March 2016

Pervert pleads guilty to child sex offences

A LEIGH man has admitted to committing a string of child sex and indecent images offences.

Keith Forster, 41, pleaded guilty to six offences of sexual assault at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday, Monday – one of assault by penetration, three of taking indecent images and one of distributing such images.

The sex offences he admitted to involve a young girl aged between six and nine at the time and the indecent images totalled 1,063 in all three categories of seriousness.

 After Forster began entering his pleas a man in the crowded public gallery shouted out ‘animal’.

Judge Andrew Hatton further remanded him in custody until March 17 to enable a pre-sentence report to be prepared dealing with whether he is classed as a dangerous offender.

“A custodial sentence will follow – the only issue is the length and format,” he told him.

March 2016

Teacher admits sexually abusing 5 pupils at 3 different boarding schools

A former teacher has admitted sexually abusing five pupils at three different boarding schools.

The trial of John McKno, 70, was about to start when he pleaded guilty to nine charges, which date back to the 1970s and 80s.

His victims were all boys under the age of 16, and one was under the age of 14.

At Ipswich Crown Court McKno, from Alby in Norfolk, was told he faces a “significant” jail term when he is sentenced on 29 March.

He had pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault, two of gross indecency and three of committing a serious sexual offence.

A further three offences including buggery were ordered to lie on file.

The attacks took place at the Kesgrave Hall School in Ipswich, Suffolk; the Beam College in Great Torrington, Devon, both of which have since closed, and St Michael’s College in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire.

Judge Goodin said he will receive a “significant” jail term for the “grave” offences.

He was arrested as part of Operation Garford, an investigation by Suffolk Police into historical abuse allegations at schools.

March 2016

Malton School teacher struck off for affair with pupil

A secondary school teacher has been banned from teaching for life after having a relationship with a student.

Timothy Richardson joined Malton School as a newly qualified teacher in 2004 and was promoted to the position of head of upper school in 2012.

But a disciplinary hearing was told how he had a relationship with a female pupil soon after he started working at the school, during which time the sixth former, named as “Student A”, would stay at his home in Scarborough. 

The school began to investigate Mr Richardson due to concerns over his honesty, after he fraudulently produced hospital letters to explain absences from work in 2012 and 2013.

The National College of Teaching and Leadership panel heard Timothy Richardson, 34, had a relationship with a year 13 student at Malton School.

Mr Richardson did not appear but had earlier given a statement saying he “regretted” his behaviour.

He resigned his position as head of upper school in 2012. A disciplinary hearing had been set for July 2014.

The affair with the pupil came to light after the school began an investigation into whether Mr Richardson, who joined Malton School after qualifying in 2004, had misled it about reasons for absences from work in 2012 and 2013.

Alan Meyrick, deputy director of the National College of Teaching and Leadership, said: “Mr Richardson formed an inappropriate sexual relationship with a pupil, and produced fraudulent documentation to support unexplained absences from school.

“I agree with the panel’s view that the public has a right to expect teachers to respect appropriate professional boundaries in their relationships with pupils. Mr Richardson failed to do this.”

March 2016: Now living in Dundalk

June 2008

Jailed for an ‘illicit kiss’ with girl (14)

A MAN cleared of raping a 14-year-old babysitter was jailed for 18 months yesterday for kissing the teenager.

The 31-year-old was beaten up by the girl’s father and another relative and warned he would be kneecapped unless he pleaded- guilty to rape.

But despite being cleared, Justice Paul Carney gave the sentence yesterday for what he called “the illicit kiss” which constituted sexual assault.

Nicholas Barry (31), of Corach Avenue, Wellingtonbridge, Co Wexford was convicted in May by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of sexually assaulting her but cleared of raping her on November 25, 2006.

The girl had admitted during the trial she knew her former babysitter had been beaten up by her father and another of her relatives as a result of her allegation. She also knew Barry had received threats that he would be “knee-capped” unless he pleaded guilty to raping her.

Prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane said the physical activity involved in the offence was at the “lower end of the scale” but that the victim’s age was an “aggravating factor”.

Mr Justice Carney said it he found “this a most difficult case to resolve” because sentencing was about proportionality and this case involved, on one hand, “an illicit kiss, albeit a passionate one. On the other hand I am concerned with the protection of 14-year-old girls from sexual exploitation”.

He said if anyone was displeased with his sentence, their quarrel should be with the DPP and not with him. The DPP had indicated that this case was considered to be at the lower end of the scale for sentence.

Mr Justice Carney said he also accepted Barry’s “genuine remorse”.

The victim said in her impact evidence: “Why did he have to do it to me. Why didn’t he just cop on?” She said she had constant flashbacks, had difficulty sleeping and was afraid to go out in case she saw Barry.

Senior Counsel John O’Kelly said Barry was in a stable relationship and was dealing with an alcohol problem. He submitted that he was at low risk of reoffending and his client was embarrassed and ashamed by the “one-off incident”.

Barry claimed he had kissed her but did nothing else and that after he asked her to let him out of the house he returned to apologise to her because he was ashamed of his actions.

March 2016

Essex paedophile jailed following string of sex offences

A paedophile who sexually touched a 13-year-old girl and had extreme pornography involving a dog has been jailed for eight years.

Richard Makings, of Lucerne Walk, Wickford, pleaded guilty to 13 sex offences at Southend Crown Court on Friday, February 19.

He was charged with three counts of making indecent photographs of children, taking indecent photographs of a child, possessing extreme pornographic image portraying an act of intercourse or oral sex with a dead or alive animal.

He was also charged with two counts of possessing a prohibited image of a child, two counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child, two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13.

Makings also pleaded guilty to a charge of causing a child under 13 to look at an image of sexual activity, one count of causing a child aged 13 to 15 to look at an image of sexual activity

March 2016

Sex offender jailed for 11 years for attacks on 3 girls

A SEX offender branded a “bare-faced liar” has been jailed for 11 years for a catalogue of offences against three girls in their late teens.

York Crown Court heard how over a period of five months, Steven Grant, of Maltongate, Thornton-le-Dale near Pickering, groomed the girls and then used them sexually.

Reading out victim impact statements, Sophie Drake, prosecuting, said one of the girls had had months of nightmares and cried herself to sleep because what he did to her and another was so affected her schoolwork suffered.

The court heard they were sisters, whom Grant met because he knew their mother.

The Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC, told Grant: “The saddest and most depressing aspect of this case is their own mother, who took your words over the words of her own children. She chose to disbelieve her own children. She should be thoroughly ashamed of herself.”

Both sisters gave evidence against Grant before a jury, as did the third victim, who was a friend of the younger sister, and were accused of being liars.

“There was only one bare-faced liar in this court, and that was you,” the judge told Grant.

Grant, 37, denied 11 charges of sexual assaults, one attempted sexual assault and one of indecent exposure. Five of the offences were against the friend, five against the younger sister and three against the older sister. He was convicted by a jury of all charges by a majority of ten jurors to two after they had been in retirement for four hours and 45 minutes.

Jailing him for 11 years, the judge said: “You have been convicted of a catalogue of offences of sexual abuse of teenage children. This was, in my judgement, a classic case of grooming, where your offences started in a non-threatening way, then progressed to serious intrusive sexual behaviour.”

The third victim, who was 16 at the time of the offences, was a “deeply troubled” girl, and the sisters were frightened of Grant. The effect upon them had been “great”.

The judge made a restraining order banning Grant from having any contact of any kind with any of the victims indefinitely. He was also put on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

Defence barrister David Dixon said in mitigation after the verdicts: “All I can say in his case is to ask you to keep the sentences as short as possible. The defendant maintains his stance and I suspect always will.”

Opening the prosecution at the start of the five-day trial, Miss Drake said Grant showed one of the victims pornography on the internet.

March 2016

Dad-of-two caught with child abuse images said ‘it’s just like watching Emmerdale’

PERVERT David Lowe told police looking at child sexual abuse images was ‘just like watching Emmerdale’.

The 38-year-old dad-of-two was arrested after police raided his home following a tip off.

They seized Lowe’s computers and found scores of indecent images of children including 150 at category A – the most serious.

Now he has been handed a community order as the judge believes there is a good chance of him being rehabilitated.

Prosecutor Delroy Henry told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court police visited Lowe’s Cheddleton home on August 13 after receiving information someone had been accessing indecent images of children.

Mr Henry said: “They recovered a multiplicity of images of children In total police recovered 136 still images at category A; 23 at category B and three at category C. There was also 14 moving images at category A and two at category B.

Lowe told police he was the only one in the house who had access to the computer.

Mr Henry said: “He said, ‘It was just like watching Emmerdale’

“He added, ‘He kept going back again and again’.”

Lowe, of Hillside Road, Cheddleton, pleaded guilty to five offences of making indecent photographs of children.

Jason Holt, mitigating, said since his arrest the defendant has been on a sex offender treatment programme with the Lucy Faithful Foundation.

He is also receiving counselling for depression and anxiety.

Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Lowe to a three-year community order with requirements to participate in the community sex offenders’ group work programme and complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 days.

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

Judge Glenn said: “The counts relate to a relatively small number of images.

“What does concern me is the vast majority were in the most serious category and they were accessible images.

“Some were of very young children.

“You are not prepared to accept your behaviour was sexually motivated and for your own sexual gratification.

“I am in no doubt that it was.

“These are real children being abused.

“By viewing this vile material you encourage the perpetrators.”

Judge Glenn added: “The public in this is case is better protected by you being rehabilitated and I think there is a very real prospect of that in your case.”

Lowe must also pay £430 costs.

March 2016

Disabled pensioner found guilty of 21 sex charges jailed for 7 1/2 years

A PENSIONER disabled by polio since childhood has been jailed for seven and a half years at Caernarfon crown court for sex offences against a young girl. 

Kenneth Jones, aged 71, of Craig Menai, Bangor, had been found guilty by a jury of 21 charges of indecent assault and indecency with a child – in each case by an eleven to one majority verdict. 

His barrister Jonathan Austin said Jones had worked all his life, including in India, and his last offence had been many years ago. 

Judge Philip Harris-Jenkins said there had been an element of grooming of the victim. 

He imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Jones will be banned from sleeping in the same house as a child under 16. 

March 2016

Paedophile sentenced to 18 years in prison

A paedophile has been sentenced to 18 years and nine months’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual offences, including raping a girl under the age of 13.

Ian Stokes, 50, of Chettle Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to the offences – some of which took place in Milton Keynes – on December 7, 2015, and was yesterday (March 2) sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court.

The offences were one count of rape of a girl under 13 on multiple occasions, six counts of indecent assault of a female under 14, one count of sexual activity with a child in non penetrative sexual activity with a girls aged under 16 years.

The offences took place between 1999 and 2003 in Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Leicestershire. There were two victims who were aged 10 to 14 at the time of the offences.

Following an investigation by officers from Thames Valley Police, Stokes was arrested on January 31, 2015 and charged on October 2, 2015.

Investigating Officer, Det Con Tejinder Sidhu from the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Bletchely, said: “Firstly I would like to thank the two victims and recognise their bravery throughout this investigation. I know it has been difficult for them but I hope that the successful outcome of this case will give them some comfort and allow them to move forward.

“Offenders like Stokes destroy lives and within the Child Abuse Investigation Unit at Thames Valley Police we work tirelessly to investigate and bring to justice perpetrators of these terrible crimes, while supporting the victims.

“I ask anyone who believes they may have been a victim of child abuse to tell someone and contact us on 101. With their support we can bring these people before the courts and prevent them abusing others.”

Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: “Ian Stokes took advantage of his circumstances to sexually abuse the girls for his own sexual gratification. It is only due to the great courage of the victims that the despicable behaviour of this man has been exposed. I would like to pay tribute to them for their strength and tenacity in coming forward.

“Stokes went ‘no comment’ during his police interview, but on 07 December 2015, at Aylesbury Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to rape, sexual activity with a child, and six counts of indecent assault. His pleas prevented his victims from the added trauma of re-living their horrific abuse and giving evidence during a trial.

“The convictions and today’s sentence serve as an important message to people who have been the victim of crimes such as these, or those that know such crimes are being committed, that they should come forward and that time is no barrier to justice. The CPS will work closely with partners, as we did with Thames Valley Police in this case, to ensure that robust criminal cases are put before the courts.

“The emotional impact, on the victims, of the abhorrent actions of this man is impossible to quantify. I hope that the convictions and sentence give some small comfort to them. Our thoughts are very much with them both at this time.

March 2016

Paedophile who coerced children into performing sex acts online jailed

A Woking man who got children to perform sex acts online and hoarded thousands of indecent images has been jailed for four and a half years.

Ali Farooqi, 24, created numerous false profiles on Facebook, Snapchat and Gmail to conduct his campaign of internet abuse, which started after he came from the United Arab Emirates to study in the UK.

Prosecuting, Amanda Kelly told Guildford Crown Court on Wednesday (March 2) how police found files on the defendant’s devices containing pictures of underage girls in school uniforms performing sexual acts.

Across one of the images, a victim had written “I am ready” and across another a victim wrote: “Is this what you want?”

Ms Kelly said: “This suggests it was in response to a question from the defendant.

“Over a significant period of time the defendant has involved himself in the web-based sexual abuse of children,” she told the court.

Ms Kelly added that Farooqi, of Brooklands Road, also sent sexually explicit images of himself to children he met on the internet, sometimes pretending he was 17-years-old.

He was arrested in December after officers from Surrey Police traced peer-to-peer sharing of indecent images to the IP address at the home he shared with his parents.

Ms Kelly said the defendant immediately admitted his involvement and cooperated with officers, providing them with usernames and passwords so they could examine his electronic devices.

He has previously pleaded guilty to one count of causing a child to engage in a sexual act, seven counts of causing or encouraging a child to engage in sexual activity, seven counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, and three counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

James Bloomer for the defence asked the court not to send his client to jail, arguing that the matter was “one of the rare cases where the guidelines can be departed from substantially”.

He described how Farooqi had grown up in an “extraordinarily closeted background” in a small town in the UAE.

“It has taken him to a point where he has to this day never kissed a girl. He is utterly, utterly shy about sexual matters in the real world. He came here to study and suddenly encounters a whole world of internet pornography and sexual freedom.”

Mr Bloomer pointed to a report by psychiatrist Dr Frank Farnham which found the defendant had “substantial naivety and emotional immaturity”.

The barrister argued that on this basis the emotional disparity between his client and his victims was not as it would have been with 24-year-old offenders.

Since his arrest Farooqi has referred himself to the Lucy Faithful Foundation, a child protection charity, whose staff had been impressed by his commitment, said Mr Bloomer.

He argued it was in the interests of public protection to keep the defendant out of prison, saying: “If he goes to prison he is likely to deteriorate and he is likely to be exposed to more sophisticated offenders.

“There is also a risk that he will be preyed upon in custody. Not all offenders in this category are 24-year-old men who have never so much as kissed a girl.”

Sentencing the defendant, Recorder Stephen Hofmeyr QC said the facts of the case did not justify him taking the “extreme course” of allowing Farooqi not to go to jail.

“These are all very serious offences,” he said.

“Downloading images creates a market that is built on exploiting vulnerable children, causing immeasurable harm to them and their families. You have fuelled this industry.”

He jailed Farooqi for four and a half years, imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a £120 victim surcharge.

March 2016

Music teacher who groomed 13-yr-old schoolgirl after promising her guitar lesson is jailed

A music teacher who groomed a 13-year-old schoolgirl and met her after promising to give her a guitar has been sent to prison.

Angus Laughland, 62, was jailed for 220 days after the girl’s grandmother discovered his grooming and compared it to what she had seen on the TV show Paedophile Hunters.

Laughland – who did not know the girl – started exchanging text messages with her after getting hold of her number by chance through a third party.

Shortly after he started sending her texts he guessed she was around “13 or 14” and the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, confirmed that she was.

Perth Sheriff Court was told that in one of the first texts received by the girl, Laughland said: “I’m not a person as such, just call me cyber buddy.”

He sent mundane messages for a number of days which led to the girl getting into regular post-school text conversations.

However, the messages he sent quickly became sexually explicit.

The girl told Laughland about her interests including music and he revealed that he “played guitar and smoked”.

She then took a call in which no-one spoke but a guitar was heard playing in the background.

On 11 October he sent a message saying he taught guitar and that he wanted to meet her to give her a guitar as a gift.

The meeting took place in Blairgowrie the following day.

When the girl got home, her mother quizzed her about the guitar and they discussed the issue with the girl’s grandmother.

“She showed her mother the guitar and she raised concern,” the court heard. “When she described the circumstances of the ‘gift’ her grandmother suggested it sounded like a TV programme she watched called Paedophile Hunters.

“They played the programme on the computer and were shocked by how similar it was. The police were contacted.”

Laughland, Myrtle Park, Blairgowrie, admitted sending explicit texts to a 13-year-old girl between 16 September and 12 October 2014.

Sheriff Fiona Tait said: “We ought not to lose sight of what this offence was. He described sexual intercourse in detail and also met the child. The difficulty he faces is the gravity of the offence.

“He met the child and gave her the guitar. That shows precisely how vulnerable she was. The most concerning text had been sent and the girl was too afraid to do anything about it. Then he met her.”

March 2016

Paedophile, 80, jailed for 6 sex assaults on 3 boys

A PENSIONER of 80 has been jailed for four years after committing a string of sex offences against three young boys.

He had a long history of sexual offences against boys and his criminal record stretched back to 1945 when he was aged just nine, a court heard.

Donald Forward, of Sutton House, Scunthorpe, admitted six offences of sexual assault, two of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two of voyeurism.

Craig Lowe, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Forward had convictions for 93 offences, dating back to 1945 for burglary when he was nine years old.

He was given a hospital order in 1966 for indecently assaulting males and was jailed for six years in 1979.

He was jailed for six years in 1988 for sexual offences.

Andrew Bailey, mitigating, said Forward pleaded guilty and saved the victims the ordeal of having to give evidence.

The solicitor said the risk Forward posed to others was a lot lower now and he suffered health problems, including spending most of his time in a wheelchair, losing his memory and having a heart attack over Christmas.

“He worries about dying in custody,” said Mr Bailey. “He clearly is somebody who is very unwell.”

He said Forward had been abused as a child and that was the reason he became an abuser.

“He is a paedophile that is unreconstructed,” said Mr Bailey.

Judge Mark Bury told Forward: “These are serious offences.”

Forward was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will have to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

March 2016

Cumbrian man, 30, groomed girl, 13, online – Avoids prison

A PERVERT attempted to meet a 13-year-old girl for a planned sexual liaison after he groomed her online.

Over the course of a fortnight, Ian Jackson, 30, took part in lewd web conversations despite her age.

Carlisle Crown Court heard that after setting up a meeting at Whitehaven railway station on December 22, Jackson arrived by car with unopened boxes of condoms, a blanket and a bottle of “passion lotion”.

Jackson was arrested and charged with attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

He admitted the offence and was given a 16-month jail sentence suspended for two years.

Lisi Ke, prosecuting, said the online exchanges involving Jackson started with simple introductions. However, they became more “sexualised” and eventually turned “very explicit”. This was despite being told she was just 13.

Jackson suggested meeting in secluded places away from prying eyes.

Miss Ke said he told her his vehicle had tinted windows “so no-one could see her getting into the car or what they planned to do”.

The court heard Jackson was a man of previous good character, and had used the website on which he was eventually caught to seek out adult female partners.

His barrister Brendan Burke said Jackson had “vulnerabilities” and was in a “difficult emotional state” at the time following a relationship break-up.

Judge Barbara Forrester suspended the jail sentence because she said an immediate prison term would not allow Jackson, of Main Street, Egremont, to attend a sex offender group work course.

Jackson must complete a 35-day rehabilitation requirement and observe a six-month night time curfew.

March 2016

Sex offender fined after going abroad for second time without telling police

A registered sex offender has been ordered to pay £360 after failing to tell police for a second time that he was leaving the country.

Mihaita Pitigoi, of Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty before the town’s magistrates to failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register.

Prosecutor David Bryant said Pitigoi had received a caution in June 2014 for sexual activity with a female aged under 16.

The 24-year-old was made subject to the requirements of the Sex Offences Act for two years.

He registered with police on July 1, 2014.

On October 5, 2014, police were informed by the UK Border Agency that Pitigoi – who listened to proceedings through an interpreter – had travelled back to Romania.

When he returned he was interviewed by officers in Ipswich on October 30, 2014, and accepted a caution after admitting he had failed to tell them he was going abroad.

In an unannounced police visit to his home on December 16 last year Pitigoi told an officer he was intending to go to Romania again on January 24.

The chicken factory worker was reminded he must notify police about his date of travel at least a week beforehand.

Mr Bryant said: “He confirmed that he understood that he had remembered, and that he would come in and see the officer.”

However, on January 23 police were informed by the National Border Targeting Centre that Pitigoi had left the country for Romania at 6.20am that day, but had failed to tell an officer.

He returned on January 25, was interviewed by police, and confirmed he recalled the conversation on December 16 about formally notifying police of his intention to travel.

Mr Bryant said: “He confirmed he had no excuse. He had just forgotten.”

Jo Paton, representing Pitigoi, told the court it was not a deliberate attempt to avoid telling police he was going abroad.

Pitigoi had been busy with his family and preferred to go to see police with his brother who speaks better English than he does.

Magistrates fined Pitigoi £250 and ordered him to pay costs of £85, as well as £25 to the victims’ fund.

March 2016

Hunt for child rapist who fled court moments before he was found guilty

Police are hunting for a sex offender who fled court moments before he was found guilty of raping a child.

Tariq Javed, 37, of Aspinall Street, Rusholme , absconded from Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday, February 29.

Javed was found guilty in his absence of eight counts of sexual activity with a child under the age of 13.

A sentence date was arranged for March 21, 2016 and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Javed is known to have links with the Stockport and Manchester areas of Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Police believe Javed might try and flee the UK.

Detective Inspector Ian Cottrell said: “Javed has been convicted of incredibly serious offences committed against children.

“He is thought to be a flight risk and warnings have been put in place at ports and airports to ensure he does not escape the country, but faces punishment for his atrocious crime.

“I would like to make very clear that anyone found to be sheltering Javed will face arrest and prosecution.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

March 2016

Man who downloaded child sex abuse videos & photographs avoids prison

A married man who downloaded child sexual abuse videos and photographs has escaped a jail sentence.

Simon Barnatt-Smith was arrested in May 2014 after police raided his home and seized computer equipment.

Phil Howes, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that Barnatt-Smith admitted he had accessed child pornography and admitted using particular search terms to find the material.

Mr Howes said: “He said he started looking for music and then moved into adult pornography. He was then led into the indecent images of children area and returned there. He knew it was wrong.”

The court was told that the majority of images downloaded by Barnatt-Smith were of girls aged between 11 and 15 although some of the photographs featured children as young as five years old.

Barnatt-Smith, 47, of Lindisfarne Way, Grantham, admitted two charges of making a total of 403 indecent images of children on dates between June 24, 2013, and May 20, 2014.

He was given a community order with three years supervision and ordered to pay £535 prosecution costs. He was also ordered to complete a community sex offender group programme and given a five year sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Simon Hirst told him: “Until now you were of good character. I am told you are full of remorse, shame and regret. It seems to me that there is the prospect of rehabilitation in this case.

March 2016

Man who preyed on 12-year-old at Dunfermline park 25 years ago is facing justice

A man who preyed on a young girl in Dunfermline’s Pittencrieff Park a quarter of a century ago is finally facing justice for his crimes.

His victim, who was 12 years old at the time, broke down in tears in court after Richard Brockie, 77, admitted to past sex offences.

She said she had come to court to see justice being done.

And she criticised defence solicitor Stephen Morrison, who highlighted the fact Brockie’s offences happened 25 years ago.

“That doesn’t matter, I’m still living with it,” she said.

“I’ll be writing to the sheriff on the impact this has had on me.”

Brockie, of Katrine Crescent in Kirkcaldy, admitted that between March 16 1990 and September 3 1991 he used lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour towards a girl and carried out a solo sex act in her presence in the park.

The victim used to meet her friends in the park every Saturday afternoon and Brockie, dubbed “Randy Andy” by the girls, would often speak to them.

She said: “We were naive, just 12 when it started. We thought he was just a friendly old man. He would look like he was drunk but I think that was an act.

“When I reported this to the police I didn’t even know his real name. I just knew him as ‘Andy’ and that he used to drink in Raffles pub back at that time.”

The victim said she decided to report the matter to police after her own daughter was involved in an incident with a suspected sex offender.

Asked how the experiences in the park still affected her, the woman said she had endured sleepless nights.

“It all started to affect me when I became a mum myself and I can’t get the vision of him out of my mind.

“I knew I had to report it to stop these people getting away with it. When all the cases came out with Jimmy Savile, Max Clifford and the others on TV, it blew my head, thinking about it all.”

Depute fiscal Claire Bremner told Dunfermline Sheriff Court: “The first occasion which caused alarm took place in the springtime of 1990.

The complainer was within the park along with her friends when she encountered the accused.

Ms Bremner said Brockie was under the influence of alcohol at the time and that during the course of the encounter carried out a solo sex act in the presence of the complainer.

The behaviour occurred on a number of occasions, she added.

He will be sentenced on April 20.

March 2016

Man, 30, admits raping four-year-old boy

A 30-YEAR-OLD man has pleaded guilty to raping a boy aged four and taking indecent photographs of him.

Tyler Lyness was warned by a judge at Bradford Crown Court today that he will go to jail for a long time.

Lyness, of Williams Road, Steeton, near Keighley, West Yorkshire is in Leeds Prison awaiting sentence on April 14 for seven offences involving the rape and sexual abuse of the child and making indecent photos of children, all committed last year.

March 2016

Former council official caught with indecent images of children admits 39 offences

A shamed official who occupied one of the most senior posts in a former council has pleaded guilty to a string of charges of possessing indecent images of children.

Trevor John Stewart (62), a former senior environmental health officer at the now defunct Antrim Borough Council, stood with his hands behind his back at Antrim Crown Court yesterday and showed no emotion as he replied guilty to 39 charges.

Stewart’s high-profile position at the council meant he used to attend meetings with councillors.

But he has now been placed on the sex offenders’ register ahead of sentencing in April.

As he was released on continuing bail, he made no comment outside court.

Stewart admitted 36 counts of having indecent images of children on various dates between September 25, 2007 and August 29, 2013.

The defendant, from Grannystown Road in Portglenone, Co Antrim, also admitted three further charges of possessing prohibited images of children.

Details of where the offences were detected have not yet been revealed in court.

Stewart no longer works for Antrim Borough Council, which merged with another local authority and is now known as Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

A council spokeswoman said: “Trevor Stewart was employed as a senior environmental health officer by the former Antrim Borough Council. He was dismissed by the former Antrim Borough Council on August 30, 2013.”

In court, Stewart, who wore a suit, shirt and tie, was flanked by a female prison officer in the dock as he admitted the litany of offences.

Defence barrister Neil Moore told the court that given the grave nature of the offences he had asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Judge Desmond Marrinan QC said he was placing Stewart on the sex offenders’ register and that the exact length of time would be determined later.

The judge told the defendant, who previously had a clear criminal record, the risk of re-offending would be examined.

Judge Marrinan said the crimes in question were serious matters and added: “These are not victimless crimes”.

He told how the children involved had been exposed to harm by people seeking to perhaps make money from individuals such as Stewart.

When bailed at Antrim Magistrates Court last year, Stewart was barred from entering the offices of the former Antrim Borough Council or initiating contact with a council employee without the knowledge of the public protection unit. He was also banned from using the internet.

March 2016

Community order for paedophile with ‘category A’ child sexual abuse images

A MAN from Tamworth who admitted making and possessing thousands of indecent images of children has been ordered to be put on a sex offenders register.

Stephen Roy Young, aged 64, appeared at Stafford Crown Court on Monday (February 29) when he pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent photographs and three charges of possessing indecent photographs.

Young, of Craven, Stonydelph, was charged with making 160 images of children under category A, defined as involving children being subjected to penetrative sex acts.

He also possessed 62 indecent images of category A.

And Young admitted charges of making 166 indecent images of children at category B.

He was also charged with having 25 indecent images of category B in his possession.

Young was also charged with possessing 65,389 indecent images of children of category C and he admitted a charge of making 92,170 indecent images of children of category C.

Along with remaining on the sex offenders register for five years, Young was sentenced to a community order.

Young’s court appearance came as a result of the work of Operation Safenet.

DS Steve Chadwick said: “Staffordshire Police launched Operation Safenet to safeguard children by detecting abuse and prosecuting offenders for the possession and distribution of indecent images.

“We will not hesitate to tackle people who choose to abuse children in this way and bring them to justice.”