May 2014

Cumbria man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sex offences including sexual activity with a child

Joseph Moody, 58, of Scotch Street, Whitehaven, was found guilty of sexual offences was found guilty after a trial at Carlisle Crown Court.

Moody pleaded not guilty on February 6 at crown court before his trial which started on April 22.

He was found guilty of one count of sexual assault, seven counts of sexual activity with a child, 21 counts of downloading indecent images, and one count of possessing extreme pornographic image.

The judge has also issued an indefinite Sex Offender Prevention Order.

DS Hayley Wilkinson, the investigating officer, said: “Moody used his position of trust to enable him to abuse his victim.

“The courage the victim has shown was a credit to them and their strength.

“We encourage everyone to report any signs of abuse and unusual behaviour. All victims will receive dedicated support to help them through what is a very difficult time in order to stop the abuse and help them to rebuild their lives.

“We work with partner agencies and support groups to help those in need.”

Anyone who wishes to speak to a trained officer about abuse can contact Cumbria Police on 101.

May 2014

Rowing coach sent to jail for abusing girl, 14

A FORMER international rowing coach has been jailed for two years for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

Nigel Mayglothling, of Church Gate, Colston Bassett, near Nottingham, pleaded guilty to nine counts of indecent assault.

The 54-year-old engaged in sex acts with the teenager between March 14,1987, and March 13, 1989, when he was living in Oxfordshire.

Matthew Walsh, prosecuting, said: “The sexual abuse was prolonged, gradual and systematic, escalating in its severity as time progressed and matters were not reported to the police.

“The defendant had in effect groomed her from the age of 13.”

He read out a statement from the victim, in which she said: “I don’t feel I was able to develop emotionally because of the abuse.

“I feel I can’t have normal relationships. I was always made to feel I was to blame for what happened.”

Adrian Langdale, defending, said his client had changed the lives of many of those he had coached over the years and added: “His achievements go beyond that of the normal person.”

Mr Langdale also disputed the suggestion that Mayglothling groomed the complainant, describing their relationship as “entirely consensual, if entirely inappropriate”.

Judge Mary Jane Mowat told the defendant the case was a difficult one to sentence, but that she had to jail him partly to reflect “reasonable public opinion”.

At the time of the offences Mayglothling was a PE teacher at the now-closed Carmel College in Wallingford. He will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

March 2014

International rowing coach admits sexually abusing girl

A former international rowing coach has admitted committing nine counts of indecent assault while he was a PE teacher in Oxfordshire.

Nigel Mayglothling, of Church Gate, Colston Bassett, near Nottingham, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a girl.

The 54-year-old, who worked at the now-closed Carmel College in Wallingford, abused the girl between March 14,1987, and March 13, 1989. He will be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on May 2.

December 2013

Prison for sex offender (38) arrested in Enniskillen 

A SEX offender who breached one of his SOPO (Sexual Offences Prevention Order) terms after befriending another sex offender in Fermanagh has been jailed for three months.

38-year-old Paul James Clark pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Fermanagh court via video link.

The pervert admitting striking up a friendship with the sex offender despite one of SOPO terms stating that he is not to associate with a known or suspected sex offender.

The court heard that Clark was convicted of two counts of rape and one of assault in 1998 in Kingston-Upon-Thames Magistrates Court in south west London.

In Monday’s court it was heard that in April of this year the public protection unit was contacted after a sex offender in Fermanagh had mentioned the defendant’s name to his risk manager and that he had struck up a friendship with him.

Calls to the sex offender’s home were made and on October 16 police officers returned to the property in The Brook in Enniskillen at around 8pm and noticed Clark, of Hollywell, Dwayne in Roscommon in the sex offender’s company.

He was arrested for the breach and replied: “I forgot that was on it, I was only with him a short time.”

During police interview Clark denied knowing he was a sex offender. However his defence barrister Joe McCann said that his client admitted at the first stage to the offences and highlighted a guideline that reduces a SOPO breach sentence by over a third if the defendant admits their guilt.

Mr McCann also added that he believed there was no fundamental breach to the SOPO but that it was a technical breach. The court heard that both sex offenders met each other in the South while the pair were living in Roscommon, but while the SOPO terms banning him from associating with known sex offenders apply in the North, they do not in the South.

The court heard that Clark, who has been in custody for the last two months, had been jailed for breaching his SOPO on two previous occasions. The sex offender failed to tell police of his change of address when he was homeless and on a second occasion when he fell in with a family who had children in the house and was jailed for nine months.

District Judge Nigel Broderick said that based on the facts before him, he did not agree that it was a technical breach. “Having taken all matters into consideration I sentence him to three months in prison.” 

May 2014

Norfolk war veteran jailed for sex offences

An 88-year-old war veteran said by a judge to be one of the oldest defendants to come before the courts, has been jailed for two years for historic sex offences.

Gordon Cracknell, who served in the Home Guard in the Second World War, of School Road, Foulden, near Thetford, was convicted of five counts of historic sex abuse on the two girls who were aged under 13, following a trial at Norwich Crown Court.

The trial heard how he groomed the girls by giving them sweets and money and also kept donkeys, which acted as a draw for children to visit him.

The offences were committed in late 1980s early 1990s and one of the victims was about 10 or 11 at the time.

Jailing the frail pensioner for two years, Judge Stephen Holt said he took into account the age of the defendant, who has a number of health problems.

He told him: “You must be one of the oldest to come before the crown court to be sentenced for this sort of thing.”

He said the offences were historic and he had used “classic grooming” methods on his victims offering them sweets and small amounts of money.

“There was also donkeys which you kept and this was obviously an attraction to children.”

He accepted that Cracknell suffered from a number of conditions and also had depression.

He also placed him on the sex offenders register and made him subject to a sexual offences prevention order.

Andrew Oliver, for Cracknell, said he was of low risk of re-offending.

“He is 88 and never been in trouble before. He will find a custodial sentence far harder than others as he is in the twilight of his life.”

Mr Oliver said that because of the conviction Cracknell faced losing his home.

He said that Cracknell had served in the Home Guard during the war and had a number of health problems.

He urged that any sentence should be kept as short as possible.

May 2014

Man inflicted 23 bruises on four month baby

A Banbury man who caused 23 bruises to a four-month old child was handed an eight-month suspended prison sentence at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday.

On January 13 this year, Ben O’Donovan, 27, of Park Road, Banbury, admitted one count of actual bodily harm and one count of assault by beating.

Nigel Ogborne, prosecuting, told the court how on September 5, 2013, a care worker noticed the baby had extensive bruising.

O’Donovan later told police during an interview that he had tapped the baby around the side of the head because it was crying and he was ‘stressed’ and couldn’t get help he needed to look after the child.

O’Donovan admitted bruising the child a second time on September 4.

He said he took the baby into a hospital car park and tried to comfort it by gripping it to his chest but said he must have done so ‘a bit too tightly’.

Consultant pathologist Dr Julie Johnson saw the baby on September 5 and identified bruising to the upper lip, jaw, the upper arms, left shoulder and both thighs, which she said was consistent with the child being gripped ‘very tightly’.

Terence Woods, defending, said a psychological report showed O’Donovan’s intellectual capacity to be below that of a child of six to eight years old and he was ‘completely unable to cope’ with the situation he found himself in.

Sentencing O’Donovan, Judge Eccles said: “The defendant had neither the emotional, physical or psychological resources to cope with the situation in which he found himself.”

In addition to the suspended sentence, O’Donovan was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

May 2014

Lorry driver from Milton Keynes escapes jail for sex assault on 13-year-old girl

A lorry driver from Milton Keynes who sexually assaulted a 13 year old girl over ten years ago has been spared jail

Simon Merivale, 43, touched the girl over her underwear on one occasion saying: “It is normal to do this.”

Merivale, of Aylesbury Street West, Wolverton, was convicted at Luton Crown Court of one charge of indecent assault committed some time between 2002 and 2004. He had no previous convictions.

Anne Faul, defending, said Merivale does not accept he carried out the assault, but accepts the jury’s verdict.

“He is a torn man who is devastated by this,” she said.

Sentencing him, Judge Laura Harris said: “The impact on the victim was significant.”

But she said she was able to suspend a jail sentence because he had no previous convictions and had not committed any other offences.

She passed a six-month sentence suspended for two years. He was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work.

He must also register as a sex offender for seven years and abide by the terms of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order banning him from contact with anyone under 16.

May 2014

Norfolk primary school teacher jailed for sex offence

A Norfolk primary school teacher has been jailed for 10 months and placed on the sex offenders’ register for breaching his position of trust by engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl, which he knew would be the “kiss of death” to his career if discovered, a court heard.

Shaun Calver, 42, worked at Ashill Primary School, near Watton, when he met the girl and arranged to meet up with her on the school premises, when no one else was around, Norwich Crown Court heard.

John Farmer, prosecuting, said the girl thought there would be other people present, but when she turned up there was only Calver at the school and he engaged in sexual activity with her.

After the incident he continued to send the girl text messages of a sexual nature and told her: “It’s a death sentence if I get caught.”

Mr Farmer said the girl, who was sexually inexperienced, confided to her family what had happened and police were contacted.

In an impact statement, the girl said that the incident had left her “stressed out” and had “changed who she was.”

Calver, of Verbena, Wymondham, admitted being in breach of his position of trust.

Lawrence Bruce, for Calver said as a result of his conviction he had lost his job and his wife had divorced him. He said if he had not met her on school premises where he was working as a teacher, there would have been nothing wrong. ”It was because he was in a position of trust.”

He said Calver was full of remorse and shame.

Jailing him, Judge Nicholas Coleman told Calver: “You were in a position of trust when you abused that position and engaged in sexual activity.”

He said the girl was much younger than him and said: “She was sexually inexperienced and as the case makes plain you planned to lure her to the school, when no one was there.”

He added that Calver had correctly predicted the outcome when he texted the girl saying it would be the “kiss of death” if what happened was ever discovered.

“You have lost your job and you will never work as a teacher again, you have lost your reputation and your wife has divorced you.”

He also made Calver subject to a sexual offences prevention order.

After the case at an earlier hearing Ashill’s headteacher, Kelly Scott, said Calver was suspended as soon as the allegation came to light and was no longer employed there. 

May 2014

Shamed Bentilee ex-sailor had indecent images of children on laptop

PERVERT Stephen Smith downloaded indecent images of children and extreme pornography.

The 52-year-old former sailor accessed the pornographic websites and downloaded the images on his laptop.

But a judge said there was more to be gained by rehabilitating Smith than him spending a few weeks in jail.

Prosecutor Fiona Cortese told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday police raided Smith’s Bentilee home at 8.05am on January 4 last year.

Miss Cortese said: “He was arrested and interviewed before the computer was analysed. He confirmed it was his and he used it to access the internet.”

Police found 75 images at level one; seven at level two; 10 at level three; 18 at level four; and one at level five – the most serious.

They also found two level one moving images and seven extreme pornographic images involving an animal.

Smith could not recall seeing any indecent images and said he found extreme pornography when searching for adult pornography.

He told police someone had tapped into his internet connection.

Miss Cortese said: “There was also an indication the defendant had searched the internet for indecent images of children.

“He said he knew it was wrong to access indecent images and expressed his remorse.”

Smith, of Paisley Close, pleaded guilty to six offences of making indecent photographs of a child and possessing an extreme pornographic image between January 3, 2010 and January 5, 2013.

Arif Hussain, mitigating, said Smith, who had no previous convictions, had an excellent work record but had to give it up after a stroke in November. He is now receiving counselling.

Mr Hussain said: “The commission of these offences is a fall from grace for a man who has served in the Navy and worked all his life.”

Judge Glenn sentenced Smith to a three-year community order with supervision and a requirement to complete the community sex offender group work programme.

He was made the subject of a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prevents him using any device capable of accessing the internet.

He will also be on the sex offenders’ register for five years and will be barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults.

Judge Glenn told Smith: “You need to get hold of the fact that these are real children being abused for the entertainment of people who use these appalling websites.”

But he accepted the images had been for Smith’s personal use only, adding: “If I impose a custodial sentence you would serve less than half.

“I think there is more to be gained seeking to rehabilitate you.”

Smith must also pay £500 costs and a £60 surcharge.

May 2014

Son follows father to jail in separate sex assault cases

A former primary school caretaker has been jailed for indecently assaulting a 13 year old girl on two occasions.

David McFerran – whose father Harry has been jailed for a total of 16 years for sexually abusing two young brothers over a 10-year period – was handed a 12-month sentence and was banned from working with children after being found guilty by a jury of five charges.

The 32-year old, from Orangefield Road in Belfast, will spend six months of his sentence in prison with the remaining six months spent on supervised licence when he is released from custody. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

During a four-day trial at Belfast Crown Court earlier this year, the jury heard that McFerran was accused of indecently assaulting his teenage victim on two occasions between May 1999 and May 2002. He denied the accusations, branding his victim a fantasist – however, the jury rejected his claims and convicted him on five counts of indecently assaulting the injured party, who at the time was aged around 13 or 14.

The first incident occurred when McFerran offered to take the teenager for a drive, when he was aged around 18. He drove to a car park in the Belmont area of east Belfast and after chatting for a while, McFerran grabbed her leg and kissed her. Other vehicles were entering and exiting the car park, prompting McFerran to drive to another car park where he put his hand down her bra.

The second incident took place a few months later when she walked past McFerran, who was washing his car in the street. The victim said he called her into his garage, and she thought he was going to apologise for what had taken place in the car parks.

However, McFerran again grabbed her, kissed her, put his hand down her bra. The jury was told that when he was arrested and interviewed, McFerran strenuously denied an inappropriate conduct had taken place. And despite being found guilty by a jury on all five charges, McFerran continues to deny he sexually assaulted the girl.

Confirming his client “is still denying the charges”, defence barrister Taylor Campbell told Judge Donna McColgan that at the time of the offences there was a “relatively short age gap” between his “sexually inexperienced” client and his victim.

Making reference to Harry McFerran’s sentence on Wednesday, Mr Campbell said he had “never come across a father being sentenced one day and son the next day”, adding : “If this defendant wasn’t before the court at all, he would be a devastated young man anyway, seeing his father’s trial.”

Judge McColgan QC said there was “no evidence he has led anything other than a blameless life since these offences”, adding that as McFerran continues to maintain his innocence, it was difficult to ascertain whether he presented a risk of harm or re-offending in the future.

May 2014

Farnham man sentenced to 9 years in jail for sexual abuse of multiple boys

A man from Farnham was sentenced today (2 May) to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to 12 counts of child sexual abuse.

Rodney Reast, 53, was charged with 14 counts of child sexual abuse on four male victims between the ages of 10 and 16. These included eight counts of indecent assault on a male, three counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity.

Reast was due to stand trial on 31 March but pleaded guilty to 12 of the charges when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court. Two other offences were accepted as not guilty and allowed to remain on file.

At the hearing today His Honour Judge Peter Moss told Reast that he was deemed a dangerous offender and that there was a serious risk he would cause harm to others.

Reast was told he would be on licence for the whole nine year period. A previous Sxual Offences Prevention Order was extended by the court for an indefinite period.

Reast had previously been convicted of three offences of indecency with a child, five charges of indecent assault and four counts of sexual activity on 31 January 2011. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment at Guildford Crown Court and is currently at HMP Highdown.

In September 2011 a further victim came forward and alleged he had been abused by Reast. Reast was later charged with five offences against this victim, including four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing or inciting sexual activity with a child. He pleaded not guilty to all five charges and a trial date was set for October 2013.

However, in the summer of 2013 a further two victims came forward and made allegations of a sexual nature against Reast. He was subsequently charged with three offences of gross indecency and one count of sexual assault.

The fourth victim came forward in October 2013, alleging that he had been abused at Reast’s home address between the ages of 11 and 17. Reast was subsequently charged with three counts of sexual assault against the fourth victim.

Detective Constable Richard Pegden, who investigated the offences, said: “Reast was a well-known member of the local community who abused the trust people placed in him.

“I hope this sentence sends out a clear message to people like him that no matter how old the allegation is Surrey Police will carry out a thorough investigation in an attempt to bring offenders to justice.

“I would like to praise the four victims for the bravery that they have shown throughout the investigation and subsequent court case and although this sentence will never undo the damage Reast caused it will make sure people are protected from him for some time.”

Surrey Police has a dedicated team of experts who will investigate any allegation of sexual assault or abuse, either recent or historic, and would urge victims to contact them in confidence on 101 (999 in an emergency) or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 

May 2014

Violent sex offender guilty of sex offences against child under 13 years old

CONVICTED pervert Sean Aslam will be sentenced after a psychiatric report is prepared on him.

The 38-year-old denied five offences of making indecent photographs of children but was convicted of all the charges by a jury at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday.

Aslam, of Stonor Street, Cobridge, was found guilty of sexual assault of a child under 13 and sexual activity with a child under 13 at a trial in December.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced for all matters after a report is prepared on him by a psychiatrist.

Aslam was also given a 17-month prison sentence in 2000, for making a threat to kill his ex-partner and attempting to wound her.

He also slashed a prostitute from Stoke-on-Trent with a scalpel and was jailed for eight years in 2005

2005

Man jailed for prostitute attack

A man who slashed a prostitute from Stoke-on-Trent with a scalpel has been jailed for eight years.

Sean Aslam, 29, told Stafford Crown Court he held a knife to the throat of the 31-year-old woman because she had sprayed him in the eyes.

But the judge called his evidence chilling and said he had left her bleeding in a lonely spot.

Aslam, of no fixed address, was convicted of wounding with intent.

He was cleared of rape and attempted murder.

The court heard Aslam picked the woman up in Cobridge and drove her to Rudyard Steam Railway in November last year.

He said he put the knife to her throat to scare her because she took some heroin belonging to him.

He said she then sprayed something in his eyes and he lashed out at her with the scalpel as she came towards him.

May 2014

Former school caretaker jailed for 16 years after decade of sex abuse against children

CHILD rapist Anthony Brewster is beginning a 16-year jail sentence for abusing three children over 10 years.

The 64-year-old pervert was told he “corrupted” his victims, all of whom suffered “significant psychological abuse”.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday that Brewster, a former caretaker at Clough Hall School in Kidsgrove, left his victims psychologically scarred.

Mr Phillips said Brewster groomed the youngsters before sexually abusing and raping them.

And He also threatened them to stop them reporting him.

But an anonymous complaint made to the police last year saw an investigation launched, although Brewster was not charged.

However, the victims then subsequently came forward and made complaints, which led to Brewster being arrested and charged.

Mr Phillips said: “He told one of his victims, ‘Let’s play a game, Nobody needs to know’.

“He told another victim, ‘There’ll be lots of problems if you say anything’.

“He raped her about three times. No contraception was used.”

Brewster, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to eight charges of indecent assault; 10 charges of indecency with a child; three charges of assault of a child under 13 by penetration; rape of a child under 13; three charges of causing or inciting a child to engage on sexual activity; four charges of attempted rape; four charges of indecent assault on a male; and three charges of rape.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Brewster’s guilty pleas prevented his victims having to give evidence.

Mr Muldoon added: “He knows his punishment is nothing compared to the suffering of the victims.”

Jailing Brewster, Judge Paul Glenn said: “All three victims have suffered significant psychological abuse as a result of what you did.

“The aggravating features are there were three victims, the frequency of the abuse, the predatory nature of your actions; there was grooming and threats to prevent them reporting what you did.

“You corrupted those children.

“You represent a high risk of causing serious harm by committing further specified offences. You meet the criteria for a dangerous offender.”

Brewster will serve up to half the sentence with the rest on licence.

He will be on the sex offenders’ register for life and he was barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults.

May 2014

Prison warning for pervert who abused three young girls

A man who sexually abused three little girls when he was a teenager living in a north Cumbrian village has been warned he faces a long prison sentence.

Joseph Benjamin Alcock, now 42, pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court today to total of 19 sex offences against the girls, all in the mid 1980s.

He admitted one charge of attempted rape, three of gross indecency and nine of indecent assault on the first girl, who was aged seven or eight at the time.

He also admitted one charge of gross indecency and three of indecent assault on the second girl, when she was aged about nine.

And he admitted two charges of gross indecency with a third girl, who was aged between five and seven.

Most of the offences were simply specimens, giving examples of his continuing behaviour over three years.

Alcock, who has recently moved to Derby from his previous address in Rolleston-on-Dove, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, was remanded in custody and put on the sex offenders’ register.

He will be sentenced on May 22.

Judge Paul Batty QC, the honorary Recorder of Carlisle, told him the offences were so “very very serious” a lengthy custodial sentence was inevitable.

He refused an application that Alcock should be allowed bail until he is sentenced, saying the gravity of the crimes he admitted made such a thing “wholly inappropriate”.

May 2014

‘Your victims thought you were untouchable… you did too’: Judge sentences Max Clifford to EIGHT YEARS in prison for series of sex attacks as he condemns his ‘double existence’

• Max Clifford jailed for eight years at Southwark Crown Court
  

• The 71-year-old was convicted of eight counts of indecent assault
  

• He was cleared of two other counts and jury failed to reach verdict on one

• Clifford criticised by judge for mimicking TV reporter outside court

• His solicitor has said he was ‘seriously’ considering appeal the sentence
  

• Prosecutor Rosina Cottage QC confirmed that no re-trial will be sought over one count on which the jury was unable to reach a verdict

A woman abused by Max Clifford as a 15-year-old last night demanded an apology  from his celebrity backers.

As the sex predator was jailed for eight years, she said her trauma had been worsened by the ‘many famous people’ who lined up to defend him.

And she questioned why the publicist had been invited to tour TV stations after his arrest, trashing his accusers as ‘fantasists and liars’.  The woman, who has given an interview to the Daily Mail under the pseudonym Cathy Johnson, spoke out after Clifford, 71, was handed a lengthy jail term that surprised even police.

Saying Clifford’s  fame and power had made him feel above the law, the judge revealed he had increased the sentence because of his arrogant behaviour during the trial – laughing and joking in front of the cameras and in court.

His victims wept and hugged each other as the publicist was jailed.

The woman he groomed and abused as a 15-year-old  in 1977 told the Daily Mail they were owed an apology by ‘all those who influenced public opinion by subscribing to his “witch hunt” theory.’

Max Clifford pictured in a court artist drawing waving to people sitting in the public gallery as he leaves the dock 

She said: ‘Many famous people defended him, adding to his victims’ trauma. You know who you are and you should have the good grace to apologise.’

The woman, whose full interview appears on page six of today’s Daily Mail, added: ‘Justice has been done, I have nothing but contempt and disgust for him.’

After his arrest in 2012, Clifford was invited on to ITV’s Daybreak, where he claimed he was the victim of a ‘witch hunt’.

Then during his trial, stars including comedian Des O’Connor, actress Pauline Quirke and Sky TV sports presenter Clare Tomlinson came forward to give evidence supporting Clifford.

The victim added: ‘After he was arrested, he was repeatedly allowed to go on TV and protest his innocence which made me and the other women feel incredibly intimidated. 

‘He called us liars and “anonymous women”, when he knew who we were.  I nearly backed out of the trial.’ 

Clifford will now swap his £3million Surrey mansion for a prison cell.

Clifford (pictured in a court artist drawing as he is sentenced) remained defiant ahead of his sentencing, saying: ‘I stand by everything I have said in the last 17 months’

Judge Anthony Leonard QC said he had shown ‘quite extraordinary’ contempt for the girls he sexually abused. He told Clifford the only reason his crimes had not come to light sooner was ‘your own dominant character and your position in the world of entertainment’.

The judge said this ‘meant that your victims thought that you were untouchable, something that I think you too believed’.

As Clifford was driven off to prison, it emerged police are considering further sex assault charges against him. 

Twenty-three women originally came forward – with prosecutors selecting the seven strongest cases to take to trial – and several others are understood to have come forward since.

Scotland Yard sources described the new allegations as ‘significant’ and said they would be taken ‘very seriously’ by police and prosecutors. 

One said: ‘The evidence which emerged during the trial gave a number of women the confidence to come forward and make new allegations against him. Now that he has gone to jail, yet more victims may contact police.

‘Clifford was clearly a prolific offender and the idea he stopped attacking girls decades ago is difficult to believe.

‘If anything, his arrogance – and the fact he kept getting away with it – are likely to have resulted in him committing more offences.’

At Southwark Crown Court yesterday, Clifford repeatedly shook his head in the dock as he was sentenced for the eight sex attacks on four victims between 1977 and 1984.

The judge said that if the offences had taken place today – since sentencing guidelines were toughened in 2003 – Clifford would have been regarded as a multiple rapist for which he would have been locked up for life.  

The maximum sentence for indecent assault at the time was two years.

For Clifford’s eight offences, the judge gave him a series of sentences of 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, six months, 21 months and 15 months, some to run concurrently and some consecutively, to arrive at a total of eight years. His lawyer said he might appeal.

Some of Clifford’s victims stared intently at him from public seating just a few feet from the dock as the judge addressed him in withering tones before proclaiming: ‘You may go down.’

Afterwards, one of the victims – who sparked the PR agent’s downfall by being the first to go to police – told the Daily Mail: ‘We didn’t say anything to each other – we didn’t have to.

‘We had never met before but we all share a common bond.’

Arrogant to the end, Clifford offered no apology as his barrister, Richard Horwell QC, gave the court reasons why his sentence should be as low as possible.

His ‘compassionate’ client had raised ‘millions’ of pounds for charity, he said, and elderly Clifford was no longer any threat to the public.But the judge said the ‘hypocrite’ publicist had been leading a double life for decades.

He said: ‘These offences may have taken place a long time ago when inappropriate and trivial sexual misbehaviour was more likely to be tolerated or overlooked.

‘But your offending is not trivial but of a very serious nature.’

One of the victims was driven to the brink of suicide, he added.

The judge also said he believed the accounts of six women whom Clifford was not charged over but who were prosecution supporting witnesses at his trial.

Their ‘compelling evidence’ included how Clifford sexually abused a 12-year-old girl in a Jacuzzi during a family holiday in Spain in 1983.

This woman and her elderly father were in court, and later hugged each other in tears.

Clifford will begin his sentence at HMP Wandsworth, south-west London, a Category B prison built in 1851 where previous inmates have included gangland boss Ronnie Kray, train robber Ronnie Biggs and Oscar Wilde.

He is likely to be moved to a more comfortable open prison relatively soon, as he is not considered a violent threat. Millionaire Clifford was also ordered to pay £55,000 towards prosecution costs within 28 days.

As he arrived in the morning for his sentencing, he refused 15 times to say sorry to the victims, smirking as he declared: ‘I stand by everything I’ve said. Everything.’

May 2014

Former Grimsby and Cleethorpes RAF group boss jailed for child sex abuse

THE former chairman of the RAF Association in Grimsby and Cleethorpes has been jailed for sexually abusing a young girl.

Bill McCann, best known for organising the annual Armed Forces Day celebrations in Cleethorpes, has been locked up for more than five years after a court heard the young girl was left with “a scar and an indelible memory” that blighted her life.

McCann, 67, of Kingsway, Cleethorpes, denied five offences of indecently assaulting a girl, but was convicted by a jury after a trial at Grimsby Crown Court.

Judge Kate Buckingham told McCann that the victim had been left “stunned and shocked” by the offences but he “behaved as if nothing had happened”.

The offences were “persistent” and the abuse “blighted her adolescence” and had a significant effect on her.

“The abuse was a scar and an indelible memory,” said Judge Buckingham.

The victim had said the abuse had a “deep impact” on her that no child should have to endure in their life.

She had felt worthless, suffered from low self-esteem and depression and needed counselling.

McCann, referred to as William in Court, had always been a hard-working man and had done good voluntary work for the RAF Association, helping ex-servicemen and their families, said Judge Buckingham.

References were produced during the trial.

Richard Dawson, mitigating, said there had been no repetition of the offences and no other criminal behaviour.

“He continues to deny his involvement within these offences,” said Mr Dawson.

He added that McCann had done work for local organisations and voluntary work.

McCann was jailed for five years and three months.

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

He was also given an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting the victim.

After the hearing, the current chairman of Grimsby and Cleethorpes RAF Association, Graham Malster, said McCann had resigned from his RAFA position in November due to ill health, and had not been connected to the association since.

Gavin Marshall, RAF Association vice-chairman and a member of the Armed Forces committee in North East Lincolnshire, expressed his shock.

He said McCann had given up his role on the Armed Forces committee on health grounds last July.

He said: “We were disappointed because he had been part of the association for a long time and what he had achieved was very positive. To suffer losing such a driving force was quite sad but for us but we had to move on, we have done that, and everything is working quite successfully.

“This has come completely and utterly out of the blue. We are shocked and surprised. We are finding it hard to believe because he was seen as a pillar of the community.”

March 2007

Foster carer jailed for sex assaults on young girls

A taxi driver who was an approved foster carer for Norfolk Social Services was jailed for 11 years for sexually assaulting and raping a young girl and sexually abusing another.

Charles Phillips, 61, carried out the sex attacks more than 20 years ago but his victims only came forward recently when they found out he had been approved as a foster carer, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Phillips of Maid Marion Road, Norwich was convicted of two rapes and five indecent assaults on one girl and three indecent assaults on another girl. He had denied all the offences.

After he was sentenced, the head of children’s services for Norfolk County Council moved to reassure the public that as soon as the charges came to light all children were removed from Phillips’ care. The council praised the victims’ bravery in coming forward and said the sentence sent out a strong message.

Jailing him, Judge Peter Jacobs told Phillips that he had been convicted by the jury following a trial and in one case he had raped a young girl when she was about 11 years old.

He also ordered Phillips to be on the sex offenders’ register for life and also made a sexual offences prevention order under which Phillips can not be left unsupervised with females under 16.

Earlier the court heard how Phillips’ first victim, who is now in her 30s, said she had felt “dirty and ashamed” after she had been raped by him. She told the jury: “I never intended to do anything. It was only because I was told he was a foster carer that I felt I had to do something.”

Phillips had started off by tickling her and then sexually assaulting her before raping her between 1983 and 1985 when she was about 11 or 12. His other victim was between 12 and 14 years old when the offences occurred.

Michael Clare, mitigating, said that Phillips was of previous good character and had a lot of support from family and friends.

Lisa Christensen, director of children’s services at the council, said: “These were very serious offences and we are satisfied that the gravity of what happened has been reflected by the severity of the sentence handed out today.

“We are also glad that that the victims have had the courage to bring the case to court and would applaud the message this sends out – it is never too late to bring offenders to justice.

“We wish to make it clear that the charges relate to a period many years before Mr Phillips became a foster carer in 2004. At the time when the allegations were made, no children were placed in foster care with Mr Phillips and his partner and obviously all placements were stopped once the allegations came to light.

“We can also confirm that there were no concerns raised involving any of the children – who all except one were aged under three – placed in their care between March 2004 and July 2006.”

May 2014

May 2014

Child rapist David Dixon jailed for 11 years

A “deeply unpleasant” man who groomed and raped a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for 11 years.

David Dixon, 28, pinned his victim against a wall and made threats against her family after he heard police were investigating him, a court has been told.

Huntingdonshire man Dixon had to be Tasered by police during his arrest when he refused to put down an axe he brandished towards officers.

He was jailed after being convicted of three counts of rape, sexual activity with a child and common assault after a trial at Peterborough Crown Court. He denied the offences.

Dixon, of Cross Street, Farcet, was also convicted of possessing a bladed article and witness intimidation after an incident in which he threatened a man connected to the case with a machete.

Detective Constable Mark Andrews said: “This is a case of a 28-year-old man targeting a vulnerable young girl and taking advantage of her.

“However, she has shown great bravery in coming forward to police and then giving evidence against him at court.”

DC Andrews said: “Dixon is a deeply unpleasant man who thinks nothing of using violence to get what he wants. We will not tolerate such behaviour and will seek to put such offenders before the courts.”

The court heard that Dixon raped the girl in his caravan and a hut near the Crown Lakes beauty spot after grooming her for several months last summer.

When he heard that police were investigating the girl’s allegations he tracked her down, pinned her to a wall and threatened her family if she spoke to officers.

But the girl disclosed the abuse to a teacher at her school last September.

Dixon was arrested on September 18 and had to be Tasered when he refused to put down the axe he was using to cut wood and brandished it towards officers.

May 2014

Ex-HSE paramedic jailed over sex abuse of boys after social media contact

A former HSE paramedic has been jailed for five and a half years for sexually assaulting three young boys in separate incidents, after he used false identities to contact each victim by text message or on Facebook.

Alan Coughlan (42), of Elm Mount Park, Beaumont, Dublin 9 pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and four counts of defilement of children under the age of 17 between 2009 and 2011.

He also admitted possessing 29 images of child abuse images in a scrap book at his north Dublin home on November 24, 2011.

Coughlan’s sentence hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that 18 of those images were considered to be in the most serious category of child pornography.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring said the charges were very serious and that Coughlan had sought out three children by using social media and other contacts to build up trust.

She said he had used false names, ages and images to suggest that he was a teenager and had abused the children at a “particularly vulnerable” stage of their development.

Judge Ring noted that the effects of such abuse could be lifelong.

Gardaí were alerted to the offences after Coughlan sexually assaulted a 12-year-old boy in the back of his jeep in a shopping centre car-park on November 20, 2011.

The victim’s friends saw him getting into Coughlan’s jeep and contacted gardaí, who later arrested the accused and searched his home.

Gardaí seized several mobile phones and downloaded the contents, which lead them to Coughlan’s two earlier victims.

Detective Garda Brendan Mears gave evidence on the most recent offence involving the youngest victim, who was 12 years old at the time.

He told told Anne Rowland BL, prosecuting, that Coughlan got in touch with the boy some months previously, in around May 2011.

The boy told gardaí that one of his friends had written his phone number on a bus and that Coughlan had later contacted him.

The boy was with his friends when he got a text of a sexual nature from Coughlan ending with euro signs, asking if he wanted to meet in the car park of a local shopping centre.

The boy went to the shopping centre with his friends, one of whom saw him getting into Coughlan’s jeep.

The boy later told gardaí that Coughlan sexually assaulted him, including performing oral sex, before giving him €25.

His friends said he told them what had happened and was very upset and crying.

Coughlan arranged to meet the boy the following week, and the boy’s friends said they would come too and get the registration of the jeep and contact the guards.

The boy said he planned to beat Coughlan up.

On that day, his friends saw the black jeep pulling in to collect the boy. They texted the boy to say “Come back” but then they saw him getting into Coughlan’s jeep.

One of his friends took the registration number and rang the guards.

Coughlan sexually assaulted the boy in the carpark of a church, gave him €20 and then dropped him back.

Gardaí stopped the jeep a short time later and arrested Coughlan. They later found child porn locked in a gun safe at his home, where he lived with his elderly mother.

In a victim impact statement, the boy said he was unhappy, angry and upset and had flashbacks of what had happened and cut himself several times.

Gardaí used Coughlan’s mobile phones to contact two earlier victims who later made statements.

The first boy said he was 15 years old when got a text message from someone he didn’t know sometime between June 2009 and June 2010.

The conversation turned sexual and Coughlan told the boy he was 28 years old and suggested that they meet up.

They met at a city centre shopping centre and Coughlan drove the victim to his home.

He gave the boy vodka and drank some himself, and then sexually assaulted him in his bedroom before driving him home.

On another occasion, Coughlan drove the victim to a carpark outside Dublin and told him to get into the back of his jeep, which had blacked out windows.

The boy was screaming at him to stop but he sexually assaulted him forcefully, including anal penetration. The victim kicked Coughlan, got out of the jeep and ran home crying.

After this incident the victim tried to hang himself and overdosed on sleeping tablets.

He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for a period and in a victim impact statement, he says he still gets constant flashbacks.

He said he wanted to end his life at that time because he felt “worthless”.

The third victim was 15 or 16 when Coughlan sent him a friend request on Facebook and posted a photo of a teenage boy which he claimed was himself.

They exchanged private messages for two months and arranged to meet up in Dublin city centre before Christmas 2011.

They drove to the Phoenix Park and Coughlan sexually assaulted the boy and performed oral sex even though the victim had asked him to stop. Afterwards Coughlan gave the victim €15 and dropped him home.

Coughlan has no previous convictions.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted that although Coughlan had pleaded guilty to the offences, he initially denied any involvement and took a trial date, causing considerable anxiety for all those affected who thought they would have to come to court.

She said the aggravating factors include the young ages of the victims, the trauma they suffered and the fact that he had paid them money.

She said the payment of money to the victim suggests prostitution-like activity, when there had been no such arrangement.

Judge Ring said the mitigating factors include Coughlan’s efforts at rehabilitation and his previous good record.

The court accepted that Coughlan was genuinely remorseful.

Bernard Condon SC, defending, said his client has benefited from 120 hours of group psychotherapy.

He said Coughlan has lost his job as a paramedic and is willing to undergo any rehabilitation services offered to him in prison or on his release.

Coughlan took to the stand to apologise to his victims.

“I find it difficult to find the words to describe the feelings of guilt and shame which I have brought upon myself and my family, the victims and their families,” he said.

He said he understood the “far-reaching devastating effects” on the victims and their families.

Judge Ring sentenced Coughlan to seven years in prison with the final 18 months suspended.

She ordered that he be supervised by the Probation Services for 18 months on his release. The sentence was backdated to November 11, 2013.