April 2014

Brentwood man groomed girls to send explicit selfies over BBM

GIRLS as young as 13 were lured into sending explicit photographs of themselves to a Brentwood man who wanted to “reassure himself he could still pull a girl”.

Riki Hudson, of Tower Hill, said he was planning to propose to his long-term girlfriend when he engaged in “sexualised chat” with girls aged 13 and 14.

But the 23-year-old, who denied during police interview that he was sexually interested in minors, pleaded guilty to five counts of making indecent photographs of children when he appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court.

The 34 images and two videos were graded at levels one and two – with level five being the most serious – and were all taken by the girls in the photos.

Prosecutor Samantha Doyle said: “The Essex Police Online Investigations Team received information about comments made by Blackberry Messenger between a 13-year-old female in Scotland and the defendant.

“The defendant was arrested on December 23 last year.

“His house was searched and it was found that illegal material was found on his phone and other devices.

“From the examination, the officers were able to establish the images were of females aged 13 to 14 years old.

“There are also two level two movies of a female performing a sex act.

“They are all selfies taken by the children.

“A folder was created on the [defendant's] computer in order to store the images.”

Ms Doyle continued: “In interview he accepts that the phone is his. He said that he used it when he was away from his girlfriend, who he had been with for a long time, and was planning to propose.

“He would often engage in sexualised chat and lie about his age. He said, ‘I would quite often be successful in getting pictures.’

“He said he did it to reassure himself he could still pull a girl. He denied that he was sexually interested in children at all.

“He had gone out of his way to ask these girls for images. He accepted the chat logs were of a sexual nature.”

Addressing Hudson, the chair of the bench said: “While you did not actually personally take these images of the girls, you did entice them to.

“The offence is so serious is needs greater punishment than we can give.”

Hudson will be sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on April 28.

September 2010

April 2014

I can finally sleep now my stepdad abuser is in prison

A woman who was sexually abused by her stepdad as a child said she can finally sleep at night knowing he is behind bars.

John Harris, 64, of William Henry Street, Vauxhall, was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to nine historic sex offences against Gemma Bennett, plus a number of other charges.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Harris abused Miss Bennett from 1993 to 2001, when she was aged between eight and 15.

His victim said the abuse started when she was just six-years-old, which he denied.

Miss Bennett, now 28, has decided to waive her right to anonymity and tell her story to help encourage other victims of child sex abuse to come forward.

She said: “It was horrible. The things he did were disgusting, terrible things.

“This happened on a daily basis. He stole my childhood.

“He threatened me and told me he would kill me if I told anyone.

“He’s just a vile, disgusting man. He really is a monster.”

The mum-of-one is still living with the after effects of Harris’ sickening crimes.

She added: “He also destroyed my adult life. I became an alcoholic and a drug user. I’m recovering now.

“It was terrible and it affected me so much.

“I’m 28 and I can’t go to sleep without the light on, still to this day. It will never change.

“I can’t leave my daughter alone – I can’t let her out of my sight.”

Miss Bennett built up the courage to speak to police about her ordeal last year.

Harris was charged and the case went to court – bringing back painful memories for his victim.

The day Harris was sent to prison ended years of torment for his victim.

She said: “I felt like a free woman for the first time in my life. That was a positive.

“I couldn’t help but smile to myself that night – it was the first night I slept properly in years.

“The barrister did a good job and so did Merseyside Police. I can’t thank these people enough for believing in me.”

Miss Bennett has now gone back to college, to study for the GCSEs she says was unable to concentrate on when she was younger.

She said: “I am looking to be a counsellor to help abused children.

“I just want to say to girls going through the same thing, ‘you can turn your life around’. Now I have a partner, a beautiful child and a lovely home.

“I’m lucky that my life turned out like a fairytale in the end, but it almost didn’t.

“He might have gone to jail but there are still lots of people who don’t know what he did.

“I also want people to be aware because he’s not going to be in prison forever.”

Despite a recent raft of sexual abuse prosecutions involving high profile defendants which have not led to convictions, Miss Bennett believes it is still vital victims come forward.

She said: “It’s not just about me telling my story, but for other young girls who this could be happening to right now. Victims shouldn’t be afraid to speak out.”

Detective Constable Sally Ann Fidler praised Miss Bennett for speaking out.

She said: “John Harris preyed on this innocent young person when she was at a vulnerable stage of her life. He thought he could get away with it and caused untold sadness and fear.  His successful prosecution shows that he did not get away with it in the end.

“The bravery of this woman has been outstanding and her evidence was absolutely crucial in bringing this case to court.

“She found the courage to report what first happened more than 20 years ago to Merseyside Police and then she was supported by us, the CPS and other agencies during what must have been a very difficult period. I hope this  case sends out a strong message to victims of sexual abuse, whether it is recent or historic, that if you can find the courage needed to come forward, the authorities in Merseyside will be there for you.”

April 2014

Taxi driver Mohammed Ashraf admits raping girl, 14, in Edinburgh

An Edinburgh taxi driver took a 14-year-old girl to a flat in his cab before sexually assaulting her.

Mohammed Ashraf, 53, admitted assaulting and orally raping the girl on 16 November 2012 at the city flat.

The Crown accepted his not guilty plea to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly phoning the girl and waiting outside her school.

His not guilty plea to threatening another female was also accepted.

Judge John Morris QC remanded Ashraf in custody and deferred sentence on him until June at the High Court in Glasgow.

Ashraf was put on the sex offenders’ register.

Ashraf had asked to take the teenager into Edinburgh and told her he wanted to buy her something.

The 14-year-old girl thought they were going shopping but Ashraf took her instead to a flat that was empty.

Ashraf began looking through his victim’s phone, asking her questions about photos and texts before he began molesting her.

Advocate depute David Taylor told the High Court in Edinburgh: “She told him to stop and tried to push his hands away but he was too strong.”

Mr Taylor said she told him that she wanted to leave and her family would be wondering where she was.

But Ashraf ignored her protests.

She was finally let go.

Police went to Ashraf’s home and were told that he was out working as a taxi driver. He was later detained and taken to a police station.

The court heard that Ashraf’s DNA was found on swabs taken from the girl and her DNA was present on swabs from him.

Defence counsel Frances McMenamin QC said a background report would be required on the first offender before sentencing him.

January 2010

Taxi driver jailed for sex shame with girl, 14

A MANSFIELD taxi driver has been jailed for more than three years for having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

Terrence Plummer (61), of Kingfisher Road, was caught in the back of a car with the girl by a police community support officer just moments after they’d had sex.

The girl later told police she had been seeing him every day for seven months but had told no-one, prosecutor Dawn Pritchard told Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.

At first they had hugged and kissed, but he then booked a hotel room and picked her up from school.

“He bought her clothes and jewellery and told her he loved her,” said Miss Pritchard.

Plummer admitted five counts of sexual activity with a child between July and November last year.

He had led a blameless life for many years and was ashamed of what he had done, said his barrister Stephen Lowne.

In jailing him for three years and three months, Judge Jeremy Lea told Plummer: “You took advantage of naivety and used her for your own sexual gratification. There are always concerns about long term psychological damage, that is the evil of what you did.”

Plummer was disqualified from working with children and will be on the Sex Offender Register for life.

February 2014

Pensioner Is Jailed for Decades-Old Sex Offences

A PENSIONER has been jailed for 21 months for six sex offences committed three decades ago.

Christopher Cronin, of Second Avenue, Trecenydd in Caerphilly, had denied the charges of indecent assault but was found guilty after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court last month.

Sentenced to 21 months at Newport Crown Court, Cronin’s offences were committed on a teenage girl during the early 1980s, when she was between the ages of 10 and 14.

They included instances of sexual touching of the victim as well as two more forceful offences of holding her down on a sofa and pressing her up against the wall

It was these two offences which carried the longer sentences of 21 months each, which will run concurrently with each other as well as with the oneyear sentence for the four other offences. 

The victim was warned by Cronin that no-one would believe her if she told what had happened. 

Judge William Gaskell summed up and said: “She described how your offending against her became more forceful as you pressed her down on a sofa. She was quite clearly frightened. She felt overpowered as you pressed yourself on top of her and held her down. 

“She told you that you were hurting her and to get off, and there were two more occasions when you behaved like that. You made it clear to her that she wouldn’t be believed.” 

Judge Gaskell added that Cronin’s failure to recognise the effect his behaviour had on the victim, and what he did, was an attempt to “protect his own status in the eyes of his family and friends”. 

On charges one to four of indecent assault, Cronin was sentenced to one year for each, but to serve them concurrently. 

On charges five and six he was given a sentence of 21 months for each, also to be served concurrently. 

The sentences will run concurrently with each other.

January 2014

Pensioner faces jail for 1980s sex abuse

A pensioner is facing jail for sexual offences he committed three decades ago.

Christopher Cronin, 71, denied the allegations but was found guilty of six counts of indecent assault following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

The jurors were in retirement for almost four hours before reaching their verdicts by a majority of 11 to one.

Defence counsel Jeffrey Jones said Cronin of Second Avenue, Caerphilly, had health issues.

Judge William Gaskell said sentence would be adjourned for necessary reports but he told Cronin that while he was allowing him bail until the next hearing that did not mean he would escape a prison term.

“I don’t want you to be under any illusion”, he said. “You will face a prison sentence and I want you to come back prepared for that.

“Do not think because you are getting bail now that you do not face custody because you do”.

The offences were committed during the 1980s.

April 2014

Ashford pervert found by police lying next to girl, 14, with pair of handcuffs and sex toy in pockets

A 22-year-old Ashford man was found next to a teenage schoolgirl with a pair of handcuffs and a sex toy in his pockets.

Luke McLaren had been arrested after the parents of his 14-year-old victim had reported her missing to the police.

Earlier, a pal of McLaren had also called officers to report that his friend was having sex with an underage girl.

Now McLaren, of Goteley Mere, Ashford has been jailed for 14 months after admitting eight sex offences against a child in January.

Prosecutor Donna East told Canterbury Crown Court said McLaren was aware of the girl’s age when they met.

“Despite that he had sexual relations with her on a number of occasions.
“The matter came to the attention of the police on January 17 when a friend of McLaren phoned them to say the two were having a sexual relationship.”

But it wasn’t until February 5 after the girl was reported missing by her parents that officers went to an address in Folkestone.

Ms East added: “The two were found lying together fully dressed.

“The girl was returned to her parents and McLaren was searched and in his pockets he had a pair of silver handcuffs and a small bullet style vibrator.”

The prosecutor said the victim refused tell the police about what had happened but McLaren admitted having sex with her on two occasions when he claimed he had been drunk.

He was bailed by police but the two were later found together in defiance of his bail conditions and McLaren was arrested again and remanded in custody.

April 2014

Cumbrian man warned he faces jail for sex offences against 4 young girls

A man who admitted four child sex offences has been warned he faces a possible jail sentence.

Thomas Young, 25, of Jackson Street, Seaton, Workington, pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court to four counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Three of his victims were aged 15 and the fourth was just 12 at the time of the offence, the court was told.

In court yesterday, Young spoke only to confirm his name and to enter his pleas.

Adjourning the case for reports, Judge Paul Batty QC told Young that he must sign the Sex Offenders’ Register. How long his name will remain on it will be determined by the length of his sentence.

The judge added: “These are serious matters you have admitted and the court is bound to consider a custodial sentence.”

The judge granted bail on two conditions: the first that Young must have no unsupervised access to any child; and the second that he must reside at his current address in Workington until the day he is sentenced by the court.

No further details of the offences were given in court, other than the defendant’s admission that he was hoping to have sexual intercourse with one of the girls.

Young will be sentenced towards the end of next month. He was represented in court by defence advocate David Wales.

April 2014

Heaton pervert met 14 yr old girl at Metrocentre after grooming her on Facebook

April 2014

Bristol church organist is jailed for indecent assaults on boy, 14

IAN Ball was an accomplished musician who gave recitals at Bristol Cathedral. But behind the scenes the organist sexually abused a young boy, even kissing and embracing him in the cathedral’s loft, a court heard.

When the Jimmy Savile inquiry prompted the victim, now an adult, to complain to police, Ball was found to have 84 indecent photographs of girls aged between ten and 13 on his computer when it was searched.

Ball, 46, formerly of Bristol but now living in Worcester, pleaded guilty to four indecent assaults on a boy aged 14. He also pleaded guilty to seven charges of downloading indecent photographs of children.

Jailing him for two-and-a-half years yesterday, Judge Michael Roach told him: “What you did not only blighted the remainder of his adolescent years but it led to a blight of his adult years too.”

The judge handed Ball a five year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, banning him from unchecked internet use and contact with youngsters aged under 16. He was told to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Kenneth Bell, prosecuting, said the boy went to Ball for organ lessons.

Mr Bell said: “He had lots and lots of attention from the defendant. The defendant showered him with art books, poetry books and showed him love letters between him and his ex-girlfriend.”

The court heard Ball would hug and kiss his victim in the loft of Bristol Cathedral.

Mr Bell told the court the boy felt “brainwashed”, and could not believe what was happening.

He said: “The defendant showed him a sex book. (The boy) had no sexual experience whatsoever.”

The court heard Ball took the lad home and touched him and kissed him intimately, before taking him to a concert at Clifton Cathedral. On another occasion Ball went to the boy’s home when his parents were away, and they embraced on a bed.

Mr Bell said the youngster felt “incredibly stressed”, adding: “He was still very keen to learn the organ and he didn’t not want to have lessons. He continued lessons with the defendant on the organ at the cathedral.”

Ball conceded to police that he and the boy had had a friendly relationship but initially denied wrongdoing. Police then analysed Ball’s computer and found images of young girls – ten of which were deemed to be in the second highest category seriousness, showing sexual abuse.

Robert Duval, defending, said: “A public acknowledgement that the complainant has indeed told the truth is a courageous act on behalf of a man much older than at the time of the offences. It is a decent and honest thing to do.”

Mr Duval said Ball became overworked and exhausted and became depressed after his fiancée broke off their engagement, seeking medical advice.

Mr Duval told the court: “He was lonely. He was not himself. He fully accepts that he found an intimacy with a child which he should not have done.

“He acted in this profoundly reprehensible and selfish way. It is a unique stain on his otherwise unblemished character.”

Mr Duval said the indecent images were downloaded from legitimate porn websites and there was no evidence of indecent search terms, subscription to child abuse sites or sharing.

He added that Ball had previously admitted to his former wife that he had a brief sexual relationship with a young child. He had also told two clergymen, one of whom went to the police, although no prosecution resulted. A senior barrister friend of Ball had also advised him that a prosecution was unlikely to succeed.

“A short sentence will be an enormous punishment for him,” said Mr Duval. “He has completely lost reputation amongst the wider public.”

December 2002

New job for organist who resigned over choirgirl

A cathedral organist and choirmaster who was forced to resign following an “inappropriate” relationship with a 17-year-old choirgirl has been given a new Church appointment in the same city.

Ian Ball, 35, a divorced father of two, resigned from his post at Gloucester Cathedral in February after apologising to the dean for the “embarrassment” that his close friendship with the sixth-former had caused.

Police have investigated him in connection with a separate allegation involving a relationship with a minor 10 years ago. It is understood that the police have interviewed the boy, who is now a teacher, but have decided to take no further action.

March 2008

Chatroom pervert sent to jail

A man who thought he was asking a 13-year-old girl he met online to have sex with him has been jailed after it turned out “she” was a police officer.

A judge has pledged that deep public concern at the abuse of chatrooms where adults prey on young people will result in more prison sentences.

Preston Crown Court was told that Barrie Spink was caught in a Lancashire police operation targeting Internet chatroom abusers.

Prosecutor Nicholas Courtney said that Operation Freelander was an “intelligence-led investigation into those using Internet chatrooms for sexual services”.

An undercover police officer posed as a 13-year-old girl in the chatroom, the court was told.

It was made plain to Spink all along that he was talking to a girl aged 13, stressed Mr Courtney.

After several conversations with the “girl”, he invited her to view his webcam where he committed a sex act on two occasions.

He then urged the girl to perform a sex act on herself.

He asked for the girl’s mobile phone number but it was refused.

When arrested, Spink told police he had used chatrooms in the past to meet older girls and women for sex legitimately.

Spink, 26, of Fossdale Moss, Leyland, admitted attempting to engage in sexual activity which could be observed by a child.

He was sent to prison for 12 months, placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and Judge Christopher Cornwall made a number of orders under the sexual offences prevention order which restricts his future use of a computer and unsupervised contact with children.

On his behalf, Michael Jones said Spink told police in a series of interviews: “I was very wrong. I deeply regret my actions.”

April 2012

Child rapist has attempted to take his own life

A SEX ATTACKER jailed on Friday for raping a 14-year-old boy and sexually abusing three other young boys in the Bodmin area has since attempted suicide.

Keith Anthony Stocker, 48, was due to appear again at Truro Crown Court on Monday for the court to consider a prosecution application for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

However, Judge Christopher Harvey QC revealed Stocker attempted to take his own life following sentencing on Friday, and would not be in court.

Stocker committed the offences against victims aged from 10 to 16 over a 15-year period and was given an indeterminate sentence, the judge describing him as dangerous and predatory.

The minimum sentence was set at six years.

“In my judgment, and in particular because of the conviction for rape, there is a significant risk of harm to others from your future activities,” the judge told him.

Stocker, lately living in Bridgewater, Somerset, had previous convictions including a three-year prison sentence in 2003 for sexual offences.

After sentencing him the judge commended DC Sarah Luckett of Bodmin CID for her work in preparing the case.

DC Luckett paid tribute to the victims who had helped bring Stocker to justice after a lengthy investigation.

“Obviously, the victims went through an awful time and what happened has had an impact on their lives and their loved ones,” she said, “but they have been brilliant in sticking with the investigation which has led to Stocker being sent to prison.”

April 2014

Predatory paedophile handed a 10-year sentence for preying on two schoolgirls on Facebook

A ‘predatory and manipulative’ paedophile has been given a 10-year sentence for grooming two schoolgirls on Facebook.

Craig Francis, 26, had sexual intercourse with one girl and told another he wanted to run away with her and ‘have babies’.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that Francis, from Mountain Ash, told police he would have carried out even more abuse had he had the chance and that he had targeted young victims because of their low expectations.

He met both girls, who were living in England, over the internet when they were aged 12 and 14 years old.

Rachel Knight, prosecuting, said Francis had first contacted the 12-year-old girl in 2013 over Facebook.

“She was pictured in her school uniform, so he must have been under no illusion how old she was,” said Ms Knight.

The pair exchanged phone calls and text messages – 1,699 of which were recovered – predominantly sexual in nature.

A judge heard he told her to strip on a webcam and they talked on Skype, messaging all hours of the day and night.

“He became possessive and controlling,” said Ms Knight.

Although they never met, Francis told her that he had sexual dreams about her, wanted to take her virginity and to “have his babies”, she said.

At the same time he was in contact with a 14-year-old girl. The court was told they arranged to meet at a caravan in Devon last May, where the pair had intercourse, and she later visited him at his home at Glancynon Street, where their sexual relationship continued.

Her mother, who believed her daughter had gone to stay with a nearby friend, found out when she couldn’t contact her, so searched her room and found her diary – which detailed their relationship.

Ms Knight said the girl refused to reveal what had happened and wouldn’t cooperate with the police investigation.

Francis admitted sexual grooming, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and four counts of sexual activity with a child.

He also admitted two counts of making and one of possessing indecent images of a child following the search of his home.

Ms Knight told the court Francis had claimed initial contact had been innocent but it had quickly escalated out of control.

Sue Ferrier, defending, said of university dropout Francis: “He is a man who is ashamed of what he has done.”

She told the court his problems had stemmed from the stillbirth of his child and he had looked for comfort elsewhere, targeting young girls.

“He said they would not have had high expectations of him,” said Ms Ferrier.

Judge Richard Twomlow jailed Francis for six years and imposed an extended four-year licence for public protection.

He told him: “You were juggling two girls much younger than you. You have shown a great ability to be manipulative and controlling.

“These were calculated, serious and manipulative offences, which show that you are a predatory offender.”

April 2014

Boston paedophile had ‘staggering number of images’

A man from Lincolnshire caught taking a picture of a toddler on a beach in Skegness has been jailed after being found in possession of thousands of indecent images of children.

Jeffrey Hart, 46, from Boston was challenged by the father of a three-year-old girl for taking photographs of his daughter. His telephone was seized by the girl’s parents and he ran off.

The contents of the mobile phone were analysed by police and he was subsequently tracked down and arrested last December.

He was charged with various offences of making and possessing indecent images of children. He was investigated further after the analysis of other media storage devices recovered from his home on the day of his arrest.

After interview, he was further charged with making and possessing indecent images of children.

He faced a number of charges at Lincoln Crown Court including the possession of over 47000 indecent images and a breach of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Sentencing him to 6 years in prison and a 4-year extended licence following release, the Judge said Hart possessed a severe danger of committing further offences against children and that the number of photos he had was ‘staggering’.

April 2014

Pervert jailed for child abuse images

A sex offender who previously received treatment for his sick addiction to depictions of child abuse has been jailed.

Police raided the former home of James Fuller, 65, in Sir John Fogge Avenue in Ashford in February this year, where officers found over 500 indecent images and 278 videos on his computer.

He was today sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, at Canterbury Crown Court.

Detectives from the Kent Police child exploitation investigation team and a specialist search team carried out a search of his property on February 6.

The operation followed intelligence reports that the known paedophile had been downloading indecent images of children, despite a long history of previous convictions for similar offences and being subject to a sex offender prevention order.

Fuller was charged with ten counts of making and possessing indecent images of children and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

He was remanded in custody pending sentence after pleading guilty to all offences.

Detective Constable Jo Gordon from Kent Police said: “Fuller is clearly a danger to the public.

“Despite having already been convicted, he continued to seek out appalling images of child abuse for his own pleasure.

“By his own admission he is attracted to young children, preferring the videos to the still images.

“He demonstrates a complete lack of insight into the impact that child abuse has on the lives of the victims, and the on-going issues created by the knowledge that the evidence of their suffering is circulating amongst people like himself.”

April 2014

Former RAF officer jailed for child abuse images after wife donates DVD containing images to charity shop

A Gulf War veteran who downloaded thousands of child abuse images was caught when his unsuspecting wife donated a DVD containing the material to charity.

Mark Rooks, 52, a former RAF bomb disposal officer of Eastfield Road, Louth had stored the sickening images on a DVD, that ended up in a pile of books and other items his wife gave to charity shop in Lincoln.

He was caught after a customer bought nine DVDs for £1 and was horrified to discover the child abuse images when he put one of the discs into his machine.

The police were able to trace Rooks when they discovered that he had unwittingly included his passport details on one of the DVDs.

Justin Wigoder, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court: “This case arises because the customer bought nine DVDs for £1 thinking he could do something with them.

When he got them home he opened the first one and he discovered it had the defendant’s passport and an amount of adult pornography.

“He looked at other discs and one contained a number of items of child abuse.”

The charity shop customer contacted police and Rooks was identified from the passport details.

When officers raided his home they discovered thousands of child abuse images saved on a USB stick.

Rooks admitted that he had been viewing child abuse images for the past 10 years.

He admitted possession of 13,969 indecent images of children between January 2008 and July 2013.

He also admitted five charges of making indecent images by downloading them from the internet and was jailed for eight months.

Judge Sean Morris told him: “These images are horrific. Some involved extremely young children.”

Alex Rynn, defending, said: “He has lost his job over this and he has lost his wife. She is seeing a solicitor and is filing for divorce.”

The court heard that Rooks had a lengthy career in the RAF including service with a frontline squadron during the Gulf War.

April 2014

A BARROW rapist who carried out a string of sex attacks on a young girl faces jail

John Peter Hallam, 65, of Black Butts Lane, Walney, appeared for trial at Aylesbury Crown Court earlier this month.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault when he appeared at the same court last November. The pensioner appeared before a judge and jury between April 8 and 17 when the case was outlined.

The court was told the sex offences took place between 1983 and 1985, and related to a girl under the age of 16.

Hallam maintained his innocence, but was found guilty of all charges by the jury.

His case was adjourned until April 30 when he will be sentenced at either Aylesbury Crown Court or Amersham Crown Court.

Crown Prosecution Service guidelines for the sentencing of individuals who have committed repeated acts of rape on an individual say the sentencing range is 13 to 19 years in custody.

April 2014

Child abuse images found on perverts computers

A Stowmarket man was caught with indecent images of children when he handed in two computers to the town’s police station.

Kondrad Zabielski, 33, had claimed that someone had hacked into the laptops to make the images appear.

Zabielski asked police to investigate, but when an expert found there was nothing wrong with the computers he was arrested, prosecutor Peter Gair told Ipswich Crown Court on Tuesday.

Mr Gair said that following Zabielski’s arrest, a search of his home was conducted which resulted in more indecent material being discovered on another computer and a hard drive.

Zabielski had 138 movies and 117 images of young children in his possession.

Mr Gair said some of the material had been stored in a password-protected hidden computer file.

A police expert who examined the computers said all had been used ‘profoundly in pursuit of indecent images of children’.

Zabielski, of The Square, had pleaded guilty to four offences of making indecent images of children and one of possession of indecent images of children.

In mitigation, Ian James said: “This offending happened when there had been some emotional upsets in his life.”

Zabielski had never before been involved in offending of this nature.

Sentencing him, Mr Recorder Gerard Pounder told Zabielski: “These are serious matters, there is no doubt about it, because you are the end user of things which exploit young children across the planet.

“If people didn’t download this type of pornography there would be no demand for it.”

Zabielski was made the subject of a three-year community order with Probation Service supervision and a requirement to spend 200 hours on the Internet Sex Offender Treatment programme.

Mr Recorder Pounder warned Zabielski: “This is not a soft option.

“If you fail to commit to this programme you will be brought back to court and it is almost inevitable you will go to prison.”

April 2014

Jailed: Man who raped schoolgirl and took indecent pictures of her

A MAN who raped and took intimate photographs of a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for eight years.

Jamie Sewell, pictured, targeted the girl after a drunken night out, Durham Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Michael Graham said: “Sewell removed part of her lower clothing and took some photographs with his mobile phone.

“It was after this he had penetrative sex.

“The victim estimates the ordeal lasted 15 or 20 minutes.”

Sewell initially denied having sex with the girl, but admitted it after DNA tests proved positive.

The 29-year-old, of Easington Street, Easington Colliery, admitted rape and three offences of making indecent photographs of a child.

Jane Waugh, defending, said in mitigation: “Mr Sewell has no previous relevant criminal convictions and this is his first taste of custody.

“He has been diagnosed with depression while on remand.

“His time so far in prison has been spent usefully by completing an alcohol detox programme.”

Judge Peter Kelson QC jailed Sewell for eight years.

The judge said: “You took advantage of this young girl to satisfy your lustful desires. So it was that you raped her and took photographs of her private parts which was, in itself, a gross invasion of her privacy.

“The victim personal statement from her is a heart rending document.

“The wreckage your perversion has left in its wake is clear.”

Sewell was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from any unsupervised contact with anyone under 16 years.

He must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

April 2014

Paramedic jailed after sex attack on schoolgirl

A PARAMEDIC was jailed for 10 years yesterday after a judge said he had carried out a “grotesque sexual assault’’ on a teenage girl.

Mark Knight of Coulings Close, East Hendred, Wantage, admitted rape, attempted rape, two counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

All were committed during the early hours of January 11 this year. Robin Griffiths, prosecuting, said the 38-year-old subjected his victim to two periods of sexual abuse over a three-hour period. He told Judge Ian Pringle, sitting in Oxford Crown Court, that the girl protested “both verbally and physically’’ throughout the attack but was held down by Knight.

Mr Griffiths said his victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had not had sex before the ambulance worker raped her and was “hysterical’’ by the end of the assault.

Timothy Boswell, defending, said Knight’s best mitigation was his guilty plea, which had spared his victim from having to come to court and give evidence. He added that his client had always been a “contributing member of society’’ and had been drunk on the night of the offences.

Judge Pringle told Knight that instead of feeling guilty after raping his teenage victim, he instead went back and assaulted her again a short time later.

He said: “Despite her protests you have continued and subjected her to what can only be described as a grotesque sexual assault.’’ Knight was made subject to a sexual offences prevention order and will have to pay a £120 victims’ surcharge when he is released.