Latest Offenders

Description

A man has been jailed for a sexual offence against a girl in Southampton.

Michael Marshall, 33, attended the girl’s family home address in late 2022 where he put his arm around the girl – who was aged 12 at the time – and asked her if he could kiss her on the lips.

Police were informed in January 2023 and a lengthy investigation was carried out.

Marshall was subsequently charged last year with causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He denied the offence but was convicted at Southampton Crown Court on 2 March this year.

Following this Marshall, formerly of Colne Avenue in Southampton, also pleaded guilty on 12 March this year to a separate charge of failing to comply with Sex Offender Notification Requirements, by failing to notify police of his home address following his conviction.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday 30 April, he was jailed for three years.

DC Jodi Cheeseman said:

“The young girl at the heart of this case took the very brave step to report her experience, and this is to be commended.

“Because of this, Marshall – who poses a clear risk to children – is now in prison where he belongs.

“Not everyone has the courage to speak to police, and we understand this. We hope that any child that experiences any form of abuse has the confidence to report this to an adult they trust – whether that be a family member or a teacher for example, as there are people out there who will listen and who can provide you with support.”

Description

A man has been jailed for raping a 15-year-old girl in his car, following an investigation by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Child Abuse Investigation Team.

Diwan Khan, 41, formerly of Abbotsbury, Bracknell, Berkshire, was found guilty of raping the girl in the Fleet/Farnborough area in July 2024, after a trial at Winchester Crown Court in February this year.

The jury was told that Khan knew one of the girl’s friends, and the rape took place in his car after he had dropped off the girl’s friend at her house.

Khan had supplied the girl with vodka laced with MDMA, and then raped her while she was unconscious and filmed himself doing so, the court heard.

The incident was reported to police via a third party on September 10 that year.

When officers attended Khan’s home address on September 12, his mother Naheed Ejaz, 61, came to the front door but did not open it for two minutes, the jury was told.

When officers did enter the address to arrest Khan, their body-worn footage captured a conversation between the two in Urdu, in which they talked about hiding something.

The conversation was later translated and Ejaz was arrested. Despite multiple searches, the phone has not been found.

A jury found Khan guilty of one count of rape. He had previously admitted a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Ejaz, also of Abbotsbury, Bracknell, Berkshire, was found guilty of a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Today (Thursday 30 April), both defendants were sentenced at Winchester Crown Court.

Khan was jailed for a total of 12 years, and must serve at least eight years before any chance of parole. The sentence includes a five-year extended licence period upon release.

Khan was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 20 years, an indefinite restraining order, and will have to sign the sex offenders register for life.

He has also been barred from any work or voluntary role involving children for life.

Ejaz was jailed for three years, and must serve at least 16 months before any chance of parole.

Speaking after the hearing, officer in the case Detective Constable Lee Clement said:

“The victim in this case has shown considerable bravery during the investigation, and in having to relive her experience in court.

“This attack continues to have a significant impact on her mental health. We hope that this result helps in some way in her recovery.

“Khan targeted a vulnerable teenage girl, and then, along with his mother Ejaz, tried to cover up evidence to hinder our investigation. Khan is deservedly behind bars, and we always believed that Ejaz’s behaviour stepped over the threshold into criminality.

“We hope that this result will give confidence to others who have experience these type of offences. You will be listened to and supported, and we have specially trained officers to investigate these offences.”

Description

A 24-year-old man who raped a young woman in Wrexham has been jailed.

Gift Oladele, of the Manchester area and currently of no fixed abode, violently attacked the 19-year-old victim as she walked home following a night out with friends.

Oladele introduced himself to the victim and her friend in the city centre in the early hours of September 7 last year.

He insisted on walking her home, claiming he was heading in the same direction.

As they walked alone towards Mold Road, he raped her on an isolated footpath.

Following the attack, he warned her not to report the incident to police.

Oladele was arrested hours later and subsequently charged and remanded into custody following a thorough investigation.

He denied rape and sexual assault, claiming the victim had consented, but a jury found him guilty at Mold Crown Court in March.

At Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, 30 April, he was sentenced to a total of 25 years, including 17 years in prison, with an extended licence period of eight years.

He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order to protect the victim for life. 

Wrexham Chief Inspector Caroline Mullen-Hurst said:

“Oladele is a dangerous predator who left a young woman fearing for her life as he subjected her to a disturbing and terrifying attack as she walked home following a night with her friends.

“He demonstrated no remorse for his crimes after forcing her to relive the traumatic experience through a trial.

“I would like to praise the dignity and courage she has shown throughout the investigation, and for her bravery in reporting this incident to us.

“Thankfully, today’s sentence has removed Oladele from the streets, preventing any further harm to anyone else. I hope it reassures the public that North Wales Police is committed to eradicating all incidents of violence against women and girls and is working tirelessly to bring perpetrators of sexual abuse to justice.

“I would urge any victim of sexual assault to get in touch with us. You will be listened to, your report will be taken seriously and fully investigated. We are here to support you.”

Description

A sex offender from Finchley who covertly recorded his crimes has been sentenced to 14 years, after Met Police officers used the material to identify victims.

Ross Davidson, 38 (24.02.88), of Station Road, Finchley, was jailed on Thursday, 30 April at Wood Green Crown Court following two trials. He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders register for life.

In July 2024 Davidson was found guilty of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and voyeurism. During the second trial in January 2026, Davidson pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism and was later found guilty by the jury of one further count of sexual assault, one count of attempted rape and one count of rape.

The offences relate to six victim-survivors. Three of them have spoken out, reflecting on their experience and encouraging other victims of sexual offences to come forward.

One victim-survivor said:

“Speaking out about sexual violence is not easy. It can feel overwhelming, frightening, and at times isolating. However, I hope that by coming forward, I have shown that it is possible to be heard and that what happened matters.

“I would encourage anyone who has experienced sexual violence to know that they are not alone, and that support is available. Reporting what happened can feel daunting, but there are people who will listen and take you seriously.

“I would also like to express my sincere thanks to the Metropolitan Police for their professionalism, support, and dedication throughout this investigation. Their efforts have made a significant difference during an incredibly difficult time.”

Another victim-survivor added:

“The support I received made a real difference in helping me feel safe throughout the process. My previous experience left me unsure about coming forward, so to feel listened to and supported by a great team this time around meant a lot. Seeing Ross accountable is an important moment for me, and I hope it encourages others who have experienced something similar to feel able to speak up and seek support.”

A further victim-survivor shared:

“Ross was finally charged around June 2022. Throughout the police investigation, although regularly updated, it has been a very long process. I hoped that he would have been honest and pleaded guilty to what he had done to me; but deep down I expected that he wouldn’t and this would mean attending court and giving evidence. This effectively caused me to put my life on hold.”

Davidson was initially arrested on 1 May 2019 at his home on the grounds of a separate offence for which he was not subsequently charged. However, his digital devices were seized at the point of the arrest. When examining the devices, officers uncovered multiple videos of Davidson raping and sexually assaulting victims, leading to him being charged with 17 sexual offences on 24 June 2022 including one rape.

Following the proactive identification of victims featured in the recovered footage, and further victim-survivors coming forward after media coverage of the initial charges, officers received additional reports. On 6 July 2024, he was charged with a further three counts of serious sexual offending.

Detective Constable Kamila Kedadrova, who was part of investigation team, said:

“I am incredibly grateful for the continued support from victims throughout the investigation and court process, which has undoubtably aided today’s outcome.

“Our dedicated team of officers, who identified, contacted, and provided support to victims, have handled the case with sensitivity and thoroughness over the past six years.

“The Met remains committed to securing justice for victims of sexual offences, no matter when they occurred. Over the past five years, we have more than tripled arrests and charges for rape and serious sexual offences.

“Today’s outcome reflects our mission of taking all reports seriously, while ensuring victims are treated with the upmost respect and care.”

One victim-survivor reported to police that in 2013 Davidson sexually assaulted and raped her after an evening together. Davidson raped her, ignoring her cries for him to stop, all of which he recorded on his phone.

The second and third victim-survivors were identified after recorded footage was discovered by police following Davidson’s initial arrest. The separate recordings showed both victims being sexually assaulted in their sleep.

The fourth victim-survivor came forward in January 2023, after recognising Davidson’s name in the news. She reported that she had woken up to find herself being raped by Davidson, while staying with him at an address in London in March 2015. Working with the victim to record her statement, officers were able to evidence she had been assaulted.

The fifth victim-survivor was traced by Met detectives who were able to identify the woman. After specially trained officers contacted the victim, she was supported to make a report which detailed further offences, including an attempted rape while she was sleeping.

Julie Currie, Victim Navigator Programme Manager at Justice & Care, a charity which offers support for victims of exploitation who are pursuing justice, said:

“Survivors of sexual violence face immense barriers to seeking justice, from fear and intimidation to prolonged court delays. This conviction is a testament to the bravery of the survivors and to the importance of specialist, traumainformed support that prioritises safety, choice and dignity at every stage of the justice process.”

Description

A 34-year-old registered sex offender has been jailed after he was found to be breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Aaron Ray Dungey, previously of Butterfields, Wellingborough, was issued with a SHPO in December 2016 following his conviction for the assault by way of penetration of a female child under 13.

The SHPO was issued with certain conditions he was required to abide by, including not having any contact with children.

However, on February 9, when officers from Northamptonshire Police’s MOSOVO Team made an unannounced visit to Dungey’s home, they analysed his mobile phone and found that he had been in contact with three children.

He was arrested and subsequently charged with three counts of breaching his SHPO.

On February 10, Dungey appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to the offences.

This month (April 16), he appeared at Northampton Crown Court where he was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.

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

“Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are put in place to protect the public, particularly children, from individuals who pose a risk.

“Aaron Dungey was fully aware of the conditions he was required to follow and chose to ignore them.

“Breaches like this will always be taken extremely seriously, and we will continue to carry out proactive checks and take robust action against registered sex offenders who fail to comply with court orders.”

Description

A woman from Kirklees has been commended for her courage after helping convict four men who sexually abused her more than 30 years ago.    

This follows an investigation into the rape and sexual abuse of a teenage girl in Kirklees and Wakefield between 1994 and 2000.    

Detectives have described the abuse she suffered as absolutely appalling and have thanked the victim for coming forward and reporting the offending.  

Jagtar Sahota, aged 64, from Leeds was sentenced today (29 April) at Leeds Crown Court to 21 years in prison for 11 counts of rape and 11 counts of indecent assault. 

He was also jailed for one count of actual bodily harm, with all offending taking place between the years 1997 and 2000.    

Yesterday (28 April), Zahid Hussain, aged 48 and Mohammed Chhibda, aged 49, were found guilty of indecent assault offences against the same woman.    

The men, who are all from Dewsbury, committed the offences between 1994 and 1997.      

A fourth man, Basharat Wali, aged 46, from Dewsbury, had already pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault.    

They will be sentenced on 4 June.  

In a statement from the survivor, which was read during Jagtar Sahota’s trial about the sexual offending she endured at his hands, she said:    

“There are no words what this man has done to me. He took something from me that I can never get back and it’s not just what he did in his moments of abuse- it's the lifetime of destruction that followed.    

“The pain caused didn't end when he walked away. No. It lives with me every single day. It haunts me in ways I can't explain.    

“I don't know if I'll ever find peace, but I do know this, I'm trying. I'm trying to find a way to heal, even if it's one broken piece at a time.”

Detective Chief Inspector Rob Stevens, of Kirklees District Police, said: 

“The survivor in these trials has shown enormous courage in coming forwards to make these men answer for the huge and lasting damage they caused her.    

“As her statement makes clear, the appalling abuse she suffered has taken a dreadful toll on her throughout her teenage and then adult life.    

“Thanks to her bravery though, these four men have now all been convicted, with one sentenced and receiving a substantial term in prison. 

“We continue to urge all victims of sexual offending who may not have reported offences to come forwards, no matter when crimes took place. Specialist officers will always, listen, investigate, and do whatever they can to secure justice for you.”   

Description

Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a man has been jailed for rape and sexual assault offences carried out across more than two decades.

Shaun Smith, aged 47, of Bernwood Road in Barton, Oxfordshire, was jailed for 18 years at Oxford Crown Court today (29/4).

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and has been issued with restraining orders for each of his victims.

Smith was arrested in March 2017 and again in December 2022. Following a thorough police investigation he was charged on October 18 2024.

Smith had originally pleaded not guilty to one count of rape, one count of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration. Following a two week trial at Oxford Crown Court, a jury found him guilty of all offences on Wednesday 1 April.

The jury heard how Smith had raped a teenager in Oxford in 2000, had sexually assaulted a woman in her twenties in Hastings in 2012 and had sexually assaulted two women in their thirties in Oxford in 2017 and again in 2022. On each occasion the women were asleep and not able to consent to what was happening.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Chris Bennett, of Oxfordshire’s Criminal Investigation Department, said:

“I would like to commend the incredible bravery of the women involved in this case. Without their determination, courage and support we may never have known about Smith’s offending and it would have been much harder to bring him to justice. This result today is a testament to them and while it can never undo what has happened, I hope it helps them gain some kind of closure and allow them to move forward with their lives.    

“Smith has proven himself to be a serial sex offender who preys on women while they are asleep and at their most vulnerable, unable to consent. Cases like this are the reason I became an officer and being able to bring dangerous predators like Smith to justice makes me proud to be a detective. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone here at Thames Valley Police who worked incredibly hard to help put Smith behind bars where he cannot harm anyone else.

“I hope that this case shows how seriously we take all reports of rape and sexual offences, no matter when they occurred. My plea today to anyone who has been affected by rape or any sexual offence is to please tell us. You can contact us via our website or call 101 where you can speak to specialist officers in confidence. There are also a range of other services available that can offer you support.”

Description

A man has been sentenced for child sex offences after being caught flying a drone over a primary school in Salisbury.

Jeremy Bird, 48, of Coldharbour Lane, Salisbury, appeared at Winchester Crown Court yesterday (28/04) after pleading guilty to two counts of making indecent images of children and recklessly allowing an aircraft to endanger people or property.

He was jailed for 19 months, suspended for two years. He was also made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

On September 13th, 2023, police received a report that a drone had been flown over a primary school within the Salisbury area on several occasions, following the children within the playing fields.

At around the same time, police received a further report from another school within the Salisbury area reporting that when teachers were taking the children out to visit a harvest festival, a man was seen recording the children and trying to chat with them.

The man was seen a short time later in a vehicle appearing to be taking more pictures of the children.

Enquiries by police identified the suspect as Jeremy Bird. He was arrested and searches of his devices found a considerable number of indecent images of unknown children.

He was subsequently charged and convicted.

Complex Crime Investigator Debbie Quayle said:

“I’d like to thank the schools for reporting Jeremy Bird’s behaviour – without their support we would be unaware of the extent of his offending.

“Mr Bird has taken no accountability for his actions and the fear he put into the children when flying his drone near to them to film them.

“He has now been sentenced and has been made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which places limits on his internet use and travel.

“He is also not allowed to own or use a drone and must also allow officers into his address to do checks.

“I hope this investigation also shows that we will not tolerate any person who uses drones in an inappropriate manner, and they will be put before the courts.”

Description

A 29-year-old man has been jailed for 17 years after he was convicted of multiple child sex offences.

On a number of occasions between April 2023 and June 2023, Klein Chinoda, previously of Wellingborough, sexually abused a girl in Wellingborough.

An investigation was launched, led by specialist officers from Northamptonshire Police’s SOLAR Team, which led to Chinoda’s arrest. He was subsequently charged with seven counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of possessing indecent images of a child, and one count of rape.

Prior to the start of his trial, Chinoda pleaded guilty to all offences except the rape offence which was taken before a jury.

Following a four-day trial at Northampton Crown Court which ended on December 12, Chinoda was found guilty of rape.

He returned to the same court last month (March 20) where he was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Lead investigator - DC Rachel Morrison from the Force’s SOLAR Team said: “I am really pleased with this significant sentence as it sends a strong message that the police and the courts take sexual offences extremely seriously.

“The survivor in this case has been incredibly brave and I hope, with Chinoda safely behind bars, that she can now move forward and learn to enjoy life again. I wish her the very best.”

Description

This is the moment we arrested a sex attacker less than 90 minutes after he targeted a woman in Brierley Hill.

Arez Omer, 40, had spotted the woman, who was walking home after a night out with friends, as she walked from Hill Street on the night of 8 August last year.

CCTV shows how he followed her before sexually assaulting her before calmly walking away.

The woman called police and was able to give a description of him, which was passed to CCTV operators at Dudley Council who were able to locate him and guide officers to where he was – more than two miles away on King Street in Dudley town centre.

Det Sgt Sian Edwards, from our Public Protection Unit, said:

"This was a terrifying attack on a woman simply going home after a night out with friends in Brierley Hill.

"Omer has preyed on a woman who repeatedly told him to stop and was able to fend him off and call the police.

"There was some excellent teamwork between call handlers, CCTV operators at Dudley Council and Response officers to bring Omer into custody quickly, enabling us to build a really strong case against him and secure his conviction.

"I’d like to pay tribute to the bravery of the woman during and after this awful incident, who we have supported throughout.

"I also hope the prompt actions of our officers in responding to such incidents of violence will give others, no matter the circumstances, the courage to come forward. We are ready to support you and get justice."

Councillor Phil Atkins, cabinet member for development and regulation, said:

“I welcome the court judgement following this shocking and upsetting case, and our thoughts are with the victim of this abhorrent attack.

“I would like to thank the team, who were able to utilise our CCTV to locate footage of the perpetrator within 90 minutes of the attack and support police in finding his location.”

Omer, of Ivanhoe Street, Dudley, appeared before Wolverhampton Crown Court on 4 February where he admitted sexual assault and exposure.

He was remanded in custody and jailed for 33 months on Friday.

Description

A paedophile who carried an envelope filled with girls’ underwear while attempting to meet a 12-year-old girl he had groomed online has been jailed for four and a half years.

Christopher Webb, 38, of Tilesford, Worcestershire, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court after an undercover police operation.

He began communicating with someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl on social media, sent explicit images of himself, asked for similar images in return, and arranged to meet at Gloucester railway station on 26 March 2025. He made clear his intention to have sex with the child.

Officers arrested him on arrival. He was carrying a black bag containing an envelope of girls’ underwear bearing his home address. Phone searches later confirmed he knew his intended victim was underage, including web searches for “do under 16s need a train ticket?”

Webb pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause or incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration, and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

He received concurrent sentences of 10 months, four years and six months, and two years and three months respectively. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Det Con Rich Britton, from West Mercia’s Online Child Sexual Exploitation Team, said:

"We are pleased to put this paedophile behind bars before he could carry out any of his disgusting intentions on an actual child, so this operation was a good result to protect potential victims from his depraved behaviour.

"Webb was caught red-handed, thinking he was speaking online to a girl, and we would warn any other individuals thinking of communicating with a child and attempting to arrange sexual activity like this to be warned it could be the police and you too could be sent to prison."

Description

A man who exposed himself to multiple women on a London train, breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) handed to him less than two weeks prior has been jailed, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Ayman Yanoussi, 21, and of St Johns Road in Newham, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday 16 April to 14 months’ imprisonment having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of exposure, breaching his SHPO, and possessing cannabis.

The court heard how on 28 December 2025, at 11.20am, Yanoussi was at Upminster Bridge Underground station sat on a bench on the platform.

A woman who walked up the platform noticed that Yanoussi was sat with his trousers by his ankles while touching himself inappropriately.

She took out her phone to record what he was doing to pass on to police, but he quickly pulled his trousers up and hid behind a pillar. He then boarded a District Line train heading towards Wimbledon.

Not long after he boarded the train, Yanoussi sat next to another woman and pulled his trousers down. After that woman moved away, Yanoussi sat opposite another woman, again exposing himself to her before she moved away.

Yanoussi repeated this behaviour a third time, sitting next to another woman and exposing himself as the train approached Elm Park at which point several of the women who Yanoussi had targeted left the train.

Yanoussi continued to expose himself on different trains across London while occasionally touching himself inappropriately until 12.51pm when a woman reported his behaviour to a member of staff.

The train Yanoussi was on was held at Hammersmith Underground station, and Yanoussi quickly fled the station.

A BTP officer was dispatched to the station and found Yanoussi waiting at a bus stop where he was promptly arrested for exposure. 

After being detained, it emerged that Yanoussi had been handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order less than two weeks earlier after he was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, having pleaded guilty to three counts of Upskirting that occurred in April 2024.

While on the way to custody, Yanoussi began to slam his head against the wall of the custody van stating that he regretted his actions and that he was "taking the L".

BTP Detective Constable Ian Hourihan said:

"Yanoussi's actions that day were despicable. He sought sexual gratification on the railway at the expense of dozens of women and other commuters.

"I am pleased to see him put behind bars, and would like to commend the bravery of the women who came forward to report his actions and support our investigation so we could secure justice. We believe that other women may have been targeted by Yanoussi that day, and I want to encourage them to come forward and report their experiences so we can secure justice for them too.

"If you've witnessed something similar or see any sexual offending on the railway network, I urge you to report it to us by discreetly texting 61016. We take every report seriously, and officers can be dispatched to intercept trains and arrest offenders.”

Description

A man from Penkridge who sexually assaulted a woman inside a house has been jailed.

Mark Ball, 52, of Penkridge, admitted sexual assault on a female at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to four years at Stafford Crown Court on Monday (27 April).

In March this year, Ball carried out the assault on the survivor.

When it was reported to us, we arrested him straight away and brought him in for questioning. He denied the offence and told us that nothing happened.

Officers worked hard to support the survivor and to build all of the evidence needed to secure the charges against Ball.

When confronted with the evidence, and the bravery of the survivor, he admitted the offence in court.

Detective Constable Jason MacTaggart, from our rape and serious sexual offences unit (RASSO), said:

“The survivor in this case has shown immense courage in coming forward and supporting this investigation, despite Ball’s original attempts to deny anything happened.

“We are working tirelessly every single day in Staffordshire to act robustly against sex offenders and to support survivors as much as possible.”

Description

A Hampshire man has been jailed after a violent two-year campaign of abuse against a woman in her twenties.

Ben Siddle, 27, of Willow Park, Havant, was convicted of three counts of assault by penetration, three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), two counts of assault by beating, witness intimidation and criminal damage.

He was sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 17 April to 18 years’ imprisonment, with a five-year extension period. He was also given a restraining order and placed on the sex offender register indefinitely.

Siddle carried out the offences between August 2021 and October 2023. In the most recent attack in Denmead, he punched and kicked the victim while she was on the floor wearing steel toe cap boots, threw a diffuser at her, bit her arm, grabbed her neck, poured its contents onto her face causing burns, sent abusive messages and threw her phone against the wall, damaging the wall and fireplace. He then sexually assaulted her.

After the attack, he tried to pressure her into withdrawing her police statement by urging her to change her account.

Detective Constable Gemma Hodgkinson of Winchester CID praised the victim’s bravery, saying: 

"Ben Siddle’s behaviour was abhorrent, and his actions left the victim living in fear for more than two years.

"I would like to commend the victim for coming forward to secure justice and to ensure that Siddle is off the streets and unable to treat other women this way.

"The woman was resilient and brave throughout the whole investigation, including the trial, and I hope this significant sentence allows her to try and move forward with her life.

"I hope this also encourages victims of similar offences to report to us and seek support.

"You will be believed and we will always carry out a thorough investigation to ensure offenders face the consequences of their actions."

Description

Sex offender back behind bars for second SHPO breach

A sex offender is back in prison after breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for a second time.

Darren Bennett, 47, of Town Hill, Warrington, was convicted at Crewe Magistrates’ Court of two breaches on 27 February.

He was caught in possession of a device capable of storing digital images and failed to provide police access for inspection. He also failed, without reasonable excuse, to notify Cheshire Police within three days that he had acquired a device capable of accessing the internet, providing its make, model and serial number.

Bennett initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea on the day of trial and admitted both offences. Magistrates said the case had crossed the custody threshold because of his “flagrant disregard for court orders”. They jailed him for six months immediately and ordered him to pay a £154 victim surcharge. His SHPO will continue.

The order was imposed last April when Bennett was given a 21-month suspended sentence for attempted sexual communications with a child and attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

Chester Crown Court heard he had spent more than two weeks chatting online with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl — in fact an adult decoy — telling her she was ‘sexy’, asking what size her breasts were, how he could please her and about her sexual history. He sent her photos of his penis and asked for naked images, admitting the communications were “for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification”.

Just days after being spared jail, Bennett breached the SHPO by hiding in the bathroom of a property where a child lived. He was jailed for 18 months in July. Police had visited him shortly afterwards to remind him of the order, but he returned to the address.