Latest Offenders Cheshire

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.

Description

An man who secretly filmed people using the toilet has been jailed for 32 months.

Matthew Thomas, 39, from Meadowbank Drive in Ellesmere Port was sentenced on Friday after appearing in Chester Crown Court.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to voyeurism, recording images of children, three counts of taking indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent images and two counts of possession of extreme pornography.

Thomas was caught after a woman using a toilet at an unnamed business noticed a bright light coming from a jacket hung up in her cubicle in September 2020.

After taking a closer look, she realised there was a hole in the pocket of the jacket with a camera lens sitting up against the hole and contacted people.

Thomas was arrested on suspicion of voyeurism and an investigation launched by Cheshire Police.

Police seized three mobile phones, an iPad, laptop and other computer equipment after Thomas' arrest and discovered over 100 videos "of a sexual nature" dating as far back as 2008, including videos depicting voyeurism and up skirting.

Officers also found 28 indecent images of children and two further videos depicting extreme pornography.

Thomas was sentenced last week to 32 months in prison, where he was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and received a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.

After his sentencing, Ellesmere Port local policing unit DC Lois Elvey paid tribute to the "extraordinary courage and strength of his victims."

DC Elvey said: What Thomas did was inexcusable he secretly recorded his victims in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification.

It was only by chance that his crimes were uncovered when one of his victims discovered a camera hidden in the pocket of a jacket.

When we examined his electronic devices we discovered 67 separate videos of people using the toilet, which involved 17 separate victims, and some were under the age of 18 when the footage was filmed.

We also found examples of upskirting which Thomas had filmed while on a day out.

Thankfully, the strength of the evidence against him was so strong that he was left with no option but to plead guilty to all of the charges against him and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.

I hope that the sentence handed to Thomas today will provide reassurance to his victims, who have shown an extraordinary amount of courage and strength throughout the course of the investigation, and allow them to move forward with their lives.

Description

Shaleem Nazish kept thousands of vile sex abuse images and shared sickening child rape images A paedophile swapped child rape images in a perverted group chat while already under police investigation. Shaleem Nazish claimed he was listening to a podcast when officers stormed his home and tackled his phone from him. He told officers he was "trying to pause the recording" but was actually trying to cover his tracks having downloaded 6,471 images of children being sexually abused. Of the images 296 were videos of children aged between six months and 12 years being raped. Despite being the subject of a police investigation the 24-year-old went on to share child rape videos in perverted group chat and "openly discussed sexually abusing children". But he didn't realise he was talking to an undercover police officer who reported his crimes, dragging him back into a police station for further questioning. Paul Blasbery, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said Nazish was convicted in 2016 for a "number of similar matters" for which he was handed a two year sentence suspended for two years. He explained a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) was also imposed which meant he had to make any device available to police for inspection and was "prohibited from deleting internet history". Mr Blasbery said "as a result of information received" police attended his home at 6am on March 28, 2019, and stormed into his bedroom where Nazish was "sitting on his bed with a mobile telephone in his hand". He said he "appeared to be attempting to alter data on the device in spite of being told on several occasions to put the device down". He added: "He refused resulting in force being used to remove the device from his grasp." Mr Blasbery said indecent images were found on the device and a laptop and another phone were also seized. In a police interview Nazish claimed he had been "listening to a podcast" and there were "so many people in the room he was just trying to pause the recording". He claimed he didn't remember uploading indecent images of children to the phone but admitted he had looked at indecent images of children online. The court heard he had used a number of applications and had downloaded 936 category A images, which involve children being raped, 1,123 category B images and 4,412 category C images. He also had 28 prohibited images of children. Of the images 296 were videos of children being raped, with ages ranging between six months old and 12 years. Mr Blasbery said Nazish told police he had sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and the probation service after his first conviction but said he had "been struggling since then". He admitted he had a "sexual interest in boys aged eight to 12" and was released under investigation. But while under investigation Nazish took part in a group chat where he had shared indecent images of children in all categories on a number of platforms. Nazish used different user names and shared the sickening images both in a chat and in a private chat with an undercover police officer. He had also "openly discussed sexually abusing children". Nazish was arrested again, Mr Blasbery explained, and told officers "he had been struggling with his mental health, doing counselling with a psychotherapist who had been unable to help him so his mental health had 'taken a hit' and was why he had continued his activity". He admitted sharing indecent images of children on Snapchat and using a Wickr account to "message random people with the same sexual interest". Nazish said he also used Instagram to download images of child sex abuse which he would move to a different account. He distributed 11 category A indecent images, 13 category B images and 162 category C indecent images, which involved children aged between eight and 12. Michael Phillips, defending, said Nazish came to the UK in 2002 and "just before he arrived" suffered a "very traumatic experience", which was not described in open court. He said he has a "deep sense of shame and guilt" and following his previous conviction had "tried as best as he can in order to move things along" but "wasn't able to stay on the straight and narrow". Mr Phillips said a police officer who was "tasked with his supervision" had initially told Nazish he was "so well-behaved" and they "probably didn't need to bother him". He said this was "a red flag to a bull". Mr Phillips said as a child Nazish had low self esteem and moved schools a number of times where he was "often the only Asian child". Nazish gained a chemistry degree from UCLAN and "hoped to go into the vaccine business and research". Mr Phillips said after he was sentenced in January 2016 Nazish "didn't do as well as he could have done as a result of having to deal with allegations" and has subsequently struggled to find work as a result of his conviction. He said Nazish then suffered from anxiety and depression and "reverted to what he knew in the past had given him pleasure". Mr Phillips said he "didn't really seek the help he needed to" but "really recognised now he needed more help" which he had sought from a psychotherapist. Nazish, of Allen Street, Warrington, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children between December 22, 2014, and June 19, 2020, possessing prohibited images of children between the same dates and three counts of distributing indecent images of children between April 30, 2020 and June 19 of the same year. The judge, Recorder Eric Lamb, said: "I accept the shame and guilt which you expressed was genuine. "I accept you are anxious to make changes to your life to avoid further offending in this way as a result of your addiction." The judge said a pre-sentence report found Nazish to be a medium risk of harm. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years. Nazish was ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A sex offender who contacted a teenage girl on social media while out of prison on licence has been jailed.

Warrington man David Fowler was jailed for nine years in 2015 after pleading guilty to four counts of inciting a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual intercourse.

On Tuesday Fowler , 30, of no fixed address, appeared at Chester Crown Court when he was jailed for 22 months for breaching the terms of a Sexual Offence Prevention Order.

The 22-month sentence will sit alongside the rest of Fowler's prison sentence from 2015.

Chester Crown Court heard that Fowler had contacted a 15-year-old girl on social media, which breached the terms of the Sexual Offence Prevention Order handed down to him in 2015.

In 2015 Warrington Crown Court heard how Fowler had set up a Facebook account in the name 'Chris Johnson' which he used to send explicit messages to a teenage girl.

The court heard that Fowler had used social media to groom teenager girls. Judge Nicholas Woodward, who jailed the Warrington man for nine years, described him as a "predator".

Description

The woman was left bruised and crying after Andrew Matthews attacked her A sex offender told his victim he was a 'black belt' in attacking women. After making the vile comment, Andrew Matthews grabbed the woman's genitals with such force she was left bruised and crying. The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was left suffering "anxiety" and "panic attacks" after the horrific incident. Kate Morley, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said Matthews had "forcibly grabbed her over clothing" after which she "screamed" and "began to cry". Judge Louise Brandon said Matthews had "grabbed and squeezed her vagina causing pain and bruising" in the attack earlier this year, which left the victim "feeling depressed" and "unhappy in her own skin". He had also "grabbed her by the neck with one hand" and spat in her face before punching her. Ms Morley said there was "no physical injury" from the punch. Matthews has 19 previous convictions for 24 offences including battery against a woman and a non-domestic violence related battery. William Staunton, defending, said the offences "should cause him to feel shame" and to "reflect upon the way in which he behaves". He stressed he had "no previous for sexual offending" and added he has completed a 12-step programme to address his drinking while in custody. Mr Staunton said: "He will have time from today to sit at Her Majesty's Pleasure to sit and contemplate what he has done." Matthews, of O'Leary Street, Warrington, was convicted of sexual assault and common assault following a trial. Judge Brandon, sentencing, said a "particularly disgusting aspect of this offence" was his spitting at the woman. Matthews was jailed for 18 months and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Description

A paedophile who had images of a man having sex with a dog also shared a sickening video of a five-year-old girl being raped.

Among his criminal content Alan Bainbridge kept 501 images of children being sexually abused.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 62-year-old also amassed 52 images of bestiality involving dogs.

He was today jailed after a judge heard how police found chats in which he was "discussing sexual abuse of children".

Robert Wyn-Jones, prosecuting, said on May 12 last year "as a result of intelligence" police searched Bainbridge's Warrington home during which a "number of devices" were seized.

He was arrested on suspicion of possessing, making and distributing indecent images of children.

Bainbridge answered no comment in interview. The devices underwent a forensic examination.

Officers found between January 8 and May 13 last year Bainbridge kept 151 category A images, which involve children being raped.

He also kept 87 category B images and 263 category C images.

Mr Wyn-Jones said the majority of the pictures involved girls around eight-years-old.

Bainbridge also had 52 images of bestiality involving dogs.

Mr Wyn-Jones explained Bainbridge had used "various chat forums" on which he was "discussing sexual abuse of children".

In one chat Bainbridge shared two sickening child rape videos, one of which involved a five-year-old girl and the other which involved a girl of "about three".

In a police interview Bainbridge admitted having a sexual interest in children and that he had sent images to other people.

Bainbridge is of effective previous good character, the court heard.

Kyra Badman, defending, said he was "open" with the author of a pre-sentence report which she said was "perhaps indicative of his willingness to engage with the probation service and his motivation to change".

She said he has sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, Samaritans, and local mental health services and he is "keen to change his ways".

Ms Badman said he has recently retired "really because of the shame of his employer finding out about these offences".

She said his marriage had broken down as a result of his offences and he had become "socially isolated", which has caused him to struggle with his mental health.

Alan Bainbridge, of Doward Street, Widnes, admitted possession of indecent images of a child, three counts of making indecent images, distributing indecent images of a child and possession of extreme pornographic images.

The judge, Recorder Eric Lamb, sentencing, said: "By your age you should know much better than to behave in the way you have done, bringing yourself before the court."

Recorder Lamb said: "The pre-sentence report sets out the many difficulties you have had in your life which result in you now finding yourself isolated and in poor mental health, but expressing yourself you are determined to overcome your previous way of behaving with help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation."

The judge accepted Bainbridge's genuine remorse but said "appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody".

Bainbridge was jailed for two years, which was reduced to one year and 10 months due to the "onerous" conditions in prisons as a result of the pandemic.

He ordered to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for the same period.

Description

A private dance teacher who repeatedly took advantage of a girl has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for sexual abuse.

Robert Louw, 27, of Rookery Road, Tilston, Malpas, in Cheshire, must also register as a sex offender indefinitely and is banned from working with children or vulnerable adults on his release from prison.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a child. Mold crown court heard Louw had been messaging the victim on Snapchat.

Judge Rhys Rowlands said the sordid and repeated abuse had a “profound” effect on the youngster and she considered suicide at one point. “You were taking advantage of a young girl many years younger than yourself,” he said.

“It’s been a bad effect upon her,” Judge Rowlands told Louw, who taught in the Wrexham area.

A sexual harm prevention order will last indefinitely. Andrew Green, defending, said he had taken responsibility for his behaviour.

Prosecuting barrister Simon Rogers said the abuse came to light when the victim’s mother confronted her daughter about a note.

Louw accepted a kiss but denied other sexual activity when quizzed.

Description

A cyber pervert who was snared in an online sting told some pretending to be a 13-year-old girl she was a young woman now and ready for sex.

Paul Pickerill, 65, of Lockgate West, Windmill Hill, Runcorn, was sent down today at Chester Crown Court after appearing by videolink and having pleaded guilty previously in magistrates court to attempting to incite a child aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage a child in sexual communication.

Philip Clemo, prosecuting, recounted how a volunteer with the paedophile hunter group Net Justice became involved with a conversation on March 11 with Pickerill via the Twoo social media website, where he was using the name Paul55StokeOnTrent.

They quickly switched to the encrypted chat app WhatsApp and the decoy - which was really an adult - told Pickerill she was 13.

Pickerill claimed he was younger than he really was, and said he was 55 years old.

When he asked if shed had her first period and she replied yeah, he said she was a young woman now and ready for sex, adding they could keep it a secret and use condoms and the morning-after pill.

Over a spell of nearly three weeks until March 30, cyber creep Pickerill made various sexual suggestions to the fake girl, and sent her pictures of his car and of him with his dog, plus indecent pictures of himself and a video clip of him performing a sex act on himself.

Pickerill, who asked for pictures of the girl and asked her to perform a sex act on herself, also referred to waiting for her grandmother to fall asleep, so he could slip into her bed while she was asleep.

When the "girl" told him she was a child, he retorted you wont be when we have sex, adding dont worry, Ill be gentle.

Net Justice held an intervention and Pickerill was arrested.

He made no comment during his interview with Cheshire police.

Pickerill had three non-relevant convictions for four offences from the 1970s and had never spent time behind bars before being remanded into custody to await sentencing.

Jeremy Rawson, appearing for the defence, pleaded mitigation for his clients prompt guilty pleas, which he said showed remorse, and he referred to the latest court of appeal case law for offences involving decoys, which ruled that sentences should be set to the sentencing starting point for the intended harm then adjusted downwards to reflect that an act did not occur and there was no real child.

He said a pre-sentence report suggested Pickerill could be managed via a non-custodial sentence.

Pickerill, who appeared via videolink from prison, also suffered depression and was hard of hearing, and no longer worked due to a road traffic collision in 2011, Mr Rawson said.

Judge Michael Leeming, presiding, cast doubt on Pickerills supposed remorse, noting how he sought to minimise his behaviour during his pre-sentence report probation interview.

Placing the cyber pervert on the sex offenders register for 10 years alongside a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, the judge said the offences were too serious for a suspended sentence, and sentenced Pickerill to one year and eight months in prison to be served immediately.

Sending him down, Judge Leeming said: You didnt seek to hide the fact you were far older than she was.

You lied about your age, you told her you were 55 - you were 65.

He added: Its clear you sought to minimise your behaviour throughout the probation officers report, telling her you had done nothing wrong and were only conversing through boredom and isolation., and had only pleaded guilty on legal advice.

Pickerill will also have to pay a victim surcharge.

Description

A couple have been jailed for sexually abusing three young girls after a judge at Chester Crown Court said they had ruined their victims lives.

Judge Steven Everett described John Blake, 61, of Pine Grove in Chester, as an sexual monster with deviant sexual desires, who preyed on three young children. On 16 April 2021, he jailed him for 26 years for 17 counts of sexual abuse.

Blake cannot be considered for parole until he has served at least half of his sentence and must also serve a further two years on extended licence after he has been released.

Judge Everett described his partner, Emmalene Jones, 31, of Crabwell Place in Chester, as truly despicable as he jailed her for two years for two counts of causing a child to take part in a sexual act.

Judge Everett said that although she was under the influence of Blake, that she did her best to encourage the children to take part in the sexual acts.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) successfully applied to the court for restraining orders to prevent both Blake and Jones from ever contacting the victims or their families again.

Both of the defendants have also been placed on the Sexual Offenders Register, Blake for life and Jones for 10 years. Both are barred from ever working with children.

The CPS said that the abuse happened in the Chester and Saltney Ferry areas between 2008 and 2015, when their victims were aged between nine and fifteen. The CPS secured guilty verdicts against both Blake and Jones after a ten-day trial at Chester Crown Court in November 2020.

The victims attended court to read out moving Victim Personal Statements about the impact that the abuse had on them. They all spoke of the long-lasting effects on their relationships and ability to cope. One said that, by saying nothing about the abuse, she had felt that she was keeping her own family safe.

One of the victims said: I know now that for the rest of my life I will never be able to trust males the same and I will always judge them. My mind is broken and the scars run deep and this will forever haunt me and unfortunately the damage is done.All I can try and do now is move on and allow myself to try and live a long and happy life.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Amber Quinn, a specialist lawyer with CPS Mersey-Cheshires Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit said: This has been a complex and disturbing case.

There was a lot of extra material in this case that the CPS was required to disclose to the defence and this took a significant amount of time to process. The evidence was also disturbing and shocking at times.

The impact of these crimes is long lasting and the courage and determination of the victims has been remarkable, despite the difficulties that coming forward and speaking about the abuse has caused them.

This determination was shown in their request to attend the sentencing hearing in person to read out their Victim Personal Statements themselves, while John Blake and Emmalene Jones looked on.

This is the work of the CPSs RASSO unit and demonstrates the crucial role both we and the police play in bringing the perpetrators of this dreadful type of offending to justice. The passage of time will not hinder our determination to prosecute.

Description

A mum was sent a video of a paedophile having sex with her daughter after he groomed her over Snapchat.

Matthew Lawton preyed on two teenage girls and lured them with offers of cigarettes, alcohol and cannabis.

The then 29-year-old lied that he was 19 to trick the children, aged 14 and 13, into meeting for consensual sex.

Under UK law - while it is illegal to engage in sexual activity with anyone under 16 - consensual sex is not considered rape if the child is 13 or older.

Lawton pestered the victims to send him intimate photos and filmed the 14-year-old - aka Girl A - having sex with him.

The "monster" used the clip to blackmail her into further abuse - including a rape after he held a knife to her throat - when she tried to stop seeing him.

And he later posted it on a Snapchat account called "slags", leading to the video being sent to the girl's mum.

Lawton, of Milton Road, Widnes, who claimed he thought the girls were 16, was found guilty after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court of 19 sexual offences.

Judge Denis Watson, QC, today said Lawton "corrupted" the girls after he "lied" about his age and "engineered" the abuse.

He said: "You're 30 and you had a girlfriend. What you also had, and still have, I find, is a serious sexual interest in young girls.

"You were regularly in contact with young teenagers on social media including Snapchat and you knew very well that these young teenagers enjoyed attention from you, an older male, even though you didn't give your true age.

"You would typically offer alcohol, or cigarettes, or cannabis, or a combination of them, and that proved sufficient for them to be prepared to meet you and engage in sexual activity, which they wished to keep secret from their parents and their friends."

Judge Watson added: "You were after one thing, sex."

The judge said Lawton abused Girl A over a four or five month period, during which time texts showed he threatened to break windows at her parents' home and to post the video on social media.

Judge Watson said one rape happened after Lawton pressured Girl A to meet him at his house and she made clear she didn't want sex.

He said: "Once you got her to the house you held a knife to her throat and then by strength and threat overcame her resistance and you raped her."

Judge Watson said the girl was "terrified" and while Lawton claimed he was "only messing" and put the knife down, he raped her immediately afterwards.

Another rape happened after he threatened to damage her mum's car unless she met him, so she climbed out her bedroom window.

Having been "coerced" by Lawton, she met him on a sports ground in the early hours of the morning, when he again raped her.

Judge Watson said the threats were "successful", but when she stopped seeing him, Lawton posted the video online.

He said: "She was instantly recognised by those who saw it and the video was even sent to her own mother."

The judge said it was "planned and calculated exploitation" of a vulnerable teen, which involved "controlling her for your own sexual gratification".

Sarah Holt, prosecuting, read a victim statement from Girl A, who was left suffering panic attacks, nightmares and self-harming.

Girl A said: "He's a monster, that's what I call him. He's a monster, what else is he? He controlled me and he made me go against my parents."

The victim said she felt angry and ashamed, blamed herself and saw her parents upset, including her dad, who received texts from people blaming her.

Girl A said: "Whose dad wants to know that this has happened to their little girl?"

She described receiving threats from people saying they would "batter" her because they were mentioned in court and also fears Lawton will return.

Girl A said: "I don't feel safe from him. I feel like the monster has won. I feel like he's taken my life and taken my childhood."

Judge Watson said the offences against Girl B didn't involve rape but involved grooming and soliciting of sexual images.

Girl B told the court she felt like "a prisoner in my own home" because her mum was trying to protect her, leading to arguments.

She felt "constantly anxious", worried he would return, cried uncontrollably and felt like everyone was staring and judging her.

Lawton was convicted of four counts of rape, nine counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of meeting a child following sexual grooming, two counts of sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and taking indecent photographs of a child.

He was previously jailed for six years for inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent in 2011.

Paul Becker, defending, said his client was bullied at school, then expelled, but went to college and had a good work record.

He said: "There is evidence without a diagnosis of ADHD and certainly evidence of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation."

Mr Becker said prison staff were concerned about Lawton, who was medicated for depression and had a "fatty liver".

The lawyer said: "His parents were present during the trial and Mr Lawton has family support.

"He's had issues with bereavement, having lost special friends and grandparents over the last few years.

"Some of those bereavement issues remain unresolved - the defendant has not had counselling."

Judge Watson told Lawton: "Your parents have not given up on you."

However, referring to Girl A, he noted "the sinister fact of you picking up a knife and holding it to her neck, immediately prior to the rape" and "a willingness to achieve what you want by the use of blackmail".

Judge Watson said he was a "dangerous offender" and jailed him for 15 years, with an extended four years on licence.

Lawton must serve at least two thirds of the sentence - 10 years - behind bars before he can apply for parole.

He will only be released before the end of the sentence if he is no longer considered a risk.

Lawton must sign the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely.

Description

A grandad of 24 offered a '14-year-old boy' a trip to McDonald's in exchange for a seedy hotel stay.

Trevor Griffiths wanted to take a child for a McDonald's and to the cinema and planned on sexually abusing him in a hotel in Belfast.

The 61-year-old started speaking to 'Mark' on Chatiw in 2019 but didn't realise it was actually an undercover police officer.

In sickening messages Griffiths said he wanted to 'kiss and cuddle' the 'schoolboy' before performing sex acts on each other, which he described in graphic detail.

When officers went to his address they discovered his vile collection of child sex abuse images, which included an image of a 12-month-old baby being raped.

Martyn Walsh, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, explained the messages took place between January 10 and January 17, 2019 on platform Chatiw.

Griffiths used the name Tom and began speaking to the undercover officer who "presented as a 14-year-old boy, Mark".

Mr Walsh said: "Mr Griffiths talked of him going to Belfast, taking Mark for a McDonalds, going to the movies and staying in a hotel together."

Griffiths detailed in the disgusting messages how he first wanted to shower with the boy before performing sex acts on each other.

The grandad then told the 'boy' to "tell his mum he was staying with friends".

On January 14 'Mark' asked Griffiths if he had booked flights which he confirmed he had.

Mr Walsh explained how Griffiths detailed that he wanted to "get in bed and have a cuddle".

On January 15, Griffiths said the boy "made him feel good inside and he feels happy and wants to know whether Mark loves him".

Two days later Mr Walsh explained the conversation about flights continued with Griffiths stating what flight his time is due to leave.

Mr Walsh said: "He asks Mark what he'll be wearing, Mark says he'll have his school uniform because he'll have nowhere to get changed."

The court heard on the same day Griffiths blocked the undercover police officer, after which a second officer created an account under the name 'Jess', pretending to be a 17-year-old girl.

Mr Walsh explained Griffiths gave the decoy profile his full name and mobile number.

On April 30, 2019, police attended his address and recovered three mobile phones on which they found a total of 63 indecent images of children including 47 images of child rape.

The court heard he had also failed to comply with notification requirements while he was on bail.

Griffiths has no previous convictions.

Carmel Wilde, defending, explained that Griffiths had pleaded guilty and had expressed "confusion" and "shame" for his behaviour.

Ms Wilde said: "Perhaps the biggest step in offences of this nature is that acceptance there is an attraction to children."

She explained Griffiths is keen to engage with the probation service adding it is "certainly a fall from grace for a 61-year-old man with no previous convictions".

The court heard his marriage had broken down following 25 years together.

Ms Wilde added that Griffiths was "confused about his sexuality" to which the judge commented "he's a little bit old for that" adding "he's got 24 grandchildren".

She added: "He is beginning that process of opening up to professionals. He wants to get his life back on track and receive help from people in that forum."

Ms Wilde added that it was a relatively short period of time during which the messages had been exchanged and explained that no meeting with a real child ever took place.

She said: "He finds himself very suicidal at the moment and suffering from depression."

Ms Wilde explained that there was a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation" and asked the judge to consider the current impact of the pandemic on prisoners.

Griffiths, of Ajax Avenue in Orford, Warrington, admitted attempting to engage in sexual activity with a boy between 13 and 15, failing to comply with notification requirements, possessing indecent images of children, possession of extreme pornography and three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child.

The judge, Recorder Ian Harris, said: "The facts of this case are just... They will appal right thinking members of society.

"The titles of some of those photographs, or descriptions I should say, are just horrific. We're talking babies and seven-year-old children."

The judge added that there were "numerous scraps of paper seized from your address" which has names of other website users including "shockeddad" and "pedomeetwithkids".

The judge said there were no previous convictions adding that some of the offences were aggravated as they were committed whilst on bail "despite attempts to make you comply by police".

Recorder Harries noted that in a pre sentence report Griffiths was described as "predatory" and a "immediate risk of harm to children".

Griffiths was jailed for 20 months and ordered to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 15 years.

He must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Description

A man who sexually assaulted two teenage girls and then filmed himself putting his hands around a third girl's throat without her knowledge has been jailed.

Oliver King, prosecuting, told Chester Crown Court, Adam Connolly, 30, of Frederick Street, Widnes, groped the first victim below her top, whilst she slept. However she jumped up and when she asked what he was doing Connolly replied he thought she liked it.

The following year, Connolly covered the face of a second girl and ran his hand over her. Connolly asked if she wanted a cuddle and she said no.

When arrested, he denied assaulting them and claimed his first victim was unreliable and that he inadvertently touched the second girls shoulder.

His phone revealed he had been looking at pictures of his second victim on the day of the assault - but he had also saved pictures of his first victim.

Magistrates' court documents said the offences happened in Runcorn.

The court heard Connolly was also in possession of indecent video of a third girl.

Mr King said the footage showed him placing his hands around her neck and appearing to strangle her

Connolly had two previous convictions for mainly carrying weapons.

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, his first victim said the effects of the assault included loss of sleep and appetite, and diminished relationships.

His second victim said she began to push myself away from people after the assault and had stopped going out as much as she used to.

Her life had changed forever, she said, adding she feels disgusted and angry over what happened.

A statement from his third victim was not provided.

Connollys two younger victims both underwent cross-examination as the cases approached trial before he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and to a third count of making a Category A indecent video of a child.

Jo Maxwell, appearing for the defence, cited Connollys guilty pleas and the principle of totality in mitigation.

She added Connolly had backtracked on his attempts to minimise his offending and perhaps now realises how stupid it sounded when he tried to inform the author of the pre-sentence report that any contact was innocent and accidental.

Miss Maxwell said there was no objection to the terms of the indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order proposed and granted by the court.

Judge Patrick Thompson, presiding in Chester on Friday, made restraining orders in respect of the two younger victims and placed Connolly on the sex offenders register for life.

He imposed consecutive sentences on each offence to reflect separate incidents and the time elapsed between them, with 18 months for each sexual assault and five years for the indecent video, totalling eight years.

Sending the defendant down, Judge Thompson said: It seems to me, having read everything I have about you and the circumstances of these offences, and having seen the victims in counts one and two cross-examined, that you have an unhealthy sexual interest in children and I notice in the pre-sentence report you are assessed as a danger to children under the age of 18.

A victim surcharge was also ordered.

None of the victims can be named for legal reasons.

Cheshire police were unable to provide a mugshot of Connolly in time for publication, five days after the hearing.

Description

A paedophile raped a young boy and offered him 'rewards' like ice cream or 50p to stay silent about the horrifying abuse.

Paul Mannion, 63, of Warrington was sent down for eight years yesterday at Liverpool Crown Court for the campaign of vile abuse, which took place in Widnes in the 1970s.

Mannion had pleaded guilty to eight counts including sexual assault, inciting a child under 13, and one of rape.

The pleas were entered on February 12 when his victim was imminently due to give evidence under cross-examination for the scheduled trial, which was then abandoned.

His victim described certain types of abuse happening regularly and on at least 10 occasions each - all while he was well under the age of 10.

Nicholas Williams, prosecuting, recounted harrowing details of how the teenage Mannion preyed on his young victim over several years, warning him not to tell anyone what was happening because they wouldnt believe him and they would go mad.

He also offered rewards such as 50p or ice cream to seal the boys silence.

Mannion, who abused the child while he himself was a teenager and while he was both under and over the age of 18, instigated the abuse by asking the infant if he wanted to play tiddies.

His victim kept quiet about his ordeal for decades and buried his trauma in drink until he spoke out to police two years ago.

A victim personal statement said he had been afraid as a boy that his friends would laugh at him or avoid him if he divulged being abused.

He said Mannion had "robbed my childhood" and had a "grimy smell as though he hadn't showered" that "will never go away" from his memory.

Describing the trauma, Mr Williams said: He felt like he was a fraud, his life was a big lie - he had his secret.

It made him feel like he wasnt a man - I know I was a child but its been with me since.

He had nightmares.

He couldnt get the smell of the defendant out of his head.

The court heard Mannion was imprisoned in the late 1980s for raping a separate young child, having pleaded guilty.

Jo Maxwell, appearing for the defence, said Mannions guilty pleas meant his victim and other witnesses were spared the ordeal of giving evidence, and she cited the Manning principle of reducing sentences to account for the harsher incarceration conditions during the pandemic.

She added he was in ill health having suffered heart failure, type-2 diabetes, as well as spells of suicidal ideation, and had not committed any offences since the period of abuse decades ago.

Miss Maxwell expressed no objections to the terms of the proposed - and subsequently approved - Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Mannion, which was made to last for life.

She said Mannion had a difficult upbringing and had been "emotionally unstable".

Judge Stuart Driver, QC, presiding, sentenced Mannion to eight years in prison and placed him on the sex offenders register for life.

He said the victim was particularly vulnerable because of his extreme youth.

Sending Mannion down, Judge Driver said: One aggravating feature is the severe ongoing, indeed lifelong impact that your offending had upon your victim.

But that count (of rape) is not an isolated offence, it was the culmination of years of abuse.

The judge also ordered a victim surcharge.