Latest Offenders Cheshire

Description

A convicted sex offender who was caught with hundreds of indecent pictures of children was jailed.

Christopher Watts, 50, was arrested when police raided his Widnes home in April after receiving intelligence that he was searching for vile content online.

When police searched a number of devices that belonged to Watts they found hundreds of indecent pictures of children.

Yesterday Watts appeared at Liverpool Crown Court and pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, two counts of possessing indecent images and one count of possessing a prohibited image.

Simon Duncan, prosecuting, told the court that Watts had 109 Category A pictures of children of the most serious type and 143 Category B pictures. Watts' collection also included a small number of extreme images which included child rape and bestiality.

Mr Duncan explained that Watts denied having images of child sexual exploitation when interviewed by police in April after a raid at his home address on Hambleton Close.

However Watts was re-arrested in November which led to him being charged.

Judge Gary Woodall, who jailed Watts for two and a half years, said the Widnes man had been using the 'dark web'.

Judge Woodall said: "You were using peer to peer sites and clearly involved in the dark web. Many of the images found were thumbnail stills of videos which had been deleted."

The judge said that some of the images found on Watts' devices were extreme.

He said: "Some of these stills showed pictures of very young children being raped."

Judge Woodall said there was evidence that Watts had a "sexual interest in young children."

He told Watts, who appeared on video link from HMP Altcourse, that he would serve half his sentence in prison and the remainder on licence.

He also made Watts subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Jeremy Rawson, defending, told the court that Watts grew up in Guildford and moved to Runcorn when he was a child.

Mr Rawson said that Watts left school at 18, attended a YTS course and worked as a painter and decorator. Watts later completed a computer course and gained a full time job with BT.

He said that Watts had no history of substance abuse and had gained a job in the laundry at Altcourse prison.

Mr Duncan told the court that in 2015 Watts was convicted of four counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child.

Watts was jailed for 10 years after being found guilty following a trial at Guildford Crown Court.

The victim, whose identity was protected, told the court that Watts made her feel "disgusting and dirty."

She said that Watts told her that he would harm her family if she reported him to the authorities.

When he was 15 Watts was convicted after pleading guilty of indecent assault by simulating sexual intercourse with a two and a half year old girl.

Description

'Dangerous' pervert Ian Robinson has been jailed after arranging to meet a '13-year-old girl' for sex.

The 60-year-old, a registered sex offender, was caught 'talking sexually' to a child's profile online.

Cheshire Police say that Robinson, of Congleton Road, Sandbach believed the person he was talking to was a 13-year-old girl.

The force says Robinson, who detectives have branded 'a dangerous offender', was arranging to meet for 'sexual intercourse'.

Now the defendant has been jailed for eight years.

On October 5, North West Regional Organised Crime Unit supported detectives from Cheshire Police's Online Child Abuse Investigations Team with their investigation into Robinson - who had travelled from his home into Liverpool where he thought he would be meeting his intended victim.

However the pervert was arrested on Edge Lane and taken into custody. Robinson, who has previously been convicted and jailed for a similar offence, was charged and remanded the following day.

He went on to plead guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a girl under 16-years of age and attempting to arrange the commission of a child sex offence.

On November 4 he was handed the eight year jail term.

Detective Sergeant Mark Fletcher, of Cheshire Police, said: "Ian Robinson is a dangerous offender and has shown he will go to great lengths to offend against children.

The work of Cheshires police officers and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit has put Robinson behind bars for some time with the associated protection it offers to the public.

This should be a lesson to anyone who is minded to offend in this way. You will be caught and sent to prison.

Description

A paedophile caught with a collection of horrific child abuse images begged for help from the police after he was snared in an online sting.

Repeat sex offender Keiron Boyd, 37, last living on Cunliffe Close, Palacefields, Runcorn, was initially arrested after trying to groom a "14-year-old girl" via social media.

The girl, Darcy, was actually a decoy who led officers to discover the vile stash of videos and pictures on Boyds Samsung phone and Kindle Fire tablet.

Sarah Badrawy, prosecuting on Thursday at Chester Crown Court, said Boyd, who had breached sexual offences prevention orders (SOPO) six times in the past, was arrested and interviewed on July 5 after he made contact with the "girl" on Facebook.

The conversation moved to Messenger and text messages, and Boyd engaged the "girl" in sexually explicit conversation before inviting her to meet for sex.

He asked the decoy, who was posing as a schoolgirl, intimate questions and made graphic sexual suggestions, at one point saying he wanted to "tie her up".

Their interactions took place from June 25 to July 5, ending when the decoy reported Boyd to the police and provided screenshots.

While being arrested, Boyd told his mother he was sorry and had let her down - he had a problem and he had f***ed up and needed help.

In a police interview, Boyd broke down at the end and said: I need help, please help me, I need help with my attraction to children.

He indicated guilty pleas to attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and attempting to meet a child following grooming in magistrates court on June 6.

Further charges followed as police made the grim discovery of the haul of abuse images on Boyds devices.

Ms Badrawy gave brief descriptions of types of disturbing content involved to the court, including abuse involving a baby aged 18 months, and young girls aged around four or five being raped. Boyds sick stash also featured bestiality videos.

He pleaded guilty at Chester Crown Court at the first opportunity to three counts of making indecent images of a child, one of possessing indecent child images, one of having prohibited images and possessing extreme pornographic images.

The charges related to: 22 Category A videos and eight images in the most serious category; five Category B videos and 36 images; nine Category videos and 35 images; seven extreme pornographic videos and 10 images; and one prohibited video and 84 images.

Ms Badrawy said Boyd had eight convictions for 25 offences including multiple SOPO breaches, indecent images, and criminal damage.

He has previously served time in prison.

Jeremy Rawson, defending, pleaded mitigation for his clients early guilty pleas citing them as showing remorse but conceded Boyd had an unenviable record, which places him in considerable difficulty.

He said the dad-of-two had obtained qualifications at college and had a strong work ethic and was working until his arrest when he confessed his crimes, and has worked while on remand in prison, taking on roles including sorting the prison laundry.

Mr Rawson said: He made full admissions and saw himself as quite clearly a man in need of great assistance.

That had been provided in the past by the probation service but unfortunately for him he didnt comply with as much of the rigorous work as required, and there was a cry for help after his arrest.

He added Boyds mother had terminated contact with her son after his latest crimes.

Judge Patrick Thompson said Boyd was a serious risk of harm to children and imposed an extended sentence, sending him down for five years plus three years on extended licence, meaning he could serve eight years if he offends after his release.

Boyd will have to serve two thirds of the custodial term before being considered for release by the parole board.

The judge approved a Sexual Harm Prevention Order - which have replaced SOPOs - to run indefinitely, and he placed Boyd on the sex offenders register for life.

During his sentencing remarks, Judge Thompson noted the offences happened against a background of [Boyd] having been before the court in the past on numerous occasions.

He said: Its clear to me you have an unhealthy interest in children and its a sexual interest.

Ive read with care the pre-sentence report in your case.

The assessment is that you pose a high risk of serious harm to children particularly females aged 12 to 14.

He added: Its clear you pose a significant risk to children.

I hope whats been said on your behalf is true and you are open to seeking help for a very serious problem or you will serve longer and longer prison sentences.

Children are the most vulnerable and must be protected.

Description

AN Ellesmere Port man who tried to engage a child in sexual activity also had indecent images of children.

Michael Taylor, 25, of Victoria Road, pleaded guilty at his plea and trial preparation hearing at Chester Crown Court to all charges on Friday, October 22.

He was sentenced to a total of 13 months in prison.

The court heard Taylor had tried to engage in a sex act with a 14-year-old boy.

He was also found to have had 180 indecent photographs of children in his possession upon his arrest on January 16, 2021.

Of the 180 photos, 55 were assessed as 'category A' – the most serious category, with 54 category B images and 71 category C images.

Honorary Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett sentenced Taylor to eight months in prison for attempting to engage a child in sexual activity, plus five months in prison for possession of the indecent images.

Taylor was also made the subject of a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), preventing him from purposefully having any contact with anyone he knows or believes to be under the age of 18, directly or indirectly in any way, other than with the supervision of an adult approved in advance by social services, who has knowledge of the convictions.

The SHPO also prevents Taylor from using any device capable of accessing the internet without pre-approved safeguards, and he must make that device available for police inspection, and is not permitted to disguise or delete his internet history.

He must also sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

He must also pay a £156 surcharge.

Description

A children's basketball coach talked about sexually abusing a baby and using it as his "f*** toy" during "depraved" online chats.

Stuart McNeil used to coach Cheshire Junior Jets as well as Warrington Collegiate and University of Chester basketball teams.

The 39-year-old, who was born with the spinal defect spina bifida, also carried the Paralympic Torch in 2012.

But he has now been outed as a paedophile who shared "horrific" child rape videos among the worst ever seen by one officer.

Liverpool Crown Court heard McNeil, of Baker Drive, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port, used the messaging app Kik Messenger.

David Polglase, prosecuting, said: "Kik is a platform often favoured by those with an interest in the sexual abuse of children."

An undercover officer posed on Kik as a man living with his girlfriend, who was soon expecting their first child, in July 2019.

The officer joined a group on Kik called 'Babys', with 23 members, and ended up in a private conversation with McNeil.

Mr Polglase said: "The conversation quickly turned towards fantasies about sexually abusing the child of the couple when it was born."

McNeil asked the officer if he was going "to start early" with his child and said if he had a newborn baby, he would abuse them.

He sent a Category B indecent photo of a nine-month-old girl and asked the officer to send a photo of his baby when it was born.

On July 9, McNeil sent him a Category A film, involving a boy, aged seven, performing a sex act on another boy.

Mr Polglase said McNeil discussed how the officer "should start abusing the baby when it was born" and described the baby as a "f*** toy".

On July 22, McNeil shared a Category A video of a two-year-old child being raped in the 'Babys' group, then sent it directly to the officer.

The officer sent a photo of his supposed baby girl to McNeil, who asked whether he had abused her yet.

Mr Polglase said: "There was then discussion about meeting up so the baby could be abused together."

In a chat on July 24, McNeill said they could meet in a hotel near Liverpool or Chester and he would pay.

He later said he wouldn't be able to rape the baby because of his medical issues, but would sexually abuse her another way.

Mr Polglase said McNeil talked about getting into the hotel without raising suspicion and "hoping the child wouldn't cry".

He discussed other intentions too graphic to publish and twice encouraged the officer to abuse his baby.

McNeil also sent other images of children, aged between 12 months and 11-years-old, being raped.

Police raided his home on August 8, 2019 and seized his electronic devices.

Mr Polglase said: "Police were informed he was in Stockport with the England U15 basketball team. The police attended at the location and arrested him."

His sick collection featured 368 Category A images, including 56 videos; 329 Category B images, including 15 videos, and 604 Category C images, including 13 videos.

McNeil also had two extreme porn files and seven prohibited images of children.

Officers discovered he had been talking to others on Kik about abusing children and was in multiple groups.

Mr Polglase said in one conversation he spoke to a different undercover officer, posing as a 14-year-old girl.

McNeil asked for naked photos and images of this supposed girl rubbing herself.

He distributed videos involving the rape of babies "clearly in distress" and on 219 occasions shared other indecent photos.

Mr Polglase said: "The officer who examined these images described them as some of the worst he has seen in 18 years of this type of work."

McNeil, of previous good character, was twice interviewed by police, but remained silent.

He admitted three counts of downloading, one count of possessing and three counts of distributing indecent images, plus possessing prohibited images of children and extreme pornography.

McNeil also admitted two counts of intentionally encouraging an offence and two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Rick Holland, defending, accepted the material was "very disturbing".

He said McNeil lived an "isolated existence" and sought a "skewed solace in his communication and conversation with others".

Mr Holland said: "The defendant has really had no circle of friends to speak of, no associations, no hobbies really, nothing."

Judge Garrett Byrne said: "He must surely have known what he was doing was wrong. Those images are absolutely disgusting."

Mr Holland said: "They are outrageous, appalling and they are deeply sickening. He can recognise that now."

The lawyer quoted McNeil as saying he wanted "to apologise to everyone, my family, my friends, for everything I have put them through and the victims in the images I downloaded".

He said his client added: "Some people will never forgive me, but I am genuinely sorry."

Mr Holland suggested it was an "exceptional case" and urged the judge to spare McNeil jail.

He said McNeil had no feeling from the waist down since birth, the kidney condition hydronephrosis, bowel problems and bladder stones.

The lawyer said: "He is physically and emotionally vulnerable."

Judge Byrne said the offences took place over eight years, but most were from 2018 onwards.

He told McNeil: "You began to fantasise about sexually abusing the purported child when it was born and you sent explicit messages expressing your depraved desires."

The judge said of "great concern" was his apparent "complete inability to empathise" with a child he described as a "f*** toy".

He said "more sinister" was McNeil discussing meeting to abuse the child, however, no actual arrangement was made and he didn't have a fixed intention to do it.

Judge Byrne said in a letter McNeil's sister and brother-in-law made the point "you had worked in a school for 10 years and in basketball for 20 years, all without any complaint being made against you".

However, Judge Byrne said the videos were "horrific" and referring to one clip said: "I'm not even going to describe it."

He said his case was not exceptional and while prison would be difficult for him, every image was a victim of sexual abuse and he fuelled the market for it.

Judge Byrne said: "What was done to them is deeply appalling."

He said McNeil was "an offender of particular concern" and jailed him for two and a half years, with an extended year on licence.

McNeil must serve at least half of the term behind bars, before he can apply to the Parole Board.

He must comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for six years and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A dangerous sex offender who repeatedly abused two girls and a boy was jailed for 19 years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that it was unlikely John Woodward, a 74-year-old granddad, will live long enough to complete his custodial term.

He has to serve two thirds of it before he can apply for parole and the judge imposed an extended licence of four years after ruling that he is an offender of particular concern.

His two female victims, sitting in the public gallery for the hearing, wept and hugged each other after Woodward, who appeared via video link, was sentenced.

In an impact statement one of them told how she used to take scalding hot baths in order to feel clean because of what he had done to her.

Her mental health had been affected and she had been unable to follow business plans she had hoped to carry out.

The male victim also told how he has been left suffering from anxiety and depression.

He had not realised at the time that what Woodward was doing to him was wrong but later appreciated how bad it was.

Woodward, of Brookdale, Widnes, had been convicted of 16 sexual offences against the three victims after a trial and Liverpool Crown Court heard that he still maintains his innocence.

Judge Gary Woodhall said that his offending spanned 27 years and he had exploited their vulnerability and had groomed them and used bribes of money, alcohol and cigarettes.

Despite knowing that concerns had been raised about sexual abuse involving the third victim and the authorities notified he continued abusing her regardless.

It was only when her mental health broke down that his offending behaviour, which began when she was 13, came to the attention of the police.

She has since been diagnosed with complex post traumatic stress disorder because of his abuse.

He told Woodward, I am satisfied you are dangerous and will pose such a risk in the future.

Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, said that his offending against the first victim took place when she was aged between six and 15 and it occurred against the boy when he was aged 14 and 15, sometimes after showing him pornography.

Miss Kenny said that the offences against the other girl happened on multiple occasions including when he gave her whisky and pulled down her trousers.

On another day he put his hand down her trousers and later gave her vodka and 20 before walking off.

And on a further occasion while kissing her breasts he shockingly said, s**g me for 50.

Miss Kenny said: She has expressed her desire to rebuild her life and aims to move away so she is not going to be reminded of what has happened to her.

But she has expressed her sadness at having to do that. She said he has stolen her childhood, her education and her mental health."

Maria Masselis, defending, said that there was a low risk of the defendant re-offending. She said he has suffered testicular cancer and a head injury.

He has poor mental health and carried out serious self-harming.

She said that his wife is supporting him but she is suffering from cancer and he is concerned how she will cope without him.

Miss Masselis said that the pandemic means that his time in prison will be more difficult than would otherwise be the case and she added that because of his age and health he was unlikely to complete the custodial sentence imposed on him.

The judge ordered Woodward to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life and imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order not to contact his victims.

Description

A 51-year-old man from Runcorn has been jailed after being convicted for a string of historical child sex abuse offences from the late 1980s.

Philip Cook, of Davenport Row, Halton Lodge, was found guilty by jurors on August 26 of nine counts of indecent assault of a child.

The charges reflected an escalation of worsening crimes from touching to activity characterised as rape by prosecuting barrister Cheryl Mottram on Thursday at Liverpool Crown Court as Cook was sentenced.

Ms Mottram recounted details of the vile abuse, which was perpetuated against a young boy under the age of 12 and included sex acts and simulated sexual intercourse.

The offences took place in Liverpool in the late 1980s when Cook was an adult teenager.

Matters came to light when Cooks victim began to confide in people close to him, resulting in counselling sessions, and then the involvement of Merseyside Police.

His victim, now an adult, read a powerful impact statement in which he asserted his identity as a survivor of child sexual abuse.

He said: I never wanted to believe that you were that word - a paedophile, because that meant I was abused and you were my abuser.

You were someone I liked, I trusted and wanted to spend time with and play the game.

I was too young to realise I was being groomed, too young to know you were taking advantage of me.

You were old enough to know what you were doing was wrong and you shouldnt have been doing it.

You were not my friend who was playing a game.

The abuse survivor spoke of the devastating impact on his life and how it took him years to realise its not my fault, adding that he had prayed for his abuser and will one day forgive him.

Jo Maxwell, defending, said Cook was of hitherto or prior good character with no previous convictions or offences committed since the late 1980s.

She said that in the significant period of time since the abuse took place, adding: He has spent the last 10 years or thereabouts running a well-respected animal rescue service.

Ms Maxwell said this related to cat rescue.

She said Cook had experienced an unstable childhood and traumatic formative years followed by a spell living in hostels when he left home, and later worked until he was 30 when ill health got the better of him and hes been unable to work fully since then.

Cook, who was involved in a serious road traffic collision in 1988 that left him with a damaged leg, appeared in the dock walking with the aid of a stick.

Judge David Potter, presiding, jailed Cook for nine years with a year on extended licence, and placed him on the sex offenders register for life.

He said he was satisfied Cook was not in the opinion of this court a dangerous offender and classed his level of future risk as at most medium, but said Cook had committed serious sexual offences that he dressed up as a game, which constituted grooming.

In sentencing Cook, Judge Potter referred to the defendants continual denials.

He said: When interviewed by the police, you consistently denied and maintained that denial that you had done nothing wrong towards (the victim).

The jury was satisfied that you were not telling the truth and convicted you on all of the counts on the indictment.

Description

A drunken pervert was caught loitering at a bus station where he has a history of leering at schoolgirls.

Kim Rampley has been on the Sex Offenders Register since 2002 and was jailed in 2006 for sexually assaulting a girl.

Since then he has harassed women and children at bus stops and train stations across Merseyside and Cheshire.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 68-year-old was hit with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in June 2015.

But he breached this on August 21 this year, when he "loitered" at Warrington Bus Station while drunk.

Simon Duncan, prosecuting, said a PCSO attended the bus interchange at around 1pm, after receiving a call from security about "a heavily intoxicated male loitering there, having been refused permission to travel".

Mr Duncan said: "He observed the defendant for some 10 minutes, staggering around, clearly heavily drunk, having soiled his trousers with urine."

Police were called to the scene and arrested Rampley, who wasn't interviewed because of his drunken state.

Rampley, of Grange Avenue, Latchford, Warrington, admitted breaching his SHPO and a suspended sentence.

Mr Duncan said Rampley had an "extensive history" of non-compliance with court orders, drunkenness and sexual offences including exposure, outraging public decency and indecent assaults.

Rampley, formerly of Frank Street, Widnes, was jailed for eight months in May 2006 for sexually assaulting a girl under 15.

He was given a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) - the old version of the SHPO - which banned him from approaching females on public transport or at stations.

Within an hour of being released from prison for that sentence, he targeted five females.

He was spotted by police blowing kisses and staring at two frightened 17-year-olds on a bus to Warrington, then pestered and called out to two 13-year-old girls in school uniform at the bus station.

Rampley then approached a woman at the town's nearby railway station and stared at her and pointed at her breasts.

For those breaches he was jailed for two years in October 2007.

In 2010 he was jailed for three years for trying to start a sexual conversation with a teenage girl on a train from Liverpool Lime Street Station.

In April 2012 he was jailed for three years for trying to engage three teenage girls in sexually explicit conversations at Sandbach train station.

Mr Duncan said he counted Rampley had breached both types of the order 11 times in total.

He said Rampley was handed 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, in March 2020 for breaching his SHPO in "circumstances almost identical at Warrington Bus Station, when drunk".

Rampley was given a community order in February for another breach "that involved exactly the same circumstances, at exactly the same bus station".

Kate Morley, defending, said: "The simple solution to the problem of Mr Rampley is to keep him in prison."

She said this was perhaps "the only realistic option" and her client didn't seek to persuade the judge to spare him jail.

Ms Morley said Rampley's recent breaches were for "public nuisance rather than sexual nuisance", he was a "chronic alcoholic" and "at 68 it's unlikely that's going to change".

She told the court he was "not a well man" but rather than get medical treatment, he had decided to "take his chances".

The lawyer said: "The sad fact is drinking alcohol is his only real pleasure in life.

"He has no family to speak of. He was extremely close to his mother, he described her as his rock. She passed away in 1995 and he lost his way in life."

Ms Morley said she didn't want to embarrass Rampley, but after 1995 he had his "one and only sexual relationship" and when that ended, he turned to drink "as a coping mechanism".

He committed his first offence in 1999, at the age of 46.

Ms Morley said: "Mr Rampley is embarrassed by his criminal record and he wants the court to know he has good intentions for the future."

The court heard Rampley wouldn't lose his home while in jail and has stopped drinking and is considering medical treatment.

Ms Morley said when he is next released his lawyers may have to consider asking for his SHPO to be amended, because his public nuisance breaches, as opposed to sexual offence breaches, were not what was intended when the order was made.

The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, told Rampley: "You must be under no illusion that the SHPO in respect of which you have come before this court remains in place and when you're released from custody, you're still subject to it."

He said the pervert had a "terrible" record for non-compliance and an "extremely poor record" of convictions.

The judge jailed Rampley for 30 weeks - nearly seven months - in total.

Description

A doctor who attempted to groom a '13-year-old girl' online has been spared prison after his lawyers blamed his actions on working long hours during the Covid pandemic.

James Peter Farthing, 28, spoke to the 'teenager' on messaging service Kik - under the username 'olderc**k' - as well as on Snapchat.

The junior doctor, who worked for the NHS in Stockport, asked to see photographs of her body and shared an image of penis.

The account was actually being run by an undercover police officer and Farthing was later arrested for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

However, today he walked free from Minshull Street Crown Court after being handed a suspended sentence.

Lawyers mitigating for Farthing, said he had been juggling working long hours during the pandemic, his wife's health condition and his training.

They said he had 'emotional struggles', had been watching pornography and smoking cannabis at the time - but that he was working to address his issues.

Her Honour Judge Tina Landale sentenced him to six months in prison, suspended for two years, after he admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

He was handed concurrent sentences for attempting to involve a child aged 13 or over in non-penetrative sexual activity; and attempting to engage with a child aged 13 to 15 to watch and look at images of a sexual nature.

The court heard Farthing spoke to the 'girl' on Kik - under the username 'olderc**k', Fiona Clancy, prosecuting said. He also spoke to her on Snapchat, in March.

He said he was 23 and from Leeds. The 'girl' was called 'Beth' and was said to have been from Liverpool.

The cop used a picture of kittens to portray how young she was, Ms Clancy said.

Farthing asked 'Beth' if she was into 'older guys' and if she would send him a picture.

'Beth' told him: 'I'm 13, by the way.' Farthing replied: 'Cool. Are you down for role play or sex?'

He asked to see her body and offered to show her his penis. The 'girl' said she was worried about sending a photograph.

Farthing reassured her that if she didn't include her face, it 'should be fine'.

'The fact that the undercover officer was 13 was reiterated, but the sexual conversations continued,' Ms Clancy said, as the conversations moved to Snapchat.

Farthing told 'Beth': 'I have spoken to a few girls that like older men.'

The officer then sent a picture of a young, clothed girl. Farthing sent a photograph of his penis.

'I really want to touch your body and see what you look like naked,' he said.

He then sent another picture of his penis.

Ms Clancy said that when officers arrested Farthing, he said he was 'ashamed' and 'tried to stop', but 'gave in to sexual pleasure', the court heard.

Simon Gurney, defending, said Farthing, who has no previous convictions, was 'deeply ashamed and remorseful for his behaviour'.

His supervisor - a consultant - and training programme director provided statements to the court.

Staff and patients 'all expressed shock' after Farthing was arrested, the court heard, as people thought he had a good 'moral compass'.

Mr Gurney said they 'stand by him' because they acknowledge his remorse.

The lawyer said it was the first time in Farthing's career that he didn't enjoy his work - and that his family was in debt as a result of the pandemic.

Mr Gurney said Farthing 'only has himself to blame for jeopardising' his career.

Judge Landale said the 'girl' made it 'clear that she didn't want to talk about sex'.

Farthing was ordered to take part in the Horizon project; to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days; and to undertake 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order - to last a decade.

Description

A paedophile has been jailed for 22 years after he sexually abused four children over a number of years.

Anthony Hulme subjected the four youngsters - some of them as young as two - to 'horrific' abuse over a seven-year period in the 1980s.

The 57-year-old, of London Road, Nantwich, was convicted following an eight-day trial at Chester Crown Court.

He was found guilty of:

- Two counts of gross indecency with a girl under the age of 14;

- Six counts of gross indecency with a boy under the age of 14;

- A serious sexual offence involving a boy under the age of 16;

- Two counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16;

- Two counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14.

Following the case, Detective Sergeant Paul Nolan, from Cheshire Police, said: "Hulme subjected each of his victims to horrific abuse, both physically and sexually, over a long period of time when they were babies or young children.

"It has taken great courage for them to disclose what happened and to go through the process to ensure justice was served.

"The conviction and sentence is testament to their bravery in coming forward and providing such difficult, upsetting and harrowing evidence.

"I hope it now provides them with a form of closure and although they will never forget what happened, they can begin a new chapter in their lives."

Description

The paedophile later fantasised about the abuse in sick chats with other men online A paedophile admitted raping a girl after police discovered his sick conversations with men fantasising about the abuse. David Harvey groomed then repeatedly molested the young child, after telling her: "Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to." The 59-year-old later went online and told one man he could impersonate his victim in twisted sex games - referring to him by the girl's name - but claimed this was just "role play". Harvey, of Blackcap Walk, Birchwood, Warrington, showed no emotion as Judge Andrew Menary, QC, slammed his "corrupt and depraved behaviour". Liverpool Crown Court heard the abuse came to light in June 2020, when the victim's mum received a text from one of her daughter's friends at school. This girl told the mum her daughter had text her, saying: "I was sexually assaulted for years and wanted to say something, but I was scared." Robert Dudley, prosecuting, said the mum spoke to her child, who confirmed Harvey had made her touch him, and the police were informed. The court heard the abuse included Harvey making the victim get undressed, before lying on top of her and rubbing his penis against her. He made her perform sex acts on herself, saying he wouldn't touch her if she did them, so she did, because she didn't want him to touch her. Mr Dudley said Harvey also performed sex acts on her, made her perform sex acts on him, and on one occasion raped her. The victim said: "He was bigger and stronger than me and if I didn't do it, he'd hold me in place." When arrested and interviewed by police in July 2020, Harvey denied sexually abusing his victim and said her allegations were "not true". He was interviewed again in March this year, when police confronted him with evidence of the conversations he had online with other men, including a person called "Andrew". The court heard in one chat he told Andrew: "You can be [victim's name] and I can f*** you." Harvey continued to address this man using the name of his child victim and talked about needing them "to come service him soon". He admitted sending Andrew three images of his erect penis but claimed the chats were just "role play" and a scenario being acted out by two men. Harvey, who had no previous convictions, later admitted rape, three counts of sexual assault and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Mr Dudley said his child victim now struggles to sleep, gets anxious when talking about her ordeal and just "wants to forget about it". In a victim statement, the girl's mum said she too suffers from raised levels of anxiety and stress, and worries about her daughter. Paul Wood, defending, said his client expected to receive a long prison sentence and asked for 25% credit for his guilty pleas. The barrister said: "He does show some insight into his offending behaviour, repeatedly in the pre-sentence report referring to his disgust." He added: "He's ashamed of his behaviour." Mr Wood told the court it would be Harvey's first time in prison and said: "The defendant knows his life will never be the same again." The lawyer said Harvey had a good work history but "that employment clearly now has had to cease". Judge Menary told Harvey: "Essentially during this period you used her as your sexual partner or sexual plaything, asking her if she wanted to have some fun and engaging in very intimate sexual activity. This was thoroughly corrupt and depraved behaviour." The judge said the chats with the man Andrew online were "very significant incriminating evidence". He said: "In interview you denied all of the allegations, even though the police by then had obtained details of chat conversations you had with men online about fantasies involving having sex with an adult dressed as a schoolgirl and using the same name as your victim." Judge Menary added: "I've no doubt what you did to your victim will haunt her for many years, if not for the rest of her life. "It's likely to affect her relationships as she grows up and the effect is likely to be profound." He said it was too soon to properly assess the impact of his "appalling" abuse on the child, but noted the crimes involved planning and grooming behaviour. Judge Menary said Harvey was an "offender of particular concern" and jailed him for 10 and a half years, with an extended one year on licence. This type of sentence means he must serve at least half of the term in prison before he can apply to the Parole Board for his release. He will only be released before the end of the 10 and a half years if he is no longer considered to be a risk. Judge Menary ordered Harvey to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

Description

A MAN from Ellesmere Port found with hundreds of indecent images of children has been jailed for 14 months. Jamie Carter, 22, of Shetland Drive, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, August 18 for sentencing, having previously pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity to all charges. Police found Carter had stored 357 indecent images of children between September 19, 2019 and December 5, 2020. Of those, 103 were assessed at 'Category A', the most serious type of indecent image, with 84 assessed at Category B and 170 assessed as Category C. Carter also pleaded guilty to possessing 11 prohibited images of children, and possessing 10 images of extreme pornography involving animals. As a result of the offences, Judge Simon Berkson sentenced the defendant to 14 months in prison. Carter was also made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. As part of that order, Carter is prevented from working with children or vulnerable adults, and is prohibited from using any internet-enabled device unless he has notified police beforehand, does not make any attempt to disguise or delete his internet history, and makes it available for inspection by a police officer. Carter must also sign the sex offenders register. He must also pay a 149 surcharge. An iPhone 11 which was used by Carter to obtain the indecent images was to be forfeited and destroyed.

Description

A hidden camera pervert who filmed people on the toilet at Creamfields was caught after a woman spotted his phone peeping over her cubicle door in a pub.

Andrew Smith also filmed teenage girls getting changed at a theatre as well as up schoolgirls' skirts.

However the 39-year-old of Pickerings Close, Runcorn, was caught after a woman using a pub toilet spotted his hand holding a phone above her and she ran out and kicked in his cubicle door to confront him.

Smith fled but was stopped by door staff and then arrested.

Police uncovered a shocking collection of secretly-filmed videos of adults and young girls stored on Smiths digital devices.

Smith was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, having pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism in relation to his adult victims, and one count each to possessing and making Category C indecent images of children - the latter two counts relating to the same eight covertly-captured clips of girls backstage at Haltons flagship culture venue The Brindley Theatre and upskirt videos of schoolgirls.

Jayne Morris, prosecuting, told how Smith provided a basis of plea in which he admitted obtaining sexual gratification from secretly filming people, mainly adult females and female children, then saving these images and viewing them.

She said Smith was arrested after two female customers in the toilets at The Bank Chambers pub, also known as Chambers, in Runcorn looked up at 4am one night in 2018 and spotted a hand holding a mobile phone over the side of the toilet cubicle, while one of them was using the toilet.

She ran out of the stall and kicked open the neighbouring cubicle door, where she caught Smith - who was stood on the toilet seat with his mobile telephone in his hand.

Smith fled but door staff stopped him and police were called and arrested him.

A search at the scene and his home address resulted in devices including a mini-camera in his wallet which he had with him, a Toshiba camera, a laptop, and a Samsung phone being examined.

This revealed 20 video clips of adults being filmed without their knowledge: 16 of which featured men and women using the toilets at Creamfields - where Smith was working and had set up a covert camera; three from The Bank Chambers; and one from The Brindley theatre.

Officers from Cheshire police also discovered four video clips of teenage girls getting changed backstage at Haltons flagship culture venue The Brindley Theatre, where he had worked his way up in lighting and production and managed to get a roof box on the side of the stage where he could take these images - that is in relation to the children in various states of undress", and four upskirt clips of schoolgirls.

Smith further divulged that he used a camera hidden in a duffle bag that was positioned when he was outside the school so he could film up schoolgirls' skirts.

His younger victims were aged 13 to 16 years.

All of the footage, except the final clip in The Bank Chambers when he was caught in the act, had been recorded covertly via secret cameras and without his victims knowledge.

Smith gave no comment answers during his two initial interviews with the police but made full admissions on February 26 this year

He pleaded guilty to voyeurism and one count each to possessing and making indecent images of children relating to the same eight videos at the first opportunity.

Andrew McInnes, defending, said his client had shown genuine remorse, admitted he had a problem and had sought help via his general practitioner and The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, which is a charity that works to divert men from looking at indecent images of children.

He said: The pre-sentence report notes the defendant has taken significant steps to deal with what he knows is a significant issue.

He added Smith had not offended since 2018, and had a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Mr McInnes urged the judge to consider a suspended sentence, arguing Smith had no previous convictions and clearly had a good work ethic, although Miss Morris noted that Smiths sex offender management officer has been caused some concern upon discovered Smith had recently been working at Wetherspoon in Warrington.

She added he no longer works there.

Judge Simon Berkson, presiding, refused Smith bail when the court adjourned for lunch until the afternoon, when he jailed Smith for two years in prison, comprising consecutive sentences of eight and 16 months, to be served immediately.

He said Smith was ashamed of what you have done and show clear remorse but that appropriate punishment can only be achieved by a period of immediate imprisonment.

During his summing-up, Judge Berkson said: Your arrest led to a search.

In your house, police discovered computer equipment and other equipment including a digital camera which was to reveal the terrible secret you had been hiding - you enjoyed taking and watching these videos.

In count one, some were from the Creamfields festival at Daresbury outside Warrington where you had set up a camera in the toilets.

As well as the invasion of privacy of those using these toilets, you were employed at Creamfields and you were in breach of trust.

Nobody knew you were filming in these toilets.

At the end of the festival you took away this equipment and would view whatever you had taken for your own pleasure.

One you have was from the changing room at The Brindley Theatre in Runcorn where you worked in a technical capacity.

You had set up a camera - again a gross breach of privacy, a gross breach of trust.

He added: You filmed teenage girls dressing and undressing at the theatre Ive referred to.

Their parents would drop them off for a (type of) competition or the like.

They assumed they would be safe at a theatre where they would no doubt be sitting in the stalls to watch their children perform.

You had taken secret video, which you took home for your own pleasure.

They werent safe, they were being filmed by you so you could watch them at a later date.

The judge also imposed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order with Smith to sign the sex offenders register for the same length of time.

A destruction order was made for any devices implicated in the case.

Smith looked to the public gallery with tears in his eyes and smiled to relatives as he was led down to the cells.

Description

A paedophile who considered himself 'untouchable' has finally been jailed more than 50 years after he began preying on young boys.

Terrence Ryan, now 77, sexually assaulted a young boy in the early 1960s and would go on to abuse three more children until the late 2000s.

The pensioner, from Warrington, came to the attention of police after one of his victims bravely came forward to Northumbria Police, sparking an investigation by the forces safeguarding unit.

Ryan, from the Woolston area of the town, was arrested and denied the allegations.

But he later pleaded guilty to 14 counts of historical child sexual abuse, including sexual touching, engaging in sexual activity with a child, inciting sexual activity with a child and oral rape.

Last Friday, Ryan, of Austral Avenue, Warrington, was jailed for 14 years and eight months at Newcastle Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant Andrea Burns said of the case: "This man thought he was untouchable and continued to abuse young boys for more than 50 years.

My heart goes out to the brave victims who have suffered in silence for so long, and I hope the conviction of Ryan gives them all a sense of solace and closure.

This also sends a really strong message that it is never too late to report sexual abuse to police.

Some of these offences were committed in the early 1960s, yet we have still been able to seek justice for the victims.

No-one deserves to suffer the way these victims have so please, if you have been a victim of abuse, speak out.

We are here to help.

Description

A man who was caught on camera sexually assaulting a patient at a care facility in Cheshire has been jailed. Benjamin Poole appeared at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 12 August where he was sentenced to six years in prison. The 21-year-old, from Crewe, had earlier pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault and two counts of wilfully neglecting an individual. Poole was employed as a care worker at the specialist centre where he was responsible for looking after a number of patients. In the summer of 2020 one of his patients, a woman in her 20s who suffered from severe seizures, started to notice that things were happening to her whilst she was having the seizures. Worried about what was happening, in November 2020 the woman decided to purchase an alarm clock which had a built-in covert camera. Within days of installing the camera the woman recorded footage of Poole sexually assaulting her while she was suffering a seizure. The incident was immediately reported to staff at the facility who contacted police. Poole was later arrested and subsequently charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of wilfully neglecting an individual. Following the sentencing Detective Constable Amelia Stevens, said: As a carer, Poole held a position of trust and he was there to provide the patients with the care and support they needed during their time of need. Poole totally abused this position, and instead of caring for the patient he used it as an opportunity to fulfil his own sexual gratification. He wrongly believed that the victim would have no recollection of what he had done, but thankfully as a result of her courage and bravery, he is now facing the consequences of his actions. While the victim will never be able to forget what happened to her, I hope that the sentence handed to Poole will help to provide some closure. I also hope that the bravery shown by the victim in this case gives other victims of sexual assault the courage to come forward and report what happened to them. In addition to his prison sentence, Poole has also handed and indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.