May 2014

Former headteacher admits downloading vile images of children

A FORMER headteacher and grandfather has admitted downloading extreme images of children being sexually abused.

Trevor Allen, who worked as an administrator at at Risedale Sports and Community College, in Catterick Garrison, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of making indecent images of children as young as nine at Northallerton Magistrates Court.

North Yorkshire Police arrested Allen at his home in Bolton Avenue, Richmond, in November 2012 after finding the images on his computer.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman said some of the images had been graded as amongst the most extreme by investigators.

A North Yorkshire County Council spokeswoman said Allen had worked at the Catterick Garrison school between 2004 and 2011.

She added: “The allegations came to light when Trevor Allen was no longer an employee at Risedale Sports and Community College and they do not relate to his time of employment at the school nor to any pupils, past or present.”

It is understood the 70-year-old, who has moved to Sussex, had a lengthy teaching career before retiring as the headteacher of a secondary school in Surrey in 2000.

After moving to North Yorkshire, he played an active role in numerous community groups, which are understood to include Richmond and Darlington operatic societies, Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society and Leyburn and Teesside Gilbert and Sullivan societies.

Allen, who has two daughters and three grandchildren, also served as clerk to the Company of Mercers, Grocers and Haberdashers of Richmond, whose members include Richmond MP William Hague.

A Richmond resident, who asked not to be named, said Allen had been a high-profile figure in the town and had been dubbed by some ‘Mr Richmond’.

Magistrates committed the case to Teesside Crown Court on May 23 for sentencing.

August 2007

Student Will Not Be Jailed Over Images of Children

A student who was convicted of downloading indecent photographs and films of children has been spared jail.

Oskar Joseph Majhi, aged 20, of Race Hill in Launceston, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court before Judge Paul Darlow QC this week.

Majhi had denied nine counts of making of making indecent images of children and one further count of possessing indecent images of children.

Majhi sobbed as prosecution recounted how 460 illegal and indecent photos and movies had been found on the hard drive of his computer.

At his trial last month, he said that other people at his student accommodation in Plymouth must have downloaded the images. However the jury convicted him on all ten counts.

The photos and movies were discovered after police stormed his house in a bomb hoax threat email was sent to the FBI in 2006. Police also discovered class A drugs as well as two cannabis plants at his address in North Road West in Plymouth

He was subsequently suspended from his course at Plymouth college of art and design

The images found were in various levels of indecency, some of the more recently downloaded movies were at level 5 – the most serious and indecent – which depicted sadism and rape of young children

May 2014

Pervert made indecent images of children and had sick animal porn

THIS is Christopher Loades, who has admitted making indecent images of children and possessing sick images of a person having sex with dogs.

Loades pleaded guilty to three charges – two of making indecent images of a child and one of possessing an extreme pornographic image of an act of oral sex or intercourse with an animal, alive or dead – on April 10.

He was due to be sentenced yesterday (Thursday) but a legal argument over a sexual offences prevention order has meant that has now been pushed back to May 30.

The 50-year-old, of Stone Court in Maidenbower, made four images between January 23, 2012 and June 20, 2013.

He also made an indecent film of a child during the same period.

The third charge relates to possession of extreme pornographic images of a person having sex with dogs during the same period.

Loades has been released on unconditional bail ahead of his sentencing.

May 2014

man jailed after sex with underage foster care girl

A POLESWORTH man who had sex with an under-age girl while she was in foster care has been jailed for three years.

Jason Abbott, aged 31, of Rowland Avenue, was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life by a judge at Warwick Crown Court.

He had pleaded guilty to three charges of sexual activity with a child, two of them involving acts of intercourse with her and one by getting her to perform oral sex on him.

Prosecutor Tom Kenning said the offences came to light last year after the girl ran away from home and ended up being placed in foster care.

It then came to light that she had been involved in sexual activity with Abbott, although she insisted: “He never made me do anything I didn’t want to do.”

When Abbott was arrested he said they had had sex in the bedroom at his home on about eight occasions, including oral sex.

But he claimed he only knew her age when the police had come to his address the previous week looking for the girl.

Lee Marklew, defending, said that at the time Abbott was ‘seriously physically and mentally unwell.’

He had suffered kidney problems since the age of 14, and as a result of one of his kidneys failing he had to give up his job, and his relationship with his partner then broke down.

On top of that he had to undergo dialysis three or four times a week, and had become depressed at the time of the offences.

But since his arrest Abbott, who had met the girl through a friend and was aware of her age by the time they began having sex, has had a kidney transplant.

Jailing Abbott, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano, said that even though the girl, who was aged 15, had consented, he had taken advantage of her and was responsible for what had taken place.

May 2014

Convicted sex offender tricked his way into life of Plymouth family

A CONVICTED sex offender branded a danger to children befriended a 14-year-old girl in breach of a court order.

Ethan Harrison, aged 31, worked his way into the affections of a city family while hiding his vile past, Plymouth Crown Court heard.

Police who caught up with him found nearly 900 indecent images of children on his computer.

Jailing him for three years, Recorder Donald Tait told him: “Your behaviour is ingrained and you are a potential danger to children in society.

“You are a plausible individual and you wheedled your way into the life of the family, who took you at face value, not knowing what sort of person you really are.”

Alistair Verheijen, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the girl’s mother advertised for a dog for her daughter.

He added that Harrison and his partner turned up on their doorstep with a border collie.

Mr Verheijen said that they got talking and Harrison asked to stay in touch for the sake of the dog.

He added that Harrison befriended the family, taking the girl swimming with his partner and sleeping on a bean bag on the floor.

The court heard that police caught up with Harrison – who had never told the family of his past.

He was found to have 891 indecent images on his laptop computer.

Mr Verheijen said Harrison was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which banned him from having unsupervised contact with under-16s.

He was also barred from staying in the same house as a child, unless the parents knew of his previous convictions and social workers had given express permission.

The court heard Harrison, formerly of Union Street, Stonehouse, had failed to register his address with the police as required by law.

Harrison has previous convictions for indecent assault, possession of indecent images and breaches of the order.

Mackenzie Robinson, for Harrison, said that despite sleeping in the same room, he had not assaulted the girl.

Recorder Tait said he had to pass a sentence to deter other from breaching court orders.

Harrison had earlier pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching a Sexual Offences Notification Requirement and one of failing to sign on as required by the Sex Offender Register. He also admitted two counts of making indecent images of children.

May 2014

Former military man spared jail after committing sex act in front of child

A FORMER army man who committed a sex act in front of a young girl has been spared jail by a judge who said he was unlikely to offend again.

Paul Ingram, 50, of Elm Close, Northallerton, smiled at the girl as he pleasured himself, although the incident was only said to last a matter of seconds.

The father-of-four previously admitted a charge of sexual activity in the presence of the child, sometime between January 1 2008 and May 2009, on the eve of his trial at Teesside Crown Court

Dan Cordey, mitigating, said there was no pre-planning and it had been an isolated incident.

Mr Cordey said Ingram had been in the Army for ten years and had been a conscientious and decent individual as far as the service was concerned up until the point he was discharged.

The court heard how the defendant had suffered a stroke from which he had now largely recovered and was working, albeit in a limited capacity.

Mr Cordey said Ingram, who required first aid treatment after suffering breathing difficulties in the dock, was terrified at the prospect of jail and said a suspended sentence would mark the gravity of the offence.

Judge Howard Crowson agreed with many of Mr Cordey’s points and also referred to a probation report which said he was unlikely to re-offend in the future.

Ingram received a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, and will be made subject to an unlimited sexual offences prevention order.

He will also have to register with police as a sex offender for the next ten years.

May 2014

Barrow man found guilty of having sex with 15-year old girl

A BARROW man has been jailed after a jury found him guilty of one charge of knowingly having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Kyle Hubbold, 25, of Rawlinson Street, Barrow, was found guilty today of one charge of sexual activity with a minor and not guilty to a second charge.

It follows a three day trial at Barrow-in-Furness Crown Court in which the girl said Hubbold invited her round to his flat where they had sex in 2011.

Hubbold admitted that he had had sex with the girl on one occasion but claimed she had told him she was 17. The girl said she told Hubbold her age was 15 the first time they met.

He was found not guilty of a second charge of having sexual activity with the same girl.

Judge Paul Batty QC sentenced Hubbold to three years in prison today and he was put on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

May 2014

teacher admits sexual activity with schoolgirl

A MARRIED teacher — found in a pupil’s bedroom by her mother — has admitted a catalogue of sexual activity with a schoolgirl.

Shamed Andrew Welsh, aged 35, a teacher at Canon Slade School, started a relationship with a year 11 girl after she sought his advice because she believed she suffered from depression.

The relationship came to an end when the teenager’s mother caught Welsh in the bedroom of her home.

The pupil, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received support for several months by Welsh at school before the pair became involved in a relationship.

Bolton Crown Court heard Welsh’s career was over following his arrest.

He now works selling windows after he struggled to find another job.

Welsh confessed to the abuse, which included sexual intercourse twice, kissing, cuddling and touching over three months.

Nicola Gatto, defending Welsh, said: “He genuinely appeared to be very taken with this young woman and she with him. It appeared their relationship was of genuine affection.”

The court heard Welsh had artwork by the pupil on his walls at his family home in High Bank, Atherton, and paid her £100 for the work to “boost her own ability”.

The abuse took place at Welsh’s home, the girl’s home and in a car in a Sainsbury’s car park.

The girl was said to have consented to the relationship.

Ms Gatto said: “He has been teaching all of his working life. He had an exemplary record and has lost his career.

“He will never be able to return to teaching again. He has had to take unemployment selling windows — he has been unable to find any more appropriate employment.

“He is a married man. Obviously his wife knows about these matters. His wife is a general practitioner and they have a young child.

May 2014

Evil Wirral couple jailed after subjecting child to ‘unimaginable’ cruelty

A couple  were jailed after subjecting a child to what police described as “unimaginable” cruelty.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that David Bird and Corrina Smith inflicted a catalogue of physical and emotional abuse on the child.

This included isolating the child in a small locked room for long periods, not providing proper toilet facilities, and withholding food.

The child also suffered bruising from a blow to the head by Smith, while Bird inflicted further assaults by repeated slapping.

The court heard Smith, 26, lived with  boyfriend Bird, 28, in Hoblyn Road, Bidston, Wirral.

Janet Reaney, prosecuting, said the child was “openly terrified” of Bird and began to shake when his name was mentioned.

Bruising to the child’s head triggered the visit by Wirral social services. They in turn alerted police, who began an investigation.

On their arrest, Bird and Smith denied any ill-treatment, claiming that the child was “lying.”

But they later pleaded guilty to two charges of cruelty to a person under the age of 16, with Smith pleading guilty to an additional charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

His Honour Judge Robert Warnock jailed Bird and Smith for three years each for the offences, with an additional three months for Smith to run concurrently.

He told them: “You seemed to work together to inflict the misery, pain and suffering undergone by this child.

“This sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.”

Apart from briefly looking at each other, Bird and Smith showed no emotion as they were led down to the cells.

Speaking afterwards Detective Constable Jim Savage from Merseyside Police’s Child Protection Unit said: “David Bird and Corrina Smith subjected a child to unimaginable cruelty. Smith also assaulted the child on a number of occasions and the two suspects maintained that the child was telling lies and was making up the story, with them only pleading guilty at the last minute. The bravery of the child has been outstanding and their evidence was absolutely crucial to the case. The victim found the courage to report what had happened to Police and was supported by us, the CPS and other agencies during an extremely challenging 12 months.

“I hope this case sends out a strong message to victims of child cruelty, 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 and ready to take action against the perpetrators.”

The child is now said to be progressing well.

May 2014

Bracknell man sentenced to 13 years’ in prison for historic child sexual offences inc rapes

A man from Bracknell has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted of historic sexual offences.

Ronald Eagles, 75, from Viking, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court last Friday (2) after being convicted of two rapes and two indecent assaults against two girls during the 1970s and 1980s.

Eagles had pleaded guilty to all the offences at a hearing in the same court on March 31, and was remanded in custody until his sentencing.

Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer Det Con Eddie Hurley of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit said: “I would like to thank the victims for supporting the prosecution in what must have inevitably been an extremely difficult time for them to recall.

“This sentence demonstrates that all sexual offences, including those which are historic, are taken extremely seriously by Thames Valley Police and are handled with the utmost sensitivity to ensure every effort is made to provide a resolution for the victims.

“I would also like to thank the officers who worked on this complex case in which the offences dated back more than 20 years.”

May 2014

Man guilty of child abuse

Following a two-week jury trial in Stranraer, a man has been found guilty of repeatedly assaulting a two-year-old child by striking him on the head and body in 2012.

Gareth Geddes, 27, of Coronation Drive, will be sentenced in June. 

May 2014

Pervert behind bars after jury finds him guilty of string of sex attacks on girl

A PERVERT is behind bars and facing a lengthy jail sentence after he was convicted of a string of sex attacks and viewing child abuse images

Shamed John Byers, 57, was convicted of all 22 charges against him yesterday after a four-day trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The panel of four women and eight men found the father-of-three guilty of five historical sex assaults on the same youngster.

He was also convicted of 16 charges of making indecent images of children and a further count of possessing 475 indecent images between February 2009 to July 2012.

The victim gave evidence how Byers would indecently touch her on various occasions when she was a young girl.

She did not report the abuse until years later, leading to Byers’ arrest.

When quizzed by police over the allegations, Byers claimed to be “gobsmacked” and sickened by them.

It was his arrest on the historic claims that led to the discovery of all the illegal images of child pornography on his laptop computer.

The disgusting pictures included children believed to be as young as six years old.

Computer expert Raymond Savage told the trial how Byers downloaded 99 pictures in one 12-minute period in the early hours of January 11, 2011.

He had entered explicit phrases such as ‘tiny teen’, ‘schoolgirl’ and ‘pre-teen’ into internet search engines.

During his trial Byers claimed he stumbled across the images by accident after looking for adult pornography.

He also denied that he committed any of the sex assaults on the victim, who is now an adult and cannot be named for legal reasons.

The jury returned their unanimous guilty verdicts yesterday afternoon after almost a day of deliberations.

Judge Howard Crowson told him a jail term was inevitable and the only question would be the length of the sentence.

He remanded Byers, of Everett Street, Hartlepool, in custody until he is sentenced on Friday, May 30.

May 2014

Shrewsbury pervert jailed for filming boys at leisure centre

A “despicable” psychology graduate, who secretly filmed children changing in cubicles at a leisure centre, has been jailed for six years.

Thomas Winckley filmed children on his iPhone at the Quarry Leisure Centre in Shrewsbury on two separate occasions.

The 35-year-old, of Benbow Quay, Shrewsbury, who later resigned from his job as an energy efficiency officer for Wolverhampton City Council, was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday after previously admitting 37 offences against children between 2007 and 2012.

The charges also related to possessing thousands of indecent images of children and filming of a number of underage boys on webcams after grooming them online. He had sexually explicit conversations online with children and even texted one boy saying: “I can’t wait until your exams are over”.

Mr Hugh Quinn O’Brien, prosecuting, said Winckley had also videoed boys while walking through Shrewsbury. “He had completed a complex and organised computer filing system,” said the prosecutor.

Mr Andrew Holland, for Winckley, said his client was an intelligent man with a degree in psychology and a high IQ.

“He is remorseful and will do all he can to make amends,” Mr Holland said.

“It was only at the point of his arrest did he realise the effect he had had on others.”

But Judge Peter Cooke said he would not be doing his duty if he did not send Winckley to prison. He said: “It was despicable behaviour poking around public swimming pools. You represent a significant risk of doing harm to young boys.”

October 2007

Freed To Kill

THE pals were in festive mood. They were happy-go-lucky teenagers with not a care in the world.

Outside the theatre, they said their farewells and went their separate ways. They’d had a great time. Pantos have jokes for kids and jokes for adults.

At 16 years of age, on the cusp of adulthood, they both got the nudge-nudge, wink-wink jokes. All harmless fun.

Later that night, Mhairi Julyan’s family sat and fretted. She hadn’t come home long after she said she would.

The police were notified and were concerned.

The next afternoon, a policeman stumbled into a scene from hell. In a disused coalbunker in a local bus garage, eyes started up at him. Dead eyes.

Mhairi Julyan was naked, her bra stuffed into her mouth and her blouse wrapped tightly round her neck. She had been raped, assaulted and strangled.

She was found yards from her home. True to her word, she had been heading home on time.

The cops concluded the killer had seen her leave her friends, stalked her through Kilmarnock streets and just as she was reaching safety, pulled her into the dark of the bus garage.

Mhairi had 47 separate injuries. She had fought for her life and her killer had punished her with a severe beating.

It was December 1995 and Kilmarnock had a sex killer on the loose.

Kilmarnock isn’t without its problems. For years, its courts had some of the highest turnover and jailing rates in Europe. But this was different. Everyone was out to catch the culprit.

Strathclyde Police pulled out all the stops. They knew that they had to catch this man quickly before he struck again.

Wide searches, hundreds of interviews, appeals for witnesses turned up nothing. The Daily Record offered a £10,000 reward. Still no leads.

The police had one piece of possible useful information – the killer’s DNA found at the scene.

They set about DNA testing every man in the area aged between 15 and 35, an estimated 20,000 men.

It was one of the biggest exercises of its kind at the time and it turned up trumps.

Local man Gavin McGuire, 43, was arrested. Local police wondered why they hadn’t gone to his door before.

They knew the truth about him and there was a lot to know.

Even as a child, he had been a nasty piece of work who liked to to torture animals, especially torching pigeons.

In 1977, he was jailed for 10 years for a double rape. Shortly after he was freed, in 1986, he had attempted to rape a young woman in Saltcoats.

But there was worse than that.

He had thrown that victim into Saltcoats harbour and stood watching, waiting for her to drown. Not just a rapist but also a sadist.

Somehow, his young victim managed to stay afloat in the freezing water for hours. She survived and McGuire was jailed for another 10 years.

IN a revelation that would shock all of Scotland, the arresting cops realised that McGuire had only been out of jail for 19 days when he killed Mhairi.

In years to come, the case would be one of those influencing stricter sentencing and supervision of all sex offenders. The changes came too late for young Mhairi.

Without knowing about McGuire’s history of offending, the jury were convinced of his guilt by young Alan Turnbull QC.

It was one of Turnbull’s early notable successes before he went on to prosecute in trials such as the “Murdered or Missing” Arlene Fraser case and the mass murder of Lockerbie.

The judge, Lord Clyde, described the murder as “an atrocity without mercy” and jailed him for 30 years, a massive sentence at that time. Now fully appraised of his background of terrible offences, Clyde made it clear that McGuire should never be released.

In 2002, under the new European human rights laws, McGuire applied to have his minimum period in jail set.

In spite of everything that was known about this man’s life of sexual violence, his sentence was reduced from 30 years to 22.

After the decision, Lord Drummond said that it shouldn’t be seen as a reduction on the original sentence but “the maximum that can now be imposed”.

It still remains with the parole board to decide when McGuire will be released.

There are many good Kilmarnock folk who hope that is never.

May 1996

Mhairi Julyan murder; THE SCHOOLBOY WHO BECAME A MONSTER

Evil Gavin McGuire was a boy deviant and petty thief who turned into a woman-hating monster. 

His roll of dishonour was already taking shape at 14 when he torched his beloved pigeons after pouring petrol over their hut and setting it alight. 

McGuire, who then pulled a similar stunt with rabbits, just stood there laughing. 

Pals who saw his career in crime escalate to sexual assault, then rape, knew that one day he would murder. 

A boyhood friend said: “We all knew it had to happen eventually. 

“They must never let him out because he will do it again.” 

McGuire was born a week before Christmas Day in 1958 – the first son of Jimmy and Nettie McGuire. 

Little did Nettie know as she cradled her baby in her arms that almost exactly 37 years later he would destroy a family’s Christmas forever. 

As a toddler Gavin would be seen running around the back door of his council house home in Stevenston, Ayrshire, playing with his father’s pigeons. 

Jimmy had a steady job as a labourer in the steel industry in nearby Glengarnock but money was tight. 

The McGuires would often argue and eventually they split. 

In 1987 Jimmy, only 52, died in comparative squalor in Kilbirnie, Ayrshire. 

Gavin attended the funeral handcuffed to prison officers from Peterhead, where he was serving time for rape. 

As a five-year-old Gavin started Hayocks Primary School in Stevenston, in August 1964. 

A classmate said: “He was a loner - he would sit by himself and didn’t mix.” 

By the time he had reached primary seven, McGuire was getting involved in petty crimes like shoplifting. 

In his early teens he had started stealing cars and breaking into houses. He was soon sent to various children’s homes, List D schools, borstal and young offenders institutions. 

As a result he was seldom seen by classmates at secondary school - Auchenharvie Academy in Stevenston. 

A former pupil said: “I wish they could string him up for what he has done. 

“I remember him torching those poor animals. 

“He showed no remorse for what he had done. He is really evil.” 

Another schoolpal said: “He was always a loner. Even as a kid he sat himself. He was never one of the boys.” 

In 1976 and still only 17, McGuire raped a 15-year-old schoolgirl and sexually assaulted another. He then committed another attack on a woman and when he was out on bail on all three, he raped another woman. 

He was jailed at the High Court in Ayr for 10 years in 1977. 

But he was released on licence in October 1983. 

He was back in court and fined for assault and robbery in 1984. 

McGuire was handed another 10- year sentence in 1986 for the callous rape and attack on Doris Thomson at Saltcoats Harbour. 

Again, he was released early. 

By now he was one of the most perverse and evil men in Scotland. 

He stood trial for the rape and assault of a prostitute in 1994 and was cleared. 

By this time he had been housed in the tough Longbar estate in Kilbirnie. 

A neighbour said: “He was a real strange guy. He would cycle around on his racing bike and would always stare at people. He was a real weirdo.” 

McGuire had few real friends but one who occasionally hung around with him wants nothing more to do with him. 

The friend, who asked not to be identified, said: “When he got out after the first rape in 1977 I used to go out drinking with him. 

“Everybody is entitled to the benefit of the doubt. Everyone is allowed one mistake. But after the one in 1986 no one would speak to him again.” 

One of his former pals from Stevenston said: “When we were about 15 or 16 we used to buy drink and go up to the castle. 

“Gavin would come with us but whenever there was a mention of women he seemed to disappear. 

“When I think about it now it was as if he was afraid or shy of women.” 

And another said: “The first time he got lifted for rape I was surprised. 

“But after he was released the second time all the guys in town said it was only a matter of time before some poor b***** got it. 

“He should never have been released. He is a dangerous, dangerous guy.” 

Shortly before his arrest for the murder of Mhairi, McGuire moved into a tiny bedsit in Canal Street, Saltcoats. 

Only the thinnest of walls separated him from 25-year-old Alexis Robertson. 

Alexis shivered as she recalled the horror of learning her new neighbour was a murderer and rapist. 

She said: “I can’t sleep, I am petrified staying here on my own. I shiver every time I think about it.”

May 2014

Victims of child abuser speak out after farmer found guilty of sex attacks

TWO women who were sexually abused by a farmer when they were children have spoken of their “harrowing” ordeal.

The victims of former milkman John Durman are also hoping other alleged sufferers will be brave and come forward.

Durman, 74, of Moon Lane, North Newton, was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault dating back to the 1970s and 1980s following a trial last month.

In interview with the County Gazette this week, one of the victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, urged anybody who finds themselves in the same situation to speak out.

She said: “It was a horrific and harrowing ordeal. It’s stressful and we got blamed in our own way [during cross examination]. We were accused of lying and making things up.

“If I knew what it entailed at the time I might not have come forward but I’m so glad I did.

“At least we have highlighted the fact that coming forward is not that bad and hopefully others will be brave and try to get justice, whatever their situation.”

Durman was given an 18-month suspended sentence for the offences.

During the three-week trial at Taunton Crown Court, Durman, who denied the allegations from the outset, was cleared of two other counts of indecent assault and two counts of rape.

Another victim, from Taunton, said: “I’ve heard he’s telling people it was thrown out of court because he was found not guilty on some counts and because he hasn’t gone to prison.

“An 18-month suspended sentence is not a lot – not for what he’s put us through – but we know you can’t carry anger and resentment around with you.

“He didn’t get away scot free so it’s still a positive outcome.”

The trial heard how Durman abused three young girls, all aged under 16 at the time.

Prosecutor Peter Coombe said some of the charges relate to offences in the 1970s, with others said to have taken place some ten years later.

The court was told that Durman was kiss, cuddle and feel one of the victims and treat them as if they were a lot older.

Durman denied this, but was found guilty unanimously by a jury on five of the nine counts.

As well as being given a suspended sentence for two years, he must also sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years.

Child abuse images DJ jailed

A DJ who downloaded child abuse images was jailed for eight months at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.

The court heard that Philip Kenneth Bromfield, a 49-year-old Rhondda man living with his pensioner father, had only had a computer for a few months and looked at the images out of curiosity.

He pleaded guilty to making indecent pseudo photographs of children, possessing indecent pseudo photographs of children and possession of them with intent between August 24, 2002 and July 10, 2003.

There was a total of 141 images of real children, including one movie, of erotic posing at level one, sexual activity between children or on their own at level two, and non-penetrative and penetrative sexual activity between adults and children at levels three and four.

Police recovered a total of 52 static photographs at level one, 49 at level two, 24 at level three and 12 at level four as well as four movie files at level three.

Sharon Bahia, prosecuting, said that when interviewed by police, Bromfield, of Zion Terrace, Tonypandy, said he logged onto the Internet using his user name, Harbour Lights, the name of his disco, out of curiosity but did not know why he kept on doing it.

Stuart McLeese, defending, said Bromfield had co-operated fully with police.

He had also entered guilty pleas at the first opportunity at Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court, which heard that Bromfield’s home was searched after officers from the Metropolitan Police had conducted inquiries into paedophile activities.

He told the court the matter had been hanging over his head since July 2003 when he was interviewed, but Bromfield was not charged until October this year.

“He said that he wished he had never clapped eyes on any of the material and cannot explain why he continued to look at it for more than six months,” said Mr McLeese.

He said the vast majority of the pictures had been deleted, but had been saved by default into a shared document file as a result.

Jailing Bromfield, Judge John Curran told him the nature of the photographs was “disgusting” and abused children.

He imposed an extended licence period of two years and ordered Bromfield to register as a sex offender for 10 years.

An order was made for the forfeiture and destruction of the computer and associated equipment.

May 2014

Guilty: High-profile Muslim charity chief who sexually abused three girls aged under 14

• Zafar Iqbal, 67, guilty of 25 counts of historic sex abuse against three girls

• Victims were under age of 14 when sex abuse occurred in 1970s and 1980s

• Chief executive of Muslim Women’s Association was convicted last month

• As part of his work, Iqbal rubbed shoulders with the likes of Harriet Harman

A high-profile Muslim charity leader has been convicted of sexually abusing three young girls in the  1970s and 1980s.

Zafar Iqbal, chief executive of Southwark Muslim Women’s Association (SMWA) in South London, was found guilty of 25 counts of historic sex abuse against three females at Woolwich Crown Court last month. 

All of his victims were under the age of 14 when the historic offences were committed.

Documents seen by The Mail on Sunday detail 67-year-old Iqbal’s sickening abuse of his young victims. 

They describe how he forced his tongue into their mouths as he molested and groped them.

Iqbal founded the SMWA, which is part-funded by Southwark Council,  in 1979. 

His work there included running a creche and educational and recreational programmes. 

It is believed that his wife, Abida, also worked for the SMWA. 

Just five years ago, Iqbal was feted for his ‘excellence in education’ at The Muslim News Awards  for Excellence. 

In the course of his work he rubbed shoulders with politicians such as Labour Deputy Leader Harriet Harman and was introduced to the Queen in 2010 as part of The City Bridge Trust’s 800th anniversary celebration. 

In 2009, Ms Harman, then Deputy Prime Minister, invited Iqbal and other members of the Association to the House of Commons where they were photographed together.

Earlier this year Ms Harman was forced to express ‘regret’ over links between a paedophile group and the National Council of Civil Liberties when she was its legal officer in the 1970s and 1980s. 

The Paedophile Information Exchange was an affiliate of the NCCL while she, her husband, trade unionist Jack Dromey, and fellow Labour politician Patricia Hewitt held office there.

A Southwark Council spokesman said they had informed police after allegations of Iqbal’s abuse surfaced in 2010.

He said: ‘Southwark Muslim Women’s Association is an independent organisation funded from many sources, including the council. 

‘The convictions are not related  to activities on the premises of  the organisation. 

‘We are appalled by this man’s actions and are undertaking an urgent review of SMWA and its association with the council.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan police said it began investigations in late 2012 after one of Iqbal’s victims came forward. Previous allegations made in 2010 were anonymous and so the force was unable to pursue them.

The SMWA was unavailable for comment. 

Iqbal has been bailed until sentencing on June 9.

May 2014

Haverhill man escapes prison after being found with 2,500 indecent images of children on his computer

A man who had more than 2,000 indecent images of children on his computer has escaped a prison sentence.

Anthony Johnson, of Chestnut Close, Haverhill, was arrested following an operation by the National Crime Agency, carried out in October of last year.

The 41-year-old pleaded guilty to four counts of making indecent images at West Suffolk Magistrates Court in April. He was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on May 8.

Judge Peter Jacobs sentenced Johnson to a three year community order.

He was also ordered to sign on the sexual offenders register for five years and take part in an internet sex offender treatment programme.

The NCA operation saw warrants executed across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

November 2010

Man, 22, jailed for sex with 14-year-old in Cheltenham

A MAN who groomed a 14-year-old girl for sex on a social networking website has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Carl Smith, 22, was previously convicted of a sex assault against a girl of the same age, Gloucester Crown Court heard.

Smith, of Templefields, Andoversford, met the latest victim three times for sex in Cheltenham, the court heard.

Judge William Hart said: “You met this girl over a social networking site. You groomed her to the extent that she agreed to have sex with you.

“In my judgment you are unwilling to acknowledge you have a specific sexual interest in underage girls.”

The court heard Smith began the sexual activity within a few months of the completion of a community order imposed for the previous offence. He met the girl on the internet and arranged to meet her, prosecutor Kannan Siva said.

He told the court Smith had not been charged with any offence arising from the first sexual incident because he claimed he thought she was 16.

However, he admitted that on two subsequent occasions when he met and had sex with the girl he knew her true age, Mr Siva said. Smith pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual activity with a child under 16 in February this year.

Smith had told police: “I knew she was 14, but she wanted to have sex.”

He showed police texts from the girl, which confirmed she wanted sex, Mr Siva said.

“He also said he knew what he had done was wrong,” he said. “A complaint was made to the police in June of this year. He was arrested on July 1 and his admissions were prompt.”

Carole Knotts, defending, asked the court to pass a new community order with requirements.

She said: “He is a young man with a number of problems including his mental stability,” she said. “He has tried to take his own life.

“He is a young man who would clearly find custody very, very difficult.”

May 2014

Paedophile is jailed after admitting grooming 12-year-old girl

Paedophile Kevin Wright bombarded the vulnerable 12-year-old with vile texts, telling her he loved her and the sexual things he wanted them to do.

But it didn’t stop there and the 35-year-old formed a sexual relationship with the girl, who had become infatuated with him.

Now, Wright, of Cartmel Grove, in Bensham, Gateshead, has been jailed for seven years, with a further five years to be served on licence, after admitting grooming, three counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and one of perverting the course of justice.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the offences took place in 2012 and 2013.

Sentencing him, Recorder Ben Nolan QC said: “You groomed her by sending persistent and indecent texts. She’s a vulnerable child, so it’s little wonder she reacted positively.”

The court heard the perverting the course of justice charge related to Wright trying to persuade the girl to change her statement. Nick Lane, defending, said: “He’s expressed genuine remorse and he’s had significant time on remand to reflect.”