Peter Rider – Norwich
Robert Sibley – Harrogate
January 2017
Pensioner caught with child abuse images
A pensioner caught with child abuse images on his computer claimed he only viewed the material to help cure his erectile dysfunction.
Robert Sibley, 67, amassed a huge collection of extreme images while scouring the internet for depraved sex scenes.
The granddad from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, viewed more than 146,000 pornographic photos, including sex scenes featuring animals.
Though the vast majority were legal, 127 featured child sexual abuse
York Crown Court heard Sibley told police he had been looking at extreme material after suffering erectile dysfunction in the hope he could cure himself.
Prosecuting, Lorraine Harris said: “He said he initially used Viagra but found it expensive.
“He said he had watched all types of pornography including bestiality.”
The court heard Sibley had searched for terms such as ‘Paedo girl’ and ‘bestiality’.
Police swooped on his home in August and charged him with possessing indecent images of children.
He admitted the offence and was handed a 12-month jail term, suspended for two years.
Defending, Peter Minnikin said: “He has suffered from erectile problems for a considerable period of time and started looking for legal pornographic images in order to try and combat that (condition) in some way.
“In essence he started seeking out more extreme material to see if it would have a reaction upon him. He is insistent that it did not.”
Sentencing, Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said: “It’s a concern that he’s developed this substantial interest in young children, who suffered appalling abuse.”
Sibley was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and made subject to given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will severely restrict his internet use.
In addition, Mr Stubbs ordered him to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work and pay £425 costs.
James Cottrill – Wolverhampton
January 2017
St Andrews medical student caught with child abuse images
A MEDICAL student had his flat raided in an FBI crackdown on a malicious computer programme – only for cops to instead find he had a stash of child abuse images and videos.
James Cottrill avoided a jail term over the find at his student digs in St Andrews, where he stayed while training to become a doctor.
A court heard the find had had a “catastrophic effect on his career plans” – with Cottrill now working as a manager at a ski equipment shop in Tignes, France.
American federal authorities co-ordinated a worlwide operation after the so-called BlackShades “malware” infected over half a million computers around the world.
Cottrill was initially accused of “making or supplying” a user guide for the virus.
But when his computer was fully examined by police e-crime experts they found a stash of sick child abuse images.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told Dundee Sheriff Court: “On the laptop there were six images at category A – the highest level – five at category B and three at category C.
“On his hard drive there were three category A, one category B and three category C – all movies.
“There were a further 12 category A still images, nine category B and 13 category C.”
Cottrill, 23, of Danescourt Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty on indictment to charges of downloading and possessing indecent images of children.
His not guilty pleas to five charges of sending written sexual communications to children asking them to expose themselves on webcams were accepted by the Crown.
Defence solicitor Douglas Williams said: “He accepts the offences are serious.”
Sheriff Alastair Brown imposed a community payback order, placing Cottrill under supervision for three years and ordering him to take part in a sex offenders groupwork programme.
Cottrill was also placed on the sex offenders register for three years.
William Mackay – Ross-shire
January 2017
Ross-shire child abuse pensioner jailed
A former Ross-shire publican who sexually abused two young girls over an eight-year period was today (Friday) jailed for three and a half years.
But 70-year-old William “Billy” Mackay will be free within weeks as he has already served the equivalent of 40 months while awaiting sentence.
Mackay was brought to justice after one of his victims began having flashbacks and she and his other victim went to dream therapy and realised he had abused them as children.
He was cleared of rape after trial, but convicted of three counts of sexual abuse at a house in Muir of Ord between 1986 and 1994.
One of his victims was only seven when her ordeal began.
During trial the court heard that one of them came forward after suffering flashbacks about the abuse.
Today at the High court in Glasgow defence QC Frances McMenamin said that Mackay, who is in poor physical health and suffers from short term memory loss, continues to deny committing the offences.
Mackay formerly ran a public bar in Dingwall.
Judge Graham Buchanan, sentencing Mackay said: “You continue to maintain your innocence of these charges and were acquitted of more serious charges towards these girls at the young ages they were was quite disgraceful.
“A significant custodial sentence is the only appropriate form of disposal.”
A psychologist who examined Mackay believed that he suffers from an anti-social personality.
Judge Buchanan also placed Mackay on the sex offenders’ register.
The court heard that Mackay, who walks with a stick, has significant health issues.
Judge Buchanan was not able to give Mackay, who is considered a medium risk of re-offending, an extended sentence which would include monitoring in the community because the offences were committed before that legislation came into force.
Terri Spragg – Ryde
January 2017
Woman jailed after sexually abusing 14-year-old boy
A MUM of four who had sex with a 14-year-old boy was spared jail when she appeared for sentence at the Isle of Wight Crown Court today (Friday).
Terri Spragg, 35, of Bettesworth Road, Ryde, was found guilty of seven charges of sexual activity with a child following her trial last year. She was cleared of two further charges.
Former dinner lady, Spragg, had sex with the schoolboy on the kitchen floor of her home and warned him not to tell anyone about it because it was not legal.
She had sex with the boy on several occasions, often after drinking sessions. She had denied all the charges.
Sentencing Spragg, deputy circuit judge John Price, said the two had played a game on New Year’s Eve, 2014 where the ‘loser’ got to massage the back of the ‘winner’.
Judge John Price spared Spragg jail, saying it would have meant her four children going into foster care.
For Spragg, Rufus Taylor, said she was a vulnerable single mother and had suffered a recent bereavement as well as a miscarriage.
He said: “This relationship gave her some sort of self worth.”
Spragg was sentenced to 15 months in jail, suspended for two years. She has been placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years.
Ellen Horne – Caerphilly
December 2016
Mum, 46, who sent sex act pics and arranged a threesome with a 14-year-old boy jailed
A MUM who thought she was sexting naked pictures of herself and photos of her performing sex acts to a 14-year-old boy before arranging a threesome with him has been caged.
Ellen Horne, 46, thought she was sending the X-rated messages to a teenager called Sam – but she was actually sending them to an older man.
The mum-of-three told cops it gave her a “thrill” to send the snaps to the ‘schoolboy’, but she was humiliated when she was arrested and found out she was actually talking to a man called Stuart Bailey.
Horne, from Caerphilly, Wales, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after admitting attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.
Cardiff Crown Court heard she had become “intoxicated with attention” after meeting men on dating sites for sex.
She started emailing Bailey, who introduced her to a 14-year-old boy called Sam Davies.
Jim Davis, prosecuting, said: “Bailey said Sam liked older women and provided her with an email address.
“She admitted to officers that she had sent explicit picture messages to Sam believing him to be 14-years-old.
“That was actually an account that Bailey was using himself.
“The emails between her and ‘Sam’ show a record of sexual conversation between them and a requirement from Sam for her to send pictures of her with c***s and explicit images of her to him.”
She sent pictures of herself performing sex acts to the teen, and agreed to a threesome with him and Bailey.
Mr Davis added: “She admitted she believed she was talking to a 14-year-old boy but said she didn’t think she would have gone through with the meeting or the threesome.
“She told the officer: ‘I got a thrill from the attention I was getting because they were getting a thrill from me.’”
Judge Eleri Rees, sentencing, said: “This is a cautionary tale for those who engage in dating websites. You take a risk because you don’t know fully who you are engaging with.
“But it was you who decided to engage in this action with a 14-year-old and you who decided to send explicit photos of yourself performing oral sex.
“What a corrupting influence a woman in your position at age 46 could have had on a 14-year-old boy.
“As it turned out that you had been duped.”
Robert Jones – Carmarthen
January 201
“High risk” sex offender jailed for breaching order
A REGISTERED sex offender has been jailed after failing to tell police that he had stayed overnight with friends at a home where there was a child present.
Robert David Jones of Park Hall, Carmarthen, pleaded guilty to breaching the conditions set upon him by being on the sex offender register when he appeared at Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The court heard Jones, aged 27, had struck up a friendship with a mother of a young child and had visited the home on occasions and stayed overnight as part of a group of friends to play board games and socialise.
However, prosecutor Sian Vaughan said Jones had been in breach of the sex offenders register on November 29 last year, by failing to notify police of him staying at the property for more than 12 hours when there was a child present.
Prosecution said Jones was a “high risk offender and subject to home visits from police.”
He had been cautioned by police in 2011 for possessing indecent images of children and prosecuted in 2013 for the same offence and for possessing extreme pornographic images.
Jones remains on the sex offender register until May 2018 and is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order until January 2019.
Jones’s conviction came to light to the mother when she contacted police to ask about him.
At this point she severed all ties with him and they are no longer friends or in contact.
Mr Davies said: “He cannot remember if he went to her home more or less than seven days within 12 months.”
“He accepts he should have notified the police.”
In sentencing, district judge David Parsons said: “I have to look at the context of your conduct over the last six years.
“You had 14 offences of making indecent photos of children, cautioned, and then again on May 23, 2013, Carmarthen magistrates sent you to crown court for sentencing.
“It was hoped a three year community order would bring about change but we know it had limited effect.”
“By breaching the order you had access to a house of a parent and vulnerable child.
“Looking globally at your behaviour in the true context only custody is appropriate.”
Jones was jailed for 20 weeks and ordered to pay £115 victim surcharge.
Paul Francis – Lewisham
January 2017
Lewisham builder and DJ jailed for raping two young girls
A part-time builder and DJ from Lewisham has been jailed for the rape and sexual assault of two ‘very young’ girls.
Paul Francis, 46, was sentenced to 13 years in prison yesterday (January 6) at Woolwich Crown Court for five counts of sexual assault and four counts of rape.
The two victims, who were known to Francis, were raped over a period of years, with the attacks beginning at a very young age.
Poilce were made aware of the offences in September last year after one of the girls told someone at school.
Officers spoke to the younger girl who initially would not say anything, but wrote a short note and did a drawing explaining what Francis had done to her.
Francis gave no comment when interviewed but was charged on September 14 and pleaded guilty on December 2.
Investigators established that he worked as a art-time builder and also as a DJ at parties and private functions, mainly in the Lewisham area.