July 2013

Sutton husband avoids jail after seven year secret child abuse images habit is exposed

A husband who hid his child abuse images habit from his wife for seven years has been spared jail.

Sutton man Alan Ellison admitted downloading more than 50 images of child abuse images but was given a suspended jail sentence on the condition he gets help for his problem.

Ellison pleaded guilty to four counts of downloading sexual images of children including some images categorised as level four – the second most extreme classification – at an earlier hearing and was sentenced by Croydon magistrates today.

Prosecutor Brinkman May said officers executed a search warrant at Ellison’s Prince Road home in January. He added: “Mr Ellison and his wife were at home. He was informed of the reasons for the warrant and said ‘I know. I’ve been on the internet and I’ve seen what’s out there but I didn’t pay’.

“In interview he admitted viewing them over the last seven years. He came across them while looking at adult images. He said he has no sexual interest in children but admitted inputting search terms including ‘lolita’ and ‘young’ which directed him to images of children.

“He’s never spoken to anyone about it. His wife had no knowledge but may have known he looked at adult porn.”

Police seized four computers from his home and carried out a forensic investigation that revealed a stash of images in the deleted items on the machines.

The court heard how Ellison acts as a carer for his wife and about the problems the revelations have caused him at home. Alan Ambridge, defending, said: “You don’t need me to spell out the impact of this incident on the family.

“Prior to today he has sought some assistance with the problem and welcomes the opportunity to get assistance to make sure this situation never arises again.”

The magistrates pointed out they did have the power to hand Ellison a custodial sentence but said they acknowledged Ellison’s early guilty plea, his willingness to cooperate with police and his personal circumstances.

Ellison was given a 36 week sentence suspended for two years meaning he will face jail if he commits any crime in that time. He was also ordered to pay £165 in costs, has been put on the sex offenders’ register, will have to keep police informed of his whereabouts and attend help sessions.

July 2013

Hyndburn groomer is jailed

A PERVERT who sexually groomed three girls and also kept child abuse pictures, including some of babies being abused has been jailed for three years

Michael Guy, 56, plied the girls with alcohol and two of them got drunk.

He made sexual comments to the girls aged between 12 and 14, and tickled one of them. One of the girls told her uncle, after Guy told them not to tell their parents.

The defendant was arrested and police found more than 300 indecent photos of children on a computer and discs at his home, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Guy, who has convictions for unlawful sexual intercourse from 1978 and indecent assault, was later said to have commented he would have tried to have sex with one of them.

Guy, of Spring Street, Rishton, admitted three counts of sexual grooming and 11 allegations of possessing an indecent photo of a child.

He was jailed for three years, given an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, banning him from having children in his home, and barred from working with children and ordered to sign the sexual offenders’ register for life.

Jon Close, prosecuting, told the court one of the girls said she told Guy her age and another said she was wearing her school uniform at his house.

On one occasion, Mr Close said the defendant tickled one of the girls. She became uncomfortable and the girls left.

They returned three days later, Guy apologised and specifically asked them not to tell their parents, as they might take it the wrong way.

Guy was arrested on February 3 and police seized a laptop, CDs and physical photos of girls.

On the computer, police discovered 148 indecent images – 114 at level one, the lowest, five at level two, six at level three, 22 at level four and one at level five. The discs had on them 190 pictures at level one, one at level three and nine at level four. The pictures showed children aged from babies to 12.

Philip Holden, for Guy, said there was no coercion or intimidation of the girls.

Sentencing, Judge Andrew Woolman said the images were ‘quite disgusting’ and parts of Guy’s pre-sentence report were disturbing.

May 2013

Rishton man faces jail for sexual grooming

A RISHTON man who has confessed to meeting three schoolgirls after ‘sexual grooming’ has been told he faces jail.

Michael Guy, 56, was also discovered with a stash of child pornography by Lancashire Police when he was arrested, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Guy, of Spring Street, admitted three offences of meeting a child following sexual grooming. One victim was said to have been aged just 12.

He also pleaded guilty to 11 offences of possession of indecent images, at least 23 of which are in the two most serious categories of child pornography.

Guy denied one offence of sexual assault, involving the 12-year-old, and prosecutor Michael Lavery said it was not in the public interest to proceed with that allegation, given his pleas to the other offences. The defendant was remanded in custody for probation reports to be prepared and will be sentenced on June 14. Adjourning the case, Judge Simon Newell said: “I am ordering a pre-sentence report, but you must expect custody.”

July 30th, 2013

Mother’s plea over missing Elise, 14

THE mum of a teenager missing from home since Friday made a heartbreaking plea for her to return yesterday.

As fears grew for 14-year-old Elise Buckley her mother Shelley Wilson, 40, said: “All I want is for her to be safe.

“I have absolutely no idea where she has gone, or why she may have gone, I just want her to come home safe. She has never been away for this long before.

“I just want her to get in contact and let me know where she is and that she is all right.”

The youngster, from Wolverhampton, was last seen in Birmingham after travelling with a friend from her dad’s home in Telford, Shrops.

The friend returned without Elise, who has not been in touch since.

Cops are working on information she may be back in Telford, possibly with a man.

She is described as white, 5ft 7ins tall and with long, straight, blonde hair.

Detective Chief Inspector Jason Wells, said: “We are appealing to Elise to make contact with the police as soon as possible. We are also urging anyone else who has heard from her, or who knows of her whereabouts, to get in touch with us.

“We are extremely concerned about her. Elise is only 14 and as such will be vulnerable. She was last seen in Birmingham on Friday and as time passes, we are becoming increasingly worried.”

He said Elise comes from Wolverhampton but was staying in Telford when she went missing.

“We have been liaising closely with West Midlands Police who are also searching for her. Information suggesting she may have been in the Brookside area of Telford, possibly with a man, during the early hours of today, is being followed up.

“However, she is known to frequent Wolverhampton and the Birmingham area, as well as Telford”.

DCI Wells added: “It’s very important Elise contacts the police, or indeed, anyone else who can help us find her, as matter of urgency. We are concerned about her welfare and anxious to establish she is safe.”

July 2013

Jail for Chatham sex beast after locking victim in bedroom and raping her

A sex beast who raped a teenage girl after locking her in a bedroom and putting a duvet and pillow over her head to stifle her screams has been jailed for nine years.

Babritundre Mustapha planned to deny the offence, claiming the 16-year-old victim consented, but pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial.

A judge told the 28-year-old there was a background of “sustained coercion” and detention against the victim’s will.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how she went to Mustapha’s home in First Avenue, Chatham, with a friend in August last year.

Prosecutor Catherine Donnelly said there were about six African men there. Four of them left and the girl became uncomfortable as the conversation turned to sex.

Mustapha asked her to go to his bedroom with him and she only agreed to if he kept the door open.

“On entering the room he tried to kiss her,” said Miss Donnelly. “She told him she had a boyfriend.

“He said: ‘I don’t care.’ He tried to push her onto the mattress and she resisted.

“He closed the door and locked it. He forced her onto the mattress. She screamed and asked him to stop. He placed a duvet and pillow over her head to stop her screaming.

“He said: ‘You are going nowhere. Shut up.’ She told him she didn’t want to have sex with him. He raped her, pinning her down on the mattress.

August 2013

Man faces sentence for child sex assault

A Daventry man has been branded “disgusting” after being convicted by a jury at Oxford Crown Court of child sex assaults.

August 2013

Missing indecent images sentencing man found

A man who sparked a major search after going missing when due to be sentenced for possessing indecent images has been found.

The search was launched for Derek Reid, 46, from Fraserburgh, at New Aberdour beach on Thursday after his car was found.

A warrant for his arrest had been issued at Aberdeen Sheriff Court after he failed to appear.

Police said he had been found safely on Friday.

August 2013

Porkellis man pleads guilty over indecent pictures of children

A 63-YEAR-OLD man who admitted six counts of making indecent photographs of children and four of possessing extreme pornography involving animals has been ordered to complete an internet sex offenders’ programme.

Robert Handley-Fairbairn, of Porkellis, was found to have images of girls as young as eight on his computer when police searched his home after receiving a tip off, Truro Crown Court heard on Friday, when he appeared for sentencing.

Elaine Hobson, for the CPS, said Handley-Fairburn also had more than 1,500 extreme pornographic images of adult women with dogs and horses.

She said: “He was interviewed about these matters and what he says is that it was as a result of problems he suffered when he got shingles which affected his sex life. He has turned to these images for stimulation.”

She added that his main interest had been in the adult animal pornography rather than the children.

Lucy Bryant, defending, said Handley-Fairbain led a very isolated life and did not confide his problems in his partner or friends.

She said: “He is grateful for these proceedings because it has given him the wake-up call that he would not otherwise have had.”

Handley-Fairbairn was sentenced to a community order for three years with two years’ supervision by the probation service.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clark, QC, said the defendant had become addicted to the internet where it was easy to access hardcore material.

He said: “I am happy to see the government are taking some steps to prevent people accessing pornography through the internet.”

He added that he thought Handley-Fairbairn was a decent and proud man and that part of his punishment was appearing in court.

August 2013

Former reggae star with Manchester band X-O-Dus locked up for child sex abuse

A reggae musician once signed to Manchester’s legendary Factory Records has been jailed for abusing and raping a young girl in the early 1980s.

David Reid, 55, was locked up for 16 years for a series of historic sex offences, including rape and indecent assault, against one victim.

Reid was formerly a guitarist with Manchester band X-O-Dus. They were the only reggae artists on Tony Wilson’s Factory Records label and released a well-known single, English Black Boys, in 1980.

But after the record’s release Reid’s mental health deteriorated and he has suffered with paranoid schizophrenia for thirty years.

The court heard how Reid had nightmares where he was ‘visited and taken by the devil’ who dragged him down by his ankles.

But his sex crimes in the 1980s were not caused or provoked by his illness, the judge said.

During his sentencing hearing at Manchester Crown Court , Reid interrupted prosecutor Michael Morley and said “He’s telling lies”.

Later in the hearing, the defendant added “I’ve had enough.

“I have had enough of these lies”.

Reid, of Easthope Close, Withington , earlier admitted four charges of indecent assault against a young girl, but denied four counts of rape against the same victim.

He was found guilty of all rape charges after a trial.

Mr Morley, prosecuting, told how Reid repeatedly abused and raped a young girl in theMoss Side area over a three-year period in the early 1980s. His victim is still undergoing counselling to help her deal with the attacks against her, it was heard.

Chudi Grant, defending, said: “He’s someone who has struggled with his own demons daily, and requires medication to cope with these demons.”

Judge Iain Hamilton said  that after reading two differing psychiatric reports on Reid, it was not suitable to section him under the Mental Health Act, and that the defendant should be jailed for 16 years.

August 2013

Chef at Cambridge University college possessed child abuse images

A chef at a Cambridge University college has been given a suspended jail sentence for having disgusting images of children on his computers.

Edward Cook had 159 indecent images on his laptop and computer when police raided his home in Station Road, Stow-Cum-Quy, in November last year.

The 33-year-old’s collection included 14 pictures and two videos at level 4, the second most depraved category of indecent images of children.

Cook previously admitted two counts of possession of indecent images of a child and two of making indecent images of a child before city magistrates.

He had also been taking part in lurid conversations on mobile phones with girls, aged about 16, who did not want to take part in any police investigation, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

Judge Gareth Hawkesworth, who jailed him for three months suspended for two years, said his previous good character and the relatively low number of images meant he could suspend the sentence.

He said: “What, as the pre sentence report indicates, is troubling in this case is the speed at which you moved from the viewing of images to engaging in inappropriate chat with young people.

“For that reason, if for no other, it is appropriate to make a sexual offences prevention order.”

Judge Hawkesworth accepted the defendant realised what he was doing was wrong and that he has expressed “genuine remorse and regret” for what he did.

He must complete an internet sex offenders treatment programme, tell police of his whereabouts for the next seven years and will be subject to the order, which bans him from disabling the history function of any device he uses for accessing the internet, for five years.

Mark McDonald, mitigating, said his client had been getting into financial difficulties through gambling, which has seen him getting “more and more depressed and more and more insular” over the past couple of years.

August 2013

Schoolgirls see man flashing in Yateley

A flasher has targeted schoolgirls in Yateley once again, in an incident police said may have links to similar episodes in May .

E-fit images of the latest suspect have now been released following the offence last month.

Between 8.30am and 9am on Monday July 15, two 13-year-old girls were walking to school via Hall Lane when they saw a man who seemed to be looking at them while exposing himself.

The man was described by the girls as being white, in his 30s and of a skinny build.

PC Victoria Bolan, from Aldershot police station, has warned parents to try to make sure children do not walk alone.

PC Bolan said: “The victims were walking to school together when they spotted the man.

“I would like to ask parents to remind their children to walk home with a friend whenever possible.

“If you are walking alone, stick to busy, well lit areas.”

She added: “Both of these girls have separately provided details for e-fits of the suspect to be produced.

“I would like to hear from anyone who thinks they may recognise the suspect from the e-fits or who was in the area at the time and saw a man acting suspiciously.”

In a previous incident in Yateley, on May 6, two 16-year-old girls saw a man committing an indecent act in woodland close to a footpath which runs between Old School Lane and Hall Lane.

At the time, Hampshire Constabulary said the girls were “understandably shocked and distressed” by what they saw.

Officers also received a similar report from a 15-year-old schoolgirl at around the same time.

The man was described by the older girls as being white, in his late 20s and of a thin build.

A further report of a similar incident was received by police on May 11.

On that occasion, a 37-year-old woman said she saw a man indecently exposing himself in the Reading Road area of Yateley.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Bolan at Aldershot police station on 101 or call Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

August 2013

Wirral paedophile predator jailed for life

A Wirral “paedophilic predator” who abused eight girls over a 20-year period while pretending to be a pillar of the community was jailed for life.

Phillip Taylor, 54, groomed the parents of his victims – one as young as three – so they trusted him to look after them.

But once he got them alone he bathed them, touched them and even filmed himself abusing them.

Taylor, a dad-of-two, was only caught after one of his young victims innocently told her dad that the way he was rubbing cream into her body wasn’t the way “Philly” did it.

It transpired that complaints had been made about Taylor, a painter and decorator who has been married for more than 25 years, as far back as 2000 but he denied the allegations made by two teenagers and the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute.

But this time police who raided his home on Bratan Road, Birkenhead, recovered video clips of him actually abusing his victims, along with thousands of child porn images, giving him no choice but to plead guilty.

Sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court Judge Stephen Everett said: “You were outwardly a picture of respectability, a man who had never been in trouble before. A picture of respectability and believability and somebody to be trusted. You grossly abused that trust for your own deviant sexual pleasure.

“I have little doubt you have no inkling at all as to the trauma you have caused those families.

“You are in my judgement cold and calculating. You are a paedophilic predator who groomed not just the girls but also their parents to trust you to look after their children which allowed you abuse those little girls.

“I have little doubt if you had not been caught you would have been willing to continue this despicable behaviour for many, many years.

“There is little doubt in my mind and my judgement from all I have heard and seen is that you will remain a dangerous offender for many, many, many years to come. It may be you will always remain a dangerous offender until the end of your life.”

He jailed Taylor for life and told him he must serve a minimum of seven-and-a-half years before he could be considered for parole but said the reality was that he would be locked up for a lot longer than that.

Judge Everett said: “I would not be surprised to see you in prison for the rest of your life.”

August 2013

Oswestry child sex case pensioner jailed for three years

An Oswestry pensioner has been jailed for three years after being convicted of historic child sex offences.

Kenneth Clive Johnson, 66, of Albert Mews, denied six charges of indecent assault involving two women when they were young girls.

One victim was aged nine and ten when the offences against her occurred in the 1970s. The second victim was aged between five and seven when she was indecently assaulted in the 1990s.

Widower Johnson had denied all the charges but was convicted by a jury at Mold Crown Court.

Judge Niclas Parry said the defendant had similar previous convictions and it was clear his unhealthy interest in children had continued.

“You have been convicted previously of offences of sexual assault upon children as young as six,” Judge Parry told him.

The judge said Johnson had gone on to commit serious offences which were aggravated by the fact he had forced the victims to re-live their ordeal during the trial.

The judge also accused Johnson of putting forward “scurrilous and unkind allegations” that the complainants had conspired against him after his wife had died.

Judge Parry said he took into account the defendant’s age and ill-health and the fact the latest convictions covered behaviour between 12 and 30 years ago.

In addition to the three-year jail sentence, Johnson was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Johnson, formerly of Plas Madoc at Acrefair, near Wrexham, and Caia Park in Wrexham, had previous convictions of a similar nature dating back to 1989 and 1994.

The court heard those convictions showed he had a tendency to act as a sexual predator towards children when he was younger.

Oliver King, defending, said his client adamantly denied such things occurred.

August 2013

York teacher faces jail after admitting sex assaults on boy pupils

A teacher has pleaded guilty to 23 sex crimes over eight years including a series of sexual assaults on pupils.

Richard Arthur Oldham, 31, who has taught in at least three York primary schools, now faces a jail term and the end of his career.

His crimes included three of voyeurism where he secretly filmed children performing private acts so he could get sexual pleasure from watching them, 13 of making indecent photographs of children, one of possessing 2,076 indecent images of children and six offences of sexual assaults on boys.

The offences began with voyeurism between 2004 and 2006, continued with the indecent images between 2006 and 2012 and culminated in him sexually abusing two boys between 2010 and September 2012

Oldham, now living in North Tamerton, Holsworthy, Devon, was released on bail on condition he stays out of York, has no unsupervised contact with children, observes  an eight-hour nightly curfew and does not get travel documents.

He will return to Leeds Crown Court on September 16 to learn his sentence and  how his activities will be restricted once he has served his punishment.  He  was also put on the sex offenders register and banned from working with children.

August 2013

Bicester sex assaults burglar Ashley Blossom jailed

A burglar who sexually assaulted a woman and a girl as they slept has been jailed for two years.

Ashley Blossom carried out the assaults during raids on two houses on the Southwold estate in Bicester in April.

Oxford Crown Court heard he touched the breasts of his victims, aged 16 and 55, over their clothes and stole items worth more than £600, including a laptop.

Blossom, 27, admitted two counts of burglary and sexual assault in June.

The court heard Blossom. of Lime Crescent, Bicester, had been drinking heavily in the hours leading up to the burglaries in the early hours of 6 April.

A letter written by him was read out in court, in which he pleaded for forgiveness for crimes that he “could not explain” and which he claimed were “out of character”.

He was arrested after his housemate at the time, Bethany Green, tried to sell a number of the stolen items at a branch of Cash Converters, the court was told.

Green, 21, of no fixed address, admitted receiving stolen goods.

She was sentenced on 24 July at the same court to a 12-month community order with supervision and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Blossom, who was ordered to sign the sexual offenders register for 10 years and pay a £100 victim surcharge, has already served the equivalent of eight months on remand, which will count towards his sentence.

He is expected to serve the last six months on licence.

August 2013

Paedophile, 39, had sex with girl aged 13

A 39 year old PAEDOPHILE who exploited the affection of a frightened 12-year-old girl has been jailed for four years and eight months.

Mark Andrew Harris ignored an official police warning to stay away from the girl after her mother confronted him over their friendship, said Sarah Mallett, prosecuting. He was more than three times the girl’s age.

Within days of her turning 13, he had sex with her and continued to have a sexual relationship with her for months, until the mother found his texts on the girl’s mobile phone.

In her diary, the girl wrote: “I am truly and utterly in love with him.”

Harris claimed to police he had been trying to help and guide the girl, whom the court heard had a troubled past and went on to have relationships with other men.

Mrs Mallett said: “Her involvement with this defendant began a process of turning a frightened child into a very sexualised child.”

The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, told Harris: “What you did and the activities you engaged in with (the girl) were done by you with your eyes fully open to the situation. You exploited the affection that she was displaying towards you.”

He said: “There is only one outcome in this case. You must go to prison.”

Harris, 39, of Huntington Road, York, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual activity with a girl.

In addition to the jail term of four years and eight months, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register, made subject to a sexual offences prevention order banning him from all contact with the girl and any unsupervised contact with any girl under 16, and disqualified from working with children, all for life.

His solicitor, Alaistair Bateman, said: “He is not a danger to young girls. This is an isolated case.”

Harris had not groomed the girl but had wanted to support her, he said. He was an isolated man whose life had been blighted by his schizophrenia and had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act for much of his adult life.

January 2011

‘Depraved’ Llanelli rapist branded ‘a risk to any female’ is jailed indefinitely

A DEPRAVED Llanelli man with a “complete inability” to control his sexual desires has been sent to prison indefinitely for raping a young girl.

John Rundle Benney was sentenced yesterday at Swansea Crown Court — just over a year after being jailed at the same court for the rape of a woman.

Judge Paul Thomas QC said Benney, aged 58, of Grant Street, was a dangerous offender who posed a “future risk to any female of any age”.

Kevin Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Benney was jailed for two years in December 2009 after pleading guilty to raping a woman.

Later, detectives found that Benney had also raped a young girl — and he admitted this sex attack during a further court appearance last year.

Sentencing, Judge Thomas said reports prepared by probation officers and a psychiatrist showed that the defendant was a man with “distorted and depraved thinking” and an “unnaturally and dangerously high” sex drive.

“You have shown a complete inability to control your sexual desires,” the judge told him.

There was a significant risk, added the judge, that Benney would commit further serious offences in the future and cause serious harm to the public.

As a result, the only appropriate disposal was a term of imprisonment for public protection — a sentence intended to keep him “out of the way” for many years.

Judge Thomas ruled that Benney would have to spend a minimum of six years behind bars before becoming eligible to apply to the Parole Board for release on licence.

“Only when the Parole Board is satisfied that you need no longer be confined in custody for the protection of the public will it be able to direct your release,” he told the defendant.

“You are going to be in prison for a long time and when you come out — if you come out — you will be subject to stringent licensing conditions.”

The judge also directed that Benney must be registered for life as a sex offender.

The original sentence imposed on Benney in December 2009 was a term of four years, but for legal reasons this was later reduced by the Court of Appeal to one of two years

August 2013

Paedophile ex-teacher caged for 14 years after admitting assaulting boys as young as nine

A paedophile ex- teacher has been jailed for 14 years after admitting 18 sex attacks against boys aged as young as nine.

Mervyn Rush, 68, was originally charged in 1999 but went on the run while he was waiting to go on trial.

He was finally arrested in France earlier this year and was extradited back to the UK to face charges over the offences, which took place between 1973 and 1977.

Science teacher Rush, formerly of Dorking, Surrey, worked at a school in Norfolk, which cannot be named for legal reasons.

The court heard that the charges – which involved 12 different victims – were only ‘specimen’ counts that represented years of abuse of a group of ‘special’ boys aged under 16 at the school.

One boy claimed he had been attacked 20 times by the father-of-three.

Rush, who wore glasses, an open necked shirt and blazer in court, showed no emotion as details of his abuse were read out.

Prosecutor Stephen Spence revealed that Rush would sexually assault boys in his bed after they had brought him a cup of tea and that he would take them for drives in one of his luxury cars.

Prosecutor Stephen Spence told the court: “Mr Rush had a group of special boys and it was seen as something of a privilege to be part of that group.

“The group was made up of the more popular boys and it involved certain perks.”

One of these “perks” was to bring Rush a cup of tea in the morning. The boys would visit his room in pyjamas and he would invite them to get into bed to keep warm before sexually assaulting them, Mr Spence added.

Rush had a collection of sports cars including a Lotus, an Austin Healey and a E-Type Jaguar and he would invite boys out for drives with him.

He would also invite his victims, who were aged between nine and 16 and cannot be named, to stay up late to watch television.

Sentencing him, judge Stephen Holt said: “You were at the centre of a special group and all the boys wanted to join that group.

“You were in a position of trust and were eventually brought to justice because of the concern that one of your victims had about what you may still be doing to children.”

Rush, formerly of Dorking, Surrey, pleaded guilty to seven counts of buggery and 11 of indecent assault against boys aged under 16.

He denied 24 further charges which the prosecution will not proceeded with.

One victim told police: “All this at 13 seemed very attractive to me and when I was asked by another boy if I wanted to join the group, I accepted.

“The first time I was invited to his room he produced a magazine – I think it was Mayfair – and asked us what I thought.

“Most of the boys seemed used to this but I was totally shocked.”

Other boys spoke of being left out of an “unknown club” and they felt lucky when invited to join.

The attacks came to light years later after rumours about Rush’s behaviour circulated around the county and victims became aware of the fact they were not alone, the court heard.

More victims came forward after news of Rush’s extradition was reported in the media.

Eleanor Laws, mitigating, said Rush was fully aware of the consequences of his offending and of his attempts to avoid justice.

She added: “He could have stayed and faced the music many years ago and he could have not resisted extradition after his arrest.

“He puts forward no excuse for what he did all those years ago.

“Since the offences he has lived a productive life. He has been a good father and husband and has tried to do good things.”

August 2013

Paedophile spared jail because his 13-year-old victim looked older and was a sexual ‘predator and was egging HIM on’

A judge allowed a paedophile to walk free after his 13-year-old victim was described as a ‘sexual predator’ who was ‘egging HIM on’ to engage in a sexual act.

Judge Nigel Peters told Neil Wilson, 41, who pleaded guilty to the abuse, he had also taken into account the fact the child looked older.

Wilson lured the teenager to his home in Romford, Essex, where he watched her strip out of her school uniform before she performed a sex act on him.

The abuse did not come to light until the girl confided in a friend who then told police.

During a search of Wilson’s home officers also uncovered a stash of images and videos depicting child abuse and bestiality.

He admitted a string of charges but was handed a suspended sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Judge Peters told him: ‘You have come as close to prison as is imaginable.

‘I have taken in to account that even though the girl was 13, the prosecution say she looked and behaved a little bit older.

‘You knew she was not nearly 16 as she said and your plea of guilty recognises that you knew.

‘Allowing her to visit your home is something we have to clamp down on and in normal circumstances that would mean a significant term in prison.

‘On these facts, the girl was predatory and was egging you on.

‘That is no defence when dealing with children but I am prepared to impose a suspension.’

Wilson was handed an eight-month jail term, suspended for two years, and will also be supervised by the Probation Service for the next three years.

He has been banned from contacting children and must allow police to examine his computer, as well as attending a sex offenders’ programme.

Wilson met the schoolgirl when she asked him to buy cigarettes for her while she was playing truant.

He enjoyed a two-week ‘fling’ with his victim, during which he bombarded her with phone calls and text messages and she continued to visit his home, the court heard.

Prosecutor Robert Colover, told the judge: ‘The girl is predatory in all her actions and she is sexually experienced.

‘She appeared to look around 14 or 15 and had the mental age of a 14 or 15 year old despite being younger than that.

‘There was sexual activity but it was not of Mr Wilson’s doing, you might say it was forced upon him despite being older and stronger than her.

‘As for the images, there were eight found of child abuse images, four of which fall in to the category three.

‘There were also 11 images involving horses and dogs found on his computer.’

Wilson, now of York, pleaded guilty to two counts of making extreme pornographic images and one count of sexual activity with a child.

August 2013

Paedophile from Idle sentenced for sex assaults on girls

A paedophile who sexually assaulted young girls at a church youth club has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Jack Hodgeson, 65, took advantage of the girls, as young as eight, when they attended the club where he worked during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Hodgeson tried to kiss one eight-year-old in a walk-in cupboard as they put away equipment, but she struggled and escaped, prosecutor John Topham told Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

The second victim – described as one of his favourites – was also eight when Hodgeson kissed her in the cupboard in a sexual manner.

The third girl was sexually assaulted twice, when she was eight and then when she was 11. Mr Topham said that on the first occasion the defendant picked up the girl and held her against his body.

The second assault involved kissing her on the lips.

Mr Topham said the offences came to light in 2012 when one of the victims saw the defendant working as a volunteer. She contacted the other victims and they all went to the police.

Hodgeson, of Gerrard House, Idle, Bradford, pleaded guilty to four charges of indecent assault.

Judge Jonathan Rose told Hodgeson he had been in a position of trust and responsibility to the girls but he also noted that he had pleaded guilty.

He sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work for the community.

He also ordered him to undertake a medium-level activity for 30 days, “to assist you to come to terms with the fact you are a paedophile”.

Judge Rose added: “What you did was not affection. It was sexual behaviour towards little girls. The community deplores such behaviour.”

Hodgeson was ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years and prohibited from working in any employment which would bring him into contact with children.

After the case, Detective Constable Jodie Hayes, of the Bradford Child Safeguarding Unit, said: “Hodgeson was in a position of trust and took advantage of that fact to commit what were a series of serious offences against young girls.

“We will not tolerate this type of behaviour in our communities, and I would urge anyone who believes they have been subjected to this type of crime to come forward by calling Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or the non emergency 101.”

August 2013

Ellesmere Port man downloaded child sex images

A FATHER posed as a teenage girl on Facebook and downloaded more than 3,000 indecent images of children, a court heard.

Graham Andrew Stinton, 50, created an online alter-ego for himself and pretended to be 14-year-old Hanna Simpson.

Chester Crown Court heard he struck up conversations with other men who shared his sexual interests including some who were also pretending to be teenage girls.

Father-of-two Stinton was caught out when an email address he created as ‘Hanna’ was found to be uploading indecent images onto social networks.

Gordon Hennell, prosecuting, told the court an American-based centre informed the police and the email account was traced to Stinton’s then home address.

Police went to the house in November, 2011 but Stinton was not at home and his wife and children were unaware of the email address.

Mr Hennell said Stinton, now of Willow Grove, Ellesmere Port, then arrived and officers asked him about the email address.

“He initially denied it but very soon after admitted it,” said Mr Hennell.

“It is right to say that from the very outset he admitted everything.”

Police seized computer equipment from the family home and discovered 3,244 images and 228 videos of girls aged between three and 13-years-old.

Nine further obscene images were found on a mobile phone belonging to Stinton, who admitted 17 counts of possessing indecent images and videos of children between June, 2010 and November, 2011.

Mr Hennell told the court some of the images were level four and five – the most extreme – and showed sexual activity between young girls and men.

“He admitted making up the relevant email addresses and using them to upload images onto Tagged and Facebook,” he said.

“It appears lots of men interested in this did exactly the same thing.”

Stinton told police he had downloaded the images to make the Hanna profile “more interesting” to other Facebook users.

Mr Hennell said: “There was evidence from Facebook he had initiated conversations with other users.”

But he added there was no evidence Stinton had ever tried to communicate with any children.

Andrew Thomas, defending, told the court Stinton’s relationship with his wife and children had collapsed once his offences came to light.

“Mr Stinton has demonstrated genuine guilt, shame and disgust at what he has done,” said Mr Thomas.

He said Stinton had been voluntarily attending sex offenders’ sessions with child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.

Judge Roger Dutton said the seriousness of the offence meant Stinton was facing prison but he had decided to suspend his sentence.

Judge Dutton said the fact Stinton came clean straight away and had been attending sessions with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation counted in his favour.

He said an immediate prison sentence would mean he would not get help to prevent him reoffending.

Stinton was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and told he would have to sign the sex offenders’ register for the next 10 years.

He was also made the subject of a two-year supervision order requiring him to complete the Northumbria Sex Offender Groupwork Programme and an indefinite sexual offences prevention order banning him from accessing pornography and imposing stringent conditions on his future internet use.

The judge warned Stinton he would be sent straight to jail if he commits any offences in the next two years or fails to comply with the court orders.