Search results for Derbyshire

Description

A convicted sex offender who pretended to be a teenager and sent sexually explicit messages to a child has been jailed.

Zak Waring used online platform Bigo to speak to a young girl who he believed was 13, before moving their conversations to WhatsApp.

Waring sent a stream of sexual content to the girl encouraging her to perform sex acts and send him photos and videos. He told the girl he was 16 but that his profile photo made him ‘look older’.

However, the ‘child’ Waring was speaking to was actually a decoy using an account run by an online child abuse activist group.

The 26-year-old committed the offences while subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which banned him from using any messaging service to contact a child under 16.

Waring, who has a previous conviction for a similar offence, began speaking with the ‘girl’ in April 2026 and continued to message ‘her’ for several days. During this time, he also sent a picture and video of himself performing a sex act.

Waring, of Lodge Avenue, Ashbourne, was arrested on 22 April and charged with:

• Attempt to cause/incite a girl aged 13-15 to engage in sexual activity – penetration
• Adult attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child
• Offender 18 or over attempt to cause a child aged 13-15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity
• Attempt to breach Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO)

He was remanded into police custody and appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates Court on 23 April.

The court remanded him into prison custody, ahead of a hearing on 21 May, where Waring pleaded guilty to all offences.

He was sentenced at Derby Crown Court on 16 October and handed a jail term of 8 years and 3 months.

Waring was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and is required to register with police indefinitely.

 He must also pay a court fine of £228 upon his release.

Officer in the case, PC Michelle Azizi said:

“Zak Waring went on to offend again, despite a previous jail term for a similar offence and ongoing court orders prohibiting him from contacting children.

“His continued desire to communicate sexually with children, for his own sexual gratification and his disregard for the law, make him extremely dangerous.

“Thankfully no actual children were harmed by Waring’s offending in this case.

“I am pleased to see that the judge acknowledged the seriousness of Waring’s  reoffending by affording him an extended prison sentence for the risk he poses to the public.”

Description

An Ilkeston man has been jailed for more than two decades for sexually abusing three children.

Ralph Fletcher, 35, of Barclay Court, Ilkeston was found guilty of 14 sexual offences against the children during a trial in May this year.

The offences included rape, assault by penetration, and sexual touching.

Ronald Fletcher, 37, of Welwyndale Road, Sutton Coldfield was also found guilty of two counts of sexual touching against one of the children, during the same trial.

A third defendant, Zoe Upchurch, 30, of Walpole Street, Derby was found guilty of four counts of child cruelty.

All three were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 20 August.

Ralph Fletcher was jailed for 24 years, and Ronald Fletcher was jailed for five years.

The pair were also handed lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

Upchurch was handed a three-year community order, with rehabilitation requirements.

All three were also given lifetime restraining orders in respect of the three children.

Detective Constable, Natalie Fletcher, officer in the case said:

“I want to thank the three victims in this case who have been unbelievably brave in telling us what happened to them.

“This courage, alongside the support of other witnesses, has meant that we have been able to seek justice and ensure that those responsible were held publicly accountable for their despicable crimes.

“The sentence handed to Ralph Fletcher who was the ringleader of this abuse, is telling of what a dangerous individual he is.

“Nothing can take away the trauma that Ralph and Ronald Fletcher, and Zoe Upchurch inflicted upon the victims, but I hope that they can go on to rebuild their lives in peace.”

Description

A Derbyshire man has been jailed for more than 20 years after he was found guilty of sexually abusing two children.

Mark Kearney was arrested in November 2024 after the abuse was reported to police. He was swiftly charged and remanded into custody.

In respect of the first victim, the 55-year-old denied two counts of rape of a child under 13, assault by penetration of a child under 13, incite a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, assault by touching of a child under 13, and two counts of cause a child to look at an image of sexual activity.

He also denied assault by penetration of a child under 13, assault by touching of a child under 13, and cause a child under 13 to look at an image of sexual activity for the second victim.

He was sent to trial in April 2025 and was found guilty on all counts.

Kearney, of no fixed address, appeared at Derby Crown Court for sentencing on 26 February 2026.

He was ordered to serve a 24-year jail term by a judge, with an extended licence period of six years on release.

Kearney is also required to register with police indefinitely.

Detective Constable Danielle Lynch said:

“This has been an incredibly distressing case, and I want to commend the courage shown by both victims in coming forward and supporting the investigation.

“Their strength has ensured that a dangerous offender has been brought to justice.

“We will always take reports of child sexual abuse extremely seriously, and we are committed to doing everything we can to protect vulnerable children and pursue those who cause them harm.”

Description

A man has been convicted of multiple child sex offences today (Monday 2 March).

Christopher Shepherd, 43, of Spondon, Derbyshire, was found guilty by a jury at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court of one count of rape of a girl under 13, one count of sexual assault of a girl under 13 and one count of meeting a girl under 16 following grooming.

During the trial, Shepherd pleaded guilty to three counts of making an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.

Our investigation found that Shepherd had been speaking to a number of girls online between 2021 and 2022. He would send and receive indecent images in the conversations with the victims.

He arranged to meet one of the victims. He picked her up in his car and raped her.

After Shepherds offending was reported to us in 2022, we arrested him. Officers from our child protection team worked tirelessly to support the survivors and to build the evidence against him.

Based on the strength of this evidence, and the bravery of the survivors, Shepherd was found guilty in court today.

He has been remanded ahead of his sentencing date at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Monday 20 April.

Detective Inspector Adam Goodger, from our child protection team, said:

Im pleased that we have been able to achieve this conviction today and make sure that Shepherd was not able to escape his offending.

We are determined to take robust action against those responsible for these offences in Staffordshire and to seek the toughest possible punishment in court.

Description

A couple have been jailed after they made more than a thousand indecent images of children and shared them online.

Scott Topley was arrested after he was identified from a video found on a mobile phone, which was seized as part of an unrelated police investigation by another force.

In the video Topley was shown performing a sex act whilst viewing indecent images of children.

The address he shared with partner Gordon Phillips in Fall Road, Heanor, was searched and their devices were seized. Phillips’ device was found to contain indecent images and he was also arrested.

More than a thousand images relating to child sexual abuse were found, as well as material relating to extreme pornography and sexual abuse of their pet dog.

The men were charged on 28 May 2025.

Both men were charged with making indecent images of children, distributing indecent images of children, possessing prohibited image/s of children, and possessing extreme pornographic image/s of sex with an animal.

They admitted the offences at a hearing on 24 July and were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 29 January 2026.

Topley, 46, and Phillips, 41, were each jailed for 6 years and 3 months.

They were also handed fifteen-year Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, and both are required to register with police indefinitely.

Officer in the case, PC Michelle Azizi said:

“Together, Scott Topley and Gordon Phillips relished in their criminality.

“They took part in harmful online activities, viewing and sharing child and animal sexual abuse material with other like-minded individuals.

“The custodial sentence imposed on them reflects the severe gravity and abhorrent nature of their behaviour”.  

Description

A man who sexually assaulted three teenage girls and two women has been jailed.

Stavros Theodoulou made sexual remarks to all of the victims, who were all known to him, as well as touching them repeatedly.

The matters came to light when one of the women came forward to report the abuse in 2023. A number of other people then also reported similar experiences with Theodoulou.

In a victim impact statement, one of the women said:

“It has made me wonder how many other women have been subjected to his abuse like I was and how long it has been going on for.

“Because of what I have been through I also find I have struggled to make friendships at work and in my personal life. This is not a true reflection of the real me.

“I find myself having flashbacks of the assaults and it has deeply impacted my ability to go about my life normally. The whole situation impacted me mentally and emotionally and I feel I will be affected by this for a long time.

“A man like Theodoulou is dangerous and unpredictable working in society. I hope once and for all people will know exactly who he is so that people are protected from him in future and that no one else ever falls victim to him.

"I wouldn’t wish what I went through upon anyone. It pains me every day and I have to live with the ongoing trauma he has caused me.”

Theodoulou was arrested and subsequently charged with five counts of sexual assault as well as three charges of possessing a firearm without a certificate after officers found the items at his house when they went to arrest him.

The 59-year-old, of Hilcote Lane, Alfreton, admitted the charges and appeared at Derby Crown Court for sentence on Friday 9 January where he was jailed for 30 months. He was also handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Leonie Hitchmough, who led the investigation, said:

“I’d like to commend these women for their bravery in coming forward and reporting these offences by Theodoulou.

“His actions have understandably had a major impact on them all and will continue to do so for some time to come.

“I have no doubt that he would have continued to offend had he not been brought to justice for these offences so I am incredibly grateful to all those who came forward to report him.

“I’d like to encourage anyone else who is experiencing something similar to please come forward and speak to us. We will listen without judgement and support you throughout."

Description

A young pedophile, Anthony Lanchester, raped a teenage boy in an Ilkeston park as the victim walked home from a fair, then sexually abused a second teen months later while on bail.

At Nottingham Crown Court, the trial heard how the 20-year-old grabbed the first boy, dragged him to a secluded area, touched him sexually, and raped him. The second assault occurred in a different park.

The offenses took place in Ilkeston—one toward the end of 2024, the other in spring 2025.

Judge Mark Watson sentenced Lanchester to six-and-a-half years in a young offender’s institution, stating: “I have read the first victim’s impact statement. He says all he wanted to do was cry in the corner, he said he felt dirty on the inside but he has nothing to be ashamed of."

Prosecutor Daren Samat read the victims' statements. The rape victim said he “feels dirty inside and out” after being violated, adding: “He feels like everyone is going to judge him and has made him feel run down. He said all he wants to do is cry in the corner about everything and this has left him frustrated with life. He said he feels he is worth nothing and feels ashamed as a person.”

The second victim said he was scared to testify as it “brought it all back.”

Lanchester, of Stringer Close, Ilkeston, was found guilty of rape and sexual assault. Defense lawyer Tom Welshman described him as “a young man with no previous convictions” who was 19 at the time, noting: “The victims' personal statements are clearly moving and show these are very serious offences which have had serious consequences and have had a serious effect on them (the victims). He is perhaps a childlike man with certain childlike qualities. At the time Mr Lanchester was an isolated person without many friends who was being picked on but that does not excuse what he did. As a child he witnessed domestic violence.”

Description

A registered sex offender, who had been released from prison weeks earlier, has been jailed after sending explicit messages to an undercover cop.

In February and March 2025, Scott Hemingway sent explicit messages to two ‘underage girls’ who he believed to be aged 14 and 12.

What Hemingway didn’t realise was that he was actually speaking to an undercover police officer.

The 39-year-old had been released from prison just four months earlier, after being convicted of a similar offence in December 2021.

He was arrested in March and charged and remanded into custody for the following:

• Attempt to cause/incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Attempt to cause / incite a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity - offender 18 or over - penetration
• Arrange / facilitate the commission of a child sex offence x2
• Adult attempt to engage in sexual communication with a child x2
• Sex offenders register - fail to comply with notification of a change
• Breach of Sexual Harm Prevention Order

Hemingway, of no fixed address, appeared at Derby Crown Court on 26 September and admitted the charges against him.

He was jailed for 13 years, handed a further, indefinite SHPO, and fined.

DS Richard Foster said:

“Scott Hemingway is a dangerous criminal who, despite already being caught and only just being released from prison, was unable to stop offending.

“We actively target high risk individuals like Hemingway, and we will continue to do so to keep our communities safe.”

Description

A 48-year-old Derbyshire man, Alexander Hall, groomed a 14-year-old girl by telling her they could get engaged, “make out” in his car, kiss, and he could squeeze her bottom.

Nottingham Crown Court heard how he arranged to meet "Millie" at a pub near Nottingham, asking her to wear lip gloss for their date.

The 48-year-old also told the young teenager not to tell her mother about their conversations, saying “she would not understand”.

But when Hall turned up at the pub, close to Radcliffe-on-Trent, Millie was actually a decoy operated by self-styled paedophile hunters.

Jailing him for two and a half years, Recorder Tim Green KC said: “Her age was known to you from a very early stage, you talked about kissing and squeezing her behind.

“You asked for photos of her in her underwear and, importantly, you told her not to tell her mother.

“You arranged to meet at a pub called the Shepherd’s Stonehouse and asked her to wear lip gloss, saying you could kiss.

“You clearly meant to meet her at that pub and take her back to your house for the full sexual activity you had prepared her for and fully intended to carry out.

“In my judgment, the factors that could allow a suspended sentence are not here.”

Mark Achurch, prosecuting, said in October 2023, Hall began a conversation with Millie on an internet platform called Wink.

He told her she was “beautiful” and “asked her if she wanted to be his girlfriend”, saying he would buy an engagement ring.

The prosecutor said: “He told her he had a house and car and told her he would give her anything she wanted.

“He then started talking in a sexual manner, saying he would kiss her and squeeze her buttocks.

“He asked for photos of her in her underwear and that they could ‘make out’ in his car.

“He also asked her to be careful not to tell her mum because her mum would not understand.

“She then arranged to meet her at The Shepherd’s Stonehouse pub in Stragglethorpe, in June 2024, seven months after contact was first initiated, telling her to wear lip gloss and that they could kiss and he could squeeze her buttock.

“He then sent a photo of his (private parts) and when he went to the arranged meet, he was confronted by the decoy’s group and was arrested by the police.”

Hall, of New Street, South Normanton, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child under 16 following grooming.

He has one drink-driving conviction and a caution for possession of an imitation firearm, Mr Achurch said.

David Watts, defending, said his client had never offended in this way before and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He said: “At the time Mr Hall was in a relatively lonely situation."

Description

A man who followed a woman through Long Eaton before attempting to rape her has been jailed.

Paul Jinks stalked the woman as she walked home from a night out in in July 2024.

As she reached Darwin Road, he grabbed her from behind and put his hand over her mouth, telling her not to shout.

The woman attempted to break free and fight him but fell on the floor. Jinks then picked her up and dragged her backwards to a secluded grassy area where he hit her in the face and sexually assaulted her before attempting to rape her.

The woman’s cries for help were heard by the residents of a nearby house who yelled at Jinks to leave her alone and ran out on to the street to help.

Jinks then fled the scene, running through a nearby garden as he escaped. The homeowner called police after seeing him on their property. Officers attended the scene and found blood stains on a broken bin Jinks had climbed on as he ran away.

CCTV footage from the area showed Jinks had followed the woman for some time before the attack. He was also seen following at least two other women before the incident.

The blood was tested and found to belong to Paul Jinks, who was believed to be living in the Cambridgeshire area on a traveller’s encampment. Officers in Cambridgeshire were asked to help with arrest attempts and the 21-year-old was arrested on 24 July, ten days after the attack.

He was subsequently charged with attempted rape.

Jinks, of no fixed address, admitted the offence and appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentence on 7 February when he was jailed for eight years and nine months with an extended licence period of six years. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

In a victim impact statement, the woman described the effect the incident has had on her: “Since this has happened I don’t feel like I will ever be able to go out on my own again, at least not anytime soon.

“I feel like I would be terrified doing this and constantly looking behind my shoulder wondering who may appear behind me.

“I have heard about these things happening but I never thought that this would happen to me.”

Description

A judge has jailed a ‘dangerous’ woman for violent physical and sexual abuse.

Angel Hill, 20, was handed an extended sentence for her crimes. Minshull Street Crown Court heard that Hill, who is transitioning from male to female, had demonstrated ‘violent, manipulative and controlling behaviour’.

She pleaded guilty to assault by penetration, sexual assault, strangulation and threatening with a bladed article in relation to the victim. “I conclude you have no insight regarding your behaviour at all,” Judge Jason MacAdam told the defendant.

“I see no evidence whatsoever that would lead me to conclude you are motivated to change your behaviour. Your approach being ‘it’s all about me’. The consequences of your actions don’t seem to register in your thought process, or if they do you ignore them. I find you to be dangerous, in the legal sense.”

Hill, of High Peak, Derbyshire, was sentenced to an extended sentence of 11 years, including seven years in prison and four years on extended licence.

Prosecuting, Stuart Neale said that the victim had struggled to breathe when Hill committed the strangulation offence. He said that Hill had said ‘I’m going to kill you’ earlier on the same occasion.

In a statement read to the court, the victim told how the incidents had affected their mental health. Defending, Julian Goode said that the defendant is still a young person and has not yet reached full maturity.

He said that she has experienced serious mental health issues, and argued that she was genuinely remorseful. Judge MacAdam said that he would reduce the sentence to take account of the defendant’s youth and mental health. He also reduced the sentence by 20 per cent because she pleaded guilty.

“The victim in this case was spared the ordeal of having to give evidence,” the judge said. He ordered Hill to sign the sex offender’s register. Hill was told she would have to serve at least two-thirds of the seven year custodial sentence before being considered for release.

Description

A former teacher who failed to tell his school about his colleague's inappropriate relationship with a pupil, and was later convicted in court of having sex with an underage girl himself, has been banned from teaching for life.

A Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) hearing was told that Lian Laidlaw, previously known as Ian Featherstone, 44, did tell another pupil about the relationship between his colleague and a pupil but did not report it to Abbotsholme School, in East Staffordshire on the Derbyshire border, as a safeguarding concern.

In a statement of agreed facts, Mr Laidlaw admitted the allegations, which it was decided amounted to unacceptable professional conduct and conduct that could bring the profession into disrepute.

Mr Laidlaw was employed as a teacher and head of department at the Rocester school from September 2017 to July 2022. He attended a disciplinary meeting in respect of allegations that he disclosed confidential matters to a pupil related to his employment at the school on July 18, 2022, and was dismissed on July 28, 2022.

The hearing panel heard that Mr Laidlaw could have filed a safeguarding report about his suspicions about his colleague's inappropriate relationship as early June 2022, which he would be likely to know about because he had spent time with both the fellow teacher and the pupil and had a close relationship with the teacher. He also told another pupil about the relationship.

Mr Laidlaw had previously denied knowing anything about the relationship between the pair but later admitted he had lied at his disciplinary hearing in July 2022.

He himself was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a pupil on November 2022 at Derby Crown Court. He was sentenced to a total of:

• 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years
• rehabilitation activity for 55 days
• electronic monitoring for six months
• 200 hours of unpaid work
• 45 days on the sex offender programme
• 10 years on the sex offenders register
• A £156 surcharge

The hearing accepted the certificate of conviction as conclusive proof of the commission of these offences by Mr Laidlaw.

In banning Mr Laidlaw from teaching indefinitely, decision maker Sarah Buxcey said: "The findings of misconduct are extremely serious as they include a finding of failing to report a safeguarding concern, conduct found to be dishonest and to lack integrity and an offence involving sexual activity with a child. This was conduct that was, very clearly, at the most serious end of the spectrum, amounting to a breach of the trust placed in him as a teacher.

"Mr Lian Laidlaw is prohibited from teaching indefinitely and cannot teach in any school, sixth form college, relevant youth accommodation or children’s home in England. Furthermore, in view of the seriousness of the allegations found proved against him, I have decided that Mr Laidlaw shall not be entitled to apply for restoration of his eligibility to teach."

Mr Laidlaw has a right of appeal to the King’s Bench Division of the High Court within 28 days from the date he is given notice of this order. Derbyshire Live has approached Abbotsholme School for comment.

Description

A convicted Derbyshire sex offender who thought he was messaging a teenage girl online – sending her naked photos and asking for them in return – has been jailed.

Daniel Stout began messaging who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl on an online chat app, sending her naked photos and asking for her to send the naked photos back.

However, the girl was actually a decoy from an online child abuse activist group. Having arranged to meet the ‘girl’ in his home town of Buxton, Stout was arrested.

The 28-year-old, who has a previous conviction for a similar offence, was the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order at the time of the offence – which banned him from having contact with any girl under the age of 16.

Stout, of Fairfield Road, Buxton, was subsequently charged with attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He admitted the offences and appeared at Derby Crown Court for sentence on October 22, where he was jailed for two and half years.

PC Jodie Norris, who led the investigation, said: “The fact that Stout committed this offence while under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order shows what a dangerous predator he is with no regard for the law.

“Thankfully in this case, the ‘girl’ he was messaging was an adult so a child has not been caused mental or emotional harm because of Stout’s depraved urges.

“I sincerely hope that this time behind bars will now give him the opportunity to reflect on his behaviour and realise the error of his ways.”

Description

A Derbyshire man who used social media to blackmail children as young as 10 into sending him indecent images of themselves has been sentenced.

National Crime Agency officers arrested Grant Derek Giblin of Willington, Derbyshire – after an investigation found he had been using social media apps to contact children between November 2021 and August 2023.

The 29-year-old would target the children, aged between ten and 16, and befriend them to gain their trust and encourage them to send him images of themselves.

Once he had received these, Giblin would blackmail his victims into performing sexual acts on themselves before again sending the content to him.

He was arrested by NCA officers in January 2024 and charged with offences including engaging in sexual communications with a child under 13 and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Giblin pleaded guilty to all offences at Derby Crown Court in July 2024. He was sentenced to eight years in prison at the same court today (Wednesday, October 23). Giblin will have an extended licence period of a further eight years, be the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and be on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

A former firefighter who paid children to send him explicit images online has been jailed.

Robert Stevenson would trawl social media sites and message women online, offering them money to send naked pictures. However, many of the victims were young girls.

He even sent a photo of himself in uniform to one of his victims, claiming to be 19.

The matters came to light when one of Stevenson’s victims, a 15-year-old girl, told police that he had threatened to post an explicit picture of her online.

He had spoken to the girl via direct messages on Instagram asking her if she wanted to make £100. The conversation later moved to Snapchat with Stevenson telling her he was 17 after she told him she was 17.

Stevenson was arrested and his devices were seized. Checks on them found he had been messaging a number of girls, and had paid several of them to send him photos and videos of themselves. Analysis of his bank account found numerous payments he had made to several girls.

The 31-year-old, previously of Long Eaton, was later charged with a number of offences including cause/incite the sexual exploitation of a child aged 13 to 17; cause/incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and making an indecent photo/pseudo photograph of a child.

He denied the charges but was found guilty after a trial at Derby Crown Court. He appeared at the same court for sentencing on 27 September when he was jailed for seven years. He was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was placed on the sex offenders register.