June 2014

Bristol hairdresser jailed after baby died in his care

A FILTON man has been jailed after a four-month-old baby left in his care died. Bristol Crown Court heard that James Brown wrapped a blanket around Layla Rix-Palmer’s face while he was supposed to be looking after her. She stopped breathing and paramedics were unable to revive her.

He had previously dropped or allowed the baby to fall and pulled her out of her cot by one arm.

But the court heard that a post-mortem examination had not been able to ascertain a cause of death .

And when prosecutors approached expert Peter Fleming, Professor of infant health at Bristol University, he had told them that although the wrap around Layla’s face increased the risk of death, he could not be sure it was the substantial cause.

Advice was given to the police and Crown Prosecution Service that the case was not appropriate for a manslaughter charge and instead Brown, a 36-year-old hairdresser of Gloucester Road North, was charged with child cruelty.

He admitted the charge and Layla’s death was viewed as an “aggravating factor” when he was sentenced to four years in jail yesterday.

Brown held his head in his hands as he was sentenced.

Judge Graham Cottle told him: “You dropped or allowed her to fall.

“You pulled her out of her cot by one arm in a completely inappropriate way, risking serious injury.

“On one occasion she was covered in horrible blisters. The pain that must have caused that little baby can only be imagined.

“Then there was the final act. You wrapped her tightly in a blanket, and pulled the blanket tight over her head.”

Fiona Elder, prosecuting, said Layla was born on July 17, 2012 and died on November 14 of that year.

Miss Elder said: “At just short of four months old, she was a particularly vulnerable person.”

The court heard Brown minded Layla from the age of two months but in October, the baby had sustained an injury when she fell off a bed, bruising her head.

Miss Elder said: “It was relatively superficial and no medical attention was sought. By his plea he accepts that placing her on that bed and his inattentiveness to her was neglect.”

The baby’s mother, Brown’s then girlfriend, also saw him lift Layla by one arm and swing her into to his body, the court heard, and although she told him not to do it he continued to do so.

On one occasion he admitted dropping her and said she hit her head on a coffee table.

Miss Elder said: “The mum found an egg-sized lump on her daughter’s head. They went to the minor injuries unit and there was no significant damage.”

Brown also admitted popping blisters on the baby’s head, which he said were caused by her having a reaction to her pillow.

On November 14, 2012, the baby stopped breathing and her heart stopped.

Brown said the baby was wrapped in a blanket, around her face and was heard to say: “It’s all my fault she died.”

But Miss Elder stressed that experts were unable to rule out sudden infant death syndrome as a cause of death.

She told the court: “The most likely cause of death was the way she was wrapped, asphyxiation and the ingesting of vomit. Because infants die in their cots unexpectedly, they were not able to rule that out.”

Brown minimised his involvement when police interviewed him, saying he had worked in a children’s nursery and had two young children of his own.

He had no previous convictions, but a caution for common assault in a domestic setting.

Farah Rashid, defending, said Brown pleaded guilty to cruelty on the basis he allowed the baby to fall off a bed, lifted her by one arm on a number of occasions and popped blisters on her.

Miss Rashid said: “He accepts that him wrapping her up in the manner he did would have contributed to her fate on that day.

“He said ‘It’s all my fault she is dead’ to the police and paramedics and he continues to say that.”

“He says his actions were stupid. He says he really loved that girl and didn’t look after he properly.”

Afterwards, acting detective sergeant Lorna Withey said: “Sadly, due to available medical evidence, it was not possible to prosecute the defendant James Brown for more serious offences related to her death.

“My thoughts at this time are with Layla’s family.

“I am pleased with the sentence imposed by the court today, which reflects the defendant’s appalling treatment of this young baby.”

June 2014

Aberdeen man jailed for sexually abusing two girls

A MAN was jailed for nine years today after molesting two girls and subjecting one of them to a rape ordeal.

A judge told George McBain, 59: “It is clear from the evidence that you subjected them to an appalling course of sexual abuse.”

McBain molested one girl at a house in a North-east town between 1988 and 1989 and at a caravan.

A second victim became the target for abuse in 1989 at properties Aberdeenshire and was raped by McBain.

McBain, formerly of Gardner Crescent, Aberdeen, had earlier stood trial facing a string of charges and was found guilty of five offences of indecent behaviour, assault and rape.

The judge told McBain that it was clear to him that the victim’s live had been made “unbearable” by his behaviour.

Lord Burns said that the rape of the child was a serious offence and required “a significant period of imprisonment”.

His counsel Matt Jackson said McBain came from a rural, farming background and added: “He presents as somebody who is a little bit different from the modern man.”

The defence counsel said that following the convictions a prison sentence was “inevitable” and that consideration of non-custodial sentencing options in a background report was “nonsense in this case”.

Lord Burns said evidence in the case had been “compelling” and told McBain: “You will remain on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of your life.”

June 2014

school principal jailed for life for sexual abuse of 8 boys

A “dangerous” former school principal who abused eight boys over a period of 10 years has been jailed for life.

Bryan Greenhalgh, 63, indecently assaulted boys at Sheringham Court School in Norfolk and Thurlby Manor in Lincolnshire in the 1970s and 80s.

Norwich Crown Court heard one victim described the abuse as “incessant”.

One victim’s impact statement said: “You are damaged and you damaged me. You are evil and you don’t belong in society.”

Judge Nicholas Coleman Greenhalgh he must spend at least three years in prison, after which he will only be released if he is considered low risk.

If released, he will be on licence for life.

His sentencing on Monday can now be reported following the outcome of another case involving one of his former colleagues at Sheringham Court School.

Kenneth Wells, 76, of Bracken Dale, Leicester, was convicted of three counts of indecent assault against a boy in the 1970s and jailed for six years. He was cleared of four other indecent assault charges.

The court heard Wells was a “house parent” at Sheringham Court School.

Greenhalgh, from Suffield, Norfolk, had previously admitted 13 counts of indecent assault and one serious sexual assault.

The offences spanned the period between 1976 and 1986 and related to seven boys aged between 12 and 15 and another boy Greenhalgh met through a Christian fellowship in Norwich.

Sheringham Court School was described at the time as a boarding school for “unruly” boys, with co-owner and vice-principal Greenhalgh in charge of the boys’ care at night and at weekends, the court heard.

One victim said Greenhalgh repeatedly came into his dormitory at night smelling of alcohol and would indecently assault him.

The boy was also assaulted by Wells, who told him it was “normal” and “not to speak out”. When the boy complained to the school nothing was done, the court heard.

All five Sheringham Court victims described a similar experience of indecent assaults by Greenhalgh after they had gone to bed.

‘Misery and self-loathing’

Greenhalgh went on to abuse two boys at Thurlby Manor, where he was principal and had a residential care role, and a boy aged 12 to 14 in Norwich.

The court heard Greenhalgh was given a three-month prison sentence in 1983 for indecent assaults on three boys at Thurlby Manor.

Both Thurlby Manor and Sheringham Court are now closed.

Judge Coleman said: “You could have confessed your crimes then and been dealt with.”

He added: “You cannot understand the untold harm you have done to these boys as they have gone into adulthood.

“It’s clear they have suffered severe psychological harm. You are a dangerous person.”

While sentencing Wells, Judge Katharine Moore said the victim had had his “childhood stripped from him in a gross and violent way” and he had gone on to suffer “misery and self-loathing”.

She added: “Your duty was to protect vulnerable children but instead you exploited that for your own sexual gratification.”

March 2014

‘He is a dangerous individual who exploited his position as headmaster’ – Norfolk man admits sexual abuse of young boys

The headmaster of a former Norfolk boarding school is facing a life prison sentence after admitting sexually assaulting young boys in the 1970s and 1980s.

Bryan Greenhalgh, 63, previously of Suffield near North Walsham, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent assault and one count of a serious sexual offence at Norwich Crown Court today.

The charges related to eight male victims under the age of 16.

The majority of the offences took place at two former independent schools – Sheringham Court School in Norfolk and Thurlby Manor School in Lincolnshire – between the 1970s and 1980s.

Greenhalgh was remanded in custody to reappear at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, May 23.

He was warned by Judge Nicholas Coleman that there was a “real risk” of a life sentence.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Tristan Coull, of Norfolk Constabulary’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Greenhalgh is a dangerous individual who exploited his position as headmaster to win over the trust of the boys in his care and subjected them to horrendous abuse.

“He clearly preyed on boys who were at their most vulnerable and who at the time of the abuse felt unable to speak out as he appeared to be an upstanding pillar of the community.

“Through the position he held, it would have been the most basic of expectations to protect these children, instead he chose to do the complete opposite.”

A spokesman for Norfolk police said the force is committed to working with partner agencies to prevent child sexual exploitation, support victims and bring offenders to justice.

To report sexual abuse or suspected sexual abuse, call Norfolk police in confidence on 101 or contact The Harbour Centre, Norfolk’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which offers 24/7 support on 0845 456 4810.

June 2014

Man jailed after admitting a series of sexual assaults on four children

Derek Northrop 70, of Selden Rd, Worthing, was jailed for five years when he appeared at Hove Crown Court last Friday.

Northrop had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to eight offences; two of indecent assault on a girl then aged five in 2003, two of indecent assault on another girl of similar age over the same period, two of gross indecency with a boy aged between 10 and 12 between 1977 and 1979 and another two of gross indecency with a boy of similar age in 1982.

Detective Constable Carolyn Moore of the West Sussex Child Protection Team said: “Northrop subjected his victims to sexual assaults without any consideration for their vulnerability or their well being, having been in a position of trust.

“Only when we received information from a third party in 2012 was it possible to bring Northrop to justice and it is to the credit to the courage of all the victims that they were prepared to give evidence against him, although in the end that was not necessary.

“This case is another example of the way in which we will always take seriously and follow up all such allegations, no matter how long ago they may have occurred.”

June 2014

Sex attacker, 66, told his under-age victim — I could rape you

A SEX attacker deliberately and cynically exploited an under-age girl he indecently assaulted, a court heard.

Paul Albansen’s victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was so traumatised by her ordeal she did not feel able to speak out for more than 20 years.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard during one attack on her at his home, Albansen told the victim: ‘I could rape you if I wanted to. No-one is here, no-one will know.’

Now the 66-year-old has been jailed for four years after a jury convicted him of two indecent assaults dating back to the 1980s.

The court heard Albansen met the victim, who was then a teenager, when she went to stay with a family friend following problems at home, for which she was not to blame.

Albansen, of Fraser Road, Southsea, was 38 and in some form of a relationship with the woman who the victim went to stay with at the time he committed the crimes.

He is said to have groomed her within the space of a week and then indecently assaulted her. On one occasion Albansen attacked the girl when he took her to his bedsit.

Judge Sarah Munro QC said: ‘She must have been absolutely terrified that she was going to be raped.

‘She pleaded with you not to.’ The court heard Albansen eventually gave up.

Judge Munro QC said of the victim: ‘She felt completely humiliated. She was in an impossible situation as you knew, and she did not tell anyone because of the situation at home, and no doubt because she thought she might not be believed.’

The court heard Albansen has no relevant previous convictions and suffers from ill-health.

Ordering him to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years, Judge Munro QC said: ‘You identified her vulnerability at an early stage and you very deliberately and cynically exploited it.’

June 2014

Former children’s hospice nurse admits having indecent images

A former male nurse at Rachel House children’s hospice in Kinross has admitted downloading 1,740 indecent images of children.

Stephen McCusker, 47, pleaded guilty to downloading the images between December 2009 and November 2013 at his home on Julian Road, Glenrothes.

McCusker began working as a staff nurse at the hospice, which looks after terminally ill children, in June 2005. He worked there for more than eight years until his offences came to light in November last year.

At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Tuesday, depute fiscal Susan Dickson stated that under police interview McCusker had claimed he was “interested in viewing males and females aged 10 to 16”.

Ms Dickson added: “He admitted he had been viewing material for quite some time. He did the searches while his wife was out at work. He would view the images and then delete them.”

Police forensic officers discovered a total of 1,740 images on McCusker’s computer, rated across levels 1-4, of which 1,047 were unique images.

Ms Dickson stated that the images showed boys and girls aged five to 14 in a state of undress and in sexualised poses.

Police also discovered one video which depicted two boys aged eight to 14 engaging in sexual acts.

Sheriff James Williamson released McCusker on bail and placed him on the sex offenders register.

He deferred sentence until next month for criminal justice social work reports.

Police say there is no evidence that any child using Rachel House, run by Children’s Hospice Association Scotland, had been harmed or involved.

June 2014

Walsall man with 440 child abuse images spared jail

A man who admitted making almost 440 indecent images of children has been told he must attend a sex offender group programme and sign the Sex Offenders Register.

Carl Powell was arrested after police raided his home in Walsall, a court heard.

Police had received information which led them to raid his home and seize his computer during May last year, Mr Nicholas Burn, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The court heard that almost 100 of the images found on Powell’s computer were in the most serious category.

Mr Burn said 51-year-old Powell made full admissions to police, claiming he became interested in looking for indecent images but was initially shocked by what he found.

He said Powell, who was of previous good character, had never distributed the images or shown them to others.

He also said there was not a ‘considerable’ number of images but some of them had been categorised at the most serious end of this type of offending and could attract a jail term.

Powell, of Harden Road, Leamore, admitted four charges of making indecent images of children between April 2011 and May 2013.

Judge Michael Challinor handed Powell a three year community order, with a requirement to attend a sex offender group programme.

He also made a 10-year sexual offences prevention order and Powell will be on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

June 2014

Broom man ordered to register as a sex offender after indecent images of children discovered on his computer

A BROOM man who was caught with indecent photos and movies of children on his phone has been ordered to register as a sex offender.

Ben Lamb pleaded guilty at Warwick Crown Court to three charges of possessing images of children and three of possessing indecent movies of children.

Lamb, 24 of High Street, Broom, near Alcester, also pleaded guilty to three charges of distributing a number of the images.

The court heard that on his phone the police found 21 photographs and 12 movies classed as being of category A in a new scale of seriousness.

Category A is the most serious category, defined as images and movies showing children being subjected to penetrative sex acts, acts of sadism or sexual acts with an animal.

There were 108 stills and 11 movies in category B showing non-penetrative sex acts with children; and 277 stills and two movies in category C, classed as being ‘other indecent images’ of children.

Lamb had distributed four category A images, 23 category B images and 96 category C images.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Lamb, who was ordered to register as a sex offender, with the period being determined by the sentence he eventually receives, and he was granted bail.

June 2014

Man who had sex with 13-year-old girl in Penge flat after Facebook grooming jailed

A man who had sex with a 13-year-old girl in his Penge flat after grooming her on Facebook has been jailed.

Georgi Ivanov, 19, pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to two counts of sexual activity with a child and was today (June 19) given an 18-month sentence.

Ivanov met his victim in 2013 while out with a friend and began talking to her on the social media site, where his conversations “quickly became sexual” despite the girl’s Facebook profile making her age clear.

He soon invited her to his flat, in Penge High Street, and had sex with her – only afterwards expressing concerns that police could “come after him” due to her being underage.

But Ivanov carried on meeting up with the teenager and continued a sexual relationship, until December 9 when she was reported missing and police officers tracked her down to his home.

Ivanov initially denied knowing the victim was underage and, according to police, only “pleaded guilty when faced with the overwhelming evidence gathered from Facebook.”

Detective Inspector Jim Pryde said: “It is not acceptable for older men to prey on children for their own sexual gratification. The defendant knew the victim’s age yet continued to abuse her believing he would get away with it.

“I believe there may be other children who have been abused by Georgi Ivanov. I urge them to come forward and, for that matter, any victim of sexual abuse.”

June 2014

Gloucester carer jailed after 93,000 indecent images of children are found on his computer

A carer of vulnerable youngsters has been jailed for 18 months after Canadian police helped to reveal his secret obsession with child pornography.

Christopher Smith, 57, was found to have a staggering 93,000 indecent and prohibited images and videos of children when Gloucestershire Police searched his computer.

Prosecutor Janine Wood told Gloucester Crown Court Smith of Southgate Street in Gloucester had paid for naturist pictures from a Canadian website that he believed to be legal.

But authorities flagged it up to those in the UK, who went and searched his computer on January 24, this year and discovered the enormous amount of images.

The court heard nearly 15,000 of the images were deemed to be in the worst category.

Defending Tim Burrows said Smith was abused himself as a child and had since left his job after having managed to keep his sexual fantasies secret for many years.

He said: “He has always set to distance himself from the opportunity to carry out the fantasies he has harboured since he was a young man.

“He even left one residential employment when he was in a situation where he thought he would go one step too far.

“As a result of this case, he lost his job immediately and he will not get re-employed in that industry.”

Judge Euan Ambrose said he clearly had a sexual interest in boys aged 10 to 14 and said some of the images and videos involved children being “visibly distressed or humiliated”.

He said it was clear Smith had attempted to tackle his addiction online to avoid abusing any children.

He told Smith: “The reason that these offences are so serious is that each of these images is a real child being abused.

“You are not the physical abuser nor have you arranged it or taken an active part in it, but your interest generates circumstances where people abuse children.”

As well as being jailed he was ordered to sign the sexual offenders register.

He was also made the subject of a sexual offence prevention order banning him having certain contact with children for the rest of his life.

June 2014

Photos of child abuse found on man’s computer

A NORTH Warwickshire man had thousands of images of child abuse on his computer which were available to other people to download via a file-sharing website.

But David Matthews could not be sentenced when he appeared at Warwick Crown Court – after the police twice failed to show the judge a representative selection of the images.

Matthews, aged 30, of Willow Close, Kingsbury, had pleaded guilty to six charges of possessing indecent images of children and one charge of distributing thousands of indecent images.

Prosecutor Ian Speed said that following intelligence which was passed to Warwickshire Police, officers arrested Matthews at his home and seized his laptop computer.

When it was examined by police experts they found many thousands of still indecent images of children and hundreds of pornographic movies of children.

Through a database of known images, the police computer system identified 1,405 still images and 352 movies as being of category A.

That is the most serious category in a newly-adopted scale of seriousness.

There were a further 1,202 stills and 108 movies in category B.

And 10,530 still photographs and 63 movies were in category C, classed as being ‘other indecent images’ of children.

Matthews also accepted distributing 13,660 indecent images across all three categories by having them available on his computer to be accessed by other users of the file-sharing site.

Judges are expected to view a selection of images before sentencing, to enable them to assess their seriousness in terms of factors such as the ages of the victims and levels of distress.

But when Judge Sylvia de Bertodano, accompanied by Mr Speed and defence solicitor Colin Charvill, went into chambers to view them on a police officer’s laptop, they were unable to access any of the images.

Following a lengthy adjournment for the problem to be sorted out, they tried again – only for the officer to show the judge just two images, rather than a representative selection.

Back in court Judge de Bertodano complained: “The point of viewing images is not so I can see they exist, but so I can see the range.

“What happened is I was not able to be shown any moving images. When they were found I was shown two, but without any indication of what they represented. Someone must have an idea of the ages of the children and the levels of the pictures.”

Mr Speed observed: “Your Honour has seen one child Your Honour has identified as being of the age of seven, but another is aged about 15.”

The judge responded: “But I don’t know if anyone is subjected to sadomasochism, or whether any of them were young babies. The officer says he did not know what was in the images and did not know whether the images we have seen were representative.”

Mr Charvill claimed the distribution charge Matthews had admitted was ‘a technicality’ because he had downloaded the images using file-sharing software which meant that other people could access them.

The prosecution could not say how many were actually distributed, and Mr Charvill said: “He has not taken it on himself to distribute them himself. Other people could access them and view them, but he doesn’t know if anyone has.”

Adjourning the case, Judge de Bertodano said: “This case is entirely unready for sentence; I have no idea what I’m sentencing on, and I have a range of up to five years.

“I want there to be a report from the officer who has viewed these images giving me an overall picture of the sort of behaviour that’s covered, including the ages of the children.

“I want a representative range of the pictures. I want the worst examples as well as the more moderate ones included. I want to know if there were two-year-olds; and I want to know if there were pictures of children in distress. And I want to know if those sorts of images were among those distributed.

“I want an explanation of why file-sharing software to download these images is classed as distribution.”

Matthews was granted bail with conditions that he does not access the internet for any purpose other than work and does not have contact with any child under the age of 16.

But the judge warned him: “The penalty is possibly one of many years in prison.”

June 2014

Rick Astley’s uncle is child sex predator

THE uncle of Eighties pop star Rick Astley admitted yesterday to being a predatory paedophile.

But he claimed his victim, a girl who was aged just six, “enjoyed it”.

Donald Cassidy, 79, is said to have lured children to his garage where he encouraged them to play games like Doctors and Nurses and carry out sex acts on each other.

Chester Crown Court heard his nephew Rick, who went on to become a pop star and who still tours, sometimes joined other children at Cassidy’s home. He was never a victim of any abuse, the court heard.

The singer, now 48, was originally listed to be a defence witness but will not be called .

Former painter and decorator Cassidy admits two charges of indecent assault on a girl when she was aged between six and eight in a caravan at his former home in Warrington, Cheshire.

But he denies nine other indecent assaults, two acts of indecency with a child and two rapes on the same girl. The offences and alleged offences date back to the Seventies.

He rejected claims he lured children to his garage and told them to strip off while they “played games”. .

The girl he admits abusing claimed she was indecently assaulted by Cassidy in a car parked in the garage, a caravan and in a trailer outside his home from the age of six.

She also claimed that she was raped in the caravan when she was aged about 10 and in the bungalow that he built when she was aged around 13, adding: “That man ruined my life.”

Cassidy admits sexually abusing her by touching her, assaulting her on “about half a dozen occasions”.

He said: “I know I should not have done it.

“She sat on my knee and it just happened.

“She never complained. She accepted it as though she enjoyed it.”

Prosecutor Simon Mills told Cassidy: “In reality you are a predatory paedophile.” Cassidy replied: “Probably, yes.

“Whatever sentence I get, I hold my hands up. I deserve it. But those other things never happened.”

Mr Mills told the jury: “This defendant is related to the singer Rick Astley. He is not going to be a prosecution witness.” The trial continues.

June 2014

Paedophile tries to use juror’s Facebook friends to clear his name

A TRIAL juror’s Facebook “friendships” today triggered a sick paedophile’s abortive attempt to clear his name.

Sex beast Colin Howells was locked up for 18 years at Bolton Crown Court in June last year, after being found guilty of a string of appalling crimes, including multiple rapes of a young girl.

The 50-year-old, of Annie Street, Ramsbottom, today challenged the jury’s verdicts at London’s Criminal Appeal Court, pointing to the social network as the potential source of his wrongful convictions.

His lawyers said that one of the jurors was friends on Facebook with two women who were observing the trial and that, had she made this known, it was likely she would have been discharged.

Howells’ legal team also said the same juror had been “gossiping” in the local area about the jury’s deliberations.

But, dismissing his appeal, Mrs Justice Elisabeth Laing said the “friendship” on the social network was nothing more than a ‘superificial acquaintance’, with only a very tenuous connection to Howells.

Sitting with Lady Justice Rafferty, she also said that, while it would be “deplorable” conduct if the juror had been discussing the deliberations in the local community, this could not undermine the convictions.

Howells raped and abused a young girl in the early 2000s. He denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty of 16 counts of rape, one of sexual assault and one of causing a female to engage in sexual activity without consent.

His lawyers said that none of the jurors, when asked, indicated that they knew anyone involved in the trial.

However it was later discovered that one of them was friends on Facebook with two women who had been sitting in the public gallery.

Dismissing the appeal, Mrs Justice Laing pointed out that the juror was one of over 1,500 friends the women had on Facebook and that there was nothing to suggest there was any real risk the juror was biased.

Sitting with Lady Justice Rafferty and Mr Justice Burnett, she added: “Here, there is the most tenuous acquaintance – we therefore reject the submission that the convictions are unsafe.

“We would add that, if it is the case that the juror has been discussing the jury’s deliberations within the local community, that is deplorable and she should not have done that.

“But, even if she has done that, it can cast no doubt on the safety of the convictions.”

June 2014

Paedophile who preyed on boys at US summer camp toppled by FBI

AN FBI special agent brought a paedophile from Runcorn to book after the deviant preyed on boys at a summer camp where he worked.

Wesley McKeown, 28, of Ivy Street, was sentenced today to two-and-a-half years in prison following an investigation that spanned the Atlantic Ocean and drew on the skills of the USA’s elite law enforcers and Cheshire Constabulary.

Special Agent James Zajac extracted vital evidence from Google, Yahoo and Facebook, which agreed to hand over details of the pervert’s exchanges with the two boys aged about 13 years.

Warrington Crown Court heard today how they unveiled a depraved interest in asking the boys to send him naked pictures of themselves.

One victim emailed the requested images, and in exchange, McKeown sent him pornographic photographs of adults having sex.

The other victim rejected the sexual predator’s advances.

McKeown had met his two victims while working as a camp counsellor and his activities came to light after one of the schoolboys’ mothers discovered the emails featuring her son naked on his iPhone.

She contacted the culprit and urged to ‘get help’ to which the pervert replied that he ‘had been drunk’ and ‘would not do it again’.

Unimpressed she went to the authorities and the case was passed to the Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI).

After Agent Zajac had uncovered his crucial evidence, he referred the case to the UK and Cheshire Constabulary picked up the trail, arresting McKeown and seizing two laptops from him.

In the computers, the discovered a library of more than 100  sick images ranging across the spectrum of depravity from Level One images all the way to one at Level Five – the worst type of offence.

The defendant had 43 images in the second worst category down – pictures which involve penetration.

McKeown admitted to the gamut of offences.

When it came to court he was charged with 13 counts of possessing indecent images of children and four of causing or inciting boys to engage in or loot at sexual activity.

Representing himself today due to a lack of legal aid, McKeown told the court he is ‘not a danger to society’ and has learned his lesson.

Recorder Stephen Driver placed him on the sex offenders register, imposed a sexual offenders prevention order (SOPO) and sent him to prison.

For each of the indecent images offences he sentenced the defendant to 10 months in prison to run concurrently.

For inciting a child he received 30 months for each count concurrent.

The offences took place several years ago.

Judge Driver told him: “You are a man who is sexually attracted to children.

“Your computer contained 100 indecent images of children and about one third of those are images of a child engaging in penetrative sexual activity with an adult.

“You searched on the internet for such material with search terms referring to boys.

“You knew exactly what you were looking for.

“The aggravating aspect  is for seven years you were employed at a summer camp in the USA.

“You had a position of responsibility with a high level of trust.”

June 2014

Rapist jailed for nine years

A BURY man who raped a woman and indecently assaulted a child has been jailed for nine years.

Garry Tattersall, aged 47, of Prescot Close, Redvales, committed the offences in Bury in 2003 and 2004.

He appeared at Bolton Crown Court on April 29 and admitted one count of raping a woman and two counts of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

Tattersall appeared at the same court for sentencing on Friday and was jailed for six years and three months for rape and two years and nine months for indecent assault.

After the hearing, Det Con Stephen Darragh, of Greater Manchester Police’s serious sexual offences unit, said: “Tattersall was responsible for an historic rape and an historic sexual offence against another who was a child.

“I am pleased he has been sentenced to such a long time behind bars where he cannot hurt anyone else.

“Clearly, the court has taken the stance that he is a dangerous man and for the victims, I hope seeing him locked up for nine years will give them some semblance of justice.

“Thanks to the bravery of the victims in this case who did speak up, and made a stand against Tattersall, who was abusive and took advantage of the trust that was put in him, he has now been convicted and sent to prison for a very long time.

“The victims have shown courage and tenacity in reliving their ordeal to ensure Tattersall did not get away with it.”

June 2014

Man jailed for sexually exploiting two schoolgirls

A Rotherham man who sexually exploited two schoolgirls has been jailed for six years.

Lee Pearson, age 28, of Wright Street, North Anston, forced the girls into a sexual relationship with him despite knowing they were both underage.

Pearson befriended the girls when they were both 14-years-old and the abuse began several months later in September 2011.

He assaulted both girls on numerous occasions and threatened one of his victims with violence.

The abuse continued for almost a year before one of the victims plucked up the courage to contact police in August 2012.

South Yorkshire Police’s Child Sexual Exploitation Unit launched an investigation and Pearson was arrested and charged with rape, sexual activity with a child and sexual assault.

He was convicted by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday, June 17 following a 7 day trial and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Investigating officer Detective Constable James Crossley said: “This man exploited these girls, who were vulnerable due to their age, for his own sexual gratification.

“Pearson lied to police and denied the allegations put to him, despite forensic evidence to the contrary, and forced his victims to go through the ordeal of a court case.

“I would like to commend the bravery of both young girls for reporting it to police and for facing their attacker in court.

“They have been supported throughout this ordeal by specially trained officers and will continue to receive support in the future as they attempt to move on with their lives.

“Exploitation can take many forms and violence, or threats of violence, is one of the ways abusers try to control their victims.

“I would urge anyone who is, or has been, a victim of sexual exploitation to come forward and report it to police.

“We will investigate it thoroughly and do everything in our power to bring perpetrators of sexual offences to justice.”

June 2014

Paedophile who raped young child in Reading is jailed for 19 years

A PAEDOPHILE who raped a young child in Reading has been locked up for 19 years.

John Bromley, aged 59, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of two counts of rape of a child under 13, causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration by a jury at Reading Crown court on Monday 12 May.

He was sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment and six years on license by Judge Wood at Reading Crown Court

The jury found Bromley not guilty of another count of sexual assault of a child under 13.

The 59-year-old, of no fixed abode, abused the child at an address in Reading in May last year.

Bromley will have to serve at least two thirds of the sentence before being considered for parole.

Investigating officer, Det Con Sandra Beaumont of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit said: “I am delighted with the sentence. I hope the sentence brings some justice to the victim and their family.

“I admire the strength of the victim and their family. They have managed to support each other throughout the investigation and subsequent trial.

“Bromley will now have a long time behind bars to reflect on his crimes, and will have to serve at least two thirds of the sentence before he can even be considered for parole.”

June 2014

Sex monster jailed for 15 years

A pervert has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars after being convicted of raping a vulnerable, young girl.

He raped the schoolgirl and then forced her to pretend she lied when she reported the incident 

The attacks by vile pervert Martin Scott, happened more than 10 years ago in Canterbury and Ashford

Martin Scott, 39, from Essex, was convicted of rape, committing a sex act with a child, sexual assault and indecent assault in March.

Scott was dressed in a grey suit, and smirked as Judge Simon James told him he had cynically and systematically abused his vulnerable victim.

He had denied five rapes, committing a sex act with a child, sexual assault and indecent assault – but a jury found him guilty of all charges.

The judge said the victim had bravely reported the first incident but the cunning Scott convinced her parents that he was innocent. 

She was then coerced into withdrawing her allegations and was forced to say that she had lied.

Judge James told him: “Far from using that as a close shave, you took it as a green light to continue the abuse, safe, you thought, in the knowledge that she would be unlikely to have the courage again to tell anyone and even if she did then no-one would believe her.”

But she did and the jury believed her.

Scott befriended the victim when she was aged just 12 in 2003. He showered her with gifts, often telling her that he loved her.

He raped her several times between the ages of 15 and 17, and when she told him that she would tell someone what was happening, he threatened her, saying that she would be put in to care.

One incident saw Scott indecently assault the young victim while she was recovering in hospital after an accident.

The victim reported him early last year, and Scott was arrested. He denied all the charges against him when charged on July 5 2013.

Scott was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Canterbury Crown Court. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register and given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Investigating officer detective constable Cate Lonergan said: “This man took advantage of a young girl who trusted him.

“He has denied all the charges against him and continues to deny what he did to this young girl.

“We welcome the sentence imposed on Scott.

“It will not take away the emotional and physical hurt that this woman had to endure as a young girl but it does bring some closure after she struggled over whether to report the abuse to police.

“I hope that this case shows that historic allegations of abuse will be investigated fully by Kent Police and where we have sufficient evidence, offenders will be put before the courts and punished for what they forced their victims to endure.”

June 2014

Ex Royal Navy sailor had sex with schoolgirl he met on Facebook

A former Royal Navy sailor has admitted having sex with a 15-year-old schoolgirl who he met through Facebook.

Christopher Wilson, aged 27, visited the girl at her flat in South Devon and they had consensual sex on one occasion, Exeter Crown Court was told.

Wilson is a former Royal Navy serviceman who was forced to leave on medical grounds and now works in South Devon.

He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of having sex with the girl after a more serious allegation of rape was dropped.

Wilson, of Kings Road, Paignton, admitted sexual activity with a child and his case was adjourned for pre sentence reports by Judge Erik Salomonsen.

Mr David Evans, defending, said the girl was aged 15 at the time of the offence, which was between three and four years ago.

He said Wilson admitted the offence on the basis he and the girl had consensual sex on one occasion at the flat where she lived and where he says he was invited on more than one occasion and when he was aged 24.

He said:”He now works in the Dart Valley after leaving the Royal Navy as a result of being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.”

Mr Richard Crabb, prosecuting, said the complainant had been consulted about the dropping of the rape charges and was content for the case to be dealt with by the alternative charge.

He said there were issues about how Wilson had known the girl’s address and there had been contact between the two on Facebook.

June 2014

Man, 46, persuaded schoolboy to expose himself

A married bank worker had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old boy and downloaded child abuse images on the internet.

Peter Attaway was reported to the police after the victim’s dad found inappropriate text messages from him on his son’s mobile phone.

Officers went to Attaway’s then home in Belton, Leicestershire, where they discovered he had accessed hundreds of illegal images of boys on his home computer.

At Leicester Crown Court, Attaway, who was bailed to an address in Stanhope Road, Gedling, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, by persuading the child to expose himself to him.

He also admitted four counts of possessing indecent images of children, relating to 912 images at level one, 23 at level two, six at level three and 14 at level four. Level five is the most serious.

Attaway (46) also admitted downloading a further 409 images at level one and possessing three indecent pseudo, or cartoon, videos depicting sexual activity with children, between 2012 and 2013.

He was sentenced to a three- year community order, with supervision, and a requirement to undergo a sex offender rehabilitation.

A five-year sexual offences prevention order was also made, banning him from unsupervised contact with children under 16 and placing restrictions on his use of the internet, which will be monitored by the authorities.

The court heard Attaway, who lost his job at a bank when the offences came to light, now works as a writer.

Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Dean QC said in relation to the boy he befriended: “I accept you didn’t engage in sexual activity with him, other than to persuade him briefly to expose himself to you.

“You clearly have perverted thought processes.

“You gained sexual gratification through downloading and viewing indecent images of children.

“You have sought help and demonstrated a level of insight, to give good reason to suppose, with help and assistance, you will be able to overcome the problems you’ve got yourself into.

“You’ve brought the fabric of your own life crumbling around your ears.

“It must have come as an appalling shock to your family.

“It now causes you to be alone and isolated in the world.”

David Outterside, mitigating, said: “He’s remorseful.

“He has sought help and wants to work with the probation service so that what happened with the boy is an isolated one-off.

“Before this, he lived a blameless live.

“His wife has started divorce proceedings and his relationship with his two children has now been damaged.

“He’s suffering from anxiety and depression.”