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Alan Houchin – Swanley/Margate

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April 2014

‘There’s no manners anymore’: Rapist and murderer freed after 46 years says modern Britain lacks community spirit

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One of the nation’s longest serving prisoners, who spent almost half a century locked up for murder and rape, has been released.

Alan Houchin, 75, was enjoying his first days of freedom this week after serving 47 years, but there was fury last night that he had been let out.

It came amid claims the pensioner could still pose a danger to the public because of his violent track record.

Houchin narrowly avoided the death sentence in 1965 for strangling 16-year-old waitress Shona “Toni” Berry.

Just three years after being released on licence in 1976 he went on to rape and beat a 19-year-old female shop assistant and was locked up for a further nine years. But his offending continued even when he was an inmate.

In 1993 he slipped his guards while he was on a hospital visit and went on the run, with the police describing him as “dangerous”. He was eventually arrested again in the company of a 17-year-old girl and returned to jail

But after emerging from one of the longest prison stretches in British history, he says the country has changed for the worse since he was first locked up.

‘The biggest change I’ve found since I’ve been in jail is in people. Everyone is me, me, me.

‘There are no manners anymore. People are so rude, they bang into and push past you. The sense of community has gone.’

The killer, who admits the murder but has always denied the rape, told the paper he opened to door for a woman at the supermarket after his release, but she was offended and said she could do it for herself.

He claimed today’s Britain is all about ‘instant gratification’ and people have lost respect for each other.

Asked whether he felt lost in the modern world, he insisted he had kept up with developments on the outside and was fine.

Two years ago Houchin mounted a failed £50,000 compensation bid against probation bosses who refused to let him stay in an open jail as he was considered “high risk”. He was eventually moved after a decision by the parole board

Houchin has spent 46 of the last 49 years behind bars and was released last month from Leyhill open prison in Gloucestershire. He is now planning to get married to his former partner Mary Griggs, 54.

The couple are now living in a council house in Swanley, Kent, but local residents have said they do not want him in the area.

Neighbours say Houchin has been a regular visitor to the house over the last couple of years as he was allowed out of prison on day release.

One said: ‘He’s always out there tinkering with his car. Mary told me he used to be in prison and she used to go and visit him and he would come and see her on day release too.

‘Of course I’ve heard rumours about what he did. I’ve heard he killed a young girl and raped another girl.

‘I’ve never asked him about it though – you just wouldn’t. Mary keeps to herself, most of the time, which is something we all do around here.

‘If he is a convicted murderer and rapist I definitely don’t want him living round here.’

Houchin’s victim Shona Berry was found dead in a park in the seaside resort of Margate in August 1965 after staying in the town with friends.

Houchin narrowly avoided a death sentence for the murder, because he was sentenced just seven days after capital punishment was abolished.

Following his release from his first prison stretch on licence, his life sentence was reimposed in 1979 for the rape.

His sentence was increased after he went on the run in 1993, when he escaped from guards while visiting his sickly father in a south London hospice.

Houchin convinced officers to leave him alone and remove his handcuffs so he could have one last ‘intimate moment’ with his father, before disappearing.

During his two weeks at large police warned Houchin was ‘charming but dangerous’ and ‘should not be approached’.

On his recapture he was sent to Belmarsh Prison, where he was beaten by three prisoners with a battery in a sock after they discovered he was a sex offender.

In April 2006, he was transferred to open conditions at HMP North Sea Camp in Lincolnshire after the risk he posed to the public was assessed as ‘medium’.

In 2010 he won a controversial High Court battle to be switched to a more comfortable prison with less security.

But a senior officer later decided he remained ‘high risk’ and he was moved back to a more secure jail.

Houchin then sought damages from Lincolnshire probation service, claiming he became ‘stressed and anxious’ after being taken back into stricter conditions.

He claimed his liberty was restricted, he was forced to share a cell with a smoker and lost his appetite.

He spent the last part of his marathon stretch at Leyhill open prison in Gloucestershire and was finally released on licence in March.

Victim’s charity Support After Murder and Manslaughter have expressed concerns that he may still be dangerous because of his history of crime.

Chief Executive Rose Dixon said: ‘I cannot believe they are letting this guy out with the history of violence he has.

‘I understand prison staff had concerns about him in the past and I cannot understand why he has been released.’

Among Britain’s longest-serving prisoners are Moors murderer Ian Brady, 76, who is still serving the three life sentences he was given in 1966, and Harry Roberts, 77, who was also locked up in 1966 for the murder of three policemen in London.

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He was convicted at Kent Assizes in Maidstone in 1965 for the Shona’s murder and narrowly avoided the death penalty, which was suspended that year.

The court heard Houchin, then 27, met Shona at a bowling alley and suggested that she go back with him to a nearby guest house. He told the jury Shona refused to go to bed with him but suggested going to a nearby park.

Houchin admitted slapping and shaking her when she resisted him and claimed blood started coming from her mouth. He denied killing her and said he panicked and dragged her from the scene before returning home. The court heard her body was found the next day with her clothes strewn nearby.

April 1993

Hunt for murderer delayed

POLICE failed to widen the hunt for a convicted murderer and rapist for around 36 hours after he escaped because of a communications breakdown, it emerged yesterday. An internal inquiry has been launched

Alan Houchin, 54, serving life for murder, rape and attempted murder, fled on Wednesday while visiting his father in a hospice in Penge, south-east London, under prison service escort. Local police searched the immediate area but the search was not widened for more than a day.

Houchin, who was serving his sentence at Maidstone Prison, Kent, was jailed for life in 1965 for strangling a 16-year-old waitress in Margate, Kent. He was released on licence after serving 11 years but jailed again three years later after beating and raping a 19-year-old shop assistant in Folkestone.

Police said Houchin was dangerous and should not be approached. He is white, 6ft 1in, with blue eyes and grey hair and tattoos on both arms.

It is thought that what Scotland Yard called a ‘breakdown in systems of circulation’ resulted from details of the escape not being entered on the Metropolitan Police computer. This would have ensured that further action was taken immediately.

The Home Office said prison officers escorting him on the hospice visit had allowed him to remove his handcuffs so he could share an ‘intimate moment’ with his father.


Mark Duckworth – Colne/Peterborough

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April 2014

Man jailed over Colne sex abuse of schoolgirl

A PERVERT who sexually abused a schoolgirl when he was in Colne some years ago had child abuse images on his computer equipment when police arrested him, a court heard.

Mark Duckworth, now 49, had repeatedly touched the victim. The girl was left very distressed for a long time after his actions and suffered from low self-esteem.

Burnley Crown Court was told how the police found 165 indecent images on a USB flash drive and 51 diskettes. Eleven of the pictures were at level four – the most serious level is five – and the girls in some of them were a similar age to the victim.

When interviewed by police over the sexual allegations in July 2012, Duckworth denied them, claimed he had never been alone with the girl and suggested she was attention seeking. The defendant, who lives in Peterborough, was yesterday jailed for 18 months.

He admitted three counts of sexual activity with a child and five of possessing an indecent photo of a child. Duckworth also received a 10-year sexual offences prevention order, banning unsupervised contact with any female child under 16 and allowing police to monitor his internet use. The defendant was ordered to sign the sexual offenders register for 10 years.

Jon Close, prosecuting, said 152 of the images were at level one, two were at level three and the images featured children as young as six. Computer equipment was seized when his home was searched after his arrest. The defendant had a caution for common assault.

Kathryn Johnson, defending Duckworth, said: “The probation service do feel they can work with the defendant. They don’t make that recommendation in all cases of this nature.”

Sentencing the defendant, said to suffer from post traumatic distress disorder after an incident at work, Judge Andrew Woolman told him: “You clearly have mental health difficulties and have clearly suffered from some sort of depressive illness from time to time. There have been self harm incidents in the last 12 months, no doubt brought about by these proceedings.”

The judge added: “This was repeated behaviour to a young child, which has caused some damage to her.”

Darren O’Driscoll – Jersey

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April 2014

‘Possible jail sentence’ for man convicted of gross indecency against child

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A removals man is facing a possible jail sentence after being found guilty of exposing himself to a young girl

Darren O’Driscoll was unanimously found guilty of gross indecency by exposing himself to the girl at a property in St Helier last summer 

He was cleared of two more serious charges of gross indecency by allowing the girl to touch him inappropriately, as well as another alternative charge of gross indecency by exposing himself to her

O’Driscoll denied all charges but the jury of five woman and seven men took just two hours to find him guilty of one offence after a five-day Assize trial in the Royal Court

Following the conviction, the Deputy Baliff, William Bailhache, who was presiding, told O’Driscoll that he faces a possible jail term when he is sentenced on 15th May

During the trial the court heard the 39-year old took down his trousers and underwear and exposed himself to his victim

The court had earlier heard that he admitted the gross indecency to detectives and a clinical psychologist, and he also confessed to the crime whilst giving evidence

His defence was that he had exposed himself because the girl had ‘pestered him’ and that his statement to the police was unreliable because he was not accompanied by an ‘appropriate adult’ when he was interviewed

He claimed the ‘appropriate adult’ was needed to give him support because he was a vulnerable person

An application to remand O’Driscoll in custody until his sentence date was turned down by the deputy bailiff, although he warned him not to ‘take it lightly’ that he was being granted bail

A recommendation made by advocate James Bell, defending, that an additional psychological assessment should be carried out on him was accepted

O’Driscoll will now have to sign on the sex offenders register

In a statement after the verdict, the victims family said: “We are really disappointed by the verdict. The past few months have been very distressing for us. The stress we have been under cant really be described. We are pleased we have got one guilty verdict but we feel it should of been two” 

William Macdonald – Inverness

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March 2014

Inverness man guilty of assaulting two young girls

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A 43-year-old Inverness man has been found guilty of indecently assaulting two young girls.

William Macdonald’s victims, who are now teenagers, cheered when the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts after a two-day trial.

He denied allegations of assaulting the girls when they were aged 10 and the other was aged under 16.

The trail at Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Macdonald accused the girls of lying.

Macdonald denied lewd and libidinous practices towards one girl between 10 September 2009 and 9 September 2010.

He also denied a second charge of engaging in sexual activity with another girl aged between 13 and under 16 by touching her inappropriately between 1 January 2012 and 31 May 2012.

Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist has asked for background reports before sentencing Macdonald on 24 April.

The court heard that both his victims still required counselling. One of the girls had a nervous breakdown.

Outside the court, a mother of one of the girls said: “The jury returned the right verdict. Justice has been done. It has been very tough on all of us because the case took so long to come to court.

“He put the girls through a dreadful ordeal and again in the trial making them give evidence.

“They were so brave and strong, much stronger than us mothers.”

The court heard that Macdonald was babysitting the girls when he assaulted them.

Harold Side – Shepton Mallet

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July 2013

Shepton Mallet pensioner who sexually abused child branded dishonest

A Shepton Mallet man was branded “dishonest” by a judge and told he should be thoroughly ashamed of himself for sexually abusing a young girl and causing division in his family.

Former MoD staff driver Harold Side, 79, of Holmecroft Court, Shepton Mallet, was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court to 18 months custody suspended for two years following conviction two months ago of non-penetrative sexual activity.

He was also placed under a sexual offences prevention order for five years and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register.

Judge David Ticehurst told him, “The police will want to know where you are living and what you are up to”.

“Any good character you may have had and anything you may have done of benefit in the past have been lost as a result of this conviction. You leave the court in disgrace and you should be thoroughly ashamed and disgusted with yourself”.

Side, who was also ordered to pay £2,000 towards prosecution costs of £3,900, told the judge he was ashamed of himself, but the judge said he was troubled that he still denied committing any offence “despite overwhelming evidence”.  

The judge added “Your conduct has divided your family”.

May 2013

OAP guilty of sex abuse

A retired staff car driver for the MoD was told he had probably torn his family apart following his conviction for sexually abusing a child.

Harold Side, 79, of Charlton Road, Shepton Mallet, married for 54 years, had denied four charges of non-penetrative sexual activity.

He was convicted by majority verdict of 10-2 on three counts and not guilty on the other after a jury spent nearly five hours considering the evidence.

Remanding him on bail for a month for a pre-sentence report, Judge David Ticehurst said prison remained an option despite his age.

He told Taunton Crown Court: “If he’d had the courage to admit what he had done, which was clearly observed, I could have dealt with him with far greater leniency than someone who’s put people through such an ordeal to give evidence, and has led to his wife telling blatant lies on his behalf”.

He told Side: “If you had told the truth at the start, your wife would not have had to go through this, and the child would not have had to go through this. The family have probably been torn apart.”

“It may have caused you some problems but it would have been better than being convicted by a jury after a trial, and a judge giving you no credit for your pleas.

I think what you have to do now is make peace with your family and tell them what happened”.

The girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, claimed he put his tongue in her mouth when he kissed her and put his hand on her legs ten to 15 times when she was aged between five and seven.

She did not tell anyone at the time because she was scared she would not be believed and her parents said nothing when she did tell them.

Side told the jury he kissed the girl on both cheeks, “Italian fashion”, on meeting her and had once placed his hand on her thigh while reaching across her as they sat on a sofa.

“I have never kissed her on the lips and touched her between her legs inappropriately”, he added.

“I have not done anything wrong. I have no sexual interest in children. I am not sexually frustrated”.

His wife said the girl was “a wild child” and denied he had been alone with her on several occasions.

She denied telling lies on his behalf and said if she knew he was guilty she would leave him.

William Hunter, prosecuting, said there was no reason for the girl to get Side into trouble unless he did what she said.

Her mother was a drug addict and her father an alcoholic and she was not getting the attention from adults she should have been able to rely on.

She had every right to be an attention-seeker but had no reason to make up her accusations.

“What she said is so consistent it’s a clear indication she’s telling the truth”, he added.

Harry Ahuja, defending, urged the jury to treat her evidence very cautiously.

Side was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register.

Jordain Palmer/Melissa Phillips – Bristol

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September 2011

Bristol dad and lover jailed for abuse of 14-month-old girl

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A man who let his girlfriend abuse a 14-month-old girl has been told by a judge that he would ban him from having children if he had the power.

Jordain Palmer, 19, was locked up for four years for failing to prevent the horrific injuries Melissa Phillips inflicted on the child.

Phillips has also been sentenced to four years after she left the toddler with fractures to her hands, left wrist and a shin bone, as well as bruises that covered her face, torso and legs.

Every one of the child’s finger-nails was blackened, perhaps from being stamped on or shut in a door frame. Injury to the childs ears could have been caused by being picked up by them.

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Judge David Ticehurst lamented the fact that his sentencing powers were restricted to putting Palmer behind bars and told him: ‘It is a matter of regret that I do not have the power to stop you having children in the future.

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Sickening: The child’s body was covered with bruises, her fingernails were falling off and her toes were marked from being stamped on

‘If I had the power to, I would use it. You are not a fit and proper person to have children. Whether you ever will be in the future remains to be seen.’

In fact Palmer has already fathered a baby with 19-year-old Phillips, who has three children.

After hearing of the shocking catalogue of abuse meted out to the child, the judge told Palmer at Bristol Crown Court: ‘There was a systematic course of deliberate cruelty to her.

‘Despite that you did nothing whatsoever about it and you let matters continue. You were not responsible for the injuries but your culpability is almost as great as hers.’

Concern was raised about the frail state of the girl in March last year. The toddler was just 14 months old when a worried relative took her to a GP.

A doctor immediately referred her to Bristol children’s hospital after noticing her walk with a limp and staff there concluded the injuries were not accidental.

Emergency X-rays revealed she had a healing fracture of a shin bone just below the knee, a fractured left wrist and a fracture of the left forearm.

Fractures to the base of the second and third metacarpals of the left hand and at the base of the third metacarpal on the right hand were also identified. All the nails of both hands as well as those of her big toes were ripped and black.

She also had bruising to her face, ears, rib cage and legs.

All three children born to Phillips are now in the care of others

Mohammed Raja – Birmingham

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April 2014

Virgin paedophile driven from school to police station for grooming deaf Derby schoolgirl

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A VIRGIN pervert groomed a “profoundly deaf” Derby schoolgirl over Facebook.

Mohammed Raja arranged to meet the 15-year-old at the gates of her school and arrived at lunchtime holding a suitcase.

But a friend of the victim and her sister, who were also at the gates, became suspicious, challenged him and urged him to get into their car as he tried to escape.

Once inside, they told the 24-year-old they were going to take him home to Birmingham, but instead drove him straight to a police station, where he was arrested.

Raja was jailed for 16 months at Derby Crown Court while the two girls who helped snare him have been awarded almost £1,000 from the public purse for being “instrumental” in helping bring him to justice.

Jailing Raja, of Ladypool Road, Birmingham, Judge John Burgess said: “Girls aged 15 are vulnerable anyway because of their age.

“But this girl was particularly vulnerable because of her profound deafness.

“You talked to her over Facebook about marriage and making her pregnant.

“You saw her on Skype and knew she was deaf because you could see both of her hearing aids.

“You are also an overstayer and I imagine the immigration authorities will deport you back to Pakistan when you are released from prison.

“Having you deported is something I am going to recommend.”

The identity of the victim and the city school that she attends are protected by law.

Karen Davenport-Coles said Raja befriended the teen on Facebook in September.

She said: “She received a friend request from a stranger, which she accepted, and they started exchanging messages.

“In one message, he told her he was horny and, in another, he posted a photograph of him only in his underwear.

“In November last year, he arranged to meet her at the gates to her school.

“One of her friends came out to meet her sister and he asked her if she knew who the victim was.

“Her sister said she knew the victim’s family and she called them.

“The defendant told her he was family and from Birmingham but, because he was carrying a suitcase, both girls became suspicious.”

Miss Davenport-Coles said Raja began to walk away from the school gates but the two girls followed him in a car and talked him into getting in the vehicle, saying they would drive him to Birmingham.

Instead, they took him straight to a police station.

Raja pleaded guilty to meeting a child following sexual grooming, although the court heard that the pair never actually met.

Andrew Wesley, for Raja, said his client “simply did not think through the consequences” of his actions.

Mr Wesley said: “He has not had a sexual relationship before and is a young man with few friends who lives away from his family and lives a fairly isolated existence.”

Judge Burgess called Raja “manipulative,” handed him a sexual offences prevention order and banned him from working with children for 10 years.

He said: “I commend the two girls, aged 15 and 19, who were instrumental not only in apprehending this defendant but also preventing what would have been a more serious crime.”

Dewi Davies – Wrexham

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April 2014

Teen told 12-year-old to take morning after pill

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A teen groomed a 12-year-old schoolgirl on Facebook, then told her to take the ‘morning after’ pill.

Dewi John Davies has been locked up for six years after a court heard how his victim, who’d been plied with alcohol and cannabis, had been left contemplating suicide.

The 19-year-old admitted three charges of rape – two incidents of intercourse and one of oral sex.

He was sentenced to six years youth custody but was warned that they were extremely serious offences.

Mold Crown Court heard the girl was a willing participant but was unable to consent in law because of her young age.

Davies, of Maes Meillion in Minera, Wrexham , was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for life.

Judge Philip Hughes also made a Sexual Offences Prevention Order under which he must never approach the victim again, or be alone with girls under 16.

The court heard how the girl felt used by the defendant, and was left contemplating suicide.

He had used contraception, but then suggested she get the ‘morning after’ pill, and she told the chemist she was aged 15.

The judge said he had to be sentenced for three offences of rape in 2012 when, aged 18, he  started to communicate with her on Facebook.

 “You knew full well that she was only 12,” the judge told him. “Your conversations with her on Facebook were openly and increasingly sexual.”

 The judge said he took into account that no violence was used, that it had been consensual  and that he had no relevant convictions.

But, the judge said: “You took her virginity and encouraged her to take the ‘morning after’ pill.”

There was clearly an element of grooming, he said, adding that a custodial sentence was needed to protect young girls from such conduct, he said.

 Prosecuting barrister Wyn Lloyd  Jones said that the girl liked the defendant and admitted to having flirted with him. They chatted on Facebook and arranged to meet up.

 Their first sexual encounter was oral sex on a grass verge. The second time, they had intercourse in a tent. They also had sex in a bed but he then stopped communicating with her and she said she felt rejected, ashamed and used.

 Last year the girl’s mother discovered some of the earlier Facebook communication and the police were informed.

 He’d told police that he was not attracted to her, had not had sex and said he believed that she was 15.

 But when the Facebook messages were put to him, which clearly showed he knew her age, he said that she had been chasing him.

 He knew she was 12, she had wanted sex with him and he agreed, he said.

 But when he thought of the implications, he changed his mind and decided to “let her down gently”.

 Investigating officer DC Jane Bowyer-Jones of North Wales Police said the sentence sent out a strong message that such offences would not be tolerated.

She praised the victim for having  the courage  and resolve to stand up to her perpetrator.


Kelvin Young – Hebden Bridge/Croxby

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April 2014

‘He ruined my life’ – Hull man reveals former teacher Kelvin Young abused him on school trip

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A MAN has revealed how he was abused as a child by a respected teacher on a school trip.

Former Cottingham Croxby Primary School teacher Kelvin Young, who was once nominated for a teacher of the year award and is secretary of Skidby Village Hall, has admitted abusing his pupil 25 years ago.

Now, as Young awaits sentence, his victim has spoken out to reveal the ongoing trauma the attack caused, and said: “He ruined my life.”

Young, 64, of Orchard Road, Skidby, has pleaded guilty to an indecent assault that took place between September 1, 1988, and August 31, 1989.

It happened on a school trip when Young led a party of children to Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire.

What took place in a bedroom shared by two boys, while one of them slept, left his victim so psychologically damaged that he did not tell anyone for more than 20 years, and only decided to report it to police following the death of his younger brother three years ago.

Now 35, Young’s victim Paul Hannam said he hopes he will finally see justice and wants any other victims to come forward.

He has waived his legal right to anonymity as a victim of sex abuse and said he is speaking out because he wants Young’s shame to be made public.

Mr Hannam, who was nine at the time of the attack, said he is still struggling to rebuild a life that has been blighted by drink and drugs, and that while most of his peers have settled family lives, he is battling depression and lives in a hostel for the homeless in Hull.

“He was my class teacher,” Mr Hannam said. “I’d be in my last year of primary school.

“I remember it (the centre) had a big climbing frame for kids. Me and ***** shared a room. He (Young) came in to check we were asleep. I pretended to be asleep.

“People say why didn’t you kick out or shout, but people are different. I just lay there, shaking.”

He added: “It’s messed up my life for me. I never told anybody.

“I had to be in his class for another six or seven months. When he used to come and check my work he used to breathe down my ear. I just thought that was normal.

“But after that at Hebden Bridge, when he used to come and breathe down my ear, I was petrified.

“It’s been an ongoing thing. I haven’t been able to trust anybody with authority since.

“If my brother had not died, I don’t know if I’d have ever told my mam.

“Even now, every man I see with a beard I have to cross the road. I’m scared of them.

“It’s turned me to drink and drugs, which I’m battling with.”

Young, who has since retired, is due to be sentenced at Bradford Crown Court.

Mr Hannam said: “I’m 35 now. I should have a house and kids and a job. If you could get into my mind for an hour, you’d know.

“He’s ruined my life. I’m losing sleep over it now. For years I buried it through drink and drugs but my brother’s death gave me the courage to do it (report it).”

He added: “I think people in the area should know. He was a teacher at Croxby for a long time and pupils had respect for him.

“All I know is he’s a bad man.”

Anthony Clayton – Lockington

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March 2000

Vicar abused bell-ringer

A vicar who molested a 13-year-old bell-ringer 25 years ago was jailed yesterday for six months.

The Rev Anthony Clayton, 63, a former personal chaplain to the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, abused the boy at his vicarage in Lockington, Derbyshire.

He then bought the youth’s silence with promises of a job with the church when he left school, London’s Middlesex Guildhall crown court was told.

Passing sentence, Judge Fabyan Evans said the youth had been no stranger to homosexual activities, but “your behaviour contributed and certainly did not halt his corruption”.

Clayton, from Nottingham, was convicted of one count of indecent assault, but was cleared of other offences against the boy, now 38 and living in Lancashire.

The jury heard character references from both the Duchess of Rutland and the former bishop of Leicester, Richard Rutt.

Mark Unsworth – Sutton/Kingston-upon-Hull

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March 2000

Teacher jailed for schoolgirl sex

A PE teacher has been jailed for 12 months for sex offences against an under-age girl pupil in what was described as “an appalling breach of trust”.

Mark Unsworth, 40, of Sutton, Kingston-upon-Hull, was convicted of three charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He stood silently as the jury of nine women and two men returned a unanimous verdict after six hours of deliberations at Teesside Crown Court.

The court had previously heard that Unsworth, who coached the girls’ football team, had met her when she was 12.

They became friendly and by the time she was 14, the girl was a regular visitor to Unsworth’s flat.

The court also heard how on Valentine’s Day last year the teacher had sent her cards and gifts including chocolate with the message that it was to “whip up her passion”.

Judge John Walford told Unsworth his behaviour had been “an appalling breach of trust” and he had abused his position as a teacher to take advantage of the teenager.

Unsworth will also be registered as a sex offender for 10 years.

Terry Loader – Margate

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April 2014

Margate paedophile jailed for five years

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A MAN who incited a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity has been jailed for five years and two months.

Terry Loader, 21, previously of Poets Corner in Margate, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on April 4 after an investigation by Kent Police’s child exploitation investigation team.

Loader pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing indecent images of children, arranging and facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He was arrested on September 11 last year after officers suspected that he was using instant messaging applications on his mobile phone to communicate with a 13-year-old girl.

Data from his phone was downloaded and it revealed a vast quantity of sexualized conversations, including encouragement for the girl in question to engage in sexual acts. The search also uncovered 55 indecent videos.

Detective Constable Jon Baker, who investigated Loader’s offences said: “This case acts as a reminder to parents of children who have mobile phones to speak to them and help them understand the precautions they should take when using the internet, or the many instant messaging services that are available.

“These services are fantastic for connecting people around the world, but it is inevitable there will be a minority of people who will use these services for the wrong reasons.

“Children should only communicate with people that they know personally, and report any suspicions or inappropriate advances from strangers to the police.”

Jimmy Sainte – Glasgow

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April 2014

‘Devil’s work’ rapist found guilty of attacks on girl

A man who was convicted of repeatedly raping an eight-year-old girl told his victim’s mother it was “the work of the devil” when she confronted him.

French national Jimmy Sainte, 29, who arrived in the UK from Nigeria, attacked the girl at a flat in Glasgow between November 2007 and June 2009.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that the abuse only came to light when the girl told a friend.

Sentence on Sainte was deferred. He was placed on the sex offenders register.

Judge Lady Wolffe told him: “This is clearly a very serious and anxious matter.”

The court heard how Sainte raped the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, while babysitting.

The offences were carried out a flat in Charing Cross, Glasgow.

His young victim, who is now 13, told a friend about the abuse while she and her friends were playing “telling secrets”.

One of her friends told her mother, who told a teacher, who in turn told the school’s head teacher. The police were then called in.

The young victim’s mother told the court that when she phoned Sainte and told him about the accusation, he admitted raping the girl.

The woman said: “He told me it was the work of the devil.”

In her evidence, the young girl said: “He raped me up to twice a week for about a year.”

She said she was too scared to tell any adults about the abuse.

Judge Lady Wolffe placed Sainte on the sex offenders register and deferred sentence for background reports.

Sainte will be sentenced in May, when defence advocate Lorraine Glancy will give her plea in mitigation.

David Russell – Tamworth

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April 2014

Tamworth man caught with “disgusting” images of bestiality and child abuse

A SEX offender from Tamworth was caught with “disgusting” pictures of bestiality during a police check on his activities.

Loner David Russell tried to shut officers out when they called at his house last April, Stafford Crown Court heard.

The defendant is a lifer on the sex offenders’ register after being jailed for pornography offences in 2003.

Mr Paul Farrow, prosecuting, said police managed to get in and despite Russell’s protests that they “wouldn’t find anything” seized a key ring containing a USB memory stick and a pack of playing cards.

Both contained images of extreme pornography depicting acts of bestiality.

A computer hard-drive also had a total of five images of child pornography.

The 63-year-old admitted three charges of possessing extreme pornography and three of possessing indecent images. He was given a three year community order, with £300 costs to pay and banned from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Judge Paul Glenn branded the extreme images as “disgusting” and told him: “It beggars belief that anyone can derive pleasure from looking at it. Typically you denied possessing this for your own sexual gratification, as suggestion I regard as ridiculous.”

The judge added that the public would be better protected from Russell, of Crigdon, Stonydelph, by a long period of supervision than a very short sentence in prison.

The court heard that in 2003 Russell was jailed for 18 months for offences of indecent images of children and put on the sex offenders’ register for life. In November 2010 he was prosecuted for failing to register.

Mr Farrow said that when questioned, Russell made no comment. He was asked if he knew what bestiality was and he replied that he didn’t get any sexual gratification from looking at the images.

Mr William Dudley, defending, said: “In isolation, it can be fairly said these offences fall in to a low category.”

Kevin Wells – Liskeard/Birmingham

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April 2014

Jury returns mixed verdicts in the case of man accused of sexual assaults and child rape

A JURY has returned mixed verdicts in the case of a Birmingham man accused of raping a young girl and sexually assaulting another near Liskeard.

Kevin Wells, 30, went on trial at Truro Crown Court last Monday accused of a series of sexual offences against the two girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

On Friday, a jury found him guilty of three counts of indecently assaulting the younger of the two girls and two of indecency with her when she was a child.

Wells was acquitted of one count of indecent assault in relation to her and four counts of raping her.

He was also found not guilty of two charges of indecently assaulting the older girl.

Wells, of Cock Hill Lane, Rubery, Birmingham, who denied all the charges, told the jury there was “never anything sexual” between him and either girl.

Lee Bremridge, for the Crown Prosecution Service, previously told the jury that Wells was aged 15 or 16 to 18 at the time of the offences which were said to have taken place on dates between December 1997 and November 2001.

Wells is due to be sentenced at Truro Crown Court on Monday afternoon.


Roland Prowse – Newquay

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April 2014

‘Inappropriate’ Facebook comments led to arrest of Newquay pervert who had indecent images of kids

A DISABLED Newquay man was caught downloading and sharing indecent images of children for the second time after making inappropriate comments about children on Facebook.

At Truro Crown Court on Friday, Roland Prowse, 45, of Higher Tower Road, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of having had the material on his computer.

Elaine Hobson, for the prosecution, said police searched Prowse’s home after receiving reports that he had been making inappropriate comments on the social networking site Facebook.

Ms Hobson said those images were not indecent ones but that Prowse had made comments saying that he had a sexual interest in children.

Police seized Prowse’s laptop computer for examination on August 6, last year. On it they found nearly 200 images of youngsters, some of which he had sent to other people by e-mail.

Ms Hobson said Prowse had been sentenced to 30 months in prison in 2011 after being convicted of a number of similar offences including the distribution of indecent images.

Ms Hobson said: “[In interview], he admitted that he had accessed child indecent photographs and furthermore that he had distributed those images.

“He was aware that he had breached his sexual offences prevention order.”

Maurice Champion, for the defence, said Prowse, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, had been disabled almost since birth.

He said Prowse accepted “that he was addicted to this sort of pornography” but said that his previous prison sentence had not given him the opportunity to get help with his problem.

Mr Champion urged the judge to suspend any sentence so that Prowse could attend an internet sex offenders’ programme.

He said: “Enable him to complete this programme; it may be the only possible chance of him countering this addiction.”

Prowse admitted 12 counts of making indecent images of children at levels one to five on the scale that police use to categorise such material, with five being the most serious.

He also pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing indecent images at the same levels and two of possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals.

He also admitted breaching a sexual offences prevention order imposed on him at Truro Crown Court.

All of the offences related to dates between January and August 2013.

Prowse was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years, ordered to complete the internet sex offenders’ programme and be under the supervision of the probation service for two years.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark, QC, also imposed a new sexual offences prevention order to replace the previous one, which Prowse had breached, and ordered him to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

Dominick Akinlade – Merton

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April 2014

Merton police constable admits making indecent images of children

A former Merton police constable has admitted making indecent images of children when he appeared before judges.

Dominick Akinlade, 37, a former MPS Police constable based in Merton appeared in custody at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, April 7.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of making indecent images of children. On October 1 last year, Akinlade was arrested by officers from the MPS Paedophile Unit following a covert operation.

He was found to be in possession of a number of indecent images of children on his home computer which he had downloaded from the internet – an offence which constitutes ‘making’ images under the Protection of Children Act.

Akinlade resigned from the MPS in October after his arrest. He did not come into contact with any of the children shown in the images.

None of the images were on MPS computers.

He was taken to a central London police station pending further enquiries.

He was bailed to return until February 1 where he was charged.

He pleaded guilty and will be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, May 19.

 

Robert Law – Marden

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April 2014

Marden pervert spared jail for child abuse images offences

A PERVERT caught with child abuse images on his computer has been spared jail in a case described by a judge as “unusual even within the catalogue of secret sexual fantasies.”

Robert David Law, 43, of Ballard Close, Marden, was given a 12 month suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to two offences of downloading child abuse images.

Chelmsford Crown Court was told that he had downloaded 522 indecent and had superimposed photographs of himself and young girls along with speech bubbles in 63 of them.

As he imposed the suspended sentence along with an order that Law must attend an Internet Sex Offenders Treatment programme and a Sex Offences Prevention Order, the judge said: “”What happened was unusual even within the catalogue of secret sexual fantasies people harbour unknown to the wider population.

“I have never come across anything like it but I am always loathe to punish people for their fantasies and there’s no purpose in sending you to prison.”

The court was told that Essex police found the photographs on a computer Law had at his former home in Braintree, Essex.

Mark Lakin, prosecuting, told the court that on May 1 last year police with a warrant went to an address in Braintree after receiving information that an internet connection there appeared to be used to access indecent images of children.

He said: “Police seized a laptop and it was examined and contained images of sexualised children with superimposed heads. He had also put speech bubbles indicating his and their enjoyment. Photos of him showed him in the nude.”

Stuart Cowen, defending Law, told the court: “It is a very unusual case and he accepts they were for his own gratification but it’s not sophisticated.

“He did this from September 16 2010 until August 2012 and decided to stop. In all other ways, he’s a decent member of society.”

Judge Goldstaub told Law: “It’s caused you considerable shame and embarrassment.”

In addition to the rest of the sentence the judge also ordered that Law’s name should remain on the Sex Offenders Register for the next ten years.

Simon Gamage – Clayton-le-Moors

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April 2014

Clayton-le-Moors man sexually abused frightened schoolgirl

A PERVERT who persistently sexually abused a frightened schoolgirl also looked at child porn of youngsters the same age, a court was told.

Simon Gamage, 39, who struck over three-and-half years, touched his victim inappropriately and made her touch him in the same way.

After Gamage was arrested last December, police found 11 indecent images of children at levels one and two on his computer. Level five is the most serious, Burnley Crown Court was told.

The defendant, of Sparth Road, Clayton-le-Moors, is now starting a two-year jail term after earlier admitting a total of 11 charges of sexual assault on a child or causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, at the crown court.

He had also been convicted on March 13 of two counts of possessing an indecent photo of a child and had been committed for sentence by magistrates.

He was made the subject of an indefinite sexual offences prevention order and was ordered to sign the sexual offenders’ register.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, told the court the offences came to light when the girl, who had tried to block out what had happened, told someone at her school.

Gamage was arrested and interviewed last December 6.

Mr Lamberty said after a long period of silence, when the defendant appeared to be upset and distressed, Gamage admitted touching the girl.

Further investigations led to his computer being seized and police found the 11 indecent images. The defendant had no previous convictions.

Sentencing, Judge Simon Newell told the defendant: “It was persistent.

“Not only were you sexually assaulting the girl, but you were also looking at images of under aged girls and that’s a concerning feature for the future.”

Kelly Burgess – Newport

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April 2014

Newport teacher who slept with pupil spared jail

Kelly Ann-Marie Burgess

A TEACHER from Newport who developed a “loving” relationship with a 16 year old pupil she whisked away on a teacher training weekend paid for by the school, has been spared jail but barred from working with children again.

Kelly Ann-Marie Burgess, 26, of Grosmont Way, pleaded guilty to four sexual offences of abuse of position of trust by engaging in sexual activity with a child.

Appearing before Bristol Crown Court today, Burgess sobbed as she entered the dock, while her family looked on from the public gallery.

The offences, spanning a period from January 1, 2013 to August 28, 2013, concern a sexual relationship Burgess had with a pupil aged under 18, who she was teaching at the school where she worked.

The court heard how the relationship took place over seven months, but was revealed after a trip to a sexual health clinic in Cwmbran.

Prosecutor Sam Jones told the court how Burgess had driven the pupil to the clinic concerned he may have a sexually-transmitted infection after she had displayed symptoms of an STI.

It was here, Mr Jones said, the pupil disclosed to the nurse that he was having a sexual relationship with his teacher he named as Kelly Burgess. The nurse was obliged to refer this to social services.

More than 1,200 text messages between the pair were found on Burgess’s phone which according to Mr Jones, included “sexually explicit” content.

Police also recovered a series of images including naked pictures of the pupil sent by him to Burgess via the social media application Snapchat. Burgess had created screen-shots of the images which were then stored on her phone.

Police spoke to members of staff at the school, some of whom said there had been concerns raised over the closeness between Burgess and students, especially with regard to social media. There had also been rumours in the school about Burgess’ relationship with this pupil.

The court heard how the pair went away together on two separate occasions. In January 2013, the pupil accompanied Burgess on a teacher training weekend. There, the pupil stayed in the hotel Burgess was staying in, paid for by the school as part of the training course.

The two went away again in July 2013 on a camping weekend. Burgess accepted sexual activity took place during both these trips.

Burgess was arrested on August 28, 2013. On route to the police station, Burgess received a text message from the pupil which read: “Just get the story straight for when they come for you.”

In a second police interview, Burgess admitted to seeing the pupil at least once a week outside of school, where sexual activity would take place.

Burgess told police it was a “loving” relationship and that they were “equal partners”.

No witness statement was given by the pupil.

Mr Jones said: “He did not want to cooperate with the prosecution.”

In mitigation, Raymond Tulley said his client was of prior “exemplar good character” with no previous convictions.

The court heard how the relationship evolved mutually without pressure from Burgess.

Mr Tulley said: “It would not be fair to cast Burgess as an older predator grooming her young prey.

“She was not a vamp, a cougar or anything of the kind. She was woman who fell in love with the wrong young man.”

The court heard how she had been on anti-depressants during the beginning of the relationship following a series of family tragedies.

Mr Tulley said: “She already suffers the loss of her career and has to deal with the shame and humiliation of the situation she finds herself in.”

Sentencing, Judge Euan Ambrose said he did not accept the relationship was among equals, but did accept it was entered freely.

He said: “You were at all times a teacher and he was a pupil.

“You are deeply remorseful. You have wept almost throughout these proceedings.”

He said her hard work studying and training was now “all for nothing”.

Burgess was sentenced to ten months for each count, to be served concurrently and suspended for two years. She was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

She has been added to the sex offenders register and automatically barred from working with young adults or children.

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