Search results for Halifax

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Two men have been sentenced yesterday (Thursday 5 November) for non-recent sexual offences against a child.

John Matthews, aged 74, and Mark Matthews, aged 61, both of Halifax, appeared at Bradford Crown Court and were each sentenced to six years and three months in prison for serious sexual offences.

Detective Constable Holly Jefferis of the Halifax Child Protection Department said:

"I would like to thank the victim for the courage, dignity, and resilience he has shown throughout both the police investigation and the court process. Speaking about sexual abuse is never easy and his bravery in coming forward has been instrumental in securing these convictions.

"I hope today's sentence provides him with a sense of justice for the abuse he suffered and brings some measure of peace and closure as he moves forward with his life.

"We recognise that for many male victims, reporting sexual abuse can be especially difficult due to feelings of shame, embarrassment, fear or concerns about how they may be perceived. I hope this sentence will give male victims the confidence to come forward and report sexual abuse when they feel ready.

"Sexual abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of age, sex or gender identity. West Yorkshire Police takes all reports of sexual abuse seriously and is committed, along with our partners, to supporting victims while pursuing those responsible. We would encourage anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, whether recently or many years ago, to come forward and report it. You will be listened to, supported and treated with respect."

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Vincent Maunder, 45, jailed for 12 months over SHPO breach

Registered sex offender Vincent Maunder has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The 45-year-old, originally from Halifax, was found guilty at Isle of Wight Crown Court of using an internet-capable MSI Cyborg 15 laptop and deleting its browsing history on 2 April, in breach of restrictions imposed by Bradford Crown Court on 12 December 2024.

Maunder was arrested in Newport in April after an incident off Long Lane, charged, and remanded in custody. He had previously received suspended sentences for similar breaches before receiving a custodial sentence in December 2024. He had been released by April and travelled to the Isle of Wight.

He pleaded not guilty on 26 June but was convicted on 15 October. His Honour Judge Ashworth imposed the 12-month term, with time spent on remand to be taken into account for his release date.

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Halifax Rapist Neil Burns Jailed for 11 Years

A 56-year-old Halifax man has been jailed for 11 years after being found guilty of rape at Bradford Crown Court.

Neil Burns, of Whitehill Drive, Illingworth, will also serve a four-year extended licence period on release. Judge Roger Thomas KC ruled that Burns poses a significant risk of causing serious harm in the future.

Burns had previous convictions dating back to the late 1980s, when he received terms of detention for indecent assault and grievous bodily harm. In 2003 he was jailed for a further indecent assault. An indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order was imposed on him in 2015.

In 2024 and 2025 Burns breached the order by using dating sites and failing to disclose electronic devices in his possession. He was also convicted of multiple breaches of the SHPO and common assault against a second woman.

Barrister Erin Kilson-Parker, representing Burns, said his previous convictions aggravated the rape offence.

Judge Thomas considered imposing a discretionary life sentence but decided against it. He noted that the victim personal statement described the “very profound effect” on the complainant.

Burns was made subject to two indefinite restraining orders prohibiting contact with either of the two female complainants. He must register as a sex offender with the police for life.

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A man from Halifax has been jailed for 12 years for the serious physical and sexual abuse of a woman.

Neil Allsopp aged 48 of Ash Tree Road, Mixenden admitted to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, sexual assault by penetration and intentional strangulation.

On Monday 8 June he was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to 12 years; he was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.  

The court heard how the victim suffered numerous fractured ribs, a fractured spine, a fractured sternum, and how bleach was poured over her.

In a victim personal statement read in court the victim said:

“The attack left me with physical, emotional, and mental affects. I constantly feel judged by what happened and if anyone says anything about what happened, I tell them that I survived; but I am not sure how.”

PC Alice Dalton of Calderdale District Police said:

“We welcome the significant sentence of Allsopp. He deserves to be in jail for a very long time.

“The victim has shown immense courage and bravery in reporting these crimes to us.

“West Yorkshire Police take all reports of this nature seriously and will thoroughly investigate to get justice for victims.”

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A judge has praised a woman for her tenacity and courage in bringing a rapist to justice.

Michael Silcock, 56, of Bull Close Lane, Halifax, was jailed for 11 years at Bradford Crown Court after a jury convicted him of raping her and sexually assaulting her twice.

The court heard he attacked her in the early hours while she was heavily intoxicated, drifting in and out of consciousness and physically unable to resist. He was said to have “preyed on her helplessness”.

In a statement read to the court by prosecutor Michael Morley, the victim said she had been left feeling scared, anxious and paranoid, suffering sporadic flashbacks that left her unable to breathe.

Silcock had 40 previous convictions for 91 offences — including wounding, assault and dishonesty — dating back to 1983. Mitigating, his barrister Abigail Langford noted a significant gap in his offending since 2013 with no previous sexual offences. She said he had struggled with alcoholism and addiction and had undergone a tracheotomy during cancer treatment.

Sentencing him, His Honour Judge Ahmed Nadim said the emotional damage inflicted was “severe and long lasting” and added: “It would not be an exaggeration to say that she has lost interest in life.”

Judge Nadim described the assault as a “violation”. He ordered Silcock to serve at least two-thirds of the sentence before release on licence, to register as a sex offender for life, and imposed a 20-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He added: “The court expresses its profound gratitude to [the victim] for the courage and the tenacity she has shown in the face of this serious violation and having had the courage to give evidence so that the defendant may be brought to justice.”

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"He manipulated me with lies to get what he wanted and scarred me for life with his actions. He has impacted my life in the most brutal way, and I will never get over it. This has been so mentally and physically draining for me."  

The victim of Jordan Reynolds has spoken after he was given a lengthy sentence.  

Reynolds, aged 30, was sentenced to a total of 17 years and six months at Bradford Crown Court with four years extended licence yesterday (Wednesday).  

He was jailed following an investigation by detectives at Calderdale Safeguarding, which saw him charged with multiple sexual offences, including several counts of rape.  

Reynolds was also convicted of criminal damage, perverting the course of justice, coercive and controlling behaviour and unrelated charges of affray and assault of an emergency worker.

Speaking after he had been sentenced, Detective Constable Katy Wilson of the Adult Protection Team, said:

“Reynolds subjected his victim to a horrendous ordeal and I hope the lengthy sentence he has received will give her some comfort.

“I also hope it encourages other victims to come forward and report offences to our specially-trained officers, who will investigate all reports and provide support throughout the process.” 

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A rapist who was hunted down, arrested and charged within 24 hours of his crime has been sentenced to 15 years.

Kirklees Safeguarding detectives have welcomed the sentencing of Ethan Hare, aged 40, and commended the bravery of the victim for coming forward to report his offending against her. 

Hare, of Ashfield Drive, Halifax, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with five years extended licence  at Leeds Crown Court today  ( Friday 6 February ) after being found guilty of two counts of rape against a woman in Mirfield in May last year.

The 40-year-old had met the victim in Mirfield during the early hours of 11 May and offered to give her a lift home.

He then seriously sexually assaulted her before releasing her at a petrol station in Huddersfield and driving off.

The woman quickly summoned help and a report to the police was made.  

Hare was identified following police enquiries and arrested a few hours later, before being charged to appear before magistrates on 12 May.

A jury found him guilty of rape following a three day trial in October this year.

Alongside his sentence, Hare was also made subject of a Serious Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will come into effect following his release.  Breach of an order can result in a further prison sentence.

Detective Constable Charlotte Pugh of the Kirklees District Adult Safeguarding Unit, said:

“This was a dreadful incident in which Hare took advantage of an obviously vulnerable woman and then committed extremely serious sexual offences against her.

“He is without doubt a dangerous sexual predator who put his victim through a terrifying ordeal.  

“Her courage in coming forward on that night and reporting what took place, allowed us to rapidly start hunting for and arrest Hare within a few hours of the offence occurring.  

“This dangerous man was charged and remanded in custody within 24 hours, meaning he has never been back on the streets from the moment he was first detained by officers.”

She added:

“We continue to urge all victims of sexual offences to contact us.  Reports can still be made even if offending took place many years ago and all reports made are thoroughly investigated with the needs of the victim at the heart of our enquiries.

“We fully appreciate how difficult it can be to come forwards and want to commend the bravery of those who report offending to us.    Their courage in coming forwards is instrumental in helping us seek just for victims and convict dangerous offenders such as Hare.” 

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A convicted sex offender was ensnared by an online child safety group after befriending what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, pressuring her for sex, and asking if she would marry him.

Over a week in September, 64-year-old Allan Cunningham messaged the decoy (an adult), calling her “darling” and “baby,” asking for photos, and saying she was “beautiful.” He confessed wanting sex with her, repeatedly declared his love, demanded reciprocation, and grew angry when she didn't respond.

He proposed running away together, called her his “little school girlfriend,” and asked for marriage. He urged secrecy from her parents and friends, suggested she call him “Daddy Allan” as it aroused him, and dismissed her age as irrelevant. He used the alias “Billy.”

Cunningham, of Weaver’s Brook, Cumberland Close, Ovenden, Halifax, was confronted by the group, leading to police involvement. Phone analysis revealed deleted internet history, breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He pleaded guilty to attempting sexual communication with a child, SHPO breach, and Sex Offender Register violation via alias. He also faced charges for assaulting two emergency workers (February 15 incident) and a malicious police call (June 8).

Cunningham had prior convictions for violence, threats to kill, harassment, assault, and attempted child sexual communications, for which he received a community order.

In mitigation, his mental health suffered after his wife's death, with anxiety and depression possibly influencing his actions; he was seeing a psychiatrist.

Recorder Andrew Dallas sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, a new 10-year SHPO until 2036, 10-year sex offender registration, and deprivation of his mobile phone.

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The man pictured below is Akaash Ibra, he is 30 years old, and he is a dangerous rapist.

In June 2023 he lured his victim to a carpark on an isolated road in Cliviger where he drugged and raped her.

Ibra, formerly of Paddock Lane in Halifax, but now of no fixed address, was arrested and later charged with rape.

He denied the offence but following a trial at Preston Crown Court earlier this year, he was found unanimously guilty of a single count of rape.

He returned to the same court on Tuesday (16th December) where he was given a sentence totalling 15 years. That comprises of 10 years immediate custody – of which he will have to serve two thirds before being eligible of going before the Parole Board – and a further five years on extended licence. This was after a Judge deemed him to be a dangerous offender.

In a statement to the court, the victim wrote:

“This statement will be the first that I have articulated the extent of the trauma I was subjected to, though the impact that I endured can only be put into so many words.

“I have learnt that such an act of violation committed by an individual known to you - is a sense of betrayal that cuts deep. But really, you were a stranger to me all along - you desperately tried to be anyone other than yourself. To this exact day I still have fragmented memory of what you did to me that night. And while this concept may seem to be less traumatic, the unknowing manifested as self-destruction, tormenting myself with the possibility that I could have prevented it or protected myself from you.

“I am constantly questioning what I should have done differently that night, or second guessing why I didn’t pick up on anything strange or sinister. I couldn't protect myself that night, and it became something that significantly affected me. I remained silent in the depths of this darkness, suffering at my lowest all alone. Nevertheless, alone I walked into that courtroom confronting all this trauma, to speak my truth in pursuit of having you brought to justice - and I did exactly that.

“Therefore, I owe myself an apology - for blaming myself and internalising the guilt of the trauma I endured. I’m sorry to the girl whose pain I silenced because I felt so disgusted and ashamed to talk about how much the trauma consumed me.

“I could not imagine confiding in any one of the countless nights I would lay awake contemplating my life. Or the reoccurring nightmare where I find myself in the car with you. I am aware of what is going to happen, but I cannot seem to escape or defend myself from you. There are so many questions that remain unanswered, and I can’t help but wonder how long we were parked in the middle of nowhere while you took advantage of me as I laid unconscious. What exact twisted sense of satisfaction you felt - or if any sense of regret crept over you while I remained unresponsive during your self-serving sexual fantasy? What thoughts crossed your mind when you got home - did you toss and turn for a long while, unsettled by the sexual violation you inflicted upon me or fall sound asleep? All of this trauma has had its time with me - I give you my pain, and the burden of this now lies solely with you. In a strange way, I almost pity you – to be haunted by your own darkness – a darkness I know all too well, as it slowly begins to turn your conscious septic and contaminate your soul.”

DC Sam Holland, from our East Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Team, said:

“Ibra presents a clear risk to women due to his abhorrent views and behaviours towards them. In this case, he isolated his victim, drugged her and then raped her. The following day he messaged her on Snapchat, as if everything was normal.

“The victim in this case has shown incredible strength in firstly coming forward to tell the police what Ibra had done to her, and then by giving evidence at court.

“I hope this conviction and sentence encourages other women to come forward if they have been the victim of a sexual crime, knowing they will be listened to, believed and that we will do everything in our power to put their abuser before the courts.”

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A dangerous paedophile and convicted rapist who extensively groomed and sent explicit images to a 12-year-old decoy has been jailed for six years, with a three-year extended licence period.

James Green, 35, of Vaughan Street, King Cross, Halifax, sent "highly sexualised" messages, graphic photos and videos of his penis, and masturbation footage to what he believed was a school-age childbut was actually a police officer. Over 12 days in May, he suggested meeting to "kiss and go on dates and then do naughty things to each other," discussed spending weekends together, and having sex.

When police raided his home, they found a damaged Motorola phone buried in his cellarthe device used for messaging. Possessing it, plus a PlayStation 5, breached his 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) banning internet-capable devices.

The phone contained Category A, B, and C illicit images and videos of children (A being most serious), plus extreme adult-animal pornography. Green was said to have "a clear interest in children" and showed little remorse.

His prior convictions, dating to 2005, include rape and sexual assault of a child under 13 in 2011 (five years in a young offender institution), possession of indecent images, and multiple SHPO breaches.

In mitigation, Green pleaded guilty, accepted responsibility, and was "much more willing" to accept help to change.

Jailing him at Bradford Crown Court, Deputy Circuit Judge Timothy Clayson rejected Green's claim of feeling "lonely and isolated" after his last licence ended. The judge described "extensive grooming" and a "blatant breach" of the SHPO, noting Green damaged and hid the phone to evade detection.

Judge Clayson said:

"You are dangerous. You represent a significant risk of causing serious harm to members of the public by the commission of further specified offences.

"Your previous convictions are substantial. All relate to your sexual interest in children and your unwillingness or inability to behave lawfully and in compliance with court orders.

You groomed the person you were in communication with, with a view to meeting in which intercourse was contemplated by you. This is very important in the assessment of dangerousness because it shows you wanted to commit a very serious sexual offence upon a young child.

Protection of young girls must be the primary object of this sentencing exercise.

Green received an indefinite SHPO, must register as a sex offender for life, and is ineligible for parole until serving two-thirds of his sentence.

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A man from Calderdale who sexually abused three young girls has been jailed for almost 22 years.    

Malcolm Holland, aged 66, of Carlton Street, Halifax was charged with 14 counts of sexual offending against three young girls, the youngest was seven years of age.    

Holland was arrested in April 2021 after the first victim came forward to report the offending. 

Calderdale District Safeguarding Detectives then launched an investigation, and two further victims were identified as part of enquiries in Holland’s offending. 

All three girls were between the ages of 7 and 14 at the time of the abuse, which happened between 2002 and 2021.      

He was charged in November 2023 with 14 counts including indecent assault, six counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, five counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and two counts of attempting to commit rape.  

He appeared at Bradford Crown Court on Monday 9 June 2025 and following a seven-day trial was unanimously found guilty by a jury of all counts.    

Appearing before the court for sentencing on Friday 20th June, Holland was sentenced to 21 and a half years in prison, extended by two years on licence. He will also be ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely and has a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which will also remain in place for the duration of his life.  

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A West Yorkshire Police officer has been jailed following his conviction for rape and sexual assault by penetration.

PC Ben Bottomley, aged 23, who is based in Kirklees District, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court today (Wednesday, 11 June) where he was sentenced to four years imprisonment for rape and one year imprisonment for sexual assault by penetration, to be served concurrently.

PC Bottomley will also be subject to the requirements of the Sex Offenders Register for life.

His conviction followed an investigation by West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate into off-duty offences which were reported to the police after he joined the Force.

He has been suspended from duty since the outset of this investigation. An accelerated misconduct hearing is due to take place next month with a view to him being added to the College of Policing’s Barred list preventing him from gaining further employment in policing. 

Tuesday, 22 April, 2025

A West Yorkshire Police officer has been found guilty of off-duty sexual offences.  

PC Benjamin Bottomley, aged 23, who is based in Kirklees district, has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault by penetration following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.  

The charges relate to offences committed against one adult female victim. The rape offence occurred prior to PC Bottomley joining West Yorkshire Police and the sexual assault by penetration offence occurred while he was a student officer. Both offences were reported to the police after he joined West Yorkshire Police.  

Detective Chief Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, Head of West Yorkshire Police Professional Standards Directorate, said: “These were extremely serious allegations to be made against a serving police officer and he was immediately suspended from duty when the investigation commenced in June 2023.  

“The victim has shown immense courage in coming forward to report these offences. We do not underestimate how hard it is to report such offending in any circumstances but understand that there may also be additional concerns when the perpetrator works in policing.  

“I hope the investigation and subsequent prosecution show that police and partners will take action, regardless of the occupation of the offender.  

“We are committed to protecting women from violence and sexual violence. PC Bottomley has demonstrated a disregard for the victim’s right to consent and, in addition to any custodial sentence he is given, he will now be subject to extra conditions on him as a convicted sex offender.”  

“We will also now continue with misconduct proceedings with a view to PC Bottomley being barred from working in policing in any role in the future.”  

PC Bottomley is due to be sentenced on 11 June.

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A man who raped and sexually abused a young girl from the age of five has been jailed.

Parvaiz Akhtar, aged 61, appeared at Bradford Crown Court yesterday, (15 April), where he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

The abuse started when the survivor was a child - her earliest account was aged five and lasted until she was around 15 years old.

Thirty years later, in May 2023, she bravely came forward to report the abuse she suffered as a child to a third party.

Officers from the Calderdale District Safeguarding Team launched an investigation following the report and enquiries to find Akhtar suggested he was out of the country.

Upon returning to the UK, he was arrested in April 2024 and subsequently charged with 12 offences including three counts of rape and nine counts of sexual assault on a child.

Akhtar denied 10 of the 12 charges. He gave a guilty plea to one count of sexual assault and one count of rape.

A five-day trial took place at Bradford Crown Court in February this year for the remaining 10 charges where the jury returned an unanimous guilty verdict on all charges.

In addition to the 14-year custodial sentence, he will also be required to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. 

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A man from Calderdale has been jailed after officers found over 55,000 indecent images on his computer.    

At Bradford Crown Court today, Michael Duck, aged 47, of Harewood Avenue, Halifax was sentenced to 21 months in prison following an investigation by Calderdale District’s Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT).  

The investigation began in June 2022, when phones and computers were seized from his address. An analysis of the devices uncovered over 55,000 indecent images of children.  

Despite providing a ‘no comment’ response during interview, and throughout the investigation, he was later charged with three counts of making indecent images of children (category A, B and C), one count of possession of extreme pornography and one count of prohibited images.  

Following a five-day trial a Bradford Crown Court in January, he was found guilty of all charges. 

He was also given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for a minimum of 10 years.

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A SEX offender who accessed the internet just 10 days after being handed an order banning him from doing so has been locked up for two-and-a-half years.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Kieron Mead, now 34, was made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in June 2023 after being convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Prosecutor Aimilia Katsoulakis said that police officers found he had been using several social media platforms, sending messages and participating in chats, during a routine check in August 2023.

He had also been using a Harry Potter-themed app to communicate with others.

He was arrested on suspicion of breaching his SHPO and several devices were seized including an iPad, a Samsung mobile phone, and an Xbox console with hard drive attached.

The police also found a smartphone, which Mead had not presented and which violated prohibitions, putting him in breach of the SHPO.

The smartphone showed evidence of Facebook activity under an account called “Kieron Meadonator Mead” that had sent messages to a female just 10 days after the SHPO was imposed. He was prohibited from using Facebook.

A year later officers made a further visit to Mead’s home and asked him to hand over his devices. He presented a Nokia non-smartphone and a laptop.

The laptop contained numerous emails from a dating website and evidence that Mead had logged into his account.

He denied he had any other devices but when the officers heard a notification sound he retrieved a Samsung tablet from under his bedcover, which he claimed was his mother’s.

However she later confirmed he exclusively used it.

The tablet was found to have an active game running, with a chat function that was considered to be an unauthorised messaging platform. The tablet also contained Snapchat, which Mead was prohibited from using.

He was arrested for breaching his SHPO and the laptop and tablet were seized.

In May and June 2024 Mead used various social media platforms to chat under several aliases with females, which were not registered with police and therefore represented further violations of the order.

During three police interviews he gave “no comment” answers to all questions.

Mitigating, John Bottomley said Mead, of Canterbury Crescent, Halifax, had had issues in terms of his upbringing, including emotional development that led him to communicate better with children than with adults.

He described the offending of Mead, who had spent 242 days, or almost eight months, on remand as “snowballing”.

Mr Recorder Andrew Haslam KC said Mead, who appeared via video link from HMP Leeds, was guilty of persistent breaches of his SHPO.

He said: “You must have bought another device to access the messaging platforms and Snapchat after the police seized your smartphone in August of the previous year.”

He described Mead’s breaches as “persistent” and that his repeated offending over a 12-month period was aggravated by the first breach being committed “within a matter of days” of the SHPO being made.

Sentencing Mead to a total of two-and-a-half years imprisonment he said he would serve up to 40 per cent of that in custody minus time spent on remand.