Latest Offenders Essex

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A JUDGE fired off a clear message about the seriousness of underage sex by sending a 30-year-old man, who repeatedly had intercourse with a girl half his age, to prison for three years.

Tim Posey had a sexual relationship with the 15-year-old, from Grays, over a number of months, Basildon Crown Court heard.

Standing in the dock yesterday, Posey, of no fixed address, was told by Judge John Lodge, that underage sex was a “serious matter”.

Despite Posey’s mitigating counsel saying the girl had consented to sex every time, and the pair had formed a “boyfriend/girlfriend relationship”, Judge Lodge told Posey: “You embarked on a sexual relationship with a girl who was 15.

“It matters not that she instigated sexual contact on some occasions. The law is there to protect children and that is what 15-year-old girls are.

“You are a 30-year-old man and this was a serious matter indeed.”

The court heard how Posey began having sex with the girl after moving to Grays from his home in Scotland to live with a different woman, in September last year.

The court also heard how Posey, who had no previous convictions and plans to return to Scotland once he is released from prison, now realises his behaviour “should never have happened”.

Posey pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual activity with a female child under 16 at an earlier hearing.

He also admitted an offence of failing to comply with the requirements of a sexual offender’s notification order.

He was told he will serve half his prison sentence before being considered for parole.

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A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for repeatedly abusing a child and posing as another boys father to abduct him from school.

Dean Freeman, 21, of Hamstel Road, Southend, viewed vile images of young boys being sexually abused before calling a Rayleigh school claiming to be the father of a ten-year-old pupil.

He told staff he was sending a taxi to collect the child as he needed to attend a dental appointment. Freeman, who later admitted his motivation was sexual, then contacted a Rayleigh taxi firm to pick the boy up.

But his plan was foiled by the quick-thinking actions of driver Steven Hilder.

He became suspicious after the boy said he did not recognise the house where he had been taken. Moments later Mr Hilder picked Freeman up from his home in Hamstel Road, Southend, but threw him out his car after he was told by his office the victim didnt have permission to leave school.

It was only when he was arrested for abduction on January 3 another child came forward and reported he had been sexually abused by Freeman for six years between 2000 and 2006.

At Basildon Crown Court, Judge Michael Brooke QC branded Freeman a danger to the public, and praised Mr Hilder for spotting the danger.

He added: It is clear to me the defendant does have sado-sexual fantasies and he showed he had the motivation to realise such fantasies.

Freeman pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to abduction, possessing indecent images of children, gross indecency on a child under 16 and sexual touching of a child without consent and was jailed for five years and eight months.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

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A PAEDOPHILE who filmed himself raping and sexually abusing two schoolgirls, then shared the images online has been jailed.

Raymond Minns must serve at least three years, after which he could be considered for release.

Police raided Minns's home in Vange last November, seizing his computer. They discovered more than 18,000 images of children being sexually abused.

When 29-year-old Minns was interviewed, he admitted "grooming" two of the girls in the photos, before repeatedly sexually abusing and raping them.

He also admitted taking pictures of himself as he abused the victims, using his mobile phone and a video camera, so he could share the images with fellow paedophiles on the internet.

Yesterday, at Basildon Crown Court, Judge Michael Brooke QC told Minns: "I hope very much you are given all the rehabilitation you so clearly need and three years from now you can think about applying to the parole board to be released on licence."

He banned Minns from ever working with children, from living or being alone with a child under the age of 16, from attending clubs where children under 16 might be present. He also barred him from using the internet.

The defendant will remain on the sex offenders' register for the rest of his life.

Minns admitted four counts of raping a child under 13, one of attempted rape of a child under 13, eight counts of taking indecent photos of a child, two of distributing indecent photos of a child and sexual assault of a child under 13.

He also admitted one charge of assault of a child under 13 by penetration and possessing indecent photos of a child.

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A convicted child rapist who went on the run from a mental unit following a shopping trip has been banned from any further outings - for now.

At Basildon Crown Court, Judge Philip Clegg revealed it was the fourth time Patrick Cash, 35, had gone missing from Clare House, in Burnt Mills Road, Bowers Gifford. Cash, who was convicted in 1995 of twice raping a schoolboy, disappeared for 11 days last month after being allowed to go to Basildon.

Instead he got the train to London and went drinking with friends.

Police at first failed to tell the public the sex offender was on the run and waited five days before launching a public appeal.

Cash eventually handed himself in to police.

Judge Clegg said action was needed to protect Cash and the public. He said: "I am not in the business of punishing the mentally-ill, but I am in the business of ensuring the public are protected."

Cash was released into the care of staff at Clare House.

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A judge has apologised to two teenage girls after sentencing guidelines prevented her from jailing a pervert who sexually abused them at his animal sanctuary.

Judge Patricia Lynch QC admitted that it was with a heavy heart that Michael Taylor, 75, was allowed to walk free from court despite abusing the girls, then aged 15 and 17.

Taylor had admitted to sexual assault at the petting farm he has run since 1989. He groomed, kissed and groped the pair now aged 17 and 19 at Mistley Park Place in Essex, which is home to 2,000 animals.

In her victim impact statement, the younger of the two victims said she would like to see Taylor go to prison for a long time a sentiment the judge said she understood.

But because of Sentencing Council guidelines relating to the age of the victims and the seriousness of the assaults, Judge Lynch said she was unable to put Taylor behind bars.

Speaking to the victims and their families at Chelmsford Crown Court, she said: With a heavy heart I propose to adopt the recommendations in the pre-sentence report.

The judge imposed a 36-month community order, which led to criticism from the NSPCC. It said it did not feel morally right.

The young victims will have been scarred in some way by this appalling experience and will need support to recover, a spokesman said. Sentences in such cases should always fit the crime and act as a deterrent to others.

Judge Lynch told Taylor: You have to live with the damage you have done to two young lives.

You are 75 and hitherto of good character up until this period of dreadful offending.

I am sure this is a crime you will never forget and you dont deserve to forget.

You took advantage of children. Some might suggest you have only cuddled and kissed and this is not a serious case, but I deprecate any such suggestion. Adults who sexually assault children must take the consequences.

Although Taylor was also ordered to take part in a community sex offender programme and to sign the sex offenders register, he will still be allowed to continue working at the farm.

He was also told to pay 1,000 in costs and was banned from unsupervised contact with girls under 18 for five years.

Taylor, who runs Mistley Park Place, had made sure the girls were alone before kissing and cuddling them, the court was told. On one occasion, he offered 100 for a kiss and a cuddle.

He also sent the girls text messages and told them they were beautiful before urging them to delete the messages. He forcefully kissed the 17-year-old on the lips which she described as disgusting, the court heard.

During the same period, between July and October 2013, he kissed the 15-year-old girl, and touched her bottom and breasts over her clothes.

Chris Paxton, prosecuting, said: There was a process of grooming, ingratiating himself and trying to win over someone who was 50 years younger than himself.

Peter Barlex, mitigating, said that Taylor was trying to be sociable. He added: He was trying to offer comfort and be a friend, but accepts he got carried away and things got out of hand.

He appreciates the gravity of the allegations.

Speaking outside court, PC Rachel Moss of Essex Police said: Justice has been achieved.

It is clear to me that they have been severely affected by the crimes committed upon them by Taylor. I only hope the sentence will allow them to get on with their lives.