Latest Offenders

Description

A convicted rapist issued threats to a court before being handed a fourth life sentence for attempting to stab a prison officer's neck.

David O’Brien, 47, already serving three life sentences for attempting to murder inmates, appeared via videolink at Manchester Crown Court for the October 2022 attack at HMP Manchester.

He previously admitted attempting to murder inmate Danny Fitzsimons by attacking him with a metal bar in the gym at Ashworth Hospital.

He also admitted attacking inmate Peter Harris by approaching from behind and "slicing his neck" with an improvised knife made from a toothbrush and razor blade.

In another incident, after meeting inmate Dean Rawlinson the previous day, O’Brien asked for a cigarette, led him to a shower block, charged at him with a weapon from his waistband, and inflicted a 12cm laceration to his left cheek requiring surgery.

Prosecutor Virginia Hayton described preexisting tensions with the officer. On October 3, 2022, O’Brien went out of camera sight in the kitchen, armed himself with a sharp improvised weapon from cutlery, then struck the officer's neck as they left. He admitted aiming for the neck, but the injury was minor.

Interrupting, O’Brien said: “Are they [the victim] not waiting for me to get f***ing slammed by the judge?” He added: “I never used a weapon on a screw ever. When you’ve got screws been in the business two years, juiced out on steroids, bringing in mobile phones for me. Trying to get me kicked off the wing, assaulting me. There were five or six waiting for me.”

In a victim impact statement, the officer said the attack had a “profound effect,” causing fear, anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, night terrors, irritability, withdrawal, and strained relationships. “I used to be outgoing, now I only leave the house to attend work or if I’m prompted by my partner to engage in daily things.”

Ms. Hayton noted O’Brien’s “extensive and serious” record: nine years for two rapes, 49 months in 2015 for robbery, and life sentences for attempted murder in April 2017, December 2017, and January 2023.

Interrupting, O’Brien said: “Read them all out - I want to hear them all. If you’re going to read all my convictions, read them all." Later: “Get f***ing on with it, I am getting bored of it and I need a s**t. What’s the f***ing point in another life sentence when I’m already doing three. I should be on the streets, when there’s terrorists out there blowing our kids up. Sentence me, I’m getting bored. Next time you sentence me it’s going to be for something else. Hurry up. Taking three years to bring this to court and then three hours to sentence me.”

Defence barrister Matthew O’Neill said O’Brien, diagnosed with personality disorder, offered no personal mitigation. “The injury caused was not significant. He is currently serving three separate life sentences and the facts relating to this offence may not warrant life imprisonment.”

O’Brien interrupted: “I really don’t care - you know if you want to life me off, I don’t care. Before you do sentence me, I will be back, and it will get worse. On my mother’s life. Do what you are doing, making it f***ing worth it. Hope every one of them dies of f***ing cancer. I hope one of my people catches up with you, the CPS, judges. For the f***ing lies, giving me 25 years. Can’t do convictions properly, reading just the worst ones out. Your court is f***ing me over and f***ing me over. Vengeance will be sweeter. Give me a life sentence judge, I’m not getting out any time. It’s destroyed my life. Splashed all over the M.E.N. You’ve got people doing worse for murder and whatever else.”

Judge Nicholas Dean KC muted O’Brien’s microphone. He said O’Brien was convicted of attempting grievous bodily harm, claiming it was revenge over a betrayed prison deal. “During the course of the trial he displayed highly volatile behaviour as he has today in the course of this sentencing hearing. Mr O’Brien has expressed threats during this hearing, and so I am satisfied that he is classed as a dangerous offender. I am satisfied there is a significant risk of him committing further offences and a significant risk of causing serious harm. I am sure there is a risk it will likely carry on in the future.”

O’Brien received a life sentence with a minimum four-and-a-half-year term before Parole Board consideration. The judge requested the hearing record, including threats, be sent to the prison for future release evaluations.

Description

An Aberdeen double rapist has been jailed for seven years after a judge took into account his young age and autism diagnosis.

Thomas Wade, 26, was convicted of raping two women and domestically abusing two more at Aberdeen’s High Court after a trial last month.

Description

A convicted sex offender who repeatedly breached a court order by concealing an iPad containing child abuse images has been jailed.

Samuel Teubler, 29, from Tunbridge Wells, was subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) imposed by Maidstone Crown Court after his October 2022 conviction for making indecent photographs of children and possessing extreme pornography. He received an eight-month suspended prison sentence at the time.

The court heard this month that Teubler breached the SHPO twice in 2023 and 2024—avoiding jail both times—before being caught with the device in June this year. Police, suspicious of him hiding his face while driving, detained him initially for a drugs search, then discovered the iPad Air in his rucksack after checks revealed his offender status.

Prosecutor Sophie Childs said it was “clear” Teubler had been using the device, which he neither disclosed to his Violent and Sex Offender Register (ViSOR) manager nor produced during inspections on May 7 and May 29. Analysis found 13 low-level abuse images on it, including depictions of a five-year-old girl’s bare genitalia and a naked 10-year-old boy.

Defence counsel Andrew Cohen said Teubler hid his face because he was “fed up being stopped” by police, citing his “quite difficult background” of being “effectively abandoned by his parents when young,” plus homelessness and poor mental health.

Teubler, of Holden Park Road, pleaded guilty to three SHPO breaches, one count of making indecent images, and breaching two suspended sentences for prior offences involving deleted internet history and undisclosed bank cards.

After being spared custody three times since 2022, Teubler was sentenced on September 8 to two-and-a-half years in prison. Judge Oliver Saxby KC said the latest offending was “aggravated substantially” by his previous convictions. Upon release, Teubler faces the same 10-year SHPO but indefinite sex offender notification requirements.

Description

A man has been jailed for eight years for rape.

William Kyaruhanga was handed the sentence at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 11 September.

The 58-year-old, of Belgrave Road, Macclesfield, had been found guilty of one count of rape.

On Saturday 30 December 2023, the adult female victim had been with friends at an address in Congleton. They had been drinking alcohol so she asked if anyone could give her a lift home. Her friend contacted Kyaruhanga, who she knew, to ask if he could take the victim back home.

Kyaruhanga arrived and stayed at the address for a while, and the victim fell asleep next to him on the sofa while her friends went upstairs to sleep.

The victim woke up to Kyaruhanga raping her. She pushed him away before going upstairs to tell her friend what had happened. Kyaruhanga was confronted and left the address. The victim then called police the following day to report the incident and Kyaruhanga was subsequently arrested.

Following an investigation, he was charged and was found guilty after a trial.

Detective Constable Doug Whitfield said:

“I welcome the substantial custodial sentence handed to Kyaruhanga, who tried to deny the offences, but the jury ultimately found him guilty of this despicable crime.

“Kyaruhanga chose to take advantage of a woman who was unable to consent while she was asleep. He clearly had no regard for her welfare or the impact this would have on her going forwards – I hope the conclusion of this case will provide her with some sense of closure.

“I also hope this serves as an example of how seriously we take offences of this nature. We will investigate all reports of sexual offences, with the needs and wishes of the victim as our main priority.”

Description

A sex offender has been further sentenced after another survivor came forward when he recognised him on an online article. 

Allan Richards, 63, of no fixed address, is currently serving a 22-year jail term after he was previously convicted of 40 offences at Birmingham Crown Court in 2016.

When the survivor saw the case in the media, he recognised Richards as the man who sexually abused him when he was younger. He reported this to us in 2022, prompting a further investigation into Richards’ offending.

The abuse happened in Rugeley in the 90s. Richards was a serving police officer with West Midlands Police at the time.

After being interviewed in relation to the offences, we secured the evidence needed to charge Richards with two counts of indecent assault on a boy and one count of inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency.

Richards denied the offences but was found guilty by a jury at an earlier trial at Stafford Crown Court in August this year. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment at Stafford Crown Court on Friday 5 September. His sentence will run consecutive to the sentence he is already serving.

Detective Sergeant Gemma Szalapski, from our rape and serious sexual offences unit, said:

“Richards, despite already serving a lengthy sentence for an array of historic crimes, has been rightfully brought to justice for the abuse he has subjected yet another victim to.

“I want this to serve as an example to any survivors of sexual offences that we are absolutely determined to act against those responsible and to support you as much as possible. It doesn’t matter how recent or long ago it might have happened, what matters is that we’re able to speak to you and investigate reports as robustly as possible.”

Description

A community leader who abused his position of trust to carry out sexual offences against children in Chatham has been jailed.

Qari Sher Mohammad targeted a total of four children over almost a decade until his brave victims raised the alarm.

Concerns about his behaviour were first raised in 2018, when one of the children revealed he had touched her sexually, while carrying out duties connected to his role as an imam. This happened at a mosque in Thorold Road, between March 2014 and October 2016.

Arrested 

He was arrested and interviewed in April that year, but the investigation did not progress to a charge at that stage due to concerns about the potential impact a trial would have on the young victim.

Between May 2022 and December 2023, Mohammad sexually assaulted three further children and he was arrested on 11 December.

As part of their enquiries, investigating officers returned to the victim who had made the previous allegation in 2018. Now an adult, she stated she wished to support a police prosecution for the crimes committed against her.

Mohammad, of Woodford Road, Forest Gate, London was charged with multiple counts of sexual touching of a child. He denied the offences and, on 7 March 2025, was convicted at Canterbury Crown Court on 16 indictments.

Jailed

On Friday 12 September 2025, Mohammad, 61, was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. He will be the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years once he is released. 

Detective Constable Conor Middleton said:

‘This man was in a position of authority when these appalling offences were committed. The children showed immense courage by reporting his actions and I would like to commend them and their parents for assisting our investigation.

‘Mohammad is now serving a prison sentence and he should reflect on his actions and the impact they had on these vulnerable victims.’

Description

A convicted sex offender from Maidstone has been jailed again for making and viewing indecent images of children.

Peter Smith, formerly of Ellesmere in Shropshire, tried to avoid responsibility for the offences by claiming devices seized for analysis were second hand and implied previous owners or visitors to his household were the ‘real’ offenders.

Prior conviction

In December 2021, the 74 year old, who had been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) following a previous conviction for similar offences, used a tablet to search for and make sexually explicit comments about an indecent image of a child.

The device was being monitored, as part of the ongoing SHPO, and the illegal activity was flagged to specialist officers.

Smith was arrested and a search of his property led to the seizure of a mobile phone and two tablet devices.

He pleaded guilty to breaching the SHPO by possessing internet-connected devices without notifying police but denied responsibility for offences relating to the indecent images.

Sentenced

Following a complex investigation and lengthy trial, Smith was convicted at Maidstone Crown Court and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on Monday 8 September 2025.

Detective Sergeant Si Groves, said:

‘Smith is a prolific offender who displays a deep-rooted propensity to continue acting in the same way, with no regard for the law, nor the victims in his offending.

‘He refused to take responsibility for his behaviour throughout the investigation and the trial and at one point was described as

‘being on the cusp of irritating’ by the presiding judge. ‘Upon his release, Smith will continue to be subject to strict conditions.’

Description

Lengthy prison sentences have been given to three sexual predators who repeatedly raped a 12-year-old girl after she was lured into a car in Dover.

Kevin Horvath and Ivan Turtak approached their victim in a supermarket car park on Sunday 11 August 2024 before driving her to various locations and subjecting her to horrific abuse for several days along with a third offender, Ernest Gunar.

All were convicted of multiple child sex offences including rape following a trial earlier this year and were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 12 September 2025.

Horvath, 26, of King Street, Dover, and Turtak, 38, of George Street, were both jailed for 17 years whilst Gunar, 27, of Sidney Street, Folkestone, was sentenced to 19 years.

All three men, who are Slovakian nationals, will also serve an additional three years on licence under the terms of extended sentences.

Abused

It was revealed during the offenders’ trial that the girl was plied with drugs and alcohol whilst being repeatedly sexually abused, having first been taken to Turtak’s flat in Dover before then being driven to a caravan owned by Gunar in Folkestone.

She was told she would be killed if she raised the alarm or tried to escape but was eventually able to leave the caravan whilst the men were asleep on Tuesday 13 August and later opened up to Kent Police officers about the ordeal she had been put through.

House-to-house enquiries were immediately carried out, which led to the discovery of CCTV footage that showed the victim getting into a silver Skoda Fabia in the supermarket car park. The registration number of the vehicle was visible and traced to Horvath as the registered owner, who was arrested along with Turtak in the early hours of Thursday 15 August.

Gunar was then identified as the third offender and arrested three days later at Glasgow Airport in a failed attempt to escape justice.

All three were forensically linked to the offences whilst there was also an indecent image of the victim on Turtak’s mobile phone, which was taken inside his flat.

Courage

Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Smith of Kent Police said:

‘Nobody should have to suffer sexual abuse like the victim in this case did and I would like to commend her for the strength and courage she displayed throughout the investigation and court process.

‘Kevin Horvath, Ivan Turtak and Ernest Gunar are clearly three very dangerous offenders who thought nothing about picking a child up off the street and effectively keeping her prisoner in order to fulfil their own depraved sexual needs. They will now be behind bars where they belong for a significant period of time, which I hope is of some comfort to the victim and her family as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

‘Incidents of this nature are fortunately very rare in Kent and I am extremely proud of every officer and member of staff who worked so hard to identify the offenders and ultimately bring them to justice, so they can cause no further harm to innocent members of the public.’

Description

A 45-year-old man has been sent back to prison after he admitted to breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and failing to comply with Sex Offenders’ Register notification requirements.

Simon Giles, previously of Northampton, was issued with a SHPO in June 2024, which placed him on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

The SHPO was issued with certain conditions he was required to abide by, including notifying the police of any social media usage, as well as not disposing of any internet devices without authorisation.

However, on June 3 this year, Northamptonshire Police’s MOSOVO Team was made aware that he had been using the social media platform Connected2, something he had failed to notify them of. He had also sold an iPad without permission.

He was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of breaching his SHPO and one count of failing to comply with his notification requirements, after he failed to declare a social networking username.

On June 11, Giles appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to all three charges, and he was remanded into custody after his case was committed to the county’s crown court for sentencing.

Last month (August 27), Giles was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court to 12 months in prison.

Risk Management Officer Lucy Fraser-Allen, from the Force’s MOSOVO team, said:

“Registered sex offenders are managed very closely by our team and any breach of their conditions, no matter how small, is dealt with robustly and with a zero-tolerance approach.

“Giles was well aware of the need to make us aware of any new social media usage or usernames, but he failed to do so and he has been shown the consequences as a result.

“It is our duty to protect the most vulnerable people in our society from people like Simon Giles and we will continue working hard to ensure that anyone else who breaches the terms of their SHPO is brought to justice.”

Description

A man has been jailed after he admitted raping and sexually abusing a child in Northwich.

Steven Hargreaves appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 12 September where he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison.

The 36-year-old from Northwich, had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

During the hearing, the court was told that the case began in June 2025 when the victims’ mother discovered a number of concerning messages from Hargreaves on the victims’ mobile phone.

After speaking to the victim, she revealed that Hargreaves had been sexually abusing and repeatedly raping her over a number of years.

The allegations were reported to detectives from the Public Protection Unit at Northwich and an investigation was launched.

Hargreaves was quickly arrested in relation to the incidents and during questioning he denied sexually abusing or raping the victim.

Despite his denial, he was later charged in relation to the offences, and as a result of the strength of the evidence against him, he pleaded guilty to the charges.

In addition to his prison sentence, Hargreaves was also handed a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a restraining order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Felicity Gregory, who led the investigation said:

“Firstly, I want to praise the victim for the bravery and courage that she has shown throughout this investigation.

“Nobody should have to experience what she has been through, and I hope that the sentence handed to Hargreaves today will provide her with some closure.

“I also hope that the sentence encourages other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us.

“We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, and any allegation we receive will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority.

“Victims should never feel ashamed to talk about what they have been subjected to. They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside, and all victims of sexual offences have the right to anonymity.”

Description

A violent Ayrshire rapist, William Byrne, 45, is awaiting sentence for abusing two former partners, leaving them "too afraid to say no."

At the High Court in Glasgow on September 11, Byrne, an inmate at HMP Kilmarnock, pleaded guilty to six charges—three rapes and three assaults. Prosecutors accepted not guilty pleas to 21 further allegations.

The first victim, known to Byrne for years, initially described him as "charming" with the pair having "a great time." His behavior "changed" weeks later.

In July 2018, he "made her have sex" in a car, with such incidents said to have "happened a lot." Another time, he awoke her by lunging with a pillow, pressing it into her face "using his body weight" while shouting "go on, scream, scream." She escaped to the bathroom and fled.

During an argument over her phone that month, Byrne returned with an 18-inch metal pole, threatening to "break her shins" before saying "f**k it" and aiming two blows at her legs.

"She would regularly have sex with him to avoid arguments," the advocate depute said. "She knew if she didn’t he could become violent. She felt coerced to have sex during the relationship."

She felt "manipulated" into sexual acts, often staying awake for his early-morning returns by setting alarms, believing "this would help make things better." At one point, she "felt she had lost all feeling of self-worth."

The final rape occurred in October 2019, post-breakup, when she felt "too afraid to say no." Offenses happened in Irvine and Kilmarnock.

The second victim endured similar violence in Kilmarnock. Byrne hit her with a can, pulled her onto a bed, repeatedly slammed her head against the headboard, punched her face, then held a pillow over it, shouting "just shut up" until she stopped screaming.

He also lit a candle and poured wax into her hair. In another incident, he threatened her with a bread knife, cutting her back, then leaned over her on the bed telling her to be quiet. He made a "large cut" on her leg, leaving a permanent scar, before "tuning out" and apologizing.

Byrne's defense noted prior custody time, including for domestic offenses against one victim in 2021.

Lord Renucci deferred sentencing until later this year, remanding Byrne in custody and adding him to the sex offenders register.

Description

A Paedophile has been jailed after he was extradited from the United States to face justice for crimes he committed almost 50 years ago.

Robert Flynn, an American citizen, was working in the UK in the 1970s when he sexually abused his teenage victim over a number of years.

Flynn returned to the US in 1976 but after the victim reported what had happened to him to police in 2021 an extradition process was launched.

And in May 2025 the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) and the U.S. Marshals Office of International Operations (OIO) arrested Flynn at an address in Ohio.

He was flown back to the UK and was arrested at Heathrow Airport in June this year.

Flynn, 77, of Dunham Road, Maple Heights, Ohio, earlier admitted four counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16. The crimes were committed in the Rossendale area.

He appeared at Preston Crown Court today (Thursday, September 11th) where he was jailed for nine years and eight months. He was also given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO)

In a statement the victim, now in his 60s, said Flynn’s actions had affected his whole adult life but that with the help and support of friends he had survived and after coming forward and reporting the abuse to police he was rebuilding his life and was ready to be happy.

The investigating officer Mick Cross, of the Major Crime Review Team, said:

“First and foremost I would like to thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward and speak about what happened to him. Flynn’s abuse has had such a significant impact on the course of his adult life, and I hope the fact that Flynn has admitted his guilt and now been jailed for his crimes gives the victim some sense that justice has been done and that he can continue to move forward with his life.
“I also hope that the fact that we have secured justice after so long and after securing Flynn’s return to the UK might give others who have suffered similar abuse the confidence to come forward and report it safe in the knowledge we will investigate professionally and with sensitivity.”

Description

A man has been sentenced to 13 years in jail after being found guilty of two counts of rape against a 14 year old girl in Bradford.  

Rajae Paul aged 26 of Barmouth Terrace was convicted by a jury on 14 August of two rapes. 

The defendant built up a relationship with the victim over Snapchat and Instagram using a fake name and saying that he was 16 years old.  

After a few weeks chatting, Paul arranged to meet with the victim in Bradford.

On June 5 2021 the victim travelled to Bradford to meet with Paul, he took her to Peel Park and it’s there where he violently raped her.  

Today (11 September) Paul was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to 13 years in jail. He was also given a sexual harm prevention order for 25 years and was told to sign the sex offenders register for life.  

Detective Constable Louise Clayton of Bradford District Safeguarding Unit said:

“I would first like to recognise the sheer bravery of our victim in this case and for her courage to come forward and report this to police at such a young age. She has also been able to navigate the long and complex judicial process to get to this point.  

“I hope today she can find comfort in the sentence, knowing that he cannot hurt her or any other woman again.  

“Paul is a violent sex offender who lied from the very start and continued to lie throughout police interviews and in court.  He has never shown any remorse for his actions.  

“If you have been a victim of a sexual offence and haven’t yet reported it, we have specialist teams who will listen to you and support you throughout the process, it will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and professionalism.”

Description

Pervert sex attacker targeted girl on train and said 'you're game'

Nathan Russell, a 28-year-old man with no fixed abode, sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl on a train in March 2020. While intoxicated, he boarded the train at Leasowe station, engaged the girl in conversation after his friend left, mentioned his prison history, and proceeded to stroke her thigh for about 10 minutes, attempt to kiss her (which she dodged), and touch her sexually over her clothes. He asked if she was "game," implying sexual interest, despite her refusals. The girl moved his hand away, and he did not persist further.

Russell has a extensive criminal record with 40 previous convictions for 59 offenses, including battery, prior sexual assault (touching a 17-year-old girl at a train station in 2018, leading to a seven-year sex offender registration), and drunk and disorderly conduct. At the time of the train assault, he was on bail for an earlier January 2020 incident where he punched and kicked a man in Birkenhead after being denied alcohol or money. He also breached sex offender register rules by failing to report weekly as required after declaring homelessness.

In a victim impact statement, the girl described severe effects: PTSD, sleep issues, fear of further attacks, avoidance of going out alone, and ongoing therapy, noting a shift from being sociable to withdrawn.

At Liverpool Crown Court on July 20, 2020, Russell pleaded guilty to sexual assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and breaching the register. His defense highlighted his alcohol dependency, remorse (calling his actions "disgusting"), vulnerability after his mother's 2017 death, and unstable living situation ("sofa to sofa"). Judge David Swinnerton sentenced him to 28 months in prison (half on license), a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and 10 years on the sex offenders register.

Update 2025-09-11

A convicted sex offender is back behind bars after stealing food from a Wirral branch of B&M.

Nathan Russell, 33, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Magistrates Court to charges of theft from a shop and failing to comply with the notification requirements of his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

The court heard that Russell, of no fixed abode, stole food worth £34.22 from B&M in Wirral on Friday, September 5, 2025.

At the time of the offence, Russell was subject to both a community order (CO) and a suspended sentence order (SSO).

He also admitted failing without reasonable excuse to comply with the notification requirements of his SHPO by not notifying police at Birkenhead Police Station within three days of his release from custody.

The magistrates sentenced him to eight weeks in prison for his latest offences.

Russell was made subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order after sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl on a train in Wirral five years ago.

The court heard how, on Sunday, March 1, 2020, at around 8pm, his 16-year-old victim spotted Russell carrying a case of beer, swigging from a can, and arguing with a member of station staff at Leasowe station as she waited to board her train.

Russell and another man, whom the victim assumed to be his friend, boarded the train and sat in the same carriage as the girl.

When Russell’s friend left the train, Russell switched seats to move closer to the victim and began engaging her in conversation.

During the conversation, the girl began to feel increasingly uncomfortable as Russell touched her inappropriately—an ordeal that lasted over 10 minutes.

His terrified victim was afraid to challenge Russell, as he had told her he had served time in prison.

In a previous incident, Russell had touched a 17-year-old girl at a train station, which resulted in a conviction and him signing the sex offenders register for seven years.

He was sentenced to 28 months in prison for the 2020 offence.

Description

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The 34-year-old of Rigby Avenue was previously convicted of one count of attempt rape of a girl under 13 following a 6-day trial at Chester Crown Court.

He was also found not guilty of two counts of rape.

Cheshire Police launched an investigation into the abuse in 2021, following a disclosure made by the victim.

The jury heard how McPhee had attempted to rape the victim on a number of occasions, when she was between the age of 9 and 11 years old.

McPhee was investigated and subsequently charged.

Detective Constable Lindsay Wooffitt said:

"Firstly, I would like to commend the victim for the strength and courage she has shown throughout this case, and I hope the sentence handed to McPhee will provide her closure and a chance to move on with her life.

"McPhee is a dangerous individual, who sexually abused a little girl. He showed no remorse throughout the entire investigation, and even made his victim relive the experiences in court.

“Thankfully, as a result of the evidence gathered and the bravery of the victim, the jury were able to see through his lies, and he is now being held accountable for his actions."

DC Wooffitt added:

“As this case shows, Cheshire Constabulary takes any allegation of sexual offences extremely seriously, no matter how long ago they relate to.

“Any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority. Victims should never feel ashamed to talk about what they have been subjected to.

“They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside, and all victims of sexual offences have the right to anonymity for life.”