October 2013

Janitor jailed for 10 months; He looked at child abuse pictures

A NURSERY janitor who enjoyed looking at pictures of babies being sexually abused and Kept a pair of toddler’s knickers in a bedroom drawer has been jailed for 10 months. 

The children’s nursery which employed Lee Mills, 31, was not named during the sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court. 

Judge Daniel Williams was told he had lost the job after being caught with illegal pictures on his home computer and on his mobile phone. There was no suggestion that any of the 199 images were of pupils at the nursery. 

Mills pleaded guilty to four offences of downloading indecent pictures of children. 

The stills and videos included sexual activity between adults and babies as well as older children and toddlers. Prosecutor John Warren said his computer history showed he had also searched for words including “how to become a paedophile“, “child grooming tips”, “naked little girls”, “child porn stars” and “small naked girls in the bath”. 

In March, when officers, armed with a search warrant, went to his home at St Fagans Avenue, Barry, where his mother also lives, he asked to speak to them privately, where she could not hear. 

“He told them he had been stupid and asKed could he delete what was on his phone,” Mr Warren said. “They found there were a pair of KnicKers for a child aged two or three in a drawer in his bedroom along with some adult pornography. 

“And it was discovered he had been in computer chat rooms where a person is recorded telling him he has just performed a sex act with a 10-year-old. 

“The defendant replies ‘give me her number’.” 

Mr Seal described his client as immature and inadequate and said it was others on the chat room sites who were instigating the ideas discussed. 

He said Mills would not get the treatment he needed if he was jailed but could be treated over a prolonged period if left in the community. 

But Judge Daniel Williams said the possession of the images and of the underwear was “troubling” and anyone involved in such behaviour should expect to be locked up. 

He told Mills that his repeated claims that he had not received any sexual gratification from what he was doing was just a lie. 

“Each of these images is of a real child and a real crime being committed”, he said. “Your vile behaviour creates a market and they continue to suffer unimaginable agony for the gratification of people like you”. 

The judge made a sexual offences prevention order to keep Mills away from children in the future and ordered his name stay on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

April 2014

Sussex man jailed for arranging the commission of a child sex offence

A pervert travelled to Kent from Sussex in the belief a father would allow him to sexually abuse his two young daughters, a court heard.

Wayne Booker arrived with a bag of sex toys, condoms and a mask ready to have sex with girls aged 11 and seven.

But the 53-year-old architect, who has done charitable and voluntary work on historic sites with children, soon discovered he had been the victim of a police sting and was promptly arrested

April 2014

Child sex predator jailed – thanks to young victim’s bravery

A THREE-year-old boy, who was set to become the youngest witness ever to give evidence in a UK court, has helped put a paedophile behind bars.

Predator Philip Barnaby, from Darlington, was yesterday (Thursday) jailed for 15-and-a-half years for a campaign of abuse against young boys.

He changed his plea at the last moment when one of his victims – aged just three-and-a-half – was lined up to give evidence over a live-link to the courtroom.

The youngster was being looked-after in a specially-adapted room atTeesside Crown Court as Barnaby was due to stand trial.

But at the 11th hour, as jurors were about to take their places, the 55-year-old changed his plea. Balding Barnaby admitted raping one youngster and sexually assaulting another in the late 1990s and 2000s.

Defence barrister, Tom Mitchell, said that Barnaby had no previous convictions, and the fact that he had finally pleaded guilty was virtually his only mitigation.

The mother of the youngest victim was granted the rare right to personally read out an impact statement to the court.

Fighting back tears and staring straight at Barnaby, the brave mum said: “My main emotion is pure anger and hatred.

“I’m haunted by the thoughts of what my little boy had to go through . . . I feel physically sick. Philip Barnaby is a monster who cannot be changed. (He) has wrecked my little boy’s innocence. I have a life sentence just so he could get sexual gratification.

“I wish Philip Barnaby could just stop breathing, but then that would be just too nice.”

Very young children often give video-recorded interviews to specially-trained officers, and they are played to a jury.

Police are usually reluctant for them to be called to give ‘live’ evidence, because it is such a traumatic experience.

And nobody the near age of the youngest boy in Barnaby’s case has ever then been cross-examined by a defence lawyer.

But the boy saw it as his “special job” and was “looking forward to telling the boss the truth”, police said last night.

The judge told Barnaby: “Your crimes are so serious because the harm that they have caused to both families are irreparable.

“The effect on her and her son needs nothing more said by me.”

Barnaby, of Salisbury Terrace, Darlington, was jailed for 15-and-a-half years after he pleaded guilty to child rape, three offences of indecency with a child, three of indecent assault, and taking indecent images.

He was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, and given an indefinite sexual offences prevention order banning him from contact with children under-16 and from owning a camera or phone camera. Last night, detective constable Lynsey Eglington hailed the youngster’s bravery and the work that went into nailing Barnaby.

She said: “This case was unique because the victim – a boy aged three years and six months old – would have been the youngest in the country to have given evidence at court against the abuser.

“We had to carry out meticulous planning to secure the child’s evidence and determine how it would be presented to the court.

“Throughout this process his well-being was constantly monitored and assessed. This would not have been possible if the boundaries had not been explored extensively by the police and other agencies.

“This ‘working together’ approach made this achievable and it gave the family confidence in how we were securing their son’s statement and safeguarding him through the court process.

“Due to the planning being so precise and well-orchestrated the little boy was looking forward to going to court to speak to the ‘Boss’ (the judge) and excited that he had an important job to do. He compared himself to Jake, the Neverland Pirate. “Our two main goals were to secure and present the child’s evidence without causing further distress and the second was to hold accountable a sexual predator who specifically went out of his way to target children.

“Philip Barnaby has offered no explanation to the police, but it is obvious he presents a great danger to children. He cannot control his sexual urges for children and this risk will always be present. He cannot change.”

April 2014

Former Chapelhall man convicted of sex offences against children over a 27-year period

A man was  convicted of repeatedly attempting to rape a young girl when she was aged between four and 13.

William McLuckie, formerly of Chapelhall, was also found guilty of sexually abusing three other young girls at various addresses in Airdrie.

The offences took place over a 27-year-period between 1967 and 1994.

At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lady Wolffe told McLuckie: “You have been found guilty of a number of serious offences which have had a devastating effect on the complainers.”

She deferred sentence on first offender McLuckie until later this month and remanded him in custody.

She also ordered McLuckie to be placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Advocate depute David Taylor, prosecuting, told the court that two of McLuckie’s victims had written victim impact statements and handed them over to the judge.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that McLuckie’s offending came to light when his last victim broke down recently and told her mother.

She had been sexually abused by him from August 1989 to January 1994 when she was aged between four and eight.

The police became involved and other victims came forward to give evidence against McLuckie.

In court he admitted that he had sexually abused three of his victims, but claimed that what had happened had been greatly exaggerated by them.

He categorically denied attempting to rape his fourth victim.

But the jury convicted McLuckie of the seven charges before them.

Two charges of sexual abuse were removed from the indictment at the end of the Crown case.

McLuckie denied attempting to rape one girl on various occasions at an address in Airdrie, but he admitted that he had sexually abused another girl between 1967 and 1971 when she was aged between 12 and 15.

He also admitted that he sexually abused a third victim between 1969 and 1975, but denied two further charges of forcing her to have oral sex with him.

McLuckie, now of Elmbank Street, Bellshill, also admitted a charge of kissing and touching a fourth victim on various occasions between 1989 and 1994 when she was aged between four and eight.

Defence advocate Louise Arrol told the jury: “This has been a very difficult case because Mr McLuckie admits three of the charges against him, but emphatically denies the others.”

The jury retired to consider its verdict on Monday.

But the jurors deliberations were halted that afternoon when Mr McLuckie took unwell with a bad back and was taken to the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow for treatment.

The jury re-started their deliberations on Tuesday morning when he returned to court and returned their verdict that afternoon.

April 2014

Paedophile jailed for catalogue of attacks dating from 1970s

A paedophile branded a serious risk to the public has been jailed for more than five years at the High Court in Perth.

Robert Winch admitted subjecting a boy and a girl to a catalogue of sexual attacks in Midlothian between 1976 and 1990.

Lord Burns told him that he was guilty of offences that would have had an “incalculable” and “permanent” effect upon his victims.

Winch, now 63, of Albert Street in Edinburgh, was sentenced to five years and seven months in jail, with an extended sentence of a three years after his release.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for the remainder of his life.

The High Court heard the attacks had taken place around the same time as other offences against children for which Winch had already served lengthy periods of imprisonment.

He has been convicted of using lewd, libidinous and indecent practices against children at both sheriff and high court level.

And he has twice been convicted of having sexual intercourse with girls aged between 13 and 15.

Lord Burns said: “You have pled guilty to the serious and prolonged sexual abuse (of two young people).

“It is vital that you are supervised following your release as it is clear that you present a serious risk to the public and to young boys in particular.”

Winch also admitted having unnatural carnal connections with a boy under the age of 16 and attempting to rape a girl aged between 6 and 10.

April 2014

Paedophile groomed 13-year-old girl in Belgium via facebook from Northamptonshire home

A Northamptonshire man who groomed a 13-year-old girl from Belgium via Facebook has been jailed for 18 months.

Iain Hubbard, aged 44, befriended the girl, who had just lost her father, and began talking to her on the social networking site in August 2011.

Mary Loram, prosecuting, said Hubbard manipulated the girl so that she believed they were boyfriend and girlfriend.

Despite the fact he knew her age, Hubbard pestered the girl to send naked photographs of himself.

Ms Loram said Hubbard also asked the girl to take her clothes off in front of a web camera and perform a sex act.

Ms Loram said: “The girl was reluctant but he made her feel guilty by telling her that she would do it if “she loved him”.”

Hubbard was arrested in October 2011 and police managed to trace a number of the pictures and messages Hubbard and sent and received from the girl despite the fact many had been deleted.

At Northampton Crown Court, Hubbard pleaded guilty to charges of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 or under to engage in sexual activity and three charges of making indecent photographs of a child.

Maxine Kroner, defending, said Hubbard, of Little Street, Rushden, was a former member of the armed forces who suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome. Ms Kroner said Hubbard had been heavily depressed and drinking heavily at the time he committed the offences.

Recorder Rachel Brand QC said: “This girl was at a particularly vulnerable time in her life and this was highly manipulative behaviour by you.

“You were fully aware of her age.”

Hubbard will be on the sexual offenders register for the next 10 years.

April 2014

Leeds paedophile avoids jail sentence over indecent images of children

A PAEDOPHILE from Leeds who had hundreds of ‘horrific’ images on his home computer has been spared a jail sentence.

Michael Sykes, 67, of Austhorpe, Leeds, was caught with 688 images and 70 films showing the sexual abuse of children when his computer was seized in October 2012.

Leeds Crown Court heard Sykes, of Austhorpe Drive in east Leeds, lived with his wife during the offences.

Around 20 of the images involving Sykes were classed at level five – considered to be the most serious – as well as 10 of the films.

West Yorkshire Police was made aware of Sykes’ behaviour by Hampshire Constabulary after they dealt with a case involving the distribution of indecent images.

Sykes was convicted over 11 counts of making indecent photographs of children at the court in Leeds yesterday.

He was handed a three-year community order with supervision.

Judge James Spencer, QC, sentencing, said: “When people like you acquire horrific pictures of children being abused sexually in circumstances that terrify them and confuse them, it means that you contribute to the abuse of those children.

“If you did not provide the demand, there would be no cause for these images to be made in the first place.

“The only way to thoroughly understand that and therefore understand what you have done is to undertake this course with the probation service for three years.”

He added: “You have brought shame on yourself and your family and it is about time you made restitution.”

As well as the community order, Sykes was also ordered to undertake a high level activity requirement, which will involve going on a sex offenders treatment programme

April 2014

Wirral pervert filming up schoolgirl’s skirt in Liverpool given 100 hours unpaid work

A pervert caught filming up a 16-year-old girl’s skirt on an escalator at Liverpool One has been handed 100 hours of unpaid work.

Gordon Eves, 59, of Winchester Drive, Wallasey, admitted committing an act of outraging common decency at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard how Eves followed three girls aged 14 to 16 in the shopping centre on the afternoon of Sunday, July 7 last year.

The supermarket worker was spotted by one of the girls taking a small black camera out of his pocket, which he turned on and aimed up the white summer dress of his victim.

Lionel Cope, prosecuting, said: “She thought this was disgusting and told the girl what she had seen.

“She confronted him and said ‘have you just taken pictures up her skirt?’ Mr Eves appeared shocked.“The victim felt very upset and violated.”

Police were informed and Eves was arrested.

The camera was found to contain 48 video recordings, some 20 to 30 seconds in length, including footage up girls’ skirts, of legs and escalators.

Mr Cope said: “He said he was dreadfully ashamed of his actions and wished to apologise for the distress he had caused to the girl in question and to her family. He said he was too ashamed to put into words.“

He said he saw the girl in front of him and when asked what his thought process was, he said ‘it was not a correct one’.”

Paula Lloyd, defending, said Eves, who works at Asda, made “full and frank admissions” during police interview.

She said: “He gave further information that he had been doing it for a number of weeks and had done the same in London.

“He accepted in interview he got sexual gratification from it.“He said he didn’t look for teens – he was just looking for females in short skirts.”Ms Lloyd said the dad-of-one had been married in the past, but now lived alone and had limited contact with his daughter.

She said he cared for his 89-year-old mother and was “absolutely petrified of the thought of custody because of the impact it would have on his elderly mum”.

Magistrates decided not to apply for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

They said: “We feel this offence has crossed the custodial threshold, however, we are minded to go along with the report and give you a community sentence of three years, to give you the opportunity to complete the programme of rehabilitation that you require to give you awareness into your actions.”

Eves must also pay £85 court costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

April 2014

Already convicted pervert doing Bible studies caught looking at young girls

A pervert who claimed he only wanted a computer for his Bible studies had been looking at young girls doing gymnastics on Youtube.

Stephen Boyd was being monitored by police after he was convicted in 2004 of 27 offences of possessing indecent images of children.

As part of restrictions placed on him, he was banned from using a computer other than for work purposes.

But when police went to his Tyneside home to check up on him, he was found to have an Android tablet computer, which he said he used for downloading religious study aids.

And although police found no illegal material on the tablet, they found he had been looking at young girls in gymnastic poses.

That placed Boyd in breach of a sexual offences prevention order for the third time

Now he has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he is heavily involved with a local church where he does voluntary work and the pastor wrote a letter to the court supporting Boyd.

When told of Boyd’s religious studies, Recorder Ben Nolan QC said: “I don’t suppose the Bible studies have much to do with girls in gymnastic poses.”

The Judge went on: “However I’ve looked at the letter from the pastor at the church and I’m impressed you showed the pastor your sex offender form and invited him to make sure you had nothing to do with children or youths.

“I’m also impressed by the point made that your tablet did not, as it turned out, contain any indecent images.

“It seems at some point you looked at images of young girls in gymnastic poses but they are not illegal.”

The court heard Boyd had been visited by police in August as they carried out a series of routine checks on convicted offenders.

Nick Lane, prosecuting, said: “He was interviewed and said he had only used the tablet to download Bible and religious studies aids.

“The device was forensically examined and it was found that Youtube images of young girls in gymnastic poses had been viewed on it.”

Boyd, 54, of no fixed address, but living in the Gateshead area, was convicted of the indecent images offences in 2004.

Then, in 2007 he was convicted of failing to notify a change of circumstances for the sex offender register.

Furthermore, three years later he was caught with indecent images on his phone.

Lee Fish, defending, said in mitigation that his client admitted the breach.

However, he insisted Boyd only possessed the computer in order to study the Bible.

He said: “His primary motivation for owning the computer was in the pursuit of Biblical Studies.”

April 2014

Cleethorpes sex offender branded a ‘monster’ jailed for nine years after abusing two children

A SEX offender has been branded a “monster” and a “Jekyll and Hyde” after being jailed for nine years for abusing two children.

The appalling ordeal he put his victims through was described as a “nightmare” and “horrendous”, it was claimed.

Frank Hargreaves, 63, of Brian Avenue, Cleethorpes, was locked up after targeting a young boy and a girl.

The docks worker, a former deep sea fisherman, was convicted by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court of seven offences.

They included an attempted serious sexual offence against the boy, four other matters of indecency with him, and two more offences of indecency with the girl.

Hargreaves was cleared by the jury of a series of other sexual offences, including raping the girl, and matters involving two other female complainants.

He denied all the offences.

Robert Underwood, mitigating, said Hargreaves had been “tormented by having to confront these allegations” and took an overdose when he was arrested.

The progress of the trial itself was delayed part way through when he took another overdose.

“That clearly demonstrated the way these matters were affecting him,” said Mr Underwood.

He was given an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Loud cheers and clapping broke out in the packed public gallery after Hargreaves was jailed.

Insults were repeatedly hurled at him during tense courtroom scenes and there were shouts of “pervert”, “brilliant” and “fantastic”.

After the hearing, one of the supporters of the victims said: “He was a Jekyll and Hyde. He’s a monster.

“I still can’t believe that he thinks he’s innocent, blaming it on everybody but himself.”

Another woman said: “We are so pleased with the sentence. It’s amazing but we wanted more. We were hoping for more but, at the end of the day, we are all right with nine years.”

Another supporter of the victims said: “I am quite pleased. I am glad the sentence isn’t something like three or four years.”

Another woman said: “It has been hard for everyone coping with it all. I have been having nightmares. It has been horrendous.

“It’s played on all our minds. That’s why we are all so relieved. It was such a shock.”

The officer in the case, temporary Detective Sergeant Jason Nutting, of the public protection unit, said he hoped the victims could use the prison sentence as a starting point to put the nightmares of the case behind them.

He was glad that the jury convicted Hargreaves of the “serious sexual offending against children” that he committed.

He thanked the complainants and witnesses who came forward and “showed great strength” in helping the case come to trial.

“I realise that this is not the end for those directly or indirectly involved in this case,” he added.

“The harm that has been perpetrated against them cannot be undone so easily, nor can the stress from having been made to give evidence in such a matter.”

April 2014

On the run South Yorkshire child abuser jailed

A South Yorkshire child sex offender who fled the country has been hunted down and jailed for 11 and a half years.

Graham Wilson, 70, admitted 24 charges of sexual offences against two young girls in October 2012, but fled to Northern Cyprus to avoid jail.

South Yorkshire Police issued a European Arrest Warrant and circulated that Wilson, formerly of West Bawtry Road, Rotherham, was a wanted man.

Officers tracked the pervert’s movements and were led to Cyprus in November last year. He was arrested and extradited back to the UK.

Wilson was handed an 11 and a half year sentence at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday for the crimes, the majority of which were against a girl aged between 13 and 16 from 1978.

A second victim was aged 15 when she was indecently assaulted in 1994.

Wilson was added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and will be the subject of a life-long Sex Offenders Prevention Order, which means he will be closely monitored after he is released.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Wilson committed the most shocking and appalling crimes imaginable and attempted to evade justice by fleeing the country. However, his freedom did not last long.

“I hope the victims in this case can take some comfort in knowing that the man responsible for the crimes committed is now behind bars where he belongs.”

April 2014

Child rapist who targeted young and vulnerable is caged for eight years

A twisted pervert who raped a 12-year-old girl and sexually abused a schoolgirl has been jailed for eight years.

Despicable Joseph Prunty, 56, of Cardonald, Glasgow, carried out the attacks between 2006 and 2012 at various locations in Renfrewshire.

While Prunty’s young lover – who is half his age – is standing by her man, his wife condemned him and said she hopes he rots in hell.

Yesterday, the High Court in Edinburgh heard how he carried out his sick crimes while living with unsuspecting wife Dorothy – and having an affair with his lover

Temporary judge Michael O’Grady QC told Prunty that jail was the only sentence available to him.

Judge O’Grady added: “You are a sexual predator who targeted the young and vulnerable.

“Due to the dreadful nature of your crimes, a custodial sentence is the only disposal available to me.

“However, there is no sentence that this court can impose that will able to erase the ordeal or repair the damage that you inflicted upon these girls.”

Prunty – who already had a sex conviction – was convicted of the crimes following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow last month.

Sentence had been deferred in order for the court to obtain reports about his character.

The court heard how Prunty, a bus driver, raped the 12-year-old in a car in 2008 and at a house in Renfrewshire in 2012.

He also groped a 15-year-old girl.

Neither of the victims can be identified for legal reasons.

Speaking after his conviction, fuming wife Dorothy, 58, said the dad-of four “should rot in hell”.

However, lover Tracey, 25, of Erskine, vowed to stand by him. She said: “None of this is true.”

The court had previously heard how Prunty still maintained that he was innocent of any wrongdoing.

Judge O’Grady also ordered Prunty to be supervised for four years following his release from prison.

Renfrew-based Detective Inspector Mark McGowan said: “These were atrocious crimes committed on young girls over a number of years, and I cannot praise the victims highly enough for having the strength and courage to put their faith in my team and the judicial system.

“Although the memories of what they suffered at the hands of Joseph Prunty will never be erased, they can be extremely proud of their achievements and the sentencing that was handed out today.

“I would encourage anyone who is a victim to come forward and assure them that the dedicated rape units within Police Scotland will do everything possible to ensure those responsible are held accountable for their crimes.”

April 2014

Pervert found with dozens of child abuse images is freed from court

A dad found with dozens of indecent images of children as young as eight has walked free from court – to live just yards from a primary school.

Gary Ashworth, 43, had 72 pictures on his computer and had also bookmarked indecent websites, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

But he was spared jail and given a three-year community punishment order with a supervision requirement.

Ashworth, who lives on Stirling Avenue in Hazel Grove – less than 150m from St Peter’s Primary School – must also sign the sex offenders register for five years and take the internet sex offending programme.

Prosecuting, Adam Lodge said police received intelligence that indecent child websites had been accessed from Ashworth’s computer.

His PC was seized and images found ranged from level one to level four – five is the highest.

They involved children aged eight to 12 in sex acts and a history of internet searches for ‘pre-teen models’ and ‘pre-teen sex’ were found.

When arrested Ashworth, who has a teenage son and daughter, was reported to have said: “I have put at risk everyone and everybody I hold dear.”

It was said that 64 of the 72 images were at level one in severity.

Peter Malone, defending, said Ashworth had started off ‘innocently’ on the internet, looking at adult porn.

He added: “Mr Ashworth is very remorseful and ashamed. He recognises he’s been an absolute fool, he wishes to put the past behind him.”

Mr Malone also gave a letter to the court from Mr Ashworth’s wife, who is a teacher.

In sentencing Judge Adrian Smith said: “This is an alternative to custody.

“Harm is done to children who are used for this purpose to gratify people’s sexual urges.”

April 2014

Mum and boyfriend jailed over manslaughter of toddler

Keiran Barley (inset), step father Craig Lewis and mum Louise Barley

An evil  mother and her boyfriend ‘spun a web of lies’ to hide how defenceless toddler Kieron Barley met his death at their Birmingham home.

Louise Barley, 26, was jailed for 15 months for child cruelty, and Craig Lewis, 32, was sent to prison for eight years for manslaughter after shaking and killing baby Kieron in a fit of temper

The pair admitted the charges at an earlier hearing.

Kieron was aged just 22 months at the time of his death, in June 2011 at a house in Denshaw Road, Kings Heath.

A post mortem examination confirmed that the youngster had suffered two serious injuries in the final weeks of his short life − a spinal fracture some three weeks prior to his death, followed by a serious brain injury in the final days of his life.

Lewis told police that the toddler, who had developmental difficulties, fell forwards when trying to walk, in May 2011. Just three weeks later the child was admitted to hospital after he had stopped breathing while in the bath. 

MRI scans later showed serious brain and head injuries, which the court heard, were likely to have been caused by shaking or an assault.

Det Chief Insp Dawn Miskella, from West Midlands Police public protection unit, said: “This was a tragic and deeply upsetting case for all concerned.

“Young Kieron lost his life after Lewis admitted losing his temper on two occasions and assaulting him. Kieron was sadly let down by those who should have been caring for him.

“His mother and her partner spun a web of lies to conceal the truth of how Kieron came by his injuries and failed to seek further medical attention following the initial assault. However, almost three years on from the incidents Louise and Craig have finally admitted their crimes and have been jailed.

“We hope that the result can provide some closure for those who truly did care for young Kieron and are pleased that justice has been done.”

It has also emerged that before the child’s death, doctors at Birmingham Children’s Hospital failed to detect Kieron had a broken back caused by Lewis who threw him to the ground.

The court heard how medics allowed Barley to take Kieron home after she lied about how he was injured, saying she saw him fall over when in fact she was out shopping at the time.

Despite being taken to hospital on two more occasions, doctors failed to spot Kieron’s broken spine and internal injuries and discharged him with possible gastroenteritis. On June 19, 2011, Lewis brutally attacked the child again because he was angry about the messy state of their home in Denshaw Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham.

Lewis dialled 999 claiming the youngster collapsed and he was rushed to hospital with severe bleeding on the brain, but died three days later. Prosecutor Rachel Brand QC told the court Lewis told doctors Kieron had fallen and ‘gone all floppy’ when he first dialled 999 on May 28, 2011.

She said: “Ambulance workers found Kieron agitated and screaming the place down and he was taken to Birmingham Children’s hospital.

“Dr Lewis found he had abrasions of the left shoulder, but found no tenderness and no fracture on an X-ray. He wanted to keep Kieron in overnight but was told by Louise Barley that another sibling was being looked after at home by a relative and that they had to go to work. This was a lie.”

Kieron returned to hospital on both May 29 and 30 after Barley complained that he was screaming and vomiting and was diagnosed with possible gastroenteritis.

Ms Brand added: “Examinations after death found fractures to two vertebrae and a subdural haemorrhage and a retina bleed. The fractures were around four weeks old.”

The role of the hospital in the case will now be subject of a serious case review.

May 2009

Pensioner jailed for sex attack on boy

A PENSIONER has been jailed for a series of sex attacks on a schoolboy.

Keith Gibb, 68, indecently assaulted the youngster, who was aged between 13 and 15, in the late 1990s.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the teenager’s ordeal has had a devastating impact on him and he fears it will affect the rest of his life.

James Adkin, prosecuting, told the court: “The offending has had a significant and potentially life-long effect on him.”

Gibb, of Whitehall Street, South Shields, admitted seven charges of indecent assault.

Judge John Evans jailed Gibb for four years.

The judge said: “Your guilty pleas spared the complainant from having to relive all of this in a very public fashion.

“But it is clear, looking at the impact statement, this has had a significant impact upon him. He plainly feels his life has, in many ways, been utterly ruined by the abuse he suffered at your hands.

“Save for this, you are otherwise of good character and in the past have worked industriously.

“None of that though can spare you from the inevitable custodial sentence.”

Judge Evans banned Gibb from ever working with children and said he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Gavin Doig, defending, said prison will have a huge impact on Gibb.

He added: “There has been some progress in his understanding of the impact of his offending.”

April 2014

Other victims of Leeds paedophile urged to come forward

A sex abuse victim says he is convinced there are others who have suffered at the hands of a serial paedophile from Leeds who is finally behind bars.

Charles Dye, 53, of Shakespeare Grange, Burmantofts, was yesterday jailed for eight years at Teesside Crown Court after being found guilty of 23 historic crimes against seven boys.

The offences were committed against children aged four to 15 between 1979 and 1990 in Selby and Leeds as well as Nelson and Colne in Lancashire.

Between 1976 and 1984 he performed sexual acts on the first four boys, Richard Walters, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court. He tied one victim, a teenager, to a tree “in a playful way” before abusing him.

On another occasion, when staying away from home, he persuaded a boy aged four or five to get into bed with him until the boy’s parents realised what was going on and stopped it.

In 1988, he was given a community punishment by Selby magistrates for abusing the eighth victim, but restarted his crimes and in the next few years abused three boys in Lancashire and Leeds including when he was baby-sitting one.

In 2000 he was given a three-year probation order at York Crown Court for abusing the ninth victim.

Teesside Crown Court heard many of Dye’s victims had tried to suppress their memories of the abuse until one of the Selby victims went to the police, beginning the investigation that brought Dye to justice.

One of the victims, now aged 49, said he had lost his job and had left his home only twice in the last decade after first reporting the abuse in about 2002.

The man, who can’t be named for legal reasons, said he was sure there were other victims who had been abused since the last known cases.

He said: “He has ruined so many people’s lives – and they’re just the people we know about.

“I would put my life on there being others. Leopards don’t change their spots. He’s sick and I can’t believe there aren’t other people like me out there.”

Dye, an unemployed factory worker, targeted his victims by either befriending their families and babysitting for them, or grooming children with cash, sweets and cigarettes, before abusing them.

His offending came to light when one of his victims contacted North Yorkshire Police in January 2012.

As a result of the initial investigation, further offences were uncovered.

Investigating officer, Sergeant Carol Kirk, said: “Dye is a predatory paedophile who targeted young children for his own sexual gratification, abusing his victims’ and their families’ trust in the worst way possible.

“He showed arrogance and contempt for what he had done right up until his trial, forcing his victims to re-live their distressing ordeals in court.

“I hope today’s sentence gives his victims some closure on the events which have affected their lives for the past 30 years and that they can now begin to move on with their lives.

“This case was very complex and I am now satisfied that justice has been done.

“I hope the outcome at court gives other victims of abuse the confidence to come forward to the police or seek support from one of the many agencies who now exist to help victims of abuse.”

April 2014

Former RAF sergeant from Cheltenham speaks of his child abuse images shame

FORMER RAF sergeant Colin Andrews has told a judge of his shame after he was caught with child pornography.

The 60-year-old grandad, of Stansby Park, The Reddings, downloaded and distributed the images – and also had extreme pornography involving a dog on his computer.

He had registered himself in several female names with online sites to get access to the illegal material and to have “fantasy chats” about children, Gloucester Crown Court heard on Thursday.

As Judge Jamie Tabor QC was about to pass sentence, Andrews asked if he could speak and then said he could not understand why he had committed the offences and was sickened by them.

Standing in the dock, he said: “I don’t understand it myself, I really don’t. I never want to be that person again.”

The court had been told Andrews, who spent 24 years in the RAF, had suffered abuse as a child and had not spoken to anyone about it before his arrest.

He said: “When this all blew up in my face I spoke to my GP and she was tremendously helpful. It seemed to unblock like a bung and she set me up with counselling.”

He added: “I honestly believe I am a changed man.”

He added: “I am more free with my emotions and more understanding of what happened to me.

“I totally understand that these things are horrible. They feel horrible to me now and they make me feel sick.

“I never want to go there again. I love my children and my grandchildren and I am at a loss to explain what I was doing and the depression I was in.”

Andrews pleaded guilty to six offences of making indecent photographs of children between January 2009 and July 2013, two offences of possessing extreme pornography, and seven offences of distributing indecent movie files of children.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for two years, and placed him under supervision for 18 months. He also ordered him to do 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £300 costs.

Prosecutor Janine Wood told the court police received intelligence on May 29 last year from an anti child exploitation agency that someone registered as Sally Brown was downloading illegal pornography in Gloucestershire.

Police traced the person to a T Mobile account at an address in Longlevens, however when police went there they found Andrews had moved.

He was then tracked to his new address and arrested. Computer equipment was seized from his camper van.

April 2014

Eccleshill sexual predator of girls is jailed for 16 years

A deviant sexual predator, who carried out a catalogue of sexual offences against two young girls over a period of years, has been jailed for 16 years.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, told 39-year-old Peter Hartley he had committed a “catalogue of sexual offending of a very serious type”.

Both a probation report and a psychiatric report described Hartley as dangerous to girls of a young age, the judge said.

Hartley, of Stonegate Road, Eccleshill, Bradford, pleaded guilty to two charges of rape, six charges of sexually assaulting a child under 13, two of sexual activity with a child, three other sexual offences and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Bradford Crown Courtheard yesterday that Hartley had a history of misuse of drink and drugs.

Judge Thomas described the offending as a “catalogue of quite appalling behaviour” which lasted for seven years.

He told Hartley, in relation to one of the girls: “You brought about a situation where she was unable to make a complaint about your disgusting behaviour towards her.”

He said Hartley’s behaviour was “deviant, nasty and predatory”.

Judge Thomas spoke of the damage caused to children who are sexually abused.

He said of the two victims: “It is very difficult for them to try to put into words how they must now feel and describe the terribleness of what you have done.”

He said an experienced probation officer had said that such sexual offending caused “inestimable physical, psychological and emotional harm”.

The judge added: “You are somebody who poses a significant risk of causing significant harm hereafter, and therefore somebody who must be regarded as dangerous.

“I intend to pass sentences reflecting what is, in my judgement, the very serious and extreme nature of your sexual misbehaviour.”

Judge Thomas passed a custodial sentence of 16 years, with an extended licence of four years.

April 2014

Little Hulton ‘porn addict’ sexually abused 14-year-old girl

A “SELF confessed porn addict” has avoided a jail term for abusing a teenage girl.

Kurtis Ragnall, aged 22, of Old Lane, Little Hulton, avoided a custodial sentence as Judge Elliot Knopf said “public interest would better served” if he received help in the community.

Graham Robinson, prosecuting, said: “Kurtis Ragnall persuaded the girl to engage in sexual activity.

He would ask for a kiss, followed her into her bedroom, asked for a hug and pushed her on to the bed seeking to engage in sexual activity.”

Bolton Crown Court heard yesterday that Ragnall would tell the 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, over Skype that he wanted to “cuddle, spank her” and join her in the bath.

The crimes came to light when an adult saw the girl’s Skype conversations with Ragnall.

Police were called and Ragnall was arrested. The crimes took place between July 1 and July 31, 2012.

Ragnall described himself to police a “self-confessed porn addict” but claimed the victim was a “compulsive liar”.

He later pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child, attempted sexual activity with a child and 16 counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

Sixteen images were found by police on his computer and were at level one — level five being the most serious.

Officers also found evidence of 5,800 indecent images being on his computer.

Michael Blakey, defending, said: “The defendant shouldn’t have done what he did. He is disgusted with himself.

“He was 21 at the time. He has alienated himself from his family and through me would like to apologise.”

Ragnall works as an apprentice recruitment consultant, Mr Blakey said. Judge Knopf, sentencing, said: “I don’t consider a custodial sentence is the correct way of dealing with you.

“The public interest would be best served by the imposing of a three-year community order.”

Ragnall will comply with a three-year supervision requirement where his progress will be reviewed regularly.

He was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years and must comply with a sexual offences prevention order for five years.

February 2014

Serial sex offender jailed for breaching bail conditions

A Dundee man who carried out a string of sexual offences in Angus has been jailed for repeatedly breaching his bail and probation orders.

Donny Kristofer McKenzie, 21, of Balunie Terrace, appeared from custody at Arbroath Sheriff Court on Tuesday after failing to appear at a previous deferred sentence diet.

He previously pleaded guilty to repeatedly having sex with a 15-year-old girl in Arbroath between December 7 2010 and January 8 2011.

McKenzie also admitted having sex with another 15-year-old girl in Arbroath on November 19 2011.

He also admitted several other charges of sending abusive and threatening messages to a girl in November 2011, where he threatened to harm himself by cutting his wrists and threatened to kill himself and assault the girl’s boyfriend.

In October 2011 McKenzie also contacted another girl and threatened to burn her house down before making a call to another girl between January 2011 and December 2011 where he threatened her with violence.

He had his sentenced deferred in May last year and was later placed on probation for three years when he appeared before Sheriff Peter Paterson at Arbroath in June.

He appeared in front of Sheriff Gregor Murray, following a recent breach of the probation order, and was given a sentence totalling 36 months.

Defence agent John Boyle said: “There is really no realistic alternative to a custodial sentence here. He is not suitable for any further orders and he now accepts that.”

Sheriff Murray took particular exception to a Facebook update posted by McKenzie on the day a warrant was issued for his arrest, which implied he thought the situation was “hilarious”.

He told McKenzie: “I think this is a case where an extended sentence is merited. You pleaded guilty at trial to five offences, including sex with girls aged 15 when you were 19 and 20 years old.

“Clearly there was an alternative to custody at that stage, but you have flagrantly breached those orders on a number of occasions despite being given several chances.

“You will serve 18 months in custody and 18 months on supervised licence when you come out. If you breach that licence you will be returned to custody where you will serve the remainder of the sentence.”

Sentence was backdated to February 7.