Latest Offenders

Description

A former police officer has been jailed for secretly filming a young girl using the toilet and collecting a stash of indecent images of children.

John Bishop, 88, who served in the force for 30 years, invented bizarre excuses involving guitar lessons and diggers to explain the material.

The victim's father told him during sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday: "You disgust me. I hope the shame eats you up inside for the rest of your life." In a statement read to the court, the father called Bishop's actions the "vilest thing a person can do" and labeled him a "sick minded individual," adding: "We can only hope that, for the time you have left, you feel remorse for what you've done and understand how your actions have affected our daughter and continue to do so."

The court heard that police acted on intelligence linking Bishop's IP address to uploaded "indecent media," executing a search warrant at his Roby home on November 20, 2024. Eight devices were seized; a Samsung phone and PC contained 26 category A images and videos (the most serious, including rape), two in category B, and 243 in category C.

Fourteen images from 2017, taken by Bishop, showed a primary school-aged girl using the toilet. Under interview, he denied any sexual interest in children, claiming the material "popped up" during searches for guitar lessons and diggers after his cancer diagnosis. He has no previous convictions.

Defense counsel Emily Land said:

"This defendant is 88 years old, has no previous convictions and is a hard working member of the community. He has worked since he was 16 in the police force. He tells me that he continues to help out his elderly neighbours. He is currently looking after a 94-year-old woman, who he helps by taking shopping and doing jobs around the house.

"Your honour will be aware of his physical health and mental health issues, having been diagnosed with depression. This is clearly someone who requires rehabilitation. The suggestions [made by the Probation Service] might help him to identify the issues that are underlying. He does take responsibility for his actions. I would say that this is someone who can be rehabilitated, and prison is not the only option."

Bishop admitted taking indecent images of children, voyeurism, possession of indecent images, and three counts of making indecent images. Appearing in a purple and white pinstriped shirt and purple tie, he was jailed for 14 months.

Judge Stuart Driver KC said:

"You used a camera to film her on the toilet. You kept those images for 10 years or so. There is mitigation. At 88 years old, you are of previous good character.

"You have a long standing diagnosis of cancer of the eye, which seems, thankfully, under control. You have mental health problems of anxiety and depression and memory issues. You have made some effort to rehabilitate yourself.

"It is submitted that the sentence should be suspended. If the only charges were offences three to six [making and possessing indecent images], there may have been a strong case for that, notwithstanding that the author of the pre-sentence report finds you to be a high risk of serious harm to children.

"However, charges one and two [taking indecent images and voyeurism] are in a different category. They were a gross intrusion into the life of a seven-year-old child that was planned, deliberate and exploitative. Appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody."

Bishop received a 10-year restraining order, sexual harm prevention order, and must sign the sex offenders' register for a decade.

Description

A sex offender was found with indecent images of children after failing to comply with notification requirements.

Craig Stewart, 33, of Dalryple Way in Norwich, was placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years in 2016 after convictions for using an anonymous online chat site to groom and film young girls, and possessing hundreds of images and videos, some secretly recorded. He must update police annually on personal details, including his whereabouts.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard that officers visited his home after he missed the July deadline last year, seizing devices where downloaded photos of children (categories B and C) were discovered.

Stewart pleaded guilty to the non-compliance and possession charges. He will be sentenced on May 13.

The court was told he was undergoing a personal crisis and is working with support organization Stop It Now to address his ‘addiction’ to viewing photos.

Description

A man from Neath Port Talbot has been jailed after pleading guilty to child sex offences.

34-year-old Jamie Davies, from Port Talbot, used the social media platform Snapchat to offer to cook food for his 14-year-old victim in exchange for the child performing a sex act in front of him.

Davies also sent the child a photograph of his penis.

Davies pleaded guilty to causing/inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, three counts of possessing an indecent photograph of a child and one count of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

Davies has been sentenced to 28 months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Kristian Burt said:

“Jamie Davies is a predatory individual who was under no doubt as to the age of the boy he was sending sexually explicit messages to. He is absolutely deserving of going to prison.

“Let this serve as a warning that such predatory behaviour will not be tolerated, and that we must remain vigilant in protecting our children.”

Description

Twenty years since his offending began, a child sex offender has been left facing the consequences of his crimes.

Nathan Glover was jailed for 15 years when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 11 March).

His offending was brought to the attention of police in 2021 when one of his victims came forward to report what had happened. As an investigation progressed, two other victims also disclosed they had been sexually abused by him when they were children.

They told officers from our Child Abuse Investigation Unit’s (CAIU) non-recent team that Glover’s offending occurred between 2006 and 2011 in Leicester and Skegness.

In interview, 46-year-old Glover denied any wrongdoing but was subsequently charged with several offences.

He continued to maintain his innocence but on 27 November 2025, following a trial at Leicester Crown Court, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Glover, of Ardbeg Road in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, was also made subject to a restraining order and Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Detective Sergeant Anna Sherwin, from the CAIU, was the officer in the case. She said:

“The victims in this case have lives their lives knowing what happened to them for a considerable amount of time and had to re-live their ordeal in front of a jury.

“I hope the outcome of this case has provided them with a degree of closure and allows them to move on with their lives.

“If you’ve been a victim of sexual abuse, it’s never too late to come forward and seek justice.”

Description

Gerald Peck of York Villas, Brighton, who described himself as a body and energy therapist, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for two counts of assault by penetration and three counts of sexual assault of a female.

He also received a restraining order and was ordered to pay the victim £9,730 in compensation for therapy costs within 10 months.

The victim, a woman in her 40s, reported that Peck, 77, sexually assaulted her multiple times over an extended period during therapy sessions.  

She sought Peck’s services after he advertised himself as a private body and energy therapist. He claimed his treatment would alleviate her depression and physical pain.

During therapy, Peck told the victim that skin-to-skin contact was necessary and claimed that such contact was part of her treatment for trauma. He further stated that penetration and intimate touching would be the only way to relieve her tension as part of the therapy. By presenting this as legitimate therapy, Peck used his position of trust to justify behaviour that was inappropriate, abusive, and entirely outside any acceptable professional boundaries.

Peck was arrested, charged, and on Wednesday, 4 February 2024, at Lewes Crown Court Peck was found guilty on all five counts of sexual assault of a female. On Thursday (12 March), he was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court, to 11 years in prison.

Detective Constable Jazz Gannon said:

“The victim’s courage and determination were central to securing the sentence for serious sexual offences committed by a therapist against his client.

“Her strength has brought accountability and highlighted the critical importance of maintaining clear, ethical boundaries between therapists and those they are entrusted to support.

“We hope her bravery encourages greater awareness, accountability, and stronger safeguarding within therapeutic environments. Her resilience throughout this process has been essential in revealing the truth, and her willingness to speak out has helped raise awareness across services, ensuring similar reports are recognised and addressed more effectively in the future.”

Description

A sexual predator was caught attempting to rape a woman on a Brighton beach.

Bereke Russom, 32, from Eritrea, stalked the victim before attacking her around 3am on August 27, 2022. He was stopped by a beach patrol on a quad bike.

Russom was sentenced in absentia to eight years at Lewes Crown Court after failing to appear for sentencing, having fled bail during his January trial upon seeing CCTV evidence disproving his lies to police.

Prosecutor Richard Sedgwick said efforts to locate Russom had failed.

The court heard Russom traveled from Gatwick to Brighton. The victim, separated from her group after a night out, called a friend when alone. Russom snatched her phone, continued talking, refused to reveal their location, and hung up.

He dragged her to the beach, pinned her down, forced himself on her, and exposed his penis while pulling open her clothes. She told him to stop.

The patrol spotted him on top of the distressed woman and called police.

In her victim impact statement, she said: "After that night, I lost a part of myself I’m no longer sure I will ever get back."

Russom claimed they talked all night after she approached him in a bar, but he needed a translator and admitted forgetting his ID, preventing bar entry. CCTV showed her alone when he grabbed her phone and him leading her to the beach.

A jury convicted him after a five-day trial.

Defense barrister Steve Wedd apologized:

"In mitigation, I have a handful of nothings. I have no client and no expectation of him attending court any time soon or surrendering for sentence."

Recorder James Hay said: "He must’ve identified she was very drunk and alone. Made clear by taking control of her phone, refusing to answer questions, he must’ve formed the intention to rape her. It was only by sheer chance this was spotted by beach patrol on a quad bike."

Russom received eight years for attempted rape and six concurrent for sexual assault by penetration. Last seen in Leeds, West Yorkshire, he must serve at least two-thirds in custody before parole eligibility if apprehended, and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

Description

A registered sex offender has been jailed for asking a sexually explicit question to two girls under the age of 16 near Bath.

David Blackwood, 58, of Trinity Road, Combe Down, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child, for failing to comply with requirements of the Sex Offenders’ Register, and for breaching a sexual harm prevention order and was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 3 March.

As well as the immediate 12-month custodial sentence, he will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the next 10 years and must pay a £187 victim surcharge and £84 towards court costs.

On the afternoon of Wednesday 4 February, Blackwood approached two young girls who were walking home from school and asked them a question which was sexually explicit in nature, before running off.

The incident was then reported by the mother of one of the victims to police.

Following a swift investigation, led by acting Sergeant Cox, and PCs McFarlane, Osborne and Bush from the Bath Outers Neighbourhood Team, Blackwood was arrested, charged and remanded for court on Wednesday 11 February.

During his arrest, officers found Blackwood had not registered a new bank card in his possession and therefore breached supervision requirements which were already in place.

Neighbourhoods’ Inspector Dudley Bond said:

“This is an appalling incident involving two children, who bravely did the right thing by telling a responsible adult about what they experienced which was therefore reported to us.

“Our neighbourhood officers carried out a thorough investigation, which has resulted in a custodial sentence which will prevent harm to further young people in our community.

“We want to reassure victims that they will be listened to, believed, and supported. Reporting abuse is incredibly difficult, but nobody must face it alone. If you are worried about your safety, or the safety of a child, please reach out. We have dedicated teams who will act swiftly to protect you.”

Description

A man who sent explicit photos of himself to a child and arranged to meet her in Stafford has been jailed.

Paul Donaldson, 28, of Stafford, was arrested by officers at Stafford train station on 27 November last year when he arranged to meet what he believed to be a teenage girl there.

When we seized his phone, we found that he had been communicating with an online account of a teenage girl. Donaldson asked her for her age, which was 13, but he still persisted in sending an explicit photo of himself and arranging to meet her at the train station, where they would then go to a nearby hotel.

When he was brought into custody, Donaldson answered no comment to our questions. But, we still had all the evidence needed to charge him with a number of offences.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing to arranging the commission of a child sexual offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and sending a photograph of genitals to cause alarm, distress or humiliation. He was sentenced to two-years-and-six-months in prison at Stafford Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday 10 March).

He was also put on the Sex Offenders Register for life and given a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Georgina Brotherhood, from our police online investigations team (POLIT), said:

“Donaldson was persistent in his pursuit of this person and has rightfully been brought to justice for his actions.

“We’re working extremely hard every single day in Staffordshire to build and action intelligence against those who pose a risk to children and vulnerable people in our communities, and this is another example of that.”

Description

A Margate man who subjected a child to repeated sexual abuse over a sevenyear period has been jailed.

Edward Watson, formerly of Garrard Avenue, Margate, began abusing his victim in 1990 when he was around 13 years old and they were much younger. Over seven years, he repeatedly assaulted them, often locking them in a room before carrying out the offences.

Investigation

The abuse came to light in September 2023 after the victim disclosed what had happened to a trusted relative, who encouraged them to report it to Kent Police. Detectives launched an immediate investigation, and Watson was arrested three days later.

He was later charged with 12 sexual offences including gross indecency, indecent assault and unlawful sexual intercourse.

Sentenced

Watson denied the offences but was convicted on all counts following a 10day trial at Canterbury Crown Court. On Thursday 5 March 2026, the 49yearold was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life, and a restraining order has been imposed to protect the victim.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Susan Kingsnorth, said:

‘Historic cases like this demonstrate that it is never too late to seek justice. Kent Police will always listen, we will always investigate, and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders before the courts.

‘I also want to commend the bravery shown by the victim. Coming forward after so many years, recounting traumatic experiences, and supporting a lengthy investigation has ensured that this offender has been held accountable.’

Description

A Craven man has been jailed for more than 18 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing four girls.
 
Herning Thompson, 82, of Victoria Street, Skipton was arrested in January 2024 after the abuse was reported to North Yorkshire Police.
 
His heinous offending spanned four decades, between 1981 and 2020, when the victims were aged between five and 12, causing immeasurable harm to those he targeted.
 
Following an investigation led by the our Harrogate & Craven Safeguarding Investigation Team, Thompson was charged.
 
He stood trial at Leeds Crown Court , where a jury found him guilty of six counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16; four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching; four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration with a part of the body or an object; and two counts of attempted rape of a girl under 13.
 
He was found not guilty of three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, and one count of assaulting a boy under 13 by touching.
 
Thompson appeared at Leeds Crown Court for sentencing today (11 March 2026) where he was ordered by a judge to serve an 18-year jail term, with an extended licence period of 12 months on release. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life.
 
In her victim impact statement, one of the victims described how the sexual abuse has had a profound and lifelong impact on her, causing significant emotional distress and trauma.
 
She explained that what happened to her has deeply undermined her ability to trust others and feel safe around people. She said:

“Although many years have passed, the trauma of what happened has never left me.”

She went on to explain that the impact of the abuse did not end when the incidents stopped, but has continued for decades, affecting her ability to live without fear and anxiety, and still affecting her to this day.
 
Detective Constable Nicky Wareham of North Yorkshire Police’s Safeguarding Investigation Team, who led on the investigation, said:

“This case has been harrowing for everyone involved, and I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of the victims.
 
“Despite the trauma Thompson inflicted, and his attempts to deny his actions and force them through the ordeal of a trial, they stood firm and found the courage to speak out.
 
“Their strength has ensured that a dangerous and predatory individual has finally been held to account and is now exactly where he belongs. I hope that, in seeing justice be served, the victims are able to move forwards with their lives and begin a process of healing.
 
“We will always treat reports of child sexual abuse with the utmost seriousness, no matter when they happened, and we remain unwavering in our commitment to protecting vulnerable children and relentlessly pursuing those who cause them harm.”

Description

A man who secretly took intimate photos and videos of two women and a child has been jailed.

Sean Eaves’ crimes first came to light in September 2023 when the 41-year-old sent a screenshot of an intimate video of himself with the first victim to her through Instagram messenger.  

He was arrested in 2024, and officers found the video as well as evidence linking him to the Instagram account on his mobile phone.  

The phone also had intimate photos of another woman, taken without her knowledge, stored on it.

Eaves was released on bail but a few months later, officers received an anonymous tip-off he had another mobile phone and indecent images of children.

A warrant was carried out at a home in Chatteris in January where officers found a memory card containing 18 indecent videos of a child, taken secretly by Eaves.

The second phone was found in his car and contained a further eight indecent videos and 72 photos, all of the same child. 

On Friday (6 March), at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court, acting as a crown court, Eaves, of Hawthorne Road, Finedon, near Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was jailed for two years, having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three counts of voyeurism and one count each of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress and taking an indecent image of a child.

He was also handed a seven-year restraining order for all the victims, a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and also required to register monthly at a police station for ten years. 

DC Amberlie Ford, who investigated, said:

“Eaves shamefully took photos of these women and the child without their knowledge, which violated their dignity and privacy, so I welcome the sentence passed down by the courts.

“I would also like to pay tribute to the victims, whose strength in coming forward and supporting us with a prosecution has led to this result.”

Description

A sexual predator has been jailed for 11 years after sexual abusing a child.

Daniel Walker, of Plumley, was handed the custodial sentence on Friday 6 March at Chester Crown Court.

The 42-year-old had previously been found guilty of three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, two counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration, and three counts of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The victim in this case disclosed she had been abused by Walker between the ages of seven and 12.

Walker was arrested in relation to the allegations and was dismissive in interview, even laughing and appearing amused at the officers’ questions.

Following a thorough investigation, Walker was charged with eight counts of sexual abuse against a child.

Detective Sergeant Chris Jackson said:

“The significant custodial sentence handed to Walker demonstrates the severity of his crimes and I am grateful that he is facing many years behind bars where he cannot do this to anyone else.

“He subjected a child to horrific abuse, something no child should have to endure. I would like to acknowledge the victim’s bravery in reporting these offences and I sincerely hope that the lengthy sentence handed to Walker will be of some reassurance to her.

“I also hope her courage in speaking to police will also help others who may wish to report similar offences to come forward; you will be listened to, and we are committed to investigating every report thoroughly and sensitively.”

Description

A man is set to be sentenced after he was found guilty of multiple counts of rape.

Aaron Furnival, of Hunter Street, Chester, was convicted of four counts of rape at Chester Crown Court on Monday 9 March.

The 31-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.

He will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday 1 May.

The female victim in this case contacted police to report violent behaviour, emotional abuse and sexual abuse committed by Furnival.

The woman reported Furnival would take advantage of her while she was asleep, and she would awake to find him raping her.

He would also ignore the victim whenever they were having consensual sex and she withdrew her consent. She would ask him to stop and he would refuse.

Furnival was controlling and jealous. He transferred money from the victim’s bank account, threw water over her while she was asleep, and monitored her movements with constant phone calls and messages.

Furnival used foul and abusive language towards her, made threats to kill her and even wrote degrading words on her skin in marker pen.

Offices arrested Furnival on suspicion of the offences but during interview he denied the allegations against him.

Following an investigation, he was charged.

Detective Sergeant Andy Manson said:

“Firstly, we would like to recognise the bravery of the victim in this case for reporting what happened to her. We hope the conclusion of this trial will provide her with some sense of closure, knowing that the jury saw through his lies.

“Furnival’s cruel and abusive behaviour showed how he clearly had no regard for the welfare of his victim, instead doing whatever he wanted, no matter the consequences to her.

“He then put the victim through the stress of a trial after he refused to accept what he had done. Thankfully, he was found guilty of these crimes, and he will no doubt be facing a considerable length of time behind bars.”

Description

A rapist who sexually assaulted two teenage girls after befriending and grooming them has been jailed.

Peter Whetstone abused the two victims during the spring and summer of 2020 after meeting them at a skate park in Mansfield.

He repeatedly messaged them, persuaded them to send him intimate images and videos and went on to sexually assault both girls.

Whetstone, who was aged 23 at the time of the offences, then raped one of the girls on 5 September 2020 at his home in Mansfield.

Police were made aware following a social media post and began an investigation while the victims were interviewed and supported by specialist officers.

Both victims had vulnerabilities and were targeted by Whetstone.

They later described in victim statements how Whetstone was part of an older group and was a ‘talented skater’ who tried to impress them.

They also spoke of how the abuse continues to impact upon their lives half a decade later and how they felt their teenage years had been stolen from them.

Following his arrest, Whetstone gave a ‘no comment’ interview to officers.

The 29-year-old, of Mansfield, eventually pleaded guilty almost five years later to inciting sexual activity, sexual communications with a child, two counts of meeting a child following grooming and four counts of sexual activity with a child.

He continued to deny rape and two counts of sexual assault but was found guilty following a trial in September 2025.

At Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (10 March) he was jailed for a total of 10 years.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until further notice and will remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Detective Constable Kerry Stringfellow, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Whetstone’s behaviour was predatory and manipulative with evidence he had targeted these victims because of their vulnerabilities.

“He knew perfectly well that what he was doing was illegal and would have a profound impact on his victims and their families.

“As he begins a jail sentence I would like to pay tribute to the two victims at the centre of this case for the bravery they have shown during the legal process and Whetstone’s repeated denials.

“I would also like to send a very clear warning to other adults thinking of committing similar offences against children – you will be caught and go to prison.”

Description

A man has been jailed for nine-and-a-half-years after being found guilty of the rape of a vulnerable girl in Stockport.

Mohsen Farjam (02/05/1982), of no fixed abode, was jailed for five offences at Manchester Crown Court on 5 March – two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one of sexual assault by penetration.

Due to the nature of the case – which occurred in July 2018 – considerable time and effort has been put in by officers to achieve the end result.

This includes extensive work by detectives and continued support and engagement with the victim.The case required comprehensive reviews as officers worked closely with both her and necessary partners.

The girl, who has a neurodevelopmental condition and was 15-years-old at the time, was on her own in Stockport, when she was approached by Farjam, who had seen that the victim was upset and in need of help.

Farjam then convinced the girl to get food nearby and charge her devices, telling her that he was currently homeless and pretended to offer her sympathy and support. He was in fact grooming and exploiting her.

After leaving, Farjam plied the girl with vodka at a tent in which he was living in on the outskirt of centre, at which point he began to inappropriately touch her – even stating to her that she looked nervous.

Farjam then sexually assaulted and raped the girl.

The girl was able to leave the tent following the attack and bravely told a relative, who then informed the police. Farjam was arrested just hours later.

Farjam completely denied the allegations put to him and showed no remorse. 

He told police that he saw the victim in a vulnerable state and had taken her back to the tent for a massage. He additionally claimed to be seeking help for the homeless community.

Officers have worked through tens of thousands of pages of relevant material as part of their investigation which saw Farjam finally sentenced on Thursday 5 March. 

In addition to his sentencing, he has been placed on the sex offender's register for life.

Detective Sergeant Rob Griffiths, from GMP’s Stockport Complex safeguarding team, said:

“I firstly want to commend the victim in this case, who endured this horrific crime aged just 15-years-old. They have been incredibly brave throughout the court process and are getting continual support by professionals – I hope that they can continue to heal following this awful ordeal.

“Farjam exploited vulnerabilities for his own sickening gratification, and it is utterly grim that he tried to disguise his intentions by pretending to want to help a child in need. Instead, he got her drunk and exploited her as part of his vile actions.

“I am glad that he is now finally behind bars for his crimes."