Latest Offenders Cheshire

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A “dangerous offender” was snared by paedophile hunters after trying to groom an “11-year-old girl” online - including inviting her to meet with him at a hotel.

Louis Schon, 36, of Woodridge, Windmill Hill, Runcorn, exchanged a flurry of hundreds of messages with the supposed child on June 30, 2021, only to discover she was actually an adult decoy. Myles Wilson, prosecuting at Chester Crown Court sitting in magistrates’ court on Thursday (February 9), said Schon also sent naked pictures of himself to the “girl” as well as “repeatedly” asking if they could have “sex”.

He told the court the “numerous sexual messages” included depraved enquiries such as what she was wearing under her school uniform. Schon asked for pictures of her and “the decoy sent a photograph of an 11-year-old girl”, reports the Liverpool Echo.

She later told Schon her phone camera wasn’t working, and he sent a picture of “himself with his chest exposed”, and was “flirtatious and suggestive” with her. To one of his vile questions, the decoy replied “oh my days” as she tried to remain sounding “childlike”.

Schon also asked for her phone number and sent more naked pictures of himself as well as trying to call her. He claimed he was in his early 20s and “lived nearby” and “repeatedly” asked if she would “have sex”, as well as trying to incite her to perform a sex act.

The decoy “played along” and pretended to comply with the request. Paedophile Schon suggested meeting at a hotel and told the “girl” to “make herself look older so he could take her out”. He also sent her a pornographic video of a woman with “multiple men”. Mr Wilson said: “There were hundreds of messages back and to that night.”

Schon messaged her the next morning to apologise then blocked the decoy’s account. It wasn’t enough to stop the paedophile hunter group though, who went to his home address as did the police.

Schon was out and subsequently reported missing, only to be found by the police within 24 hours. Officers also discovered a shopping bag containing “numerous” pairs of children’s knickers in Schon’s bedroom as well as a phone internet history looking at child’s beachwear, some of which he saved as screenshots. In police interview, he answered “no comment”.

At Chester Crown Court on January 4 this year, Schon pleaded guilty to attempted incitement of a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration, attempted sexual communication with a child, and two counts of attempting to cause a child under 13 to watch an image of sexual activity.

The incitement charge was also referred to as attempted “facilitation” during the hearing. Mr Wilson noted the use of “grooming”, as well as the “significant disparity in age”. Schon had previous convictions including for indecent images of children.

Jeremy Rawson, appearing for Schon, said he agreed with the sentencing range stated by the prosecution and there were no objections to the proposed Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). He pleaded mitigation for Schon’s guilty pleas and said the messages occurred in a “moment of madness” over a “short period of time” and after Schon had consumed excess alcohol and cocaine, adding it was all “on the same night and to his credit he severed links with the decoy the following day”.

Mr Rawson said Schon lost his job as a self-employed tiler and became a “recluse” in Runcorn, and hadn’t offended otherwise since 2012, adding Schon “bitterly regrets” his actions.

Judge Michael Leeming branded Schon a "dangerous offender" and sentenced him to five years and three months in prison with four years on extended licence - making a total sentence of nine years and three months.

Schon will serve two thirds of the main custodial term before being considered for parole. Judge Leeming placed him on the sex offenders register and a SHPO for life or until further order.

He recounted the details of the case opening and noted the “graphic sexual comments” made by Schon during the "sustained discussion", as well as what Cheshire Police officers found in his bedroom and on his phone, in addition to Schon’s previous six convictions for 12 offences and failure to comply with an order.

The judge said Schon’s probation report had been “largely unfavourable”, showing Schon tried to “minimise” his behaviour by blaming it on being “intoxicated with alcohol and drugs”.

Judge Leeming said: “The pre-sentence report indicated you completed the Better Lives programme by 2015. You were deterred from reoffending but that didn’t put paid to your sexual interest in children as the current offences show, and the deterrent had certainly worn off by the time of these offences you committed in 2021.”

He added Schon holds “deviant thoughts” and the messages to the decoy “mark a serious escalation in the seriousness of your offending”.

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Paedophile Matthew Reed shouted "bulls***" as he was jailed again

A child rapist who dragged a boy down a secluded footpath and sexually abused him has been jailed again.

Paedophile Matthew Reed has now been convicted of sexual offences on three occasions having previously been handed a lengthy jail term for raping another young child. He shouted "bulls***" as he was locked up again on Monday (January 30).

The now 30-year-old raped his victim - when he was as young as seven - on four separate occasions in Widnes in the late noughties, Liverpool Crown Court heard. Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, described how Reed - who was aged 16 and 17 at the time of the offences - would touch the youngster inappropriately before forcing him to perform a sex act, reports the Liverpool Echo.

On one occasion, the sex offender grabbed by him by his arm, "dragged him down a secluded path" and sexually abused him. The child returned home and cried in his bedroom afterwards. Reed's sickening crimes were eventually reported to the police last year.

Appearing via video link to HMP Wymott in Lancashire, he was heard saying "bulls**t" as details of the case against him were read out. A statement read out to the court on the complainant's behalf said: "I feel like a broken person and I don't want to feel like this any more. This is all because of Matthew and what he did to me.

"I couldn't stop what was happening to me then, and I feel like I'm unable to protect myself sometimes. I want him to know I'm not that little boy any more. I just want justice. I hope Matthew doesn't ever get out of prison."

He added that he had considered taking his own life on occasions as a result of the abuse. At this point, Reed - of no fixed address, but previously of Runcorn - interrupted: "Maybe the b****** should." The pervert was previously jailed for 10 years in 2014 for two counts of rape against a child. He was then handed an additional seven months in 2017 for sexual assault.

Nicola Daley, defending, told the court that her client had suffered from mental health problems and self harmed in the past - adding: "He feels he is at his safety when he is in custody. He has little hope for the future, but perhaps that is changing."

Reed admitted two counts of rape and was imprisoned for 11 years, as well as being handed an extended five years on licence. He will also be required to sign the sex offenders' register for life and was handed a 20-year sexual harm prevention order, as well as a restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim for the same period.

Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: "Your issues, it seems, are lifelong. You deny that you are guilty and have showed no remorse. You do not have insight into yourself. It is crystal clear from your behaviour in this case and your record of offending since that you present a danger to children."

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A MAN who was previously found with hundreds of indecent images of children has been jailed after breaching a court order by signing up to a messaging app which deletes its history.

Jordan Williamson, of Mount Pleasant Road in Davenham, was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order in June of last year, after he was found with a total of 718 indecent images of children.

The 30-year-old also had in his possession 457 extreme pornographic images portraying various sex acts with animals.

Appearing in Chester Magistrates’ Court on December 1, Williamson pleaded guilty to subscribing to Wickr Me, an instant messaging app which deletes its history after six hours, something he was prohibited from doing by the sexual harm prevention order.

By signing up to Wickr – under the username ‘chavlad’ – Williamson did not comply with requirements of the sex offender register, which states he should have notified police before subscribing to the application.

On January 5, 2023, Williamson appeared at Chester Crown Court to be sentenced for these offences.

Judge Simon Berkson jailed Williamson for 21 months and ordered for him to be deprived of his mobile phone.

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The evil paedophile also served time for separately abusing a seven-year-old boy

A Galway man found guilty of sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy in the 1980s is back on the streets after serving time in prison for his crimes.

Anthony Spellman, who had lived in the UK before his conviction, is expected to have returned to the UK after he was freed from Midlands Prison just before Christmas.

Spellman was sentenced to four years in prison for sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy in the 1980s.

Spellman was found guilty in Galway Circuit Court in 2020 of 20 counts of indecent assault for sexually abusing an 11-year-old boy between June 1984 and January 1986.

During the trial for those offences, the jury had not been informed that at that time he was convicted and serving prison time for abusing a seven-year-old boy.

It also emerged in court hearings that Anthony Spellman had received a Risk of Sexual Harm Order from South Cheshire Magistrates Court for sending explicit messages to a 15-year-old boy that expired in 2014.

The judge sentenced Spellman to a total of 16 months on counts one to 18, and another 16 months on each of counts 19 and 20.

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A "prolific offender" who sexually assaulted a woman at a pub in Northwich has been banned from entering any licenced premises in the town for five years.

Craig Howman, of Stones Manor Lane, Hartford, appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on December 15 after pleading guilty to sexual assault and resisting a police officer in the execution of duty. The sex attack relates to an incident at a public house on Witton Street on May 25 this year.

The 31-year-old was jailed for 16 weeks and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years. Howman was also handed a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order, which bans him from entering any licensed pubs, restaurants, clubs, bars or café’s in the CW8 or CW9 postcode areas.

He is also banned from being drunk in any public place in CW8 or CW9, and banned from carrying any open containers of alcohol in any public place within the Northwich postcode areas.

The order also prevents Howman from causing harassment, alarm or distress to any members of the public. This includes swearing in public or to the public, including the emergency services. In addition, he is also ordered to engage in drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

During the hearing the court heard that Howman had been into contact with officers 15 times in the past year alone, with the majority of offences related to alcohol.

Chief Inspector Darren Griffith, head of Northwich Local Policing Unit, said: “Howman is a prolific offender and his behaviour over the past year has been totally unacceptable. He often becomes abusive and disruptive towards innocent members of the public, causing unnecessary alarm and distress.

"There comes a point when you have to say enough is enough and take additional action to protect the community and businesses in the area. I hope that this order provides reassurance to local residents and helps to deter Howman’s criminal behaviour once he is released from prison."

If Howman fails to comply with any of the conditions he could face a penalty of five years imprisonment. Anyone who encounters Howman breaching any of the above restrictions is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101, or cheshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/, to report it.

Description

A man who subjected a 15-year-old girl to ongoing sexual abuse and made her film herself engaging in degrading sexual acts has been found to be dangerous by Chester Crown Court and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment as part of an extended sentence.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that Martin Steven Gill, 49, of St Clair Street, Crewe, sexually abused the girl over a period of several months.

He had met her and befriended her and they exchanged contact details, but the conversations quickly became sexual.

Over the coming months he forced the girl to film herself engaging in increasingly degrading acts. She would send him the images and he would store them on his computer.

He also engaged in penetrative sex with her at commercial premises in Crewe on a couple of occasions.

In April 2019, the girl ceased all contact with Gill, but he continued to ask for images. She told him he was lucky that she had not contacted the police. He didn’t contact her after that.

On 9 May 2019, police searched the defendant’s address and seized several devices.

The police discovered more than 2,000 indecent images of children on the devices, including hundreds in the most extreme category. It was clear that many of the images of child sexual abuse had been sourced and created by Gill.

He was interviewed but his victim did not feel able to support the prosecution. However, the case proceeded based on the evidence.

On 2 September 2022 he pleaded guilty to 15 sexual offences, including making and possessing indecent images of children, engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a child and causing a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity.

On 11 November 2022, at Chester Crown Court, Gill was found to be "dangerous" and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment as part of an extended sentence.  

Senior Crown Prosecutor Chris Fontaine, a specialist prosecutor with CPS Mersey Cheshire’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit said: “Martin Gill subjected the victim to degrading acts of sexual abuse for his own perverted sexual gratification. 

“What he asked her to do was illegal both because of her age and the extreme sexual nature of the activity. But he didn’t care. Even when she stopped all contact with him, he kept asking for more images. He had no concern for the children being abused in the indecent images.

“We would like to thank the victim for finding the courage to provide a statement. Although she felt unable to attend court, the prosecution was able to proceed on the basis of other evidence which clearly showed him to be a paedophile. 

“The Crown Prosecution Service will work with the police to bring these offenders to justice if we have the evidence and the prosecution is in the public interest. In this case, clearly both tests were met.”

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A student flying to Manchester Airport said she "just wanted to have a shower" after a vile sex attack on an easyJet flight.

A court heard how Andrew Reay told the 17-year-old Spanish student that he wanted to "f*** her" and touched her leg while onboard an easyJet flight from Lanzarote on September 2, 2020. Minshull Street Crown Court heard the 46-year-old left his victim feeling "awkward' and 'disgusting" on board the flight - but Judge Maurice Greene allowed him to walk free from court and return to the Canary Islands, insisting that Reay's employees would be 'affected' by a prison sentence for their boss.

Prosecuting, Virginia Hayton, told the court how Reay, who was sat to the right of the student, was "loud and messing around" with another passenger who appeared to be his friend. Reay bought alcohol from the cabin crew and, after consuming it, began to make the Spanish teenager feel "uncomfortable", MEN reports. 

Ms Hayton said: "She tried to move but he would get hold of her arm, telling her to stay." She told the court that after more than an hour, Reay's friend fell asleep, before the defendant 'turned all his attention' to her.

Ms Hayton explained that the teenager described Reay being 'super friendly' and encouraging her to have a drink. Despite making her feel "awkward", Reay "kept on at her" and eventually she "relented" and had a drink.

The court heard that Reay boasted about having taken drugs before the flight - claiming cannabis was "not hard enough" for him so he had "put white powder" in his joints "to make them good". Reay was "touchy" with members of cabin crew, Ms Hayton said, while he continued to grab the girl's arm.

Ms Hayton said Reay opened his legs wide enough to touch the teenager's, which made her feel "horrible". He then placed his left hand on her thigh and "ran it up and down over her trousers", leaving her feeling 'disgusting', the court heard.

"She said she just wanted to go home and have a shower," said Ms Hayton. The court heard how Reay made comments about having sex with the teenager and she pushed his hand away.

Ms Hayton said: "He said 'it's a shame' she was only 17 and 'he would like to f*** her'. She felt like crying. She felt scared. She thought he could get violent at any time."

The teenager called cabin crew, who moved Reay to another seat on the plane. Ms Hayton told the court that another passenger, whose son had autism and wore a head harness, then described Reay "shouting and swearing" at them.

In a statement, the flight's captain said he considered diverting the flight to Birmingham Airport because of Reay's behaviour. But Reay eventually fell asleep in his new seat, and he was arrested at Manchester Airport on arrival.

The court heard Reay, of Lawton Street, Crewe, now lives on the Canary Islands and runs a business there. He had pleaded not guilty to section 3 sexual assault on a female at Manchester Magistrates Court, but was convicted following a trial.

Defending, Eleanor Gleeson said her client "understands the seriousness of the offence" and now shows "remorse" for his actions. Reay had no convictions since the year 2000, and although His Honour Greene said the defendant had a number of difficulties in his youth, had since "made a life for himself in the Canary Islands".

The judge described the incident as "extremely unpleasant", but felt it was "not the behaviour that [Reay] exhibits on a regular basis" - instead suggesting he was affected by the influence of alcohol, drugs or both. His Honour Greene also commented how a prison sentence would have an "effect on his employees" and told court he was following guidelines before sentencing Reay to a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

He added: "You targeted this 17-year-old Spanish student who was minding her own business and you were suggestive to her. You gave her little room, opened your legs out so your legs were against her legs, and then rubbed her leg up and down.

"You knew that was unpleasant for her. You said at one point, 'am I making you uncomfortable?'. You knew she was 17 because you said 'it's a shame you are 17 because I want to f*** you.

"This was a young lady of 17 who all she wanted to do was fly from one place to another, and she had to contend with your attentions in a place that she could not really escape, on a plane."

Reay must also pay costs of £400 and had signed the sex offenders register following his conviction.

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Convicted Paedophile Back In Jail After Battering His Girlfriend Three Days After Prison Release.

A woman allowed a paedophile to stay at her home following his release from prison, only for him to beat her black and blue three days later.

Derek Wiswall formed a relationship with his victim while he was behind bars. But when the 33-year-old was freed from custody and went to reside with her, he spat at her and punched her to the floor - falsely believing that she was having an affar.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that he and Abigail Cowell met in February this year, and she would send him money "on the basis that he would pay her back upon his release". Ben Berkson, prosecuting, described how Wiswall moved into her home in Widnes "while he was looking for accommodation" when he was released on licence on May 17.

But on May 20, the defendant discovered that she had been messaging another man on Facebook and incorrectly believed she was having an affair with him. He responded by repeatedly spitting at her, pushing her around the flat and punching her in the face - causing her to fall to the floor crying.

Wiswall, of no fixed address but from Runcorn, then called her a "fat s**g" and was told her "she deserved everything she got". Ms Cowell tried to call a friend whom she hoped to leave and stay with, but her abuser grabbed and snapped her phone then punched and damaged her laptop when she tried to reach out using that device.

The complainant suffered a "swollen black eye" during this initial assault, but did stay at the address that night. Wiswall, who appeared via video link to HMP Altcourse, "continued to accuse her of infidelity" the next morning however.

She went to buy him beer from shop, and upon her return he threatened to kill himself with a broken shard of a glass bottle then punched her in the face and damaged television sets in the living room and bedroom by thumping them. Ms Cowell managed to escape and sought help from a neighbour, after which the police were called.

The events had a "long-standing impact" upon her. In a statement which was read out to the court on her behalf, she described having been "left very scared" - and also had to move back in with her mum.

Wiswall has three previous convictions for eight offences, being jailed for seven months in October 2020 for possession of indecent images. In February 2022, he received 18 weeks for failing to comply with notification requirements as part of this sentence.

The thug committed his latest crimes while out on licence. Martyn Walsh, defending, said: "He does offer his remorse to the victim and asks that the court accepts that as genuine."

Wiswall admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage and was locked up for 16 months on Wednesday. He was also handed a restraining order preventing him from contacting Ms Cowell for five years and was told to pay a victim surcharge.Sentencing, Recorder Eric Lamb described his attack as a "prolonged and persistent assault" which "involved a breach of the trust which should exist between partners in an intimate relationship" - adding: "This took place in the complainant's home She now feels unsafe and scared.

"I have reached the conclusion that in the circumstances of this case, in which you were on licence for just three days before the commission of the offence against a person who had given you accommodation to which you were released, only a sentence of immediate custody can provide adequate punishment. I do not consider that the prospect of rehabilitation outweighs or outbalances that fact."

Description

A paedophile from Cheshire shared sickening images of children online and said he 'couldn't be trusted' if he had a child.

Police executed a warrant at the home of Brandon Maloney, 23, of Castle View House, Runcorn, on January 25 but he wasn’t there. Frances Willmott, prosecuting at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, said Maloney returned later and made contact with officers, the Liverpool Echo reports.

He volunteered an additional phone and made admissions about indecent images of children. Ms Willmott said the two phones contained 55 child abuse images with victims’ ages ranging from three years and up.

More than half, 29, were of the worst type in Category A including 13 videos, 25 were in Category B, and one was in Category C.

The court heard brief details of some of the horrific imagery on the phones, namely of young boys being raped by adults. Maloney also had an “extreme pornographic” clip of a woman and a dog.

The download activity spanned from November 2017 until his arrest in January 2022. Officers from Cheshire Police also discovered Malony had engaged in sick chats with another paedophile online and shared abuse images during those exchanges, which took place between December 5 and 26, 2021.

In one message Maloney said “he couldn’t be trusted if he had a child that was a boy”.

Four of the shared images were Category A, three were B and two were in C, with the ages of victims involved described as “nearer the three to five” age range by Judge Simon Berkson.

Maloney pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to one count of possessing indecent images of children, three of making indecent images, three of distributing an indecent photograph of a child, and one of possessing extreme pornography.

He had no previous convictions and two cautions for dissimilar matters. Louise McCloskey, defending, pleaded mitigation for Maloney’s prompt guilty pleas, his cooperation with the police investigation, relative youth and “immaturity”, and said he has been diagnosed as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and might have undiagnosed autism as believed by his mother.

She said Maloney had suffered depression and tried to deal with those issues through alcohol and illicit drugs.
Ms McCloskey said the distribution offences related to a private one-to-one exchange as opposed to commercial or larger scale distribution.

She conceded that: “It’s only right that any right-minded member of society would call for an immediate custodial sentence in cases of this kind - Your Honour has quite rightly pointed out the serious aggravating features, mainly the depiction of very young children in very distressing circumstances.”

The defence barrister said Maloney had been “extremely frank” about “accepting full responsibility” in his interview with the probation service, and had sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation.

Maloney’s pre-sentence report (PSR) covered some of the “challenging situations he’s encountered in his life, which may well have impacted on his emotional and thought processes”.

Ms McCloskey said: “The assessment ultimately concludes with an indication that this defendant could be properly rehabilitated with a very stringent and structured intervention by the probation service.”

She said this could include a rehabilitation activity requirement and completion of the Horizon sex offender programme.

There were two references for Maloney, one of which was from his mother who accompanied him to court but was “too distressed to come into the courtroom”.

Judge Berkson referred to the sentencing guidelines and in particular the range of sentence available for the most serious offence of distributing a Category A child abuse image, which has a starting point of three years with a range of one to five, as well as the principle of “totality”.

He branded the images “revolting”, and added most aggravating features in the guidance “are almost generic” because they occur so frequently for the type of offence.

For Maloney these included the vulnerability of the victims and the moving images.

Mitigating features were Maloney’s previous “good character”, “remorse”, and “lack of maturity” with the offences beginning in 2017.

Judge Berkson granted a third discount for Maloney’s guilty pleas and jailed him for 28 months, remarking on the added seriousness of the distribution charges. He said: “More serious as regarded by the courts was your distribution of the images falling into Categories A, B and C.

“Any distribution of indecent images of the abuse of children means more and more of those images enter circulation so more people can see those images and the abuse continues and continues.“

Maloney was also placed on the sex offenders register and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Description

A PERVERT who was caught sharing disgusting indecent images of children (IIOC) has been put behind bars.

Hayes Lockett, from Runcorn, was found to have a sickening stash of depraved material depicting children in a sexualised manner.

Among the photos in the 30-year-old’s collection was media graded as ‘category A’ – the worst grading involving child rape.

Lockett was charged with three counts of making IIOC, one of possessing IIOC, one of distributing IIOC and one of possessing extreme pornographic images involving animals.

He pleaded guilty to all of the offences, and he appeared before Chester Crown Court to be sentenced on Thursday, September 15.

Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, explained how the making and possessing IIOC charges spanned a period of close to 15 years, between September 2006 and August last year.

On his mobile phone and a ‘computer tower’ in Runcorn, he was found to be in possession of 97 indecent photographs of children.

Of these, seven were rated as category A – involving penetration and sexual gratification from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation.

A further four images were graded as category B, while the remaining 86 were classed as category C.

Police also discovered that between March 2020 and August 2021, Lockett had gathered two extreme pornographic images portraying an act of intercourse with an animal.

Court documents state that these images were ‘explicit and realistic’, as well as ‘grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character’.

The distributing IIOC charge was over a period of just under a month from July to August 2021, involving 23 category C photographs.

Taking Lockett’s guilty pleas into account, judge Michael Leeming sentenced him to 12 months in prison.

The court also ordered that the defendant abide by a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years and a sex offender registration requirement for the same length of time.

In addition, an order was also approved to deprive Lockett of his mobile phone and computer tower which were seized by officers.

Description

A paedophile has been jailed after being found with horrific images of child abuse and bestiality on his phone and after he travelled to Spain without telling the police.

Ian Munro, 33, of Eastwood, Windmill Hill, Runcorn, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday for sentence having pleaded guilty to a raft of charges relating to breaching his sex offender register notification requirements and the sick stash of photographs and videos on his iPhone.

Brett Williamson, prosecuting, said police executed warrants on March 30 last year at Munro’s brother’s and mother’s homes in Runcorn where he had been known to stay.

Officers had received information that indecent images had been uploaded to the internet via a Kik Messenger account linked to a Microsoft user called “Ian M”. Following the warrants, Munro agreed to provide the the police with the code to unlock his iPhone, which was found in his bedroom at his mum’s house.

Forensic examination discovered the device contained a vile collection of 283 indecent images of children.

Of these, 73 were of the most appalling type in Category A - including seven videos; 107 in Category B, of which two were videos; and 103 at Category C including one video.

The device also had 29 images and three videos of bestiality involving humans with dogs and horses, and 13 “prohibited” cartoon images of children.

Munro gave “no comment” answers in interview with Cheshire Police.

Despite already being subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and suspended sentence imposed in October 2020 for convictions of inciting a young teenager to engage in sexual activity and sexual communication when he was sentenced to 18 months in prison - suspended for two years, and despite having received clear reminders of the terms of the SHPO and sex offender register notification requirements as recently as May 5, 2022, Munro flew to Spain within the following fortnight, returning via Manchester Airport on May 20.

The trip breached a condition that he must inform the police in advance of any plan to travel abroad.

He was arrested under caution on May 26 and gave “no comment” answers in interview.

Munro had previous convictions including the incitement and communication charges referred to above from 2020, plus a sexual assault on a boy from when Munro was 15 years old in 2004.

In relation to the offences for which he fell to be sentenced on Friday, he pleaded guilty at North Cheshire Magistrates’ Court in Warrington on August 15 to possessing indecent images of children; three counts of making indecent images for Categories A, B and C; possessing extreme pornography; possessing prohibited images of children, namely cartoons; and failing to comply with the terms of the notification requirements.

At Chester Crown Court on Friday, he pleaded guilty to a further charge of breaching a suspended sentence.

Jeremy Rawson, appearing for the defence, pleaded mitigation for Munro’s prompt guilty pleas, and said his client’s engagement with probation was “positive and continuing” - prompting Judge Michael Leeming to retort that Munro “went off to Spain”.

Mr Rawson resumed his representations, telling the court that although he agreed with the prosecution’s categorisation and the breach was “deliberate”, he said there was “clear regret and remorse” that “shows there’s an understanding of the nature of his offending”.

He added: “His partner speaks highly of him, his mother speaks highly of him - his mother has a medical condition he assists with.”

Mr Rawson said Munro had provided the pin number for his phone to the police and had waited over a year for the indecent images matter to reach court.

Munro was facing his first custodial sentence and Mr Rawson called on the judge to consider the principle of “totality”, adding although he agreed the suspended sentence had to be activated, he asked the judge to pass the “shortest possible” term.

Judge Leeming said he had read a pre-sentence report in addition to letters from Munro, his partner and his mother, although he said Munro’s partner “was plainly unaware of the most recent offences of the indecent images”.

The judge sentenced Munro to three years in prison to be served immediately.

There were concurrent sentences for the indecent image charges with each other, plus consecutive sentences for the register breach and activating his suspended sentence.

The judge said that although uploaded images had triggered the images investigation, Munro was not charged with, or sentenced for, distribution.

He placed Munro on a fresh SHPO for 10 years and on the sex offenders register for life.

Sending him down, Judge Leeming said: “You must understand that these are not victimless offences.

“Downloading this sort of material stimulates the demand, and so continues the abuse.

“The existence of indecent images of children indicates contact offences are taking place somewhere in the world and each child is facing re-victimisation each time an image is accessed in the knowledge their image is viewed for someone’s sexual gratification.”

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Richard Murray was previously handed a suspended sentence after being snared by paedophile hunters A pervert who showed a '14-year-old girl' his naked body was jailed after breaching the terms of the Sex Offenders Register. Richard Murray, 53, was spared jail in January 2021 after being snared by multiple paedophile hunter groups. Murray thought he had been sending obscene messages to a child and showed his naked body to a 14-year-old girl, who was actually an adult, posing as the girl on Facebook. At Liverpool Crown Court in January 2021, it was explained that Sharon Robson was posing as a 14-year-old girl called Jade Charles and "engaged in Facebook chats with the defendant". Murray had been charged with three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Murray, learning the 'girl's' age, said: "Well you won't like what I like doing". When sent pictures of "Jade", Murray said she was a "good looking girl" but told her not to look at him as he was "getting into the bath and had a big thing". Prosecuting barrister Trevor Parry-Jones said that Murray: Told her to be careful on these sites as people do naughty things." When asked what he meant Murray told the 'girl' "s***ing". Murray had also requested photos of the child and "told her he was naked and in the bath". Murray video-called the 'girl' later that month and the four minute video began with Murray topless before he moved the camera to his naked genitals. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, and forced to complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years. After signing the Sex Offenders Register, Murray was forced to register any change of address to police within three days. On Friday (September 2), Liverpool Crown Court heard that he had moved into a home on Mossy Bank Road in Wallasey on November 27, 2021. On April 30, 2022, Murray told police the property on Mossy Bank Road was his address. The court heard officers then made numerous attempts to visit the property in order to make checks on Murray. Police attended the home four times across April and May 2022, as well as visiting an address on Bisley Street in Wallasey - where Murray was living when he was sentenced. However, they did not see him on any of those visits. On one trip, the police saw an estate agent's sign reading "under offer" as they checked the home on Mossy Bank Road. On their visit on May 7, officers were met at the door by a female who said she had bought the property two weeks previously. Officers found that Murray had moved to an address on Arbour Close in Northwich, Cheshire. The court heard he had signed a tenancy agreement for the property in February 2022. Murray was arrested and stood trial in Chester Magistrates' Court. Asked why he had not informed the police of the change in circumstance, Murray said he had not actually moved address, but was in the process of doing so. However, he was convicted by magistrates of failing to notify police of his change of address. Mitigating at Friday's sentencing, defending barrister Mark le Brocq said that Murray, who used to work as a self-employed plumber, was struggling with life in the community after his sentence. Mr le Brocq said Murray "lives in fear, looking over his shoulder all the time". The barrister added that his client had his "windows smashed" at his home in Wallasey and was now "living in fear" in Northwich, where a "neighbour had been informing people in the locality of the sex offender living next door". Sentencing, Judge David Potter told Murray: "This was a deliberate failure on your part to notify police" The judge did not believe that Murray would have informed police of his new address in Northwich if they had not found it themselves. As a result, he said he had no choice but to activate Murray's previously suspended sentence in full. He was jailed for 12 months in total - the six months from the previously suspended sentence and six more for failing to notify police of his address change.

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The two-month string of lewd Facebook and WhatsApp messages saw the pervert ensnared in an online sting A paedophile digger thief sent a picture of his naked bum to a 13-year-old girl. Matthew Tipping, from Ellesmere Port, sent a string of lewd messages to the teenager over the course of nearly two months. But, unbeknown to him, he was actually being ensnared in a paedophile hunter sting. Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday that the 36-year-old sent a friend request to the decoy account on Facebook on December 8 last year. Tipping messaged the profile and was immediately informed of her supposed age, initially apologising and stating he "didn't realise". But he "persisted with the conversation", despite also being told she was autistic and a carer for her nine-year-old sister. The pervert "told her she was pretty" and said he "bet she had lots of males chatting her up". When the teen told Tipping she had a cold he instructed her to "rub Vicks into her chest", which he asked for a picture of. He then suggested that they should have a video call together. Tipping, of Harrisons Terrace in Little Sutton, stated that he "wished she was older" and "asked if it was bad". He then sent a photograph of himself lying in bed without a top on and told her he "wished he had her as his girlfriend". The dad asked her if she "would be ok with an older guy" and said they "wouldn't be able to take it public", but she could "have him all to herself". The chats continued on WhatsApp, where Tipping asked for a picture of the girl in the bath and in her underwear. When she refused, he told her "you don't have to be shy with me" and said "girls younger than you have sex" - adding that she "should trust him". He also stated that the "age thing didn't matter as long as they trusted each other". Tipping then sent a photo of himself in his underwear and another "looking down his back" with his bare bottom exposed. He made requests for pictures of the girl in her underwear and "of her body". After being denied, he sent a message on January 9 saying he "expects more in a relationship". The conversations continued until January 27, and the messages were passed over to the police in mid-February. Under interview, Tipping stated that "it was embarrassing" and claimed he knew that he had been talking with a decoy. His defence counsel told the court that he had been "very down and depressed" following his release from prison on licence, leading to him engaging in the sickening chats. He had previously been jailed for a year in July 2021 after what was described as a "brazen, professional, broad daylight theft" of two diggers worth 42,000. The Volvo 360 excavator and Takeuchi microdigger were taken from Kinmel Bay and Rhyl in North Wales respectively. Tipping, then of Connah's Quay in Flintshire, was imprisoned alongside 27-year-old John Lee, of Suez Street in Newton-le-Willows. The latter defendant was handed a four-month stretch, to be activated in the event that a two-month curfew was breached. While Tipping has no previous sexual matters on his record, he has 20 convictions for 39 offences - the majority being for theft, driving matters and failing to comply with court orders. It was heard on Thursday afternoon that he "effectively realised he had to stop and that he was doing wrong". The "remorseful" sex offender admitted attempting sexual communications with a child during an earlier hearing. He was handed a 12-month imprisonment suspended for two years. Sentencing, Judge Denis Watson QC said: "You are to be sentenced for your communications with someone who you thought to be a 13-year-old girl. In fact that was an adult, but you didn't know that. "All your messages were, in your mind, intended to be received and acted on by a 13-year-old. The evidence makes plain you were in regular, persistent contact with an individual you believed was 13. "The context was you pursuing your sexual interest in her. Effectively, you were flattering her and trying to normalise sexual conduct for those of her age. "The reality is you would serve about six months, but you would not have any positive opportunity to deal with whatever was going on in your head. My concern is that this interest is rather more deep rooted than you would have me accept. "You would like me to believe it was a bit of a blip when you were released from custody. You were feeling a bit low and down, and this is something that can just be moved past. "I'm not at all sure it is. I've decided you are someone with a reasonable prospect of rehabilitation." Tipping told the judge he would "do anything" to avoid prison when asked if he would comply with any community order imposed. Judge Watson replied that he had come "perilously close", adding: "This is your one chance." He was also handed a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement, a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and a notification requirement lasting the same period. Tipping was told to pay a victim surcharge.

Description

A paedophile was caught with hundreds of sick images of child abuse and bestiality on his phones as well as a story depicting a "sexual fantasy" about a drunken teenager.

Jonathon Byrne, 34, was arrested at home on January 9 last year when officers arrived with a search warrant. Jamie Baxter, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, said the unit from Cheshire Polices online child abuse investigation team seized two Samsung phones and took Byrne, of Widnes, into custody for questioning.

Byrne confirmed his personal details but denied having seen any indecent image of a child or having any sexual interest in children. He claimed he didnt believe any such matter would be found on his devices.

Mr Baxter told the court: How wrong he was.

After initially being released under investigation, Byrne was interviewed again on November 5, when he gave no comment answers to detectives after a large number of abuse images were found on his phones.

In total, there were 283 images and six videos in Category A - the most serious type, 270 still and six moving images in Category B, 186 images and 14 videos in Category C, plus 24 still images and 40 videos of extreme pornography - namely of bestiality.

Listing aggravating case features to the court, Mr Baxter said the abuse images showed very young children enduring gross sexual acts, and in discernible pain or distress.

The sexual fantasy story, stored in the notes section of one of his phones, had a creation date of March 3, 2019, and depicted an incident from the storytellers viewpoint in which they were engaging in penetrative sexual activity with - or indeed raping - a drunken teenage girl under 16 years of age.

Mr Baxter said no offence arose as a result of the depraved tale and there was no suggestion it was based on real abuse, but would be relevant when considering a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Byrne pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to one count of possessing indecent images of children, three of making child abuse images, and one count of possessing extreme pornography. The word making refers to the act of obtaining or downloading such material.

Matthew Howarth, appearing for the defence, urged the court to consider Byrnes lack of any previous convictions, a pre-sentence report classing him as a low risk, a reference from Byrnes father, and a note from Byrne himself, who had also quit using alcohol and cocaine since his arrest.

He argued any prison sentence could be suspended so Byrne could undertake rehabilitation that would not be available behind bars.

Mr Howarth said that since police put the phone evidence to his client, Byrne had been utterly contrite and remorseful, which he said was reflected by his guilty pleas.

He said unpaid work and a curfew could be imposed as part of any punishment in addition to rehabilitation, which Byrne had already sought privately but couldnt afford.

Recorder Mark Ainsworth said the volume and nature of the images were too serious for a suspended sentence as he jailed Byrne for 16 months to be served immediately.

He said some of the abuse victims featured in the sick haul were as young as between five and seven years of age and in pain.

During his sentencing remarks, Recorder Ainsworth said: The important point to remember in these cases is: behind every image is a child being sexually abused.

Behind every image is a victim of sexual abuse, and here we are concerned with hundreds of images, and one has to assume if there was not a market for these images from people like you that much or all of this abuse would not take place.

Thats why the courts take such a serious view of these offences.

He added: It seems to me the nature of the images and the number of the images in these offences are so serious that only a period of immediate imprisonment can be justified.

The judge also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to last 10 years, alongside placing Byrne on the sex offenders register for the same length of time.

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A 54-year-old woman exposed her breasts and pleasured herself as she sat on a bench in broad daylight outside a supermarket, a court heard.

Beverley Dean was spotted performing the sex act on herself by two office workers. The eyewitnesses saw her touch her genitals under her skirt as she sat on the river bank near the Waitrose store in Northwich in Cheshire.

She appeared to be filming herself, but police found no footage on her mobile phone. Dean then stood up from the bench and exposed her breasts through her unbuttoned blouse, the court was told.

When police were called to the scene, officers discovered sex toys and lubricant in her handbag. Dean is now facing a jail term after admitting a charge of outraging public decency.

She wept at Chester Magistrates' Court as she was told the charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison. The court heard how the incident happened at around 3.30pm on February 25 this year.

Dean had sat down on a bench overlooking the River Dane. She was seen by two women from CRS Consultants which has an office on the other side of the river.

Miss Shannen Carey, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant is seen to put her fingers in her mouth and then proceed to put them between her legs. She appeared to be masturbating.

"She had her mobile phone in her right hand and appeared to be filming herself or taking photos of herself performing the act. She stopped to smoke a cigarette and then continued to suck on her fingers and placed them between her legs.

"After she did this she stood up from the bench and both breasts were exposed. Her blouse was unbuttoned and her coat was hanging off her shoulders.

"Officers were called and the defendant was arrested. Her property was searched and an assortment of sex toys and lubricants were found in the defendants bag."

Miss Carey said there were no sentencing guidelines for that offence in particular, but said that the Crown Prosecution Service suggested looking at the guidelines for exposure as a reference point.

It is aggravated that it was in a public place and there was the risk of the presence of children," the prosecutor said.

Dean, from Rudheath in Northwich, had no previous convictions before this offence. Defence solicitor Shane ONeill, said: "This is a matter that will need the intervention of the probation service. There is a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and there are no previous convictions.

"We need to know what is happening within her life as she is getting to an age and committing this offence. There was some suggestion that she was filming herself.

"But when the police took her phone there was nothing on it. The officer looked at it and said there was nothing recorded on it.

"There was no room for any children to go past. We are not disputing that children may have been in the area but what she said is that there weren't any children in the area. She accepts responsibility for what she did."

The magistrates adjourned the hearing for probation reports to be prepared. Chairman James Fawson said: "The bench are going to need to know more about you and in order for that to happen the probation service will prepare a report.

"Between now and your next court appearance, the things that need to happen are that you stay in regular contact with your legal representative and fully cooperate with the probation service. That way, the next bench can sentence you fairly and with confidence."

Dean was granted unconditional bail until the sentencing hearing on August 12.