Search results for Durham

Description

A sex offender failed to disclose his past conviction to a new partner living with her two children.

Michael Gill, 31, of Braeside in Edmondsley near Chester-le-Street, frequently stayed with the woman and had unsupervised contact with her children during their three-year relationship starting in 2022. Durham Crown Court, sitting at Teesside, heard he once joined them on a week-long camping holiday in Scotland.

The court learned that Gill, under Probation Service supervision for part of this time, failed to inform them or his police monitoring officer about the relationship—breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and sex offender notification requirements.

These stemmed from his 2020 conviction for attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming, for which he received a three-year community order in September 2020.

Prosecutor Martin Towers said when the partner learned of the conviction, Gill claimed he was "set up by a past partner," and she believed him, unaware it barred contact with her children. As a result, the children were removed from her care.

Gill admitted two SHPO breaches and three notification failures.

In her victim statement, she said from the moment he entered her life, she was "totally gullible" and fell for his lies. He lied about his identity, name, date of birth, and place of birth, claiming it was to "disguise his identity to society." He fed her stories of an abusive ex-partner that led to his self-harming.

Her main regret: not ending the relationship sooner. "I’m angry he took advantage of my trusting nature. He groomed me to get closer to my family," she added.

In mitigation, Albany Kidd said: "He understands he should have been much more open to the police and the Probation Service, from the outset, but he denies, wholeheartedly, entering into the relationship to get closer to her children."

After "meeting" on Facebook, he learned of the children later. "He accepts having stayed at her address but claims to have misunderstood the terms of the notification requirement."

While at her home, he may have been unsupervised in a room with the children, but she was in a neighboring room. "There’s no suggestion he’s abused his position in the household with the children."

He apologizes to her, realizes the impact on her family, and "never thought about the consequences of them being taken from her into care." A software engineer working from home, he has not sought another relationship since.

Judge Nathan Adams noted Gill's "flagrant disregard" for court orders, with no disclosure over three years. "When confronted you lied about your history and previous convictions. She was vulnerable and you convinced her these were lies of an ex-partner."

"It’s right to say there’s been no suggestion you had any sexual contact with either child, but that’s not the point. There were court orders in place and you flagrantly ignored them. When matters came to light these two girls were removed from their mother’s permanent care. She was placed in that position by you."

The judge imposed a 28-month prison sentence, with Gill to serve up to half in custody. He remains on the sex offender register, and his SHPO was extended five years in September.

Description

An inquiry has concluded that Neville Husband, an officer at the notorious Medomsley detention centre in County Durham, was "possibly the most prolific sex offender in British history."

Husband was jailed in 2003 for abusing five teenagers at the facility, where hundreds of young men aged 17-21 endured physical and sexual attacks by staff from 1961 to 1987. He died in 2010.

The report by Prisons and Probation Ombudsman Adrian Usher details missed opportunities by the Home Office, police, and prison managers to halt the abuse.

Durham Police and the Ministry of Justice have apologised, with the latter doing so "on behalf of all governments, past and present."

Inmates' complaints were dismissed, leaving them to report abuse to their assailants. The report calls it a "cautionary tale," warning that mistreatment of the vulnerable remains "still an issue" in youth custody.

Designed for "short, sharp, shock" sentences for low-level offenses, Medomsley saw endemic physical violence and summary punishments. Sexual assaults often occurred in the kitchen, where Husband raped inmates.

Chief Constable Rachel Bacon called the report "extremely difficult reading," exposing "shameful failings by police at that time." She added: "On behalf of Durham Constabulary I wish to publicly offer my sincerest apologies to those victims and their families for those failures. Thousands of young men were let down by the system and are continuing to live with the wounds left by that abuse. Those victims were, and remain, our primary concern."

Usher stated: "I have chosen to omit many of the most heinous details of... abuse but I believe it is necessary to include enough to make clear the extent of the horrors that some of those young men endured." He noted the "silence of many" enabled the abuse to persist undetected.

The report found:

• Police dismissed allegations without recording them and threatened inmates with return to Medomsley if they persisted.
• Leadership was either aware and complicit, or lacked curiosity and incompetent.
• Victims had never received a public apology; all bodies should "examine their organisational consciences."
• Two inmates' deaths in 1981-82 were "arguably avoidable."

Survivors like Peter Toole (sent in 1985) recalled: "You weren't even in for a minute and the abuse started. I just thought 'this is it, this is Medomsley, just get on with it and take it on the chin'."

Jimmy Coffey (sent in 1979 at 18) said: "For that first week I was there, I was just continually seeing violence and cruelty and spitefulness. I still have problems now with flashbacks."

The Ministry-ordered inquiry said Medomsley operated "effectively beyond the reach of the law" for 26 years. Besides Husband, storeman Leslie Johnson was jailed in 2005 for sexual assaults, and other guards for physical attacks and misconduct.

Labour Under-Secretary for Justice Jake Richards apologised in an open letter, pledging a panel to improve youth custody safeguarding. He said: "I want to recognise that none of this would have come to light without those who bravely came forward to report the abuse. Please be assured that ministers and government officials are taking this extremely seriously and we will put the voice of victims at the centre of our work moving forward. I know these words cannot change what has happened in the past, but I hope they demonstrate this government's determination to take proper action."

Description

A specialist child protection detective has joined a Judge in praising a young child for their bravery in speaking out about abuse they’d suffered, and for preventing the perpetrator from carrying out further harm to the victim or to other children.

Detective Sergeant Allan from our POLIT (Paedophile Online Investigation Team) spoke as 24-year-old Kane Povey received a 12-year sentence after pleading guilty to six offences half-way through his trial.  

Povey will serve 11 years in prison and one on licence.

An investigation into Povey began in October 2022 after police received a report of sexual assault and rape of a seven-year-old child. 

Cleveland Police immediately put safeguarding measures in place for the child and offered the victim and family further specialist support from local professional partner organisations.

Povey was arrested and interviewed but he denied the allegations however on receiving extensive evidence from police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised six charges against him.

These comprised three counts of rape of a child under 13 and three counts of causing or incident a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Povey continued to deny any wrongdoing and a trial began in September this year.  Mid-trial though, he changed his plea and admitted the six charges.

He was remanded in prison until his appearance at Teesside Crown Court for sentencing today.

As well as imprisonment, Povey will be placed on the sex offenders’ register, will be subject to a SHPO (sexual harm prevention order) for life and on his eventual release, he’ll be subject to strict conditions and monitoring by specialist police officers.

Detective Sergeant Allan said:

"Firstly I’d like to acknowledge the bravery of this young child for coming forward and having their voice heard and believed.  In doing so it allowed police to take immediate action to safeguard them and protect other children from Povey.

“Povey is a dangerous and predatory man who has caused this child untold struggles in their day-to-day life, but the child and their family have shown incredible bravery throughout the police and court process.

“I hope today’s result will bring a degree of comfort to them all and I wish them all the best in going forward.”

Description

A pervert was caught by paedophile hunters sending sexually explicit messages to decoys posing as children, a court heard.

Michael Parr, 41, encouraged the 'girls'—actually adults—to perform sex acts on themselves and sent a naked photo of himself.

Over nearly two months, he messaged decoys pretending to be 12 and 14-year-old girls.

Prosecutor Dan Wilberforce said the group handed messages to police after Parr's arrest. He noted Parr sent a 'how to guide' for sexual behavior and photos, plus a genital image to one decoy.

Parr, of Middleham Close, Ouston, Chester-le-Street, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting sexual communication with a child and one of attempting to incite a child in sexual activity between September and October last year.

Defense lawyer Caroline McGurk said her client accepts punishment, but "his life has been blown apart and will never be the same again" after a violent attack injury led him to social media. She added: "When I read the messages to him, his embarrassment and shame were palpable." His offending cost his marriage, home, and job.

Judge Jonathan Carroll jailed Parr for 32 months for his "persistent and protracted" attempts.

He said:

"You had suffered an injury, you were at home suffering from a temporary disability, you were bored and you got involved in chat forums.

"You then ended up in communication with the first apparent child and the communication made it clear that she purported to be a 14-year-old. She was not a child; she was an adult putting herself online to catch people like you.

"You didn’t know you were dealing with an adult, you thought you were dealing with a child and the communication became sexual over an extended period of time."

Parr must sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

Description

A Spennymoor paedophile asked a teenage girl for sex, suggesting they film it and "make a lot of money" by posting the video on OnlyFans.

Adam Fowler messaged the girl for nude pictures and paid her for explicit videos of her and her boyfriend.

When she rejected his request—after he said they could make a fortune posting it to OnlyFans—he grabbed her thigh and kissed her, Durham Crown Court heard.

Fowler had previously paid her “tens of pounds” for several videos she sent him.

The 36-year-old, of Lakeside Court in Spennymoor, appeared in court on Wednesday (October 22) for sentencing on 11 charges.

He admitted some in May and others more recently, after a trial date was set for January 2026.

The charges included six counts of making indecent images of a child, paying a child to engage in sexual activity, causing and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual activity with a child, and causing a child to watch sexual activity.

The last charge involved a video sent to another girl after he performed a sex act on himself, with an aubergine emoji over his private parts.

Prosecutor Ian West said Fowler was arrested in 2022 and, after release under investigation, downloaded many indecent images later found on his devices.

He was interviewed three times—in April 2022, and February and September last year—declining to answer questions each time.

Defence barrister Johnny Walker said since his "decision of good sense" to plead guilty, Fowler has been remanded in custody for the first time.

“He’s a man of previous good character, an industrious, hard-working man, who is now experiencing custody for the first time at the age of 36.

“He is profoundly aware of the impact on both girls, and, through me, wants to send his heartfelt apologies for the damage he has caused.”

Judge Deborah Sherwin noted a “significant” age difference between Fowler and the two complainants, who were exposed to things they should not have been at their ages.

She highlighted “opportunism” on his part and the “significance” that many indecent images were downloaded after his 2022 release under investigation.

She jailed him for six years and four months.

Fowler must sign the sex offenders' register and face internet restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Ten-year restraining orders prohibit him from contacting or approaching either victim.

Judge Sherwin warned that future sexual offences could deem him a “dangerous offender,” leading to lengthier sentences.

Deprivation orders were made for all devices containing the offending material.

Description

A trans child rapist bombarded a probation officer with threatening phone calls from jail, vowing to knife "a load of men", a court heard.

Marcia Walker, 51, made the calls from Frankland Prison—a top-security men's jail in Durham—where she is held as too dangerous for a women's facility. Inmates there include Soham killer Ian Huntley, ex-cop Wayne Couzens, and Milly Dowler murderer Levi Bellfield.

She left four voicemails threatening to "get a knife", adding to her history of threats: placing a nail bomb under a governor's car and having him shot; using an intercom to claim a bomb would detonate in the staff car park; sending a letter claiming she had bombed Theresa May as Home Secretary; attacking a prison guard; and threatening to kill another when her razors were confiscated, preventing shaving.

Walker, previously Mark Walker and jailed for 13 years in 2003 for raping two girls (one aged four), is legally female but barred from women's prisons due to her sex conviction.

She admitted sending a communication threatening death or serious harm and was jailed for nine months by Teesside JPs.

Walker is segregated at Frankland, with male prisoners locked in cells for 45 minutes while she washes and eats alone.

A source previously told The Sun:

“There is a lot of anger at the jail but it’s a Catch-22 situation.

“She has to be treated as a woman but cannot be moved to a female prison because she poses a risk. And, as she’s legally a woman, she must be kept apart from male inmates.”

Description

A 19-year-old teenager was caught on CCTV performing a sex act involving a metal rocking horse and a tree branch at Burn Valley Park in Hartlepool last October.

Two camera operators witnessed Callum Green committing the act live and alerted police, who arrested him on Rydal Street.

Green, of Alston Street, admitted criminal damage to the playground but denied outraging public decency.

At Teesside Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (October 15), it was heard that the rocking horse "required professional cleaning" after the early-morning incident.

Defense lawyer Tyler Plunkett agreed with the facts but argued the outraging charge didn't apply, as it wasn't in front of at least two public members.

Prosecutor Anne Mitchell countered: "It is the Crown’s case that both [CCTV operators] were witnessing the events in live CCTV."

District Judge Helen Cousins, addressing Green—who wore a light blue suit and tie—called the incident "unedifying to say the least."

She ruled: "I take the view that time has moved on and watching on a live feed does amount to being present. I therefore reject the submissions and find the case proved."

Noting Green as a "very young man," she ordered a pre-sentence report, adding: "All options are open so far as sentencing is concerned. I want to know more about you, what motivated these offences and what I can do about it."

Green was granted conditional bail, barring him from Burn Valley Gardens or any recreational playground in Cleveland, with sentencing set for November 14.

Description

A man who tried to rape a teenager as she walked through a park has been given a 14-year extended prison sentence.

Malcolm Clixby attacked the girl in South Park, in Darlington, at around 4.50pm on November 2 last year.

The 43-year-old followed the teenager as she walked to a party before grabbing her from behind and trying to rape her.

She managed to bite Clixby’s hand several times, which caused him to let go of her, and she ran to a nearby petrol station for help.

Police were called and a search for the suspect was launched, while officers safeguarded the young woman.

Later that evening, just before 8pm, Clixby attended Darlington Police Station to hand himself in.

Before being placed in cuffs, he told officers: “I want to report an incident I have done – I groped somebody in South Park and attempted to rape her.”

Clixby, of Darlington, was questioned by detectives and later charged with attempted rape and sexual assault.

He admitted sexual assault, but denied attempted rape. However, a jury sitting at Durham Crown Court found him guilty of the offence following a trial.

Clixby appeared back at court today (October 9) where he received a 14-year extended sentence, comprising of eight years in prison and six years on extended licence.

In a victim impact statement, the young woman said:

“This incident has affected me in a lot of ways – in the first month I couldn’t leave the house and I didn’t go to college or work, so it has affected my career.

“It has had a massive impact on my social life – I was so anxious about going out so I stopped going out with my friends.

“It stopped me sleeping – I had really bad, vivid dreams about what happened that night.

“The biggest impact this has had on me is the fact that it caused me to have such bad anxiety. This was something I never suffered with before this incident, and it has impacted my future studying. I have decided to take a gap year from university because, although I am getting better, I do not feel as though at the minute I could deal with the stresses from this, so it has been postponed.”

Detective Constable Subhaan Ali, of Darlington CID, led the investigation. He said:

“Firstly, I want to commend the bravery and resilience of the survivor, who has shown incredible courage in reporting her ordeal to police and seeing the case through to court.

“Every step of the way, she has been determined to support our investigation and has done everything she can to help secure a conviction and get the justice she deserves.

“Clixby deliberately and opportunistically targeted the girl as she walked alone to a party – he turned what should have been an enjoyable evening with friends into a horrific nightmare that will have a significant and profound impact on her for many years to come.

“He clearly poses a significant risk to lone women and girls, so I am pleased to see him receive a substantial prison sentence.

“I can only hope that the survivor and her family can take some comfort from this sentence imposed and that she is able to move forward with her life again.”

Description

A rapist who twice ignored a woman's pleas to stop her ordeal has been jailed for eight years.

Martin Hume refused to heed the victim's requests to end the assaults, during which she was in pain. Durham Crown Court heard she quickly made clear she did not want any sexual activity.

Prosecutor Paul Cleasby said in one instance, realizing he would not listen, she lay motionless as the attack continued.

Hume, 34, of Gloucester Place, Peterlee, denied two rape charges but was convicted by a jury on the fourth day of his August trial.

He appeared for sentencing via video link from HMP Durham, where he has been held since the August 21 verdicts.

The victim, with a family member, read her impact statement, telling Hume: “You have ruined me,” and describing her experiences as like “living in hell.”

She said she feared encountering him publicly before his conviction, sometimes entering a “state of panic” when out, and has undergone counselling for her “emotional distress.” But she added she is glad she had the courage to “speak up,” concluding: “The last thing I want to say is: ‘No means no’.”

Defense counsel Dan Cordey said in mitigation: “He accepts he will receive a custodial sentence of some length today. He was tried as a man of good character and is now facing his first custodial sentence. He had no experience of custody whatsoever.”

Cordey noted the trained welder has earned “trusted prisoner” status on remand and become a wing cleaner.

Judge Jo Kidd ordered Hume to serve two-thirds of the sentence before license eligibility. He faces an indefinite restraining order barring contact with the victim and must register as a sex offender “until further order.”

Description

A 'deeply disturbed' man who raped three women has been jailed for his 'heinous' crimes.

Christopher Bell, also known as Christopher Ward, 33, of Maple Grove, Sedgefield, admitted the offences on the second day of his trial last month. However, a judge called it "deeply disturbing" that he later told Probation workers he did not think anything he did was wrong.

Bell appeared at Durham Crown Court for sentencing on six counts of rape, one of strangulation, and one of assault by penetration. He pleaded guilty after two victims had testified, with the third waiting to do so. Other charges were left on file.

All three victims attended court on Friday (September 26) to deliver impact statements. One, a teenager at the time of the offences, said she is now “an empty shell” compared to her former bubbly self, feeling "heartbroken" daily and suffering insomnia, nightmares, depression, and PTSD.

Another described being consumed by paranoia, unable to sleep due to flashbacks. The third, strangled during rape, said she felt like she was going to die at his hands.

Prosecutor Jane Waugh noted the “heinous sexual offences,” with those against the third victim occurring while Bell was under investigation for the first two.

Defence counsel David Callan said Bell left school with qualifications, attended agricultural college, worked as a landscape gardener and with horses, and has “a strong work ethic” and previous good character. Remanded for over seven months, he has taken religious instructions from a Roman Catholic priest and plans to enter a religious order post-sentence.

Judge Nathan Adams said Bell's guilty pleas came “about as late as they could be,” after maintaining innocence until trial began. He found it “deeply disturbing” that Bell told the Probation pre-sentence report author he “didn’t consider anything he did was wrong,” adding: “It clearly shows you are a deeply disturbed individual.”

The judge imposed eight-year consecutive sentences for offences against each victim, totalling 24 years, followed by three years' licence supervision. Bell must serve at least 16 years before parole eligibility, possibly the full 24. He must sign the sex offender register for life and is subject to a 30-year restraining order barring contact with victims.

Description

A child rapist has been jailed for 29 years after boasting to a police officer. 

In May this year, Jaifar Trigwell began talking to who he believed was another paedophile online. He bragged about abusing and raping a child and also videoed some of the acts and went on to propose to exchange them with the officer. 

The abuse which occurred between 2023 and 2025 ended abruptly with the 42-year-old’s arrest. 

Jaifar Trigwell denied the allegations whilst in interview and stated he lost his phone at the time of the online conversations however he later pleaded guilty to four counts of rape of a child, two counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and four counts relating to indecent images. 

Trigwell, of Darlington, appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Monday (September 15) where he was jailed for 29 years. He was also placed on the Sex Offender’s Register for life, issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim. 

Detective Constable Amie Thornton, from Darlington Safeguarding Unit, said:

“The abuse suffered by the child will have a significant and profound impact on them for many years to come. 

"I would like to praise the amazing courage shown by the victim and officers working on the investigation which ultimately led to Trigwell having no choice but to admit the offences and plead guilty. 

“We are constantly working with specialist officers to monitor, expose, and jail similar sexual abusers like Trigwell.” 

Description

A man who raped a woman while under investigation for sexually abusing two boys has been jailed for almost 18 years.

Aidn Cowen, 23, was a teenager when he sexually assaulted a nine-year-old boy and raped a boy as young as six, threatening both with violence, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Having been arrested and released on bail for those offences, Cowen, from Annfield Plain in County Durham, raped a 20-year-old woman, the court heard.

He was found guilty of eight offences against the boys and admitted raping the woman, with Judge Penny Moreland describing him as an "offender of particular concern".

Cowen was 16 or 17 when he attacked his first victim, a nine-year-old boy, sexually assaulting him and threatening to "hurt" the child if he did not comply, prosecutor Joe Culley said.

The rapist was between 18 and 19 when he targeted his second victim, a boy aged as young as six at the time, who he raped and then threatened to slap if he did not keep it a secret, the court heard.

While under investigation for those offences, Cowen, who was 20 at the time, raped a woman, ignoring her pleas to stop, Mr Culley said.

'Serious psychological harm'

In a statement read to the court, Cowen's first victim said he had been "completely overwhelmed both physically and mentally" by the abuse.

The youth said he was fighting an internal battle every day and started self-harming to use pain as a distraction from his thoughts, the court heard.

Judge Moreland said Cowen had caused "serious psychological harm" and was "an offender of particular concern".

Cowen, who was jailed for 17 years and eight months, will have to serve a further two years on extended licence upon his release from prison, sign the sex offender register and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Description

A rapist who continued to sexually assault a woman after she told him to stop has been jailed.

Daniel Wyatt, 28, initially engaged in consensual sexual activity with his victim but then ignored her pleas to stop.

The council worker eventually ceased but branded his victim "boring," Teesside Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said the first assault took place about 12 hours before the second incident occurred.

He added that the victim felt pain and screamed when Wyatt sexually assaulted her, and that Wyatt apologised for the act.

Wyatt, of Myrtle Road in Eaglescliffe, denied the offences but was convicted of rape and two counts of sexual assault by a jury earlier this week.

Erin Kitson-Parker, in mitigation, told the court that when she spoke to Wyatt before the hearing, he told her: "I made the biggest mistake of my life."

Judge Tom Mitchell sentenced the rapist to six and a half years in prison.

He said:

"When she told you to stop, you failed to do so. You didn't stop and that makes you a rapist. You sexually assaulted her twice. It was a mean thing to do. A very wrong thing to do. You knew that straight away because you apologised for it."

Wyatt was also required to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life and was made subject to a restraining order.

Description

A man who was fixated on harrowing baby and toddler sexual abuse has today been jailed.

Ryan Lee Rowland Smith, 23, from Stockton has been convicted of nine offences, including three counts of distributing indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent images of children, possessing a paedophile manual and possessing extreme pornography- including bestiality, possessing prohibited images of a child.

Today, Monday 18th August, Smith was sentenced to four years in prison plus four years on extended licence. He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and has been made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years, meaning he will be managed by Cleveland's specially trained Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders Officers.

Over 4,000 child abuse images and videos were discovered on his mobile phones which included 13.5 hours of video time, eight hours of which were category A, the worst grade of footage.

Leading investigator, Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) Constable Barnes, said:

“I have managed sex offenders and investigated sexual offences for over 10 years and Ryan Smith is, by far, the worst offender I have dealt with in relation to this type of crime. Every minute of footage on his phone showed a baby or child suffering extreme abuse.

“The horrific content he was accessing, and sharing, was very specific and mainly involved babies and toddlers. The content was so harrowing, our team went as far as to warn defence to be cautious as this is some of the most horrific content we have been exposed to.

“Smith was accessing this content, in the main depicting pain and suffering, for his own satisfaction and nothing more. Smith's offending is abhorrent; in my eyes, he has committed the most horrendous crimes imaginable.

“When our team arrested Smith in October 2024 it was 6:30am and he had already been on his device accessing vile content. Since then, officers from the team have gone above and beyond to gather evidence against Smith. At times it was extremely difficult for the team, as they had to view everything which Smith accessed; the tenacity and expertise of the team as a whole secured the convictions against Smith.

“Smith has shown no shame or remorse for the crimes he has committed, even answering ‘no comment’ when interviewed, for this, he deserves to spend a long time behind bars where he cannot cause further harm.”

Description

A child sexual predator has been jailed – despite his efforts to evade being caught.

Barry Williams, 60, is now behind bars after engaging in inappropriate communications with someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl.

The sentencing follows a complex police operation by officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).

In February 2024, Williams was speaking to the ‘child’ online and persisted to send her explicit messages and requests for indecent images and videos.

However, Williams was actually speaking to a police officer who was quickly closing in through their investigation.

Officers witnessed Williams attempt to evade being caught by changing platforms and creating new profiles to try and hide his true identity.

Police seized and searched Williams electronic devices where they found truly horrific Category A, B and C indecent images and videos – with hundreds of child victims featured.

As a final step to manage the impending outcome, Williams legally tried to change his name to Colin Brown before charges were filed however, police acted quickly, and he was subsequently charged with Attempt to Engage in Sexual Communication with a Child, Attempt to Cause/Incite a Child to Engage in Sexual Activity, three counts of Possess Indecent Images of Children, Possess Prohibited Images of a Child and Possess Extreme Pornographic Images. 

Williams, of Ferryhill, appeared at Durham Crown Court on July 7, where he pleaded guilty to all charges.

Today (August 8), he appeared before the same court and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Adam Abram, said:

“Williams made his vile desires very clear and despite the fact he tried to evade capture and tried to dodge the full consequences by changing his name, the overwhelming evidence collated by officers secured this sentence and ensured a dangerous predator is off the streets.

“Under Operation Sentinel, our regional approach to tacking serious and organised crime, we will continue to investigate these online offences to safeguard children and protect the public.

“We would urge anyone who has been a victim of this type of offending, or has concerns about someone’s behaviour, to come forward and talk to police.”