January 2014

Evesham teenager has been given a 15-year sentence for raping a girl under 13

Eric Griffith, aged 19, from Burford Road, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, December 23, after he was convicted at Worcester Crown Court at a previous hearing.

A jury of eight women and four men also found him guilty of two counts of attempted rape of a child under 13 and three of sexual assault but cleared him of 13 other charges.

The offences came to light after one of the girls spoke up following a visit to their school by ChildLine, the child protection charity, which said children should have the confidence to speak out.

January 2014

Yeovil man persuaded teenagers to send him pornographic images of themselves

A Yeovil man who persuaded teenage girls to send him pornographic pictures of themselves through social media was told he had caused them considerable harm.

Christopher Flindell, 25, of Balmoral Road, who has Asperger syndrome, pretended to be 15 in messages he sent to his two victims, aged 13 and 14, Taunton Crown Court was told.

The messages became sexual and one girl believed he performed a sex act while on the phone to her, said William Hunter, prosecuting.

They exchanged naked photographs of themselves and he exchanged intimate pictures with the other girl, who thought he was a teenager. He told her he would like to meet her and have sex.

It was clear he knew the girls’ ages and indecent images of both girls were found on his phone. When he was arrested, in January 2012, he claimed they were older.

Rebecca Bradberry, defending, referred to a psychological assessment and said there were unusual circumstances. Flindell had the continued support of his mother, she added.

He sat leaning forward in the dock with head bowed as Judge David Ticehurst sentenced him to a community order for three years with supervision.

The Judge said the harm that could be caused through social media was clear from the victims’ statements and the impact on them was “considerable”

One girl wrote that the abuse had affected her in lots of ways and made her very stressed. She had missed school, felt exploited and also felt that what happened to her was her fault. “When I look at myself in the mirror I sometimes feel disgusted and feel there’s a layer of grime on my body” her statement added.

The parents of the other girl said Flindell had played on their “beautiful, loving and kind” daughter’s insecurities for his own sexual gratification.

He pleaded guilty to five offences of causing a child to watch a sexual act, three of causing or inciting a child in prostitution or pornography, two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and three of making indecent images.

Referring him to a training and education officer for support with Aspergers and other difficulties, the judge said his problems did not explain or justify his behaviour to young girls. The judge said he had considered carefully whether an immediate prison sentence was justified.

Flindell and his family had to struggle with his difficulties but the offences were his responsibility and “you knew what you were doing to these girls”.

The judge added: “I suggest you talk to the probation service and get all the help you can with your difficulties and listen to everything your parents tell you to do. Your life, and theirs, is difficult enough without your committing horrible offences like these. If I see you again you will go to prison.”

The judge also made a sexual offences prevention order and Flindell was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years

January 2014

‘Our little secret’: Tameside sex pervert who ‘doggedly’ pursued girl, 14, for sex on Facebook jailed

A Tameside sex pervert who ‘doggedly’ chased a girl of just 14 on Facebook in a bid to have sex with her was jailed for two years today.

The young teen was lured in by Joseph Flanagan, 23, of Ashton under Lyne, as pretended he only wanted to be friends with her.

But soon his messages became lurid and sexually explicit in a bid to entice her to meet him. Luckily the girl had the courage to tell her parents, which led to Flanagan’s arrest.

Flanagan, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court to two years in prison for two counts of inciting a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

He will be subject to a sexual offences prevention order for 10 years and will have to sign the sex offenders register for the same length of time. 

Detective Sergeant Dan Appleby from the Project Phoenix team, aimed at tackling child sexual exploitation in Tameside, said: “Flanagan groomed his victim and gave the impression he genuinely wanted to be friends. Little did she know that he would then begin to send graphic and sexual messages to her. 

“Following the messages, she repeatedly told him that that what he was doing was against the law due to her age but he told her it could be their secret and no one would need to know.  

“Flanagan doggedly pursued his sexual goal until the victim broke contact and told a family member. 

“Thanks to the bravery of the victim and alertness of family members this offender was stopped in his tracks.”

On July 31, Flanagan contacted the teenager on Facebook having previously met her at Ashton Markets. 

Flanagan sent the young girl messages in a friendly manner for a number of days.

The criminal then started to send graphic messages and images of himself before he asked her to meet up with him in Manchester town centre. 

The victim then broke contact with him before she confided in a family member as to what happened. 

Police were then called and the following investigation recovered messages sent over Facebook which lead to Flanagan’s arrest. 

January 2014

Man downloaded thousands of indecent images of young girls onto his laptop

A man who downloaded almost 6,000 indecent images of young girls on his laptop computer has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Joyce Marco Castoldi (40) admitted 10 counts of possessing the illegal pictures, between June 2011 and May 2012.

Leicester Crown Court was told that Castoldi was living with a girlfriend in the city centre who discovered he had accessed child pornography, after using his laptop.

She reported the matter to the police. It led to the break-up of their relationship, said Alan Murphy, prosecuting, at Leicester Crown Court.

The offences related to him accessing 2,814 images and three films at level one, 59 images at level two, 1,098 images and five movies at level three, 1,386 images and 10 films at level four and eight images in the most serious category, level five.

When arrested in May 2012, Castoldi initially denied responsibility for the images, suggesting an unknown person may have used his laptop when he left it overnight in a pub. Castoldi, of Prebend Street, Leicester, was given a 16-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision. He must also attend a sex offender rehabilitation programme.

Recorder David Mason QC said: “You accept you have a problem and wish to have treatment. You’ve never been in trouble before.

“I take the view sending you to custody isn’t in the public interest, what the public wants is for you to stop involving yourself in this disgusting behaviour.”

Vasanti Vaitha, mitigating, said Castoldi is now in a new relationship with a partner who is aware of the offences and has been helping him to address his “issues”.

The defendant was placed on a sexual offences prevention order, enabling the authorities to monitor his future computer use, and he will have to enlist on a sex offender register for 10 years.

January 2014

Retired teacher Peter Dunbar given suspended sentence for abuse

A retired teacher who indecently assaulted boys aged between 10 and 13 at a Birmingham boarding school has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Peter Dunbar, 67, of Bridgehouse Gate, North Yorkshire admitted six counts of indecent assault at Blue Coat School in Edgbaston during the 1960s and 1970s.

He was given a 20 month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.

He was made to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

West Midlands Police said Dunbar, who had also worked as a vicar, was arrested from his home in North Yorkshire last March after one of his victims reported him.

The vicar, who retired September, 2012 after serving 20 years in Upper Nidderdale, had previously taught at St Aidan’s School and Ashville College.

PC Nadia Alazzawi said: “Dunbar’s victims have been haunted by what happened to them for many decades.

“I suspect there may be others out there who have suffered at his hands and, if there are, I would urge them to speak to police, because we can take action, regardless of how much time has passed.”

January 2014

Jailed for 25 years : 76-year-old paedophile who raped three children

A paedophile who raped three young children in the 1960s and ’70s has been jailed for 25 years.

Duncan McGee, now 76, attacked and abused the youngsters in south Manchester almost 50 years ago.

McGee was found guilty of 17 counts of rape and indecent assault after a trial at Manchester Crown Court.

He was sentenced to 25 years.

Between 1967 and 1974, McGee targeted two boys and one girl in south Manchester raping and indecently assaulting them.

He was finally caught in January last year, after moving to Mansion Drive in Liverpool.

Detective Sergeant Suzanne Keenaghan, based at Wythenshawe police station, said: “McGee is a sexual predator and got his kicks out of abusing those who are vulnerable. He continuously assaulted these children at whatever opportunity he could take and made their young lives a misery, ruining their childhood.

“However, despite suffering for years, the victims showed bravery in coming forward and reporting what had happened to them to police which led to McGee’s arrest in January 2013.

“This case proves that we will take all reports of abuse seriously, no matter when it took place, and we will thoroughly investigate the claims of victims. It also proves to those committing the crimes that we will leave no stone unturned and justice will eventually catch up with you.”

McGee must sign the sex offenders register for life.

January 2014

Duo admit sexually abusing teenage boy

TWO men have admitted sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy in Oxford.

Iztullah Qudrat, 19, and Ghausel Tarakhail, 20, pleaded guilty to the abuse at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

Qudrat, of High Cross Way in Headington, admitted engaging in sexual activity with the boy in toilets in Bury Knowle Park in Headington between April and June last year.

And Tarakhail, of Cowley Road, Oxford, admitted inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in East Oxford between May and July last year.

The men were both remanded in custody to be sentenced at the court on February 13. Meanwhile the probation service will prepare pre-sentence reports.

Judge Patrick Eccles told them: “A decision will have to be taken then whether it should be a sentence of detention or whether some other order is needed.”

Police are still hunting 17-year-old Ismail Dilsoz, from Headington, who was charged with raping the boy.

The teenager has not been seen since August.

January 2014

Stanley man who covertly filmed girl told to expect a prison sentence

A MAN who admitted covertly filming a girl in private situations without her knowledge has been told to expect a prison sentence.

The warning was given to 32-year-old Tom Affleck after he pleaded ‘guilty’ to three counts of taking an indecent photograph of a child.

Durham Crown Court was told his admission was on the basis that he did seek sexual gratification from viewing the recorded footage.

Lee Fish, for Affleck, told the court: “The defendant accepts there’s an attraction to this young lady.

“I would struggle to persuade a court that there wasn’t any sexual element to it.

“This is a candid and honest plea made at the earliest opportunity and I would submit there are alternatives to depriving him of his liberty.

“He has not been convicted of a criminal offence since 2001 and, for that reason, bearing in mind the serious nature of these allegations, it’s my view that preparation of a pre-sentence would be appropriate before sentence is passed.”

Agreeing to ask the Probation Service to draw up a background report on Affleck, Judge Christopher Prince told the defendant: “You will return for sentence next month and I’m warning you to expect a custodial sentence.

“So, put your affairs in order before you return. Your name will be entered onto the Sex Offenders’ Register from today.”

Asked about the footage filmed by Affleck, prosecutor Shaun Dryden said: “All the images were deleted, some by the defendant.”

Affleck, of Blooms Avenue, Stanley, County Durham, was bailed to return for sentence on February 7, when a further count, of voyeurism, will be ‘left on the file’ by the prosecution.

January 2014

Pervert who secretly filmed up women’s skirts in a supermarket with a spy camera hidden in a SHOPPING BAG walks free from court

• Sex offender made a spy camera from household goods to film women

• Spent over two years capturing hundreds of up-skirt images

• Downloaded pornographic images of young girls from the internet

• Sentenced to community order and will be observed for three years

• Placed on sex offender’s registry and issued sex offence prevention order

• Police also found that Bannister had downloaded hundreds of pornographic images of girls as young as six from the internet

A man who used a secret spy-camera to film up women’s skirts in a supermarket has walked free from court despite being found guilty of outraging public decency.

John Bannister, 38 from Tettenhall, West Midlands, rigged up a device which he used to spy on female shoppers at the Morrisons in Pendeford for almost three years.

He was arrested in November 2012 after other customers noticed him behaving strangely and reported him to the police.

Bannister admitted to the police he had been using a sophisticated device of his own design to spy on women, before downloading the footage to his computer. 

He had rigged up a device using a shopping bag, a camcorder and a tin of potatoes, and would brush up against women, using the camera to film them. 

Police also found that Bannister had downloaded hundreds of pornographic images of girls as young as six from the internet. 

Bannister admitted to outraging public decency and making almost 250 indecent images between May 2010 and November 2012.

He was was sentenced to a community order and three years of supervision, at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He was also put on the Sex Offender’s register for five years and now has a sexual offences prevention order for seven years.

Mr David Bratt, defending, said: ‘He had an unhealthy fascination in looking at, and taking, inappropriate images.

‘He has since been suffering from depression and has been off work for 12 months.’

Sentencing, Judge Martin Walsh told him: ‘You secreted a camera and were attempting to record images under the clothing of females in shops.

‘You had also downloaded indecent images of children on to your computer.

‘This is not a victimless crime because images of this sort show the abuse of real children but there is no evidence that you were forwarding them to third parties.

‘I believe that the interest of the public would be best served with a community order conditional on you attending the sex offender programme.’

January 2014

Repeat offending paedophile had 2,500 child abuse pictures

A REGISTERED sex offender who hid almost 2,500 indecent images of children aged between eight and 14 on his computer has been jailed for 12 months.

Peter Bethell, 63, of Jervis House in Iachino Avenue, Hilsea, admitted 30 separate offences including possessing extreme abuse pictures.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how Bethell previously avoided jail for similar offences involving children – which is why police were carrying out a routine check at his home when the images were found.

Tammy Mears, prosecuting, told the court how police found 2,363 images cached – not saved – on the defendant’s laptop, including cartoon depictions of abuse, videos and pictures of bestiality.

‘The offences came to light only because the defendant is a registered sex offender and checks are made by the police,’ she said.

‘At around noon on November 28 2012, a routine check was carried out on him in Jervis House.’

In 2009 Bethell was given a four-month suspended prison sentence for making and possessing indecent images, and he completed a 12-month internet sexual offender course.

Miss Mears said 225 of the images fell into categories four and five, which are the most serious.

Robert Forrest, defending, told the court his client had not bought another computer since the police seized his in 2012 to stop himself looking at indecent images.

He said: ‘He knows even without his previous conviction, these offences cry out for custody. He said it scares the life out of him.’

Mr Forrest said his client would not receive the help to overcome his urges if he was sent to prison.

However, Recorder Nicholas Rowland said he had no other option than immediate imprisonment.

He said: ‘There comes a time when the seriousness of this sort of offending outbalances all the mitigation that is presented.

‘These are extremely serious offences.

‘People like you help the trade of child pornography and it leads to the abuse 
of children worldwide,’ he said.

‘These offences are so serious that only a period in custody is justified.’

A sexual offences prevention order was also issued until further notice and Bethell has to sign the sexual offenders’ register again.

January 2014

‘Ilford paedophile preyed on my children’: Mother of victims speaks out

A mother has spoken of her relief at seeing the sick paedophile who preyed on her daughters behind bars.

January 2014

Paedophile to be evicted after North Tyneside Council granted court order

A twisted pervert who downloaded child abuse images and fantasised about snatching, torturing and murdering youngsters is being evicted.

Martin Smith was jailed for eight months in August – and served half his sentence in Durham jail before being released before Christmas – after admitting looking at graphic indecent images, some of girls as young as eight.

And now North Tyneside Council has moved to force the 57-year-old from his house on Aldwych Drive in North Shields – and have been granted a possession order for what a judge described as a “gross breach” of his tenancy agreement.

“Councils expect – and seek to impress by tenancy conditions – reasonable community standards of behaviour, for the benefit of the tenancy population as a whole,” said Judge James Richardson, sitting at North Tyneside County Court.

“Smith has been convicted of serious offences of downloading child pornography and the council take the view that it is a gross breach of those obligations – and I agree with the council.

“The council is obliged to strike a balance between the entitlement of the individual tenants to their homes and what is in the interests of the population of tenants as a whole.”

At his trial in July, Smith – who used the pseudonym Statto to write stories about children as young as 10 being abused, and who had 492 indecent images of children on his computer – claimed he had committed the offences as a form of escapism when his wife was dying.

But he admitted 10 counts of making indecent pictures of a child and one of possessing indecent images.

At that trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Brian Mark, defending, said: “He was looking after his wife during the final 12 months leading up to her death. This offence came out of a particular crisis in his life.”

Mr Mark said Smith had spent time in a mental hospital following his arrest and suicide attempts.

He will now be served eviction papers in 28 days. In his absence, he was also ordered to pay £244.50 in council costs.

January 2014

Derby pervert installed secret camera in toilet also downloaded indecent movies of teenage girls from the internet

A PERVERT installed a covert camera inside a toilet and downloaded the footage on his computer.

Peter Thomas, of Chaddesden, also downloaded indecent movies of teenage girls from the internet.

The 31-year-old was told to attend a community sex offenders’ programme after he admitted yesterday at Derby Crown Court three counts of voyeurism and six charges of having indecent images.

The court heard he had placed a pen, which had a camera hidden inside, in the bathroom – of which the location cannot be revealed for legal reasons.

He told police: “I recorded the images because I could – I thought it would be interesting.”

The court was told he knew his activities were becoming a problem. He said he wanted help and was suicidal.

It heard that Thomas had downloaded all the indecent movies – two of category one, 17 of category two and three of category four (the most extreme is category five) – on February 6 last year.

Prosecutor Andrew Vout said: “This was downloaded together with other pornography containing young adult females.”

Recorder Shaun Smith QC said downloading indecent images of children was “disgusting and depraved”.

He said: “People who are participating in the images have no choice. You’re looking at them and thinking I’m just looking at them.”

But, he said, the images were the end product and children were being abused.

“And society are getting sick of that happening – quite rightly,” said Recorder Smith.

He said locking up Thomas, now of Birling Close, Nottingham, for a short period of time without any help would not do any good for him or the public and a more constructive course would be to put him on a three-year community order.

Thomas will be supervised by the probation service, must attend a sex offenders’ programme and pay £200 costs. He must sign the sex offenders’ register for five years.

January 2014

Gang leader who sold young girls for sex faces life for ‘child abuse at its worst’

Zdeno Mirga and Hassan Abdulla, who were both convicted of rape 

An 18-year old is facing a possible term of life imprisonment after he was convicted of multiple rape and child prostitution offences against girls aged 12 and 13 in a case prosecutors said was one of one of the worst examples of child sexual abuse they have seen.

Zdeno Mirga, known as “Skinny”, was the boss of a Peterborough gang accused of crimes against five girls, one of whom told how she was sexually abused by boys at parties and raped in the children’s play area at the Central Park in the city.

A 13-year-old victim was forced to perform sex acts on up to 10 attackers in the park, as one of them urged: “Rape her,” the jury at the Old Bailey heard. She was sold for £20 a time by Mirga so he could spend the money on “weed and vodka”.

The girl who blew the whistle on the abuse when she was taken into care suffered from learning difficulties. She was forced to perform sex with strangers, including oral sex on a 50-year-old man, the court heard.

She told how Mirga took her to a party and gave her vodka and cannabis before taking her to a bedroom. “I was shocked. There was 10 guys, no girls,” she said and described lying on the bed “like dead” while being touched by Mirga and his friend before performing oral sex.

Two teenage members of the gang, who cannot be named, were also convicted of rape, child sex and sexual assault charges, another was found guilty of sexual activity with a child, but cleared of rape.

A 33-year old man, Hassan Abdulla, was convicted on four charges of rape and three of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Members of the gang laughed and wept in the dock as the jury announced its decisions. One shouted: “Am I guilty or what? I didn’t rape them.”

Thanking the jury for their diligence after almost 34 hours of deliberation, Judge John Bevan QC said the case was “high up the scale of depravity”.

Two of the victims of the abuse, which took place between April and December 2012, were sisters of Slovakian origin and the other three were English. The gang were of Czech, Slovak and Kurdish background.

Prosecutor Angela Rafferty said the “charismatic and controlling” Mirga encouraged his victim with learning difficulties “often very forcefully indeed, to give other boys and men oral and vaginal sex. He did this using the power he had over her at the time, or threatened her and sometimes he used violence against her.”

She went on: “Skinny took her to parties where she was shared around sexually” and said he had “forceful vaginal sex” with her in the toilets in a park.

Another girl was sexually assaulted in her garden by a teenage boy while her parents were inside watching TV. The 13-year-old victim said her attacker forced her to give him oral sex three or four times a week.

One victim described being pinned down and raped by a 14-year-old gang member at a party as she tried to sleep. She said they had threatened to kill her and she was too scared to go to the police.

The oldest member of the gang, Abdulla, allegedly had a fetish for “gypsy” girls and was accused of raping a schoolgirl in his Peterborough home.

Two other men and a teenage boy, were found not guilty of charges against them.

Speaking afterwards Grace Ononiwu, chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in the east of England, said: “The fact that eight individuals faced a total of 46 charges of sexual abuse, including some which carry maximum penalties of life imprisonment, demonstrates the extent and seriousness of the offending which was alleged against them. This case is one of the worst cases of child sexual abuse we have seen. This is child sexual abuse at its worst, preying on the vulnerable for sexual gratification.”

Detective superintendent Gary Ridgway of Cambridgeshire Police said the convictions were part of an ongoing joint inquiry by Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Peterborough City Council’s Children’s social care department to safeguard young people.

“These girls were targeted simply because they were vulnerable,” he said. ” They were seen as easy targets and exploited by this group of teenage boys and young men who abused them for their own sexual gratification.

“The victims, who were as young as 12 years old, were subjected to horrific ordeals. But they have shown incredible strength throughout this process: in particular by giving evidence at court in order to bring these people to justice. We are committed to helping those girls pick up the pieces and move on with their lives.”

The judge adjourned sentencing until 20 February.

January 2014

Sex offender groomed 13-year-old Sunderland girl on Facebook, calling her his ‘sexy mackem’

AN internet groomer bombarded a 13-year-old schoolgirl he called his “sexy mackem” with 20 calls a day.

Alan Evans, 38, exchanged more than 1,200 messages with the youngster, and travelled to the Stadium of Light to meet her, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Their relationship was exposed when the girl’s father checked her Facebook account and saw the messages.

Prosecutor Bob Spragg told the court: “The messages in general showed both parties referencing each other as ‘babe’, declaring love for each other, arranging to meet, reference to her age.”

The court heard during the conversations, Evans had told the youngster they could not have a physical relationship because of her young age. Mr Spragg added: “One message confirms he has feelings for a 13-year-old and knows it is wrong.”

Evans, of Canning Street, Benwell, admitted grooming on the basis there was “kissing and cuddling and nothing beyond that” when they met up in person.

Judge Jeremy Freedman sentenced Evans to a community order for three years with supervision and programme requirements.

Evans must sign the sex offenders’ register for five years and abide by a life-long sexual offences prevention order.

The judge said he accepted Evans had not tried to push the girl into a sexual activities but added: “This is a serious matter, you behaved very wrongly in having that relationship.”

January 2014

man only put on sex offender register for crimes against girls – Walks free from court

A 61-year-old man has been placed on the sex offenders register for life for offences against young girls.

John Peter Dukta, of Granary Close, Lincoln but formerly of Dominion Road, Glenfield, was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court yesterday.

Police released details of the hearing and said Dukta had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to inciting three girls under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activities.

He also admitted the offence of attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of child sexual offences and perverting the course of justice.

He was given a three year community order and placed on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

Detective Constable Emma Bee, who investigated the case, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to send out a positive message to other victims of sexual abuse – please come forward regardless of how long ago the incident took place. Your reports will be thoroughly investigated.”

January 2014

Youth football coach jailed for six years over child sex offences

A Midland youth football coach has been jailed for six years after setting up social media accounts under the guise of a schoolgirl and persuading youngsters to strip for him on webcams.

Kevin Eaton – who coached 11-to-15-year-olds at a Sandwell junior team – pretended to be a 14-year-old schoolgirl in order to strike up online conversations with children before goading them into performing sexual acts.

But Eaton’s true identity as a 30-year-old roofer from Tipton was revealed on December 19, 2012, when the mum of a 13-year-old girl reported online threats he’d made to her daughter.

And through detailed IT analysis West Midlands Police officers traced the computer Eaton had used to an address in Aldridge Road, Oldbury.

The force’s specialist Child Online Safety Team (COST) carried out an ‘e-forensics’ examination of Eaton’s online activity – trawling thousands of emails and social media exchanges – and found he’d contacted up to a hundred children with his alter ego, including two boys he coached at the football club.

Eaton was charged with 20 counts of inciting boys and girls to engage in sexual activity in front of webcams, seven counts relating to making indecent images of children – having encouraged them to send him naked photos – and three of distributing the images.

Nineteen of the incitement charges concerned seven children – aged between 11 and 14 – who officers were able to identify through their painstaking IT examinations, while the final generic charge relates to 23 young victims police have not traced.

He admitted all 30 offences – committed from July 2011 to March 2013 – and at Wolverhampton Crown Court today (Jan 15) was sentenced to six years in jail and ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for life.

A sex offenders prevention order (SOPO) was also passed, preventing Eaton from ever working with children – including in a voluntary capacity – and from sleeping in the same building as any children under 16 years old.

Investigating officer Det Con Rob Piper said: “Eaton created a fictitious Facebook profile with the sole purpose of inciting children to perform sexual acts. He knew several of these children and would see them during his football coaching role.

“This was a shocking abuse of trust, especially given that Eaton also had the role of Child Protection Officer at the football club. In fact, some of his victims even confided in him that ‘Charlotte’ was making threats against them online and asked for his advice.

“Many of these children realised they’d gone too far in sending naked images of themselves and were petrified ‘Charlotte’ would carry out threats to share the images with friends and family if they didn’t bow to his demands. One of his victims was so upset by Eaton’s actions that she tried committing suicide.”

DC Piper used the case to highlight the dangers of engaging in flirtatious online exchanges with strangers and warned that predatory online paedophiles, like Eaton, could be hiding behind facades of teenage children.

He added: “Parents need to play an intrusive role in their children’s online activity to make sure they don’t come to any harm while surfing the net. You need to be absolutely certain who you’re talking to online – your son or daughter may believe they’re chatting with another teenager but, in reality, it could be someone much older with sinister intentions.

January 2014

Pervert faces jail after admitting using spy camera on schoolgirl

The distraught mum of a schoolgirl who was sexually assaulted broke down today as she revealed the offences came to light when she found a spy camera hidden in her home.

Victor Peake, 46, of Priory Close, Leyland, is facing prison after admitting 11 charges, including counts of sexual assault on a young teenager, possession of indecent images, and charges of voyeurism, which relate to secretly filming the youngster in the shower.

Wearing a shiny black rain mac, Peake stood calmly in the dock at Preston Crown Court as he pleaded guilty to a string of offences.

The painter and decorator had earlier tried to claim he was ‘ill’ when questioned about the events.

The father-of-two, who used to train as a Thai boxer, was caught out when his victim’s mother found a recording device hidden in the 
bathroom at the girl’s home.

A few days later, the brave youngster told her mum about the assaults on her, one of which had involved him biting her. Today, the victim’s mum, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, sobbed as she recalled the ordeal.

She said: “I felt sick when I found the camera. I didn’t want to believe it but I knew it was true.

“I had to get a friend to help me look at the images to see what was on there and then I had to call the police.

“As far as everyone knew he was a lovely man; it is such a shock.

“It’s difficult to put into words how that feels.

“I had to tell her she had been filmed in the shower after he had been arrested.

“It was devastating. She went white and asked how he could do such a thing.

“My daughter is amazing, she is such a good girl and on many days she is stronger than me. She has dealt with things really well.

“Our whole future has changed but we are going to get through this together. We want to thank the police for their support.

“For me, this is not just about prison but about him admitting what he has done to my daughter.”

DC Cath Thomas of Lancashire Police’s public protection unit, said the girl had been groomed over a period of time by Peake.

She added: “This was calculated, premeditated abuse of a child. At first he denied the sexual assaults. We hope his pleas have brought some closure to the victim and her family.”

The Recorder of Preston, Judge Anthony Russell QC, told Peake prison was his “starting point” but granted conditional bail until his sentencing on February 5.

January 2014

Teacher at deaf school groped boy during party

A TEACHER at Scotland’s national deaf school has been placed on the sex offenders register after drunkenly groping a 16-year-old boy during a birthday party.

William Docherty, a communication support worker at Donaldson’s School in Linlithgow, left his devastated victim “upset and sick” when he pounced in the driveway of the teenager’s parents’ home.

The attack took place in the early hours of the morning while Docherty waited for a taxi as the birthday party drew to a close.

Donaldson’s also came under fire when a sheriff yesterday slammed the school for not suspending the pervert until almost four years after the October 2009 assault – despite receiving a report from the victim’s mother at the time of the incident.

Docherty, 42, of Cameron Way in Livingston, denied the charge, but was found guilty of indecent assault at Falkirk Sheriff Court. He will be sentenced next month. At the court yesterday, Sheriff Derek O’Carroll was told that Docherty returned with the victim’s family and friends to Falkirk after a party at a nearby venue, striking up a series of conversations with the teenager, who said he felt the man “smelling his hair” as they waited in the driveway.

The teenager responded by moving to the end of the driveway, but Docherty called him back and then launched his sickening attack. The now 20-year-old victim, who did not drink during the party, told the court: “He shouted us over – I thought something was wrong. His back was to me. He said, ‘come here’. I went over and his back was still to me, and he put his hand down and felt my crotch. Then he asked me to go back to the hotel with him.”

The victim told the court how he ran into the house to tell his brother, who was still up drinking and initially thought it was a joke. But it became clear something serious had happened when the victim broke down in tears.

The boy’s mother confronted Docherty a few days later, but told the court she was torn over how to deal with the incident because her son was not “comfortable” with her going to police.

Detectives did not become involved until the school’s board of governors was made fully aware of the situation last summer and took the decision to suspend Docherty from his duties.

Docherty pleaded his innocence, but in announcing his guilty verdict, Sheriff O’Carroll told him: “You simply say the victim and his mother were lying.

“But I can see no reason why both of them would have made up their account of what happened. I find both the complainant and his mother were entirely credible.

“By contrast, I do not believe your account.”

And he hit out at Donaldson’s, adding: “It is most unfortunate that the conclusion of this trial was delayed by four years.

“I am rather puzzled that Donaldson’s School, which is well known as a school for children who are vulnerable, have taken so long to deal with the accusation.”

Bosses at Donaldson’s said it was with “regret” that they learned of the verdict, stressing the incident took place out of school and did not involve any of its pupils.

Mary Mulligan, convener of the board of Donaldson’s Trust, said: “When the matter first came to the attention of the board of governors, we instigated an internal investigation into the issues surrounding the allegation and how it was handled. This review is ongoing.

“At the same time, we took all necessary steps to protect our pupils and informed the police who took it from there.”

Sentencing on Docherty has been deferred until next month so background reports can be filed.

The case is the latest controversy to hit Donaldson’s School. In September last year, the Evening News revealed how the institution failed to suspend a pupil after allegations he had assaulted a classmate in the school toilets.

Donaldson’s hit by string of controversies

DONALDSON’S School – the national education institution for deaf children – has been at the centre of a number of controversies in recent years.

The guilty verdict against William Docherty was preceded in August last year by the suspension of its chief executive, Janice MacNeill, and headteacher, Mary O’Brien, by the board.

The suspension was ordered ahead of a probe to establish whether correct procedures were followed after the initial allegation.

And in September last year, the mother of a pupil told how her 17-year-old daughter was living in fear after school bosses failed to evict a pupil alleged to have assaulted her in the toilets.

January 2014

Convicted paedophile resigns as chairman of Neath Chamber of Trade

THE newly appointed chairman of Neath Chamber of Trade has resigned after it was revealed he was a registered sex offender.

Gaz Mathias has twice been convicted of making indecent images of children, in 2009 and again in 2011.

He was appointed chairman of the group in November, but he has now resigned after it was revealed that his full name was Gareth John Mathias, originally from Llanelli.

Deputy chairwoman Bernadette Davies has now been appointed in his place. In an official statement, on behalf of the chamber, she said: “The Neath Chamber of Trade is very saddened by recent revelations which have led to the resignation of Mr Mathias.

“It was indeed not in the best interest of Neath or Mr Mathias for him to have stood for this role. I can confirm that his past convictions were revealed to the committee by Mr Mathias over the weekend and he was setting about to do the right thing in resigning and revealing the truth, when it reached the public domain.”

She added: “There is no duty to CRB check incumbent officers to this or any chamber of trade or commerce within the United Kingdom to date.”

Ms Davies said they were “very unhappy” about the situation and will be putting to the vote whether future officers should be CRB checked.

She added: “Finally, let us not forget what we the Chamber of Trade and upstanding Neath residents are passionate about — Neath’s growth and development, which we will be driving in 2014 with the Love Neath Campaign to be launched in February.”

In a joint statement on behalf of Dyfed-Powys Police Force and Wales Probation Trust it said they do not comment on individual cases, but it confirmed that all relevant offenders are managed via Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

The statement said: “Making our communities safer through effective multi-agency public protection arrangements remains our highest priority.”

Mr Mathias was contacted by the Post for comment but he did not respond.

August 2011

Sex offender caught with indecent pics

A CONVICTED sex offender was caught with indecent images of children after he changed his name without telling the police.

Ex-Sea Cadets instructor and former Special Constable Gareth John Mathias, of Fron Terrace, Llanelli, was given a suspended prison sentence and registered as a sex offender in 2009 after he admitted 13 offences of making indecent photographs of children in 2008.

ut in the months following the court case he breached the sentence when he changed his name to Gary James Taylor on Christmas Day, 2009 — and failed to inform police.

Swansea Crown Court heard that the 31-year-old also committed fraud when he gained employment with Anglian Home Improvements in Fforestfach, and failed to declare his previous conviction on his application form. When officers arrested him, they searched his home and found 59 indecent images of children.

Patrick Griffiths, prosecuting, said in 2010 Mathias took up work as an area sales leader with the company, also known as Anglian Windows.

“He made the application in the name of Gary James Taylor,” he said. “He had formerly changed his name by deed.”

Mr Griffiths added that Mathias indicated on his application form that he had no previous criminal convictions.

The court heard that after changing his name, Mathias twice spoke to police “purporting to seek advice” that he was considering changing his name. But at no time did he say he had already done it.

“In the meantime on April 12, 2010, it seems that by chance a police officer had cause to stop a car driven by this defendant,” said Mr Griffiths.

“He (Mathias) produced a photographic driving licence in the name of Gary James Taylor.”

An anonymous tip-off was received by Anglian Windows in relation to Mathias’s situation, and when police attended his home they uncovered the images, all of which were at thumbnail size, on computer equipment. Fifty-seven of them were at level one, while two were at level four. On a scale of one to five, five is the most serious.

Mathias pleaded guilty to 16 counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing the images, fraud and failing to comply with notification requirements. In police interview he said he had been victimised as a result of his previous conviction and had struggled to gain employment.

“Therefore he decided he’d attempt the new identification,” said Mr Griffiths. “It was all part of the process where he was seeking to conceal his past.”

Mathias told officers he was not responsible for the images and said he’d bought the hard drive that contained 58 of them at a second-hand shop in Germany in 2008, while he’d bought the laptop, containing one image, at a car boot sale.

Edward Burgess, defending, said Mathias’s parents and brother had supported him throughout the proceedings. He said in 2008 his client stood trial in relation to a serious allegation. When the jury failed to reach a verdict, there was a retrial with a fresh jury and Mathias was acquitted.

Mr Burgess said Mathias had then found it “practically impossible” to find work following publicity surrounding the case, and had changed his name in a bid to find work. Judge Peter Heywood sentenced Mathias to a three-year community order with supervision. He said the order would address the defendant’s issues and warned him it was not a “soft option”.

Mathias must also undertake a sex offenders’ programme, register as a sex offender for five years and will be subject to the sex offender’s prevention order for five years.