Search results for Hertfordshire

Description

A "dangerous" child rapist from Hertfordshire has been jailed for 16 years.

Kieran Logan, 48, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on November 27, after pleading guilty to multiple offenses in September.

He was arrested in May 2024 when a victim came forward, revealing crimes dating back to 2003. In August, police seized his devices, uncovering two more victims and thousands of indecent images of children.

Logan was convicted of:

• Three counts of making indecent images of children (Categories A, B, and C)
• One count of sexual activity with a child
• One count of sexual assault of a child
• Three counts of sexual assault by penetration
• Two counts of rape of a child
• One count of sexual assault by penetration

Detective Constable Debbie West, of the Joint Child Protection Investigation Team (JCPIT), said: Firstly, I would like to commend the victims and their families for their support during this investigation, I want to commend them all for their incredible bravery in the face of an extremely difficult time.

Kieran Logan is a dangerous offender and has had lasting effects on his victims, but I do hope that seeing him sentenced will go some way in helping them to move on from his abhorrent crimes.

Logan preyed on young girls and used his position as an older man to hold power over them. Hes a sexual predator who will now remain behind bars for years to come, and his sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and the harm he has caused."

She added: We know it can be incredibly challenging to come forward to report incidents of sexual assault. We take reports of sexual offences very seriously and we will do everything we can to ensure that victims feel like their voices are heard and that offenders are brought to justice.

Logan, of Rushden Road in Buntingford, received 16 years in prison with a six-year extended licence period. He faces a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) with strict conditions, lifelong placement on the Sex Offenders' Register, and restraining orders to protect his victims.

Description

A predatory sex offender who intimately touched a young girl—causing her serious psychological harm—later tried to talk his way out of trouble to avoid being "labelled as a paedophile." David Austin, 58, claimed to be "very shocked" upon arrest and told Hull Crown Court: "I can't understand why I am standing here now."

He denied four sexual assault charges from July 13, 2023, in the Market Weighton area, insisting he merely "tickled" the girl to cheer her up. A jury convicted him after trial.

Prosecutor Benjamin Donnell said the touching was deliberate and no accident. Austin accused the girl of lying.

Mr. Donnell asked: "Are you saying that she has lied to this jury and this court about you groping her?" Austin replied: "Yes." Mr. Donnell asked: "Why would she lie?"

Austin said: "I don't know. I can't understand why I am standing here now. I don't know what else to put it down to."

Mr. Donnell pressed: "The reason she has made these allegations is because they are true. The only person lying in this courtroom is you. Do you have a sexual interest in children? Is that why you did this?"

Austin replied: "Negative." Mr. Donnell said: "You do not want to be labelled as a paedophile." Austin: "No. Negative."

Mr. Donnell added: "You are lying to this jury about what happened that evening. The only reason that you are lying to this jury is that you don't want to get into trouble for something for which you would be labelled a paedophile."

Austin: "No, negative." He noted pleading guilty to past non-sexual offenses and claimed shock at the accusation after his 12:30 a.m. arrest.

The girl's mother stated her daughter, once a "bright, curious girl," changed drastically: "She told me that she wanted to die." The victim, an "innocent young girl," now suffers nightmares.

Defense barrister Rachel Scott said Austin denies the offenses and will likely continue to. He is hardworking, faces losing his 23-year job, leads an isolated life, may lose his home, and has been trouble-free for years.

Judge Mark Bury said of the denial: "He has rolled the dice and lost." The harm was "very significant," justifying immediate custody.

Austin, of Ascot Crescent, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, was jailed for two years. He received a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, 10-year restraining order, and must register as a sex offender for 10 years. On bail during trial, he was remanded overnight post-conviction and sentenced the next day.

Description

A man has been jailed for 19 years after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences against three women.

Zephon Allen, aged 28, of Wilmington Close, Watford, was convicted at St Albans Crown Court earlier this year (20 March) of three counts of rape, and one count of digital penetration. The offences took place between 2021 and 2022 in Bishop’s Stortford, Hemel Hempstead and Watford.

He was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing at St Albans Crown Court yesterday, Monday 21 July, where he was jailed for 19 years.

Hertfordshire Constabulary Investigator Gary Jackets said:

“Allen is a dangerous predator who deserves to be behind bars, having purposely targeted his three victims, building relationships with them before committing these offences – most of which took place when his victims were asleep or semi-conscious. Sex without consent is rape.

“All three victims have shown exceptional courage and strength throughout the whole process of this investigation; they all gave evidence at court, which would have been undoubtedly difficult having to discuss and relive these traumatic incidents that have understandably had a long-lasting impact on them but was absolutely vital in bringing Allen to justice.

“We know it can be hard to come forward to report incidents of sexual assault. I would like to take this opportunity to emphasise that we take all reports of sexual offences very seriously, and we will do all we can to ensure that victims are heard and supported, and that offenders are apprehended.”

Description

A five-year jail sentence for a child rapist has allowed his victim to move on, she told the Watford Observer.

Steven Freitas, 34, of Broomfield Rise in Abbots Langley, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday (June 10) after being convicted of one count of rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

For each count, the victim was under the age of 13.

The 34-year-old was convicted on Tuesday, February 18, following a trial at St Albans Crown Court.

He committed the crimes in the Three Rivers area between 2004 and 2007, according to a spokesperson for Herts Police.

Having read out a victim impact statement in court, a woman who had been a victim of Freitas told the Watford Observer “we were all happy with the outcome and glad to be able to move on”.

Her mother said that she was “pleased” with the result, having thanked Herts Police for their hard work securing the conviction in February.

At the time of the conviction, she added that the family hope it “inspires other historical abuse victims to come forward and seek the support they need for closure”.

Detective Constable Nathalie Zappia, who led the investigation into the case, said:

“Firstly, I would like to commend the victim for her unwavering bravery in reporting Steven Freitas’ heinous actions to the police, and for giving evidence during the trial.

“Freitas has consistently denied his involvement and pleaded innocence, but the victim is now safe in the knowledge that he will be spending time behind bars.

“While the impact of his crimes will stay with her for the rest of her life, I hope this provides her with some closure and a chance to move on and rebuild.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to say that becoming a victim of sexual assault is never your fault. If you’ve been a victim, no matter how long ago the offence occurred, please report it to police.”

Description

A man who sexually assaulted three women on trains in London has been jailed.

Ahmad Ahmedzai, 30, targeted lone women on trains three separate times last year.

On September 10, he was on a train from Bushey to London Euston when he sexually assaulted a 28-year-old multiple times – but as the train was busy, she was unable to move away.

Then on November 2, he was on a Jubilee line train from Bermondsey when he again sexually assaulted another 28-year-old during a busy service.

Later that month on November 25, Ahmedzai was on a busy train from Watford Junction to London Euston, when he targeted a 22-year-old woman.

All three victims reported these assaults to the British Transport Police and he was tracked through facial recognition on CCTV.

Ahmedzai, of Great Road in Hemel Hempstead, was sentenced on May 30 at Inner London Crown Court to 27 weeks in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years and is on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and pay costs of £687.

Due to the order, he can only travel on the Transport for London network using an Oyster card or contactless card linked to his name – and when travelling outside of TfL he must notify police in advance.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jack Leach said: “Ahmedzai is a dangerous predator who targeted women on busy services in order to hide his sick antics, but due to the brave actions of those he targeted, by reporting the crimes to us we were able to catch him.

“There is zero-tolerance for sexual offences on the rail network and we will do everything in our power to bring offenders to justice.”

Description

A Watford man has been put behind bars after failing to comply with the requirements of being on the sex offenders' register.

Francis Keeley, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 56 days' prison after he appeared at Hatfield Magistrates' Court on Monday (February 3).

Court papers state that the 51-year-old showed a "flagrant disregard for court orders", meaning that "only a custodial sentence" could be justified.

On January 21, Keeley left his address and failed to register a new address or no fixed abode status within three days, therefore breaching his requirement to register with police under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Keeley's guilty plea was taken into account when sentenced.

The force had appealed for help to trace him last week, describing him as being on recall to prison.

Description

A Bishop’s Stortford man is beginning a prison sentence after being convicted of multiple child sex offences against the same child over a period of four years.

Colin James, 50, of Parsonage Lane, was charged in February with six offences: four counts of sexual activity with a child and two of sexual assault.

The offences, all of which were non-penetrative, happened between November 2018 and January 2023.

Following a five-day trial at St Albans Crown Court that started on August 27, James, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by majority verdicts of 11-1 on five of the six charges he faced. He was cleared of one of the sexual assault allegations.

At a sentencing hearing at the same court on Friday (October 18), James was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and an indefinite restraining order. Furthermore, he will be on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

James, who was living in London Road in Stortford at the time of the offences, is known to hundreds of train passengers at the town’s railway station as a member of Greater Anglia staff in the ticket office.

A spokesperson for the train operator said: “Immediately upon discovering these allegations, Greater Anglia removed Colin James from duty.

“He has not been at work since then, and his contract has been terminated.”

Description

A sex offender has been jailed after bragging to a friend on WhatsApp about an encounter he told police had not happened.

Chiziem Omisa, now aged 25, sexually assaulted a young woman in May 2019 after meeting her online and showering her with flirtatious and flattering messages.

The woman, who repeatedly asked him to stop, initially decided against calling the police but was identified by officers during a forensic examination of Omisa’s mobile phone.

The device had been seized when Omisa was arrested in connection with another alleged offence, and revealed a torrent of messages to her.

When detectives tracked the woman down, she recalled how Omisa – using an assumed name – had met up with and assaulted her at his student accommodation in Nottingham after finding her profile on Instagram.

She explained how Omisa had then pressured her to keep silent – even suggesting that she could be kicked out of her university if she took the matter further.

Damning evidence

Omisa was arrested again and denied any sexual contact with the woman.

However he was undone be a series of crude WhatsApp messages – sent to a friend on the day of the incident from his phone – boasting of an encounter with the victim.

Because Omisa had already admitted to being with the woman at the time, this single social media exchange proved to be a crucial bit of evidence,

Omisa later pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault by penetration.

He also pleaded guilty to stalking two other young women he met while on bail for the Nottingham offence, and to perverting the course of justice.

Appearing at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday 27 June, Omisa, of Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, was jailed for four years and four months.

Restraining order and restrictions

He was also handed a restraining order forbidding any future contact with his victims, and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order that will closely restrict his behaviour once he is released.

Specifically, Omisa will have to make all his electronic devices available for inspection by police, register all social media accounts with officers, and refrain from sending any unsolicited friend requests to women via social media.

Description

A male predator who dressed as a woman to sexually abuse a 20-year-old man in Bishop’s Stortford was jailed for 10 years on Tuesday (May 28).

Wayne Rogers, now 48, was wearing a wig and fake breasts when he picked up the victim, who was “absolutely hammered” having spent the evening in the town centre.

Rogers, a bald hairdresser, led him to his car and drove him a short distance before stopping to carry out the attack, part of which he videoed.

He appeared for sentence at St Albans Crown Court having been convicted by a jury last September of assault by penetration, two offences of sexual assault and two offences of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.

Judge Francis Sheridan told Rogers: “He was chosen by you because he was intoxicated and you could see he was intoxicated. You could see he was vulnerable.

“You sexually abused him for your own sexual excitement and satisfaction.”

In 2022, Rogers, of Plaw Hatch Close, Bishop’s Stortford, had appeared at the same court before a different judge for three separate trials in which he was accused of offences against other men.

While dressed as a woman he was said to have performed oral sex on a drunken worker who had been to his firm’s Christmas party in December 2019.

The man had left a pub and was guided into an alleyway by a person with long fingernails, who was wearing perfume. He was spun around before being attacked. Rogers, who said the activity was consensual, was found not guilty of sexual assault.

At the end of a second trial, Rogers was found not guilty of causing a second man, who thought he was a woman, to engage in sexual activity without consent. That was between May 2018 and April 2020.

Rogers said he met the man every couple of weeks on a Friday or Saturday in a field or a car park. The complainant believed he was having sexual activity with a woman.

A third jury cleared him of coercive control in an intimate or family relationship with another man between January and July 2016.

Three months after his third acquittal, Rogers preyed on the 20-year-old in the early hours of Sunday September 11, 2022.

At the trial which followed, prosecutor Mark Trafford KC said: “He goes out for all intents and purposes dressed as, and looking like, a woman, with a wig and with breast replacements.

“He finds his drunk young man and goes to an out-of-the-way place where he engages in abuse – sexual contact with the young man, away from prying eyes.

“He is a sexual predator that picks on drunken men and deceives them by being dressed as a woman.

“The complainant in this case was very drunk. He [Rogers] picked on him because he was absolutely hammered.”

Mr Trafford said the victim had drunkwine, gin, Prosecco and vodka over five hours. He had been to JD Wetherspoon’s Port Jackson pub before moving on to Bacchus nightclub.

He had escorted a woman friend to a car, where she was picked up and taken home. He had fallen over a couple of times in the town centre when Rogers, dressed as a woman, spotted him and led him to his car.

The prosecutor went on: “He got into the car, was driven a short distance away and was sexually assaulted. Through the fog of alcohol, he recalls being sexually assaulted in the car park and then somewhere else out of the way.

“It was without any consent whatsoever. It was degrading and he was left at 5am in the morning somewhere. He woke up on a patch of grass.”

He told his father, when they drove into the town the next day to look for his phone, he had been assaulted. He was taken to a sexual assault referral centre.

Mr Trafford said the man told the nurse that he remembered the person who assaulted him had a deep and distinctive voice.

In a personal statement, the victim said: “When I am not distracted and am alone with my thoughts, I feel sad or numb.”

Rogers was arrested on November 4, 2022. At his home, police found two blonde wigs and a pair of fake breasts under his bed.

A police dog alerted its handler to the headboard of Rogers’ bed. Inside there was a mobile phone.

When it was examined, officers found an image of the victim sitting motionless, wearing just white socks, while the defendant fondled him.

Internet search history on Rogers’ phone included search terms such as: “Drunk friend f…….”, “F…… drunk sleeping friend,” “Drunk guy getting f……” and “Sleeping drunk gay friend f…..”

Defending Alexander Wright, said: “He had a hairdresser shop and then [worked] as a mobile hairdresser.”

Mr Wright said that in his previous trials, Rogers had described himself as being “like a woman trapped in a man’s body”.

Judge Sheridan told Rogers: “This young man was a complete and utter innocent and a complete stranger.

“He was an easy prey for you. There was a degree of planning. You went out dressed with your fake breasts and wig.”

Rogers must register as a sex offender for life and must abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A man from Stevenage has been sentenced to eight years in prison for multiple non-recent child sexual offences.

Michael Aggabao, aged 51, of Lister Close, was found guilty of six counts of sexual assault, one count of digital penetration and one count of attempted digital penetration following a 10-day trial at St Albans Crown Court in October 2023.

All charges relate to two victims who were under the age of 13 at the time, and occurred between May 2009 and May 2014, and during March 2019.

He was cleared of one count of sexual assault and one count of digital penetration.

For charges against the first victim, Aggabao was jailed for a total of five years with a year on an extended licence, as well as a further nine years to be served concurrently.

For charges against the second victim, Aggabao was sentenced to three years in prison, with a further nine years to be served concurrently.

The sentences against both victims will run consecutively, taking his total prison term to eight years plus one year on an extended licence.

He was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be placed on the sex offenders register.

Detective Constable Sam Dutton, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Non-Recent Sexual Offences Team, said: “The predatory and harmful behaviours of Aggabao have had a long-lasting impact on the lives of both the victims and their families.

“I hope this conviction and lengthy sentence shows that we will continue to take proactive action against anyone who targets young people.”

Becoming a victim of sexual assault is never your fault. If you’ve been a victim, no matter how long ago the offence occurred, please report it. We have specialist officers on hand to provide advice and support throughout an investigation. The constabulary also has several officers who are specially trained to provide support to members of the LGBT+ community.

Description

A police officer who exposed his erect penis to a Tinder date stalked another woman he met online whilst working in a Met Police safeguarding unit. Thomas Hartill, a former detective constable attached to the North West Command Unit, pleaded guilty to one count of stalking at Highbury Magistrates' Court on Thursday, March 14, two months after he was found guilty of sexual misconduct at a Met Police tribunal.

The 37-year-old, of Station Road, Harpenden, previously worked as an actor and director, starring in West End productions, including As You Like It, Jekyll and Hyde, and The Intruder. After joining the Met Police, the thespian worked directly with female victims of stalking and abuse in a safeguarding unit.

On Thursday, prosecutor Martin Edwards told the court how Hartill met a female teacher on a dating app in July last year, while he was still a serving officer. After dating the woman - nine years his junior - for some weeks, she dumped him.

But rather than accept the relationship was over, Hartill repeatedly messaged her and even swapped phones after she blocked his number, the court heard. Hartill then stalked her, appearing at a bus stop on her way home from work on July 30 last year, and then again on September 7, Mr Edwards said.

"I'm incredibly anxious and nervous about him. Especially as there was a six week break away," the victim wrote in her impact statement. "His behaviour is making me feel nervous. The persistent messaging is distracting and concerning... I am on edge and nervous all the time. It makes me feel incredibly unsafe."

Defence counsel James O'Donnell said Hartill had expressed remorse as he called for an all options report from the probation service. Chair Amanda Gibbons gave Hartill bail on the condition he makes no contact with his victim. Hartill stammered 'I have no reason to' as Ms Gibbons warned him any breach of the condition could land him in prison.

Hartill's criminal conviction comes after he resigned from the Met Police in January 2024, ahead of a misconduct hearing the same month. The tribunal heard how his victim appeared upset and told a friend 'I think I was sexually assaulted last night' after her date with Hartill.

Like with Hartill's stalking victim, the pair met on a dating app, in this case Tinder, then agreed to meet up. The victim said they kissed on a bench, but she refused to engage in sexual activity when Hartill placed her hand on his penis. Despite her objections, he did it again. Later when they went for a drive in her car, she said Hartill exposed his erect penis and said 'Go on' without her consent.

She also told the panel 'Hartill kept bringing the conversation around to the sexual side of a relationship while she wanted a long-term relationship'. In his defence, Hartill accused the victim of sending bikini photos and a nude. However, the panel said Hartill 'probably' accessed the bikini photos from Facebook, and he could not prove the identity of the naked woman as her face was cropped.

The panel was satisfied with the victim's evidence that Hartill placed her hand on his penis twice, without consent, and exposed himself in the car. They also heard evidence of the impact on the victim, who said she would now 'freeze' if she heard a police siren and had started therapy to help her cope with Hartill's behaviour.

In its ruling, the panel concluded Hartill's behaviour was repeated, deliberate, and he was seeking sexual gratification. Had Hartill not already resigned, the panel found he was guilty of gross misconduct and would have been sacked anyway.

On Friday, March 15, a Met Police spokesperson confirmed 'former DC Hartill did work in a safeguarding unit, therefore would have come into contact with victims of stalking offences'.

Chief Superintendent Sara Leach, leading the Met’s North West Policing Command, said: "There is no excuse for the actions of this officer. In his former role as a police officer he would have been aware of the devastating consequences of stalking, therefore this makes his offending all the more disappointing.

"PC Hartill has been dismissed from the Met and he has been added to a barred list, held by the College of Policing, which means he cannot be employed by a police force again." After his conviction on Thursday, Hartill will be sentenced at the same court in April.

Description

A convicted sex offender has been jailed after Hertfordshire police discovered an Amazon Fire tablet at his home.

Sean Keane has sentenced to two years in prison today (Thursday, December 14) for breaching a court order for the second time.

Following a previous conviction, the 61-year-old was supposed to inform the police if he had a new phone or internet device, and of any online aliases that he has used online.

When officers visited his home in London Colney on May 4, he admitted he had bought a new phone a few days earlier from a neighbour. 

He claimed that he had attempted to call the officer assigned to him, but no longer had his number.

Having denied being in possession of any other devices that could connect to the internet, an Amazon Fire tablet was found after police searched his home.

In addition, the officers discovered that he had been using his mother’s maiden name on Facebook Messenger, without informing them of the alias.

The man from Birchway, London Colney appeared for sentencing after pleading guilty to three offences of breaching a sexual harm prevention order, and for failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

In October 2019, he had been jailed for 33 months for breaking a court order within a week of being sentenced for attempting to communicate with a child, and attempting to meet a child after grooming.

When the police raided his then-home in Hemel Hempstead they found two phones that he had not registered with the police.

Defending, Alexandra Monaghan said Keane was in ill health and had let himself down.

She said that he had suffered from loneliness and had a traumatic childhood, during which he had been abused.

Upon sentencing Keane, Judge Michael Roques said: “You were previously sentenced to prison for breaching a court order and you wilfully chose to breach it again.

“I am concerned you will commit further offences.”

Description

A "vile" rapist has been jailed for more than six years after an "horrific" attack in Hatfield.

Stefan Keleman, of Campion Road in Hatfield, was sentenced to six years and nine months for raping and assaulting a women, after appearing at St Albans Crown Court on Monday (November 13).

In addition to the custodial sentence, the 46-year-old was handed a restraining order, placed on the sex offenders register for life, and will be deported to Romania when he completes his sentence.

At around 11.30pm on Sunday, June 18, Keleman was involved in a brief conversation with a woman in Asda car park. 

He then followed the woman into the town centre and he punched her in the back of the head before pinning her to the ground.

He then raped the victim while continuing his attack by hitting, punching and biting her.

Keleman only stopped when a police officer arrived.

"Keleman is a vile individual who thought nothing of raping a stranger he had just briefly met. During the attack he continued assaulting the victim by hitting, punching and biting her," said Detective Constable Jarl Thomason, from the constabulary’s Sexual Offences Investigation Team.

"This was a horrific ordeal for the victim and I want to pay tribute to her resilience throughout the court case. I hope the result provides some sense of justice.

"I would also like to thank a local resident who saw what was happening and immediately called the police.

"Thankfully incidents like this are rare in Hertfordshire but that does not detract from the trauma that the victim will now have to live with for the rest of her life.

"We are determined to tackle all forms of violence against women and girls and I hope the news of this prison sentence provides reassurance to the public that we are committed to that pledge."

Description

A member of staff at a Bishop’s Stortford restaurant who raped a customer on her work Christmas party has been jailed for eight years and four months.

Erdal Eryimaz, 40, followed the victim into a toilet cubicle at Skew, the Turkish eatery and cocktail bar in Adderley Road, where he grabbed and assaulted her.

The woman, who is in her 30s, told a 999 call handler: “I just got thrown into the toilet by guy who works in Skew and he had sex with me and I didn’t want him to.”

She told St Albans Crown Court that she was pinned against the wall in an attack that left her feeling “dirty and filthy”.

In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecution barrister Matthew Walsh, the woman said: “I was raped by a person in a position of trust in the restaurant. A staff member assaulted me while I was intoxicated and vulnerable. I will never be the person I used to be.”

She said that the day of the Christmas party, on the evening of Saturday December 10 last year, had “rapidly turned into the worst day of my life”.

It had left her with an “overwhelming feeling of shock, disbelief and numbness”.

Referring to the examination by police medical staff, she said: “I felt disgusted by every inch of my body.”

Eryimaz, of Archers Place, South Street, in Bishop’s Stortford had denied rape but was convicted by the jury. He claimed she had consented.

Police arrested him on Station Road that evening carrying a large suitcase and two bags.

He told the officers: “I have pictures [of us] together. We like each other. We did it.”

At Stevenage police station he told officers: “She was drunk. I was drunk. She had sex with me.”

In a prepared statement he said: “We had consensual sex. We both liked one another. She flirted with me in the restaurant. When I told her she was hot she became excited. She put her arm around me.”

Defence barrister Jennifer Dannhauser said that Eryimaz, who was aided in court by a Turkish interpreter, was of previous good character.

He had worked in the catering industry in Sweden and Norway for 20 years before coming to England in 2022.

At the time of the rape he was seeking sponsorship to remain in the UK. She said that he may now face deportation.

Recorder Sean O’Sullivan KC told Eryimaz: “You either behaved like a predator or perhaps you are an egoist that the limited interaction you had with her persuaded you she wanted to have sex with you.”

He must register as a sex offender for life and abide by the terms of a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years.

Description

A 48-year-old man from Bushey is facing more than three years in jail after he was snared in a paedophile sting.

Peter McCann, of Pinfold Road, Bushey, was arrested in Watford on November 5 after attempting to incite a child into sexual activity.

He was jailed for three years and nine months on Monday (June 19) when he appeared at St Albans Crown Court.

Volunteer group Innocent Voices had carried out a sting after another team sent them an evidence file with messages he had exchanged with an adult “decoy”.

He was then detained by the group and arrested by Hertfordshire police, in Park Avenue, Bushey.

McCann pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child into sexual activity on December 19, 2022.

He was also sentenced over making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of a child for an overall sentence of 45 months imprisonment.

A sexual harm prevention order was made and he was added to the sex offenders register, both indefinitely.

The indecent images fell under categories B and C, meaning images involving non-penetrative sexual activity and not involving sexual activity respectively.

Izzy Hunter, from Innocent Voices, said her team were “really happy” to see a prison sentence in the case.

The Hertfordshire resident said: “I’m glad it was dealt with relatively quickly but also that it was a prison sentence.

“Only with that is there really a deterrent. The sentences are getting more serious, more prison sentences and less suspended sentences, which are not really a deterrence as they carry on their lives as normal.

“I’m also really happy that he is indefinitely on the register as that will always be around with him.”

She added that it is often a “postcode lottery” whether people caught in similar stings are bailed or remanded, as well as whether the cases are dealt with quickly or drag on for years without sentences or restrictions.

Hertfordshire police is usually one of the more proactive forces, she added.

Mrs Hunter is involved in dealing with an offender once a week, on average, and said the amount of people attempting these crimes online is “non-stop”.