her. Two of those charges were originally of rape but the prosecution accepted his denial of those offences.

Davies pleaded guilty to seven indecent assaults of the final victim in the 2000s and two of having sexual activity with her. His denial of two charges of raping her was also accepted by the Crown.

Rosemary Collins, prosecuting, said the final victim went to the police in July last year alleging abuse by Davies when she was a child. Police enquiries led them to the two earlier victims, neither of whom had ever made a complaint.

Indeed, said Ms Collins, the older woman had decided to ‘bury’ the memories and had no intention of ever reporting him.

In each case, the prosecutor said, Davies had seduced the girls gradually – treating them kindly, buying treats such as pizzas and burgers for them and giving them alcohol.

Some months before the final victim went to the police she had written to Davies asking him for money. He gave her £900.

“He then declined to give her a larger sum when she asked for £10,000 to pay off a loan. He refused, and accused her of blackmail.

“She was interviewed but did not give an explanation. She was advised to make no comment. He said everything she had alleged against him was lies. He now withdraws his complaint.”

The first victim went into the witness box and told the court: “There is not a day goes by when I do not think of the effect he has had on my life.

“As a child I did not see that what he was doing to me was wrong. But it was wrong on every level. He did things he had no right to do. Since making my complaint I have been on an emotional roller coaster.”

The second victim told the court she still gets flashbacks of the abuse and she has suffered an emotional breakdown.

“Shame on him,” she stated. “I was a vulnerable girl. He broke the rules and abused me. He took my innocence. I cannot take back those years but I can attempt to live my future knowing my silence is broken and I can now be true to myself.

“I hope he will understand the suffering and the pain he has caused in my life.”

The third victim’s statement was read by Ms Collins. In it she said: “He made me grow into a woman who is unable to trust anyone. I always think if someone is being nice it is because they want something from me. I struggle to maintain relationships.

“He took away my choice of whom my first sexual encounter would be with.

“By accepting his gifts I don’t think that gave him the right to take away my virginity.”

Mr Duvall told the court that the nature of the offences and Davies’ physical poor health and disabilities would make prison extremely difficult for him.

Davies had believed at the time of the offences that the girls were consenting but he now accepted they could not consent because of their ages.

“He is genuinely sorry for what he has done,” he said. “His pleas are the only way he can constructively accept that. He apologises unreservedly.”

Jailing Davies for a total of 13 years Judge Tabor told him: “You undoubtedly used your generosity to ingratiate yourself with these girls and then, over a period of time, to sexually groom them until they did your bidding and were virtually slaves.

“You abused each girl from the age of 14. You took away their virginity and used each of them for your own selfish sexual pleasure.Your behaviour was frankly so vile and deplorable that it is beyond comprehension to any normal red-blooded males.

“Their entire lives have been blighted by your behaviour. You not only took their virginity but you took away their trust in others.”

Davies was ordered to sign the sex offender register for life and the judge made a sexual harm prevention order against him.

November 2016

Police raid uncovered 20,000 child porn images in Batley

Police raided a pensioner’s home – and discovered that her son had downloaded more than 20,000 sick images of children.

Now Ian Roberts must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years after the officers found photos involving abuse victims aged as young as eight.

Officers searched the home of Roberts’ mother in Roman Road, Batley, on November 5 last year.

This was after it came to light that on two dates in March and in October indecent images of children had been downloaded onto a computer at the address.

Prosecutor Alex Bozman told Kirklees Magistrates’ Court that a computer tower in the spare room used by Roberts when he visited belonged to him.

He said: “On the computer there were 21,518 images.

“The vast majority of these were (the lowest) category C but 12 were category B, showing a female child aged eight to 10 touching an adult male’s penis.”

Roberts, 47, pleaded guilty to two charges of making indecent photographs of children.

He said he’d been looking for children aged 14 but accepted that some in the images were younger.

The Huddersfield court heard that he admitted pleasuring himself over these but accepted that what he had done was wrong.

Roberts’ solicitor described him as an isolated and lonely individual with anxiety issues.

District Judge Michael Fanning told him: “This type of offending has expanded with the availability of computers and the internet.

“It’s an offence which causes huge harm, it’s not a victimless crime as all these are linked to somebody who is a victim of abuse.”

As well as being told to register his details with police Roberts, of Gilbert Mount in Leeds, was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The five-year order includes a ban on using a device capable of accessing the internet unless the history is retained and can be provided to police.

He must not delete his internet history and cannot use any file sharing website.

In addition, two-year community order was made to help Roberts understand how such offences harm children to prevent future offending.

He was fined £200 and has to pay £85 court costs.

November 2016

Abronhill man avoids jail for child sexual abuse images offences

An Abronhill man narrowly escaped imprisonment after being found guilty of offences relating to indecent images of children.

Christopher Rodgers (42) of Laburnum Road was convicted last month by a jury at Airdrie Sheriff Court.Rogers denied the charges but was found guilty by a majority verdict.

The court heard that Rodgers took or permitted to be taken indecent photographs of young children for more than two years between August 2012 and December 11 2014.

He also had child abuse images in his computer. Both offences happened when he was staying in Cumbernauld.

Rodgers’ laptop and DVD player were seized in a raid and analysed by Police Scotland’s Cybercrime Unit in Glasgow – and a scene examiner and group of detectives were interviewed in court.

Rodgers had claimed that almost 300 images had been put on his computer by an unnamed person during a party.

Sheriff Morag Galbraith told Rodgers that by the slightest of margins, he had escaped a prison term.He was put on a Community Payback Order which includes three years of supervision and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to undertake alcohol counselling and was banned from unsupervised internet use and from contacting under 17s.

Rodgers must not delete his internet history and is on the Sex Offenders Register for three years.

November 2016

Man who wanted sex with girl, 13, caught by paedophile hunters

This is the moment that a 22-year-old man was snared by paedophile hunters as he tried to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex.

Lewis Bruce of Washington, sent horrific messages to what he thought was a young girl, but was in fact group Dark Justice.

In one message he said ‘If you want my mouth 2 be your human toilet’ and ‘Can I smell and lick your ass out’.

He has now been detained indefinitely in a secure hospital after a court heard the messages.

The court was played video of the moment the paedophile hunters pounced.

He conceded that he could ‘get into trouble’ for what he was doing before meeting her in Newcastle City Centre. He told her ‘I got condoms in case we have sex.

Judge Tim Gittins heard that Bruce is autistic and gave him an indefinite hospital order.

He told Bruce: ‘Very quickly you turned the conversation into sexual matters, including references to worrying and unpleasant sexual behaviour that you wanted to do to her.

‘You went on to make plans to meet her, despite you clearly knowing her age and knowing that what you were doing was wrong, given the detail of the messages.’

‘What you planned to do and what you did was very serious, even though, fortunately, there was actually no young girl at risk.’

The judge said Bruce would ordinarily have faced years behind bars but that his mental health difficulties meant a hospital order was appropriate in his case.

Judge Gittins told him: ‘I am clearly satisfied, having heard from doctors, that the best place for you and for the protection of the public, particularly young females, is within a medium secure hospital.’

The judge said Bruce poses a risk of harm to the public at the moment.

Bruce must abide by a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Jamie Adams, defending, said Bruce is a vulnerable adult whose home has come under attack as a result of his offending.

He will receive ongoing treatment in hospital to deal with his conditions and reduce the risk he poses to the public.

November 2016

Paedophile admits sexually abusing boys and grooming children online

A paedophile who sexually abused two boys and groomed others online has appeared in court.

Ross Michael Patman (31), admitted a series of offences against youngsters and distributing child pornography.

At Leicester Crown Court, Patman, formerly of Coalville, but recently of Mercia Court, Repton, Derby, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a boy under 16, between June and December 2011.

He admitted two counts of sexually assaulting a boy under 13 and causing or inciting the same child to engage in sexual activity, between January and December 2015.

Patman further admitted a specimen count of causing or inciting several other children under 13 to engage in sexual activity, between January 22 and 28 this year.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of distributing child sexual abuse images, relating to four indecent images in the most serious bracket, category A, 26 in category B and 16 in category C.

Patman admitted three counts of accessing child pornography on the internet, relating to 163 images in category A, 505 in category B and 351 in category C.

The defendant further admitted three offences of causing or inciting a 10-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity, via the internet, between October 3 and 10 this year.

The case was adjourned until December 12, for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, which will address the issue of “dangerousness,” the court was told.

Patman was remanded back into custody.

November 2016

Paedophile who abused two young girls cannot complain about his sentence, say top judges

A paedophile jailed for sickening abuse of two young girls more than three decades ago has been told by top judges he cannot complain about his sentence.

Derek Edward Hackney, 67, of Glenthorne Road, Taunton, was locked up for 16-and-a-half years at Taunton Crown Court in May

He admitted two counts of indecent assault and was found guilty of two further counts of indecent assault, rape and another serious sex offence.

He was also found guilty of indecent assault and indecency with a child in relation to a second girl.

The offences were all committed in the 1970s and 80s and his victims were aged under 10 at the time, the court heard.

Hackney challenged his sentence at the Court of Appeal, in London, with his lawyers arguing it was far too tough.

Michael Wolkind QC said the crown court judge didn’t take enough account of Hackney’s advancing years.

November 2016

Dalton man jailed after pleading guilty to animal porn and child sex abuse images

A PAEDOPHILE from Dalton has been jailed after pleading guilty to a string of offences.

Nathan Brian Parker, 23, of no fixed address and formerly of Dalton, appeared before Preston Crown Court yesterday.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to three offences.

He admitted making 259 indecent movies and photographs of children between August 14 2015 and April 2016, possessing an extreme image which portrayed intercourse with a horse, and possessing a prohibited image of a child.

Parker was given a 14-month jail sentence for the first offence, a four-month jail sentence for the second offence and another 14-month jail sentence for the third offence.

The judge, His Honour Judge Altham, said all sentences would be served concurrently.

November 2016

84-year-old jailed for sex offences

John Coates, originally from Gustard Wood, began his offending in the late 1960s but it is only in the past two years that his victims, now adults, felt able to come forward.

The paedophile’s offending went on until the 1980s while he was living in Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead.

He was found guilty by a jury earlier this year of three offences of indecent assault and three offences of indecency with a child.

Coates, who now lives in Cambridge, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday (17).

Trial judge Stephen Warner told Coates: “You treated them as objects for your own gratification.”

The judge said that having read reports on Coates, compiled since the end of his trial, it was clear he was still in denial and had expressed no remorse for his victims.

Coates was jailed for five years and nine months and told his name would go on the sex offenders register.

November 2016

“Manipulative” child groomer jailed for nearly 20 years

A “manipulative” child groomer who preyed upon vulnerable boys in Luton has been jailed for nearly 20 years.

Jake Prescott, 20, was found guilty of 21 sex offences including child rape and child grooming after a trial at Luton Crown Court last month.

At the court, Judge Barbara Mensah sentenced him to 19 years and nine months in jail, telling him: “What the evidence shows is that you are scheming, manipulative and sex-obsessed, and you are a dangerous predator to those who are more vulnerable than yourself.”

November 2016

Pervert used library computer to look at indecent images of children

A PAEDOPHILE who used a library computer to look at indecent images of children has been jailed.

David Bailey, aged 31, of Broad Oak Lane, Bury, pleaded guilty to three counts of making incident images of a child, three counts of distributing indecent images of a child, and possessing a prohibited image of a child, at an earlier hearing.

He also pleaded guilty to breach of a Sex Offender Requirement Order.

November 2016

Eleven year sentence for man who sexually abused a child

A 27-year-old Wellingborough man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for the sexual abuse of a child.

Daniel Stanley Bradshaw, of Fulmar Lane, Wellingborough, was found guilty at Northampton Crown Court of two counts of raping a child under 13, two counts of touching a child under 13 and one of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced today.

Bradshaw has been placed on the sex offender register for life.

November 2015

Man had almost 12,000 vile images of children on computers at home he shared with family

A sordid pervert from Paisley amassed almost 12,000 sickening images and videos of children on computers found in his bedroom.

Depraved Mark Wyllie, 26, was banned from using the internet and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register after files – including some showing girls as young 12 being sexually abused – were discovered on two tower PCs rigged up in his bedroom.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard yesterday that Wyllie, of Shortroods Road in the town, had downloaded and stored the vile stash at the house he shared with his mum and sister in a little more than six months.

The offences took place between November 2015 and July this year.

Fiscal depute Keri Marshal told the court: “On July 5 police officers were admitted to the house with a search warrant by the accused’s mother.

“He lives with his mother and sister.

“The reason for the visit was explained to the accused’s mother and a number of computer devices, located within the accused’s bedroom, were subjected to a preliminary examination which confirmed the presence of indecent images of children.

“The accused was detained and taken to Govan Police Station for interview where he gave a no comment interview. He was placed under arrest after a full examination of his computer devices was carried out.”

The court was told Wyllie had collected 11,834 indecent images and video clips on the machines.

Forensic analysis by police revealed he had eight category A photos, and one category A video, which depicted two young girls aged 12 to 16 performing sex acts.The clip also showed one girl being abused.

He had collected 22 category B photos and 42 video files, including a movie of two girls aged between 12 and 14 performing sex acts.

The vast majority of images, 11,761, were category C and he also had 29 movie files of the same classification.

These files depicted images of naked children aged between 12 and 14.

Wyllie pleaded guilty yesterday to offences of taking or permitting to be taken indecent photographs of children between November 15, 2015, and July 5, 2016.

His defence agent Chris McKenna said: “He is pleading guilty to these charges and clearly reports will be required, both a Criminal Justice Social Work Report and Pathways Report, in preparation for sentence.

“I would ask that his bail is continued and would like to reserve any other submissions until sentencing.”

The case has been adjourned until January for Sheriff Colin Pettigrew to receive reports on Wyllie.

Sheriff Pettigrew told the accused: “Having pled guilty to this, giving the nature and gravity of the charges, it is appropriate I obtain background reports. You will also be made subject to notification requirements under the sexual offences legislation.”

November 2016

Pervert plane passenger exposed himself in front of 10-year-old girl as her mum slept

Serial flasher exposed himself to young girl on a plane before grabbing a stewardess by the bum.

Perverted chef Christian Abu-Schaer, 26, was spotted by a fellow passenger exposing himself to the 10-year-old girl on a flight from Alicante to Manchester in November.

Abu-Schaer was stood in queue for the the toilet when he faced the girl and her sleeping mum, and began touching himself in full view of the girl, a court heard

Later on in the flight he sexually assaulted a member of the cabin crew by grabbing her bottom.

The young girl later told her mum that she had seen the man’s ‘thingy’, Tess Kenyon, prosecuting, told an earlier hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ court.

The captain was informed, who in turn notified ground crews and police were waiting to arrest Abu-Schaer as the plane came into land at Manchester Airport

At the time, the Spanish national was already on police bail for a similar offence in the Lake District, where he had been living and working in a hotel kitchen.

The earlier offence involved him being spotted by a resident through her window, stood completely naked in the street shortly after midnight pleasuring himself.

She later looked out again and he had now some clothes on but was still visibly touching himself which the court heard left her feeling “intimidated.”

When police arrived he was also found with both cocaine and cannabis on him, and was arrested.

Abu-Schaer, of Crook Road, Windermere, pleaded guilty to sexual assault, two counts of indecent exposure and two charges possession of drugs at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Thursday, November 24.

The court was told he has three previous convictions for indecent exposure in his homeland in 2011, 2014 and 2015.

A judge said he was someone “who’s offensive behaviour has continued over a significant period of time.”

His case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared however he was warned to prepare for a prison sentence.

Judge John Potter told him: “There are clearly a number of aggravating features in this case.

“Firstly the offending took place in the presence of children.

“Secondly the sexual assault took place in the woman’s place of employment, on an aircraft.

“And other members of the public were present the course of your sexual offending, within the confined space of the aircraft.

“Finally, I note you are someone who abuses drugs.

“It follows that you must prepare yourself for an immediate custodial sentence to be imposed upon you.”

He will be sentenced on January 5 next year.

November 2016

Jail for child sex offender

A man who sexually abused a teenage girl has been jailed for three years.

Abdul Shakoor, 45, of Fieldhouse Street, Wakefield was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Friday, November 18 after being found guilty of 11 sexual offences against a child.

Police began to investigate after the girl came forward in 2014 to say she had been the victim of sexual offences on five occasions between 2010 and 2014.

Shakoor was charged last year and has since being going through the courts.

November 2016

Sex offender approached boy, 13

A SEX offender enticed a boy to email indecent photographs of himself, after striking up a friendship on a social network.

Anthony Pennington used their mutual support of Oldham Athletic FC to get close to the 13-year-old, Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told.

He admitted a charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, but was spared being sent down because of legal delays.

The 30-year old was jailed for a total of 15 months in March last year for possession and distribution of indecent images of a child, and breaching the terms of a sexual offences prevention order.

The court was told the six pictures of the 13-year-old had been on his computer which had been seized by police, at the time, but he had not been charged with incitement ­- the most serious offence ­- until after sentencing.

Kirsten Beswick, defending, said that Pennington, of Whitstable Close, Chadderton, though not making an issue of it, felt he was perhaps being “doubly punished”.

She said it had taken until June of this year for the matter to reach the magistrates’ courts, adding: “I don’t understand why there were delays. It was very odd and very unfortunate.”

Sentencing him, Judge Timothy Mort told him: “You came before the court before this came to light. The time-scale went wrong; it was hopelessly out off sync.”

He told Pennington that had the offence been dealt with at the same time, it would probably have meant a further custodial sentence, but added: “It seems to me wrong to send you back to prison.

“It wasn’t that you were not admitting what you had done, and you would have pleaded guilty at the time.”

Pennington has been given a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months, and he will be subject to 12 months supervision by the Probation Service.

The judge said he took into account the fact that he was taking part in a treatment programme which appeared to be working.

Juliet Berry, prosecuting, said Pennington had contacted the youngster via the internet chat site and it had been quite obvious that he was a young teenager.

After being arrested, he accepted getting sexual gratification from looking at the photographs.