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Description

A serial sex offender who was obsessed with chatting online to teenage girls has finally been jailed after brazenly ignoring suspended prison sentences.

Three-times-married Alun Friend had an "addiction to these chat lines" and had an "inherent weakness" in him for the seedy internet encounters. He bought a laptop to use for starting online chats with young girls just a few days after being released from a spell in custody, Hull Crown Court heard.

Friend, 59, of Alfred Street, Hull, admitted two offences of attempting to breach a sexual harm prevention order between May 10 and 12.

Emma Hughes, prosecuting, said that Friend was a registered sex offender and he had been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence at Grimsby Crown Court in 2016 for attempting to meet a girl under 16 following sexual grooming. He had been given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order that day and had to register indefinitely as a sex offender.

Friend had also been given a six-month suspended prison sentence in July 2020 for breaching the orders. He was also given a two-year suspended prison sentence and a seven-year sexual harm prevention order at Teesside Crown Court in April last year for attempting to meet a child under 16.

Friend was released at the time from a spell in custody but had no family support and bought a laptop within days.

The latest offences came to light when Friend started talking online to two fake teenage girls aged 13, supposedly from Derby and Lincoln, who were really undercover police officers. The conversations became sexual and Friend told the decoy girls that he wanted to meet them.

"He accepted that some of the conversations were sexual and he did know the potential consequences of speaking to these girls," said Miss Hughes. "He said that his need for chats outweighed the risks."

Steven Garth, mitigating, said that Friend had previously been given suspended prison sentences and had never been jailed before but he had breached the latest suspended sentence that had been made only a few weeks before the new offences.

"It's difficult to pinpoint the exact motivation for these offences," said Mr Garth. "It appears there is clearly some sort of inherent weakness in him. His need to chat outweighed the risks he was taking in making these communications."

Reasons included loneliness, sexual frustration, lack of a support network around him and his "desire above everything to chat on these chat lines", the court heard.

Unemployed Friend had been in custody for between seven and eight months. He had been living with his third wife previously but they had separated, with divorce proceedings starting.

He had a 19-year-old daughter from a previous relationship but he did not see her at all, the court heard.

Judge Peter Kelson QC said that Friend had previously been given every chance possible with a suspended prison sentence in 2016 but he now had to be jailed because of the breaches of the orders. The two-year suspended sentence was activated, with a consecutive one year for the new offences, making a total prison sentence of three years.

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A depraved and "deviant" sex offender "manipulated" a young girl into having highly intrusive pictures taken of her after he pretended that they were going to be sent to a doctor.

Perverted and scheming Glenn Overton-Wilkinson used a tiny probing camera with a hot light on the end of it that burned the vulnerable young victim's intimate areas.

He told the girl that the images sent to the doctor would be used to help other young girls who had intimate body problems, Hull Crown Court heard.

Overton-Wilkinson, 59, of Waterside Road, Beverley, admitted assault by penetration, causing a girl to allow him to take indecent photographs of her and possessing indecent images of children between May 2016 and November 2019.

Simon Reevell, prosecuting, said that Overton-Wilkinson used a tiny camera to take intimate images of the young girl.

He pretended that taking the pictures was to help other girls with problems in that area of their body and that the images would be sent to a doctor.

The tiny camera had a light on the end that was hot and this burned an area of her private parts.

The matters were discovered when police received information that Overton-Wilkinson had been accessing child pornography.

They found that he had about 3,000 indecent images, including videos, of other children.

Overton-Wilkinson had developed an "obsession" with the girl and made threats to her about what would happen if the offences were reported.

He had a previous conviction from nearly 20 years ago for possessing indecent images of children.

"He acknowledged that he was sexually interested in children," said Mr Reevell.

Judge David Tremberg told Overton-Wilkinson that the community order that he received then was not enough to "curb your sexual interest in children".

He had an "entrenched" and long-standing "deviant sexual interest" in children.

"You could not have failed to realise that, if you committed like offences again, let alone progressed to contact offences, you would get locked up for those for a long time," said Judge Tremberg.

"Yet you proved yourself either unable or unwilling to stop yourself from doing just that."

Overton-Wilkinson "manipulated" the girl, who was "vulnerable by reason of her age, naivety, gullibility and her exposure to you", and the offences were persistent over a prolonged period.

"There really was no respite for this child," said Judge Tremberg.

"You didn't end this because you wanted to. This all ended because you were caught.

"There is a significant possibility that, had matters been permitted to progress without the engagement and involvement of the police, things could have got worse and worse.

"She has suffered significant harm." The girl would grow up and realise the "depravity" to which Overton-Wilkinson subjected her and she felt "shame and humiliation".

It could take "years or decades" for the effects of the "emotional trauma" to play out.

"You well knew what you were doing was seriously wrong," said Judge Tremberg.

"You used grooming and manipulative techniques. You persuaded the child not to tell.

"There was clearly an element of significant planning about this."

David Godfrey, mitigating, said: "He did make admissions in his interview. He has a degree of understanding as to why he commits these types of offences.

"He made some startling admissions to the police. It was deplorable, it was awful. He rightly accepts that.

"He does feel shame and regret at what he has done and he bitterly regrets his behaviour and his disgraceful loss of control. He is sorry."

Overton-Wilkinson was jailed for nine years and will be on extended licence of one year after his release from prison.

He was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A local historian has been jailed for nine years after he undressed and raped a drunken and sleepy teenage girl after a party.

Shane Jessop took advantage of the teenager after she 'passed out' on a sofa and he led her upstairs to a bedroom, where he took all her clothes off and kissed her before raping her.

The girl had been left very upset and said that the 'horrendous' incident would 'haunt' her forever, Hull Crown Court heard.

Jessop, 49, from Hull, admitted attacking the girl in September 2021.

Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, prosecuting, said the teenage girl was at a party in Hull and Jessop had bought alcoholic drinks for the gathering.

The court heard the victim had been placed on a sofa after becoming sick and had passed out. She woke after 11pm to find Jessop on top of her.

Jessop had carried her victim upstairs and undressed her before the rape.

Jessop stopped after three to five minutes but only when he heard another girl about, the court heard, at which point the victim got dressed.

The court heard how police were alerted and he later told them: 'My life is over, isn't it?'

The girl later said that the incident was 'horrendous' and she had since suffered anxiety, including finding it difficult to breathe as though she was 'under water trying to get back'.

She suffered from flashbacks and often lost focus.

'I haven't been out of the house really since the incident,' she said

in a statement to the court. 'I spend a lot of my time in bed.

'I know this has affected my mum and dad a lot. I suffer a lot with anxiety.

'I just sit and cry until I can't cry any more. I get upset often for no reason.

'My mum worries about me constantly. This will haunt me forever.'

Jessop denied charges of sexual assault against the same victim and another girl on the same day.

He also denied perverting the course of justice between October 1 and 10 by asking another girl to contact the two teenagers to suggest that they withdraw their allegations in exchange for money. Police confirmed Jessop had tried to pay off the victim via a third party before his first appearance in court, but those three charges were not pursued by the prosecution.

Jessop had previously denied all the offences and had been due to face trial in April but he later changed his pleas to guilty for rape and sexual assault.

Nigel Clive, mitigating, said that Jessop wanted to apologise for his actions.

The offences happened at an unhappy time in his life because of personal matters and he turned to drinking. He had been drinking at the time of the rape.

'His baser desires turned to criminality,' said Mr Clive. 'He bitterly apologises. If he could turn back time, he would.'

Jessop realised that the victim and her family would suffer terribly.

'His actions have let everybody down terribly,' said Mr Clive.

'He bought alcohol with no intention of committing offending.

'He found his victim drunk and what happened there was terrible but he did not provide alcohol in order to abuse people.'

Jessop had no previous convictions.

He had gained a degree in local history and had worked in museums and libraries.

'He led ordinarily a very quiet life,' said Mr Clive.

Judge Mark Bury told Jessop: 'The effect of this offending has been severe as far as she is concerned.

'She feels betrayed by your actions. Her levels of anxiety have been raised significantly.

'She now suffers flashbacks, breakdowns and crying fits. The whole family have had to suffer along with her.

'You took advantage of a drunk young lady who was simply incapable of consenting and incapable of protecting herself and you were aware of that position.

'She was, in those circumstances, particularly vulnerable.'

Jessop was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will have to register as a sex offender for life.

Jessop describes himself on his LinkedIn account as a customer advisor based in Hull since November 2016.

Before that, he was a museum heritage assistant between September 2011 and November 2016.

He says: 'A proud family person, I consider myself as an articulate, educated and confident individual whose greatest strengths include historical research, writing, communication, inclusive participation, problem solving and social engagement.

'I pride myself on the ability to not only develop new skills but to harness and adapt my current abilities towards any vocational setting.'

Jessop studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree in local and regional history at the University of Hull between 2008 and 2014.

He also studied at Hull College, has been a senior steward with Unison and was previously a volunteer tour guide on the Arctic Corsair, Hull's last remaining sidewinder trawler.

Description

Jamie Sayer, 33, of Hull, has been jailed for 16 years after a string of sexual offences left victim's life 'misery' 
 
A serial sexual predator from Hull has been jailed for 16 years.

Jamie Sayer, 33, of Albert Avenue, denied nine alleged offences including four charges of rape and three of engaging in sexual activity with a child. However, a jury found Sayer guilty of all offences.

Appearing in Grimbsy Crown Court on Friday January 14, he was found guilty of all of the offences.

The court heard how Sayer had preyed on his young victim for a period of five years and had used a “powerful threat” to keep his victim quiet for years.

In addition to being jailed for 16 years, Sayer was given a sexual harm prevention order for life. He must register as a sex offender for life and was given an indefinite restraining order.

 

DC Amy Nicholas, from the Humberside Police Protecting Vulnerable People unit, led the investigation.

She said: “I would like to applaud Jamie Sayer’s victim, who has been incredibly brave throughout this whole ordeal.

"I know how difficult it has been to come forward and to speak about what had happened, so the fact they did this is a testament to them and their strength.

“I understand that for victims of sexual abuse, no matter the outcome, something like this will always live with them.

"However, I do hope now the investigation has drawn to a close and Jamie Sayer is behind bars, they feel some sort of closure."

 
 
Jamie Sayer used a 'powerful threat' to keep the young boy quiet for many years (Image: Submitted)
Speaking about Sayer's crimes, she added: “This was a horrendous catalogue of abuse over a five-year period, when the victim should have been enjoying their childhood.

"However, Sayer subjected them to a campaign of abuse and used threats against the victim to ensure his terrible crimes wouldn’t come to light.

“Manipulation and threats are not uncommon with offences of this nature, so I would strongly appeal for any child who believes they are being manipulated into doing something they don’t want to, to speak with an adult or friend and report it to us.

 

“It is never the victim’s fault, and we will always take reports of this nature incredibly seriously to identify those that pose a danger to children. You will be listened to and we will continue to take action against offenders.

“We hugely appreciate the strength and courage of the victim in telling us about these offences and helping us throughout the course of the judicial process.”

Description

Fletcher Massey targeted five teenage girls and a woman during a shocking and nasty series of incidents. A depraved sexual predator who regularly behaved like a violent bully targeted five teenage girls and a woman during a shocking and nasty series of incidents, including making vile threats to kill. Fletcher Massey raped one girl and degraded her by forcing her to cook and clean for him. He sent a menacing knife emoji to another girl and threatened to stab her in the face, Hull Crown Court heard. Massey, 21, formerly of Newland Grove, Hull, admitted nine offences, including rape, four of sexual activity with a child, two of assault causing actual bodily harm and another of intimidating a witness between June and September 2020. He also admitted causing a girl to engage in sexual activity by forcing her to watch a video of him committing a sex act. Ian Howard, prosecuting, said that Massey had consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl he met over Facebook during lockdown when she sneaked out of her home to see him. He also had sex with another 14-year-old girl he met through Facebook after she went to his home. In other incidents, he forced a 15-year-old girl to cook and clean for him and had sex with her at least six times a day. He threatened her with violence and had sex with her on one occasion while holding a pillow over her face. Massey also threatened to throw acid in her face. He assaulted a pregnant 16-year-old girl by grabbing her by the throat and squeezing her neck until she was dizzy. In another assault, Massey lost his temper with a 20-year-old woman he was in a relationship with and headbutted her in the face. He intimidated another girl who was a witness by threatening to kill her during a voicemail. He sent four emoji messages, including a knife image, and made 12 telephone calls in one day. Massey also threatened in another call to knock her out and threatened in another message to stab her in the face. Massey, who now prefers to be called Kai Massey, had convictions for attempted robbery, assault and possessing a knife. Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said that Massey had suffered a wretched childhood and had been put in care. "He has had trouble relating to how he deals with others," said Mr Robinson. Massey's behaviour was impulsive, emotionally immature and "grossly lacking in social and life skills" but there was some hope for him for the future, the court was told. "He does feel more positive for the future," said Mr Robinson. Recorder Anthony Hawks told Massey: "You have committed extremely serious offences. At least, late in the day, you have had the decency and maturity to plead guilty." Massey was jailed for 12 years and three months. He was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must register as a sex offender for life. After the hearing, Detective Sergeant Stu Fox said: It became clear to us from listening to the accounts of these girls that Fletcher Massey is an extremely callous, dangerous and perverted man who enjoys inflicting harm on young women for his own pleasure. I cannot imagine the trauma that these girls have had to experience at the hands of this cowardly man, but they should be so proud of their strength in coming forward about the abuse they had suffered and remaining dignified throughout this entire investigation. They have remained consistently engaged with us, entrusted us with distressing information and been strong throughout, even when they were going through personal traumas unconnected to the case. Massey had tried to intimidate these girls into withdrawing their accounts, but the girls bravely stood against him, reported his actions and we were able to keep him remanded into custody, where he couldnt cause them, or anyone else, further harm. I also want to thank the witnesses who have come forward and continued to offer support to the investigation, ultimately helping us to get justice for the victims. There is nowhere other than behind bars that this man deserves to be. Im pleased he is now off the streets and hope this brings his victims some closure, although I understand this will not undo the damage and pain he has inflicted upon them." An NSPCC spokesperson also commented on Massey's sentencing. They said: Masseys last-minute admission of this horrific campaign of abuse against four young girls may have spared them the distress of reliving their experiences in court but can never undo the devastation his repulsive actions caused.

Description

A perverted ex-soldier was found with sickening sexual images of vulnerable girls aged as young as four and six.

Matthew Harrison had distributed sexual images to others over the internet and the offending took place over a five-year period.

He had found life difficult after returning to civilian life when he left the Army and turned to drink and drugs, Hull Crown Court heard.

Harrison, 32, of Station Road, Howden, admitted three offences of making indecent images of children, three of distributing indecent images and one of possessing an image of extreme pornography.

The court heard that police searched Harrison's house on January 9 and his phone was seized.

It was examined and 64 accessible files were found, including eight images and three videos in the most serious Category A.

There were ten images and nine videos in Category B and 28 images and two videos in Category C.

The dates of the images spanned from 2016 to this year.

Recorder Richard Thyne told Harrison: "The most serious Category A images included girls aged four to six years old being forced to have sex with an adult male.

"You didn't only search for and access those images, you shared those images with others online.

"Evidence was found of the distribution of three Category A images, including two videos."

Harrison initially denied the matters but later made admissions.

"Some of the children were very young and aged as young as four to six," said Recorder Thyne.

"There was offending over a long period of time. There were a large number of different children involved.

"It's simply too serious to suspend the sentence. The offence of distribution is too serious and only an immediate sentence of imprisonment can be justified."

Harrison had convictions for criminal damage in 2009 and driving with drugs in his system this year.

Charlotte Baines, mitigating, said the images were on only one device and Harrison had shown genuine shame and remorse and an insight into the fact that they were not victimless crimes.

The children shown in the images were young and vulnerable.

Harrison's drink and drug problem began five or six years ago when he left the Army.

"Having served Queen and country, it left him with a lot of uncertainty in his life," said Miss Baines.

"He lost the structure in his life. He found it very difficult to acclimatise to civilian life."

He had suffered problems in his marriage and had decided to stay away from his child so that he did not bring any issues into its life.

Harrison was jailed for two years and was given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order. He must register as a sex offender for ten years.

Description

An obsessed sexual predator was trapped after making highly explicit online suggestions to a fake 14-year-old girl and offering to be her "sugar daddy".

Father-of-five Kevin Denholm, 57, told the decoy girl that he liked younger girls but he later branded his behaviour "vile and disgusting".

He contacted the girl in the early hours and "very quickly" made "graphic" and extremely sexualised comments to her, Hull Crown Court heard.

Denholm, of Boulton Grove, Hull, admitted attempting to incite a girl to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication and a sexual act between July 30 and August 3 last year.

Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, prosecuting, said that the founder of a group aimed at stopping online contact with children posed as a 14-year-old girl.

Denholm contacted the fake girl in the early hours and said "Hi."

He told her that he worked on the railway and said: "I'm a lot older than you but I like younger girls. If you want a sugar daddy, I'm yours."

The non-existent girl replied: "I'm 14, though" but he said: "Do you want to play? Do you want to chat with me?"

They exchanged mobile phone numbers and, in WhatsApp messages, Denholm made highly sexualised suggestions.

"The defendant went into graphic detail," said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse.

"He was sexually graphic, describing numerous sexual activities. The sexual chat continued."

Denholm sent three intimate pictures of himself and a video of himself committing a sex act and others showing pictures and videos of women.

The two discussed the possibility of meeting up but nothing specific was arranged.

The online group founder confronted Denholm and the police were alerted.

Mark Savage, mitigating, said the offences happened over a relatively short period of time.

"This became sexualised very, very quickly," said Mr Savage.

"He offers no excuses for his behaviour. It was a huge error of judgement that cost him his job.

"Thankfully, he was stopped in his tracks. It is not something that he would ever commit again."

Denholm had said: "I can't imagine how any child would cope with what I have done.

"It's vile and disgusting what I have done. Whether it's a decoy or not, it's disgusting. I can never make amends."

Judge John Thackray QC told Denholm: "You thought you were engaging in sexual communication with a 14-year-old girl. Thankfully, it was a decoy.

"The actual harm was mercifully none. There was a very significant disparity in age."

Denholm had tried to conceal evidence by deleting messages.

"I accept there is some genuine remorse," said Judge Thackray.

"Only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence."

Denholm was jailed for two years and was given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order. He must register as a sex offender for ten years.

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A 61-year-old sex pest handyman who exposed himself to elderly victims is a struck-off doctor, Hull Live can reveal.

Michael Rusling of Lund Avenue, Cottingham ran a local business carrying out home repairs and maintenance in the area.

But he "abused" his position of trust by carrying out sex crimes.

As well as being locked up for six months, Rusling was placed on the sex offenders register for seven years.

Rusling pleaded guilty to three exposure offences at Hull Crown Court and was also given a life-long restraining order to keep away and make no contact with the elderly victims.

Investigating officer DS Wood, said: Rusling abused his position as a handyman and I thank his elderly victims for their bravery in coming forward, and for their patience while this case took its course through the criminal justice system.

I know the three victims have been given some form of comfort from this, but their lives are still impacted by this mans behaviour.

"I would like to provide reassurance to anyone who may have suffered any form of sexual offence, if you come to us we will listen to and support you, and act against those responsible."

Rusling was a GP in Hull who was struck off for having sex with a patient and a co-worker in his surgery at Sydenham House Group Practice.

In 2009 The Mirror reported that a hearing of the General Medical Council (GMC) heard how Rusling had sex with three women.

Description

A former detective constable who admitted having sexual activity with a woman - in the presence of her child - has been jailed.

Police in Bristol investigating a separate child exploitation case uncovered a man in Hull having conversations with an offender online.

Bristol Crown Court heard police were able to trace Paul Clayton, a former Humberside police officer, and establish a series of offences relating to him.

Clayton, 45, of Anlaby in East Riding, pleaded guilty to encouraging or assisting an offence to be committed, downloading and possessing child abuse images, sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual activity with a child and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

A woman aged 43, who Bristol Live is not naming, pleaded guilty to two charges of distributing two photos of her child to Clayton, facilitating him having sexual activity with her child and engaging in sexual activity with him in the presence of her child.

Judge Martin Picton jailed Clayton for five years and the woman for 29 months.

The judge said: "These are really serious offences.

"The harm on the victims will be life-long."

Both defendants were handed Sexual Harm Prevention Orders designed to stop them reoffending.

They were both put on the Sex Offenders Register and were barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

Bristol Crown Court heard Clayton tried to persuade a woman to send her an indecent photo of her ten-year-old daughter.

He also admitted downloading indecent images of children.

The court was told he had improper online conversations with a girl aged 14 online, had sexual activity with a younger girl in the form of a massage and engaged in sexual activity with a woman in the presence of her child.

The judge heard Clayton's co-defendant sent inappropriate photos of her child to Clayton and engaged in sexual activity with him in the presence of her child.

Description

A disgraced East Yorkshire businessman with 'underlying perverted thoughts' who groped a young girl after giving her whisky her has been jailed.

Adam Plant, director of East Riding Horse Boxes Ltd and producer of upmarket motor homes, sent highly sexualised messages to the girl and groped her after giving her a glass of whisky.

He then later tried to cover his tracks, deleted screenshots of incriminating messages on her phone and tried to convince the girl's mother to drop the complaint.

Plant, 42, of Skirlaugh Road, Old Ellerby, denied the three charges of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16, engaging in sexual communication with a child and perverting the course of justice.

He was convicted by a jury of eight men and four women at Hull Crown Court after a trial in August this year.

During Plant's sentencing at Hull Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Richard Thompson read sections from the victim impact statement in which the girl said: “I probably won’t see boys and men in the same way I used to.

“When I am old enough and when I’m doing older stuff I think it just won’t be the same because of what he did.

“I still get scared whenever I go somewhere that I think I might see him.”

The young victim and her family were said to have faced significant difficulties and strains as a result of Plant’s predatory acts and she said: “Sometimes I just think it is all my fault.”

The court also heard a statement from the victim’s mother who, wracked by feelings of guilt, had attempted to commit suicide shortly after being informed of her daughter’s ordeal.

The statement said: “I took an overdose of pills, I was found on the Humber Bridge, I don’t know what I might have done.

“I couldn’t cope, I was heartbroken, I didn’t know how I was ever going to overcome this.

“I now live with the guilt every day that I nearly took my own life too. I had six months off work, I couldn’t even look after myself never mind other people.

“The hurt and anger is something that we are all still coming to terms with.”

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A "cruel" and "manipulative" former policeman who "systematically" raped two girls and a woman during a "campaign of rape" has been jailed for 33 years.

A "complicit" woman who joined in with him during his "domineering" sexual abuse has been jailed for eight years.

The repeated sexual exploitation of the traumatised victims left them with severe psychological problems and one girl wrote in her diary that she suffered "disgusting, painful, sickening memories".

Former Royal Hong Kong Police officer Ken Chik, 63, of Endymion Street, Hull, was convicted of 28 offences after a trial spanning four weeks at Hull Crown Court.

The offences included rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and cruelty.

Tracy Choi, 37, from the Hull area, was convicted of six offences, including rape and attempted rape.

Soheil Khan, prosecuting, said that it was a "campaign of rape" by Chik and the offences were "frequently planned" by him and involved the "deliberate isolation of the victims".

Chik had caused "emotional degradation and humiliation" and sometimes used physical violence.

"The complainants were told by him not to report the offences," said Mr Khan.

The two girls were caused "severe psychological harm".

Judge Mark Bury said that Chik "systematically" raped one of the girls and caused "humiliation" to her.

"It involved significant manipulation, psychological coercion and the instilment of fear in her," said Judge Bury.

"You repeatedly engineered situations to abuse her."

Choi was involved in some of the sexual offences.

Judge Bury told Chik: "It's clear to me that you are a cruel, domineering, angry, totally selfish man."

Chik was "prone to violent mood swings" and "exploited" the vulnerability of the adult victim "cynically" for sex.

He said of her: "She was psychologically coerced to a high degree. You cynically manipulated a young woman.

"Your offending is characterised by extreme levels of manipulation and humiliation.

"You went to considerable lengths to ensure you were not caught."

Chik told the victims that nobody would believe them if they told anyone what had happened.

One of the girls had written in her diary: "Why didn't I kill myself to end this suffering?"

She wanted to know when her ordeal would end and Judge Bury said: "Today. This is the first day of the rest of their lives."

The victims had given "utterly compelling" evidence to the trial.

Judge Bury told Choi: "You were manipulated. I am satisfied that you became involved in these offences through psychological coercion and bullying."

But the "significant sympathy" for her "evaporates" because she was "complicit" in rape and "encouraged" Chik and participated in what happened.

One of the girls said in a statement: "Physically and psychologically, I felt disgusting, dirty and ashamed.

"He was manipulative and controlling. Ken was addicted to power over vulnerable women and children."

She had suffered "traumatising flashbacks weekly" and sometimes "woke up in a sweat".

The girl added: "I am scarred externally and internally from his actions."

The other girl said: "This kind of trauma isn't easy to forget. It's ingrained into my mind. There are many ways that Ken has affected me."

The adult victim said that she had lived with fear and struggled with depression.

She had suffered "nightmares about falling from a very dark and high-up place" and did not feel safe.

She felt "worthless", ashamed of herself, "dirty and unclean" through being raped.

Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said it was a "campaign of rape" by Chik and there was "little that can be said" for him. He denied all the offences.

Chik suffered from health problems, including heart trouble.

Julia Baggs, representing Choi, said that the defendant came to Britain from Hong Kong for education when she was 18 but was "here illegally" and might face deportation.

She had suffered "nightmares about falling from a very dark and high-up place" and did not feel safe.

She felt "worthless", ashamed of herself, "dirty and unclean" through being raped.

Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said it was a "campaign of rape" by Chik and there was "little that can be said" for him. He denied all the offences.

Chik suffered from health problems, including heart trouble.

Julia Baggs, representing Choi, said that the defendant came to Britain from Hong Kong for education when she was 18 but was "here illegally" and might face deportation.

Description

A 74-year-old man has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after being found guilty of 19 non-recent sexual offences against three children.

John Hewitt, of Preston, Hull was found guilty at Grimsby Crown Court today (22 June 2021) of eight counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child.

The charges were brought as part of an investigation into offences which took place during the 1980s in the Hull and Hessle area against three children aged between 13 and 16 years old at the time of the offences.

Detective Superintendent Phil Gadd investigating said: Hewitts actions against three vulnerable children were sickening and incomprehensible. Actions which have had a lasting impact on the victims throughout their lives.

I want to thank the victims and witnesses and commend them for their bravery and perseverance throughout the investigative process. They have displayed dignity and courage throughout this incredibly difficult time as their patience and understanding has been invaluable whilst we built a strong case against Hewitt.

They have had had to carry the trauma of his criminal actions since their childhood and I sincerely hope that they are now able to feel some sense of justice has been achieved and they can look to hopefully move forward knowing he is in prison where he belongs.

I also wish to thank the dedicated investigation team, not least Detective Sergeant Samantha Allen and Detective Constable Stephen Jewell who have shown persistence and commitment throughout the lengthy and difficult investigation.

On passing sentence Judge Bury commented that Mr Hewitt is now 74 years old and in the twilight of his years and has shown no sympathy throughout the trial, it has taken forty years for his chickens to come home to roost. If he were to die in prison serving this sentence then so be it.

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A serial sex offender jailed for raping and murdering a student could have his sentence increased after his case was referred to the Attorney General.

Pawel Relowicz is serving 27 years in prison after attacking Libby Squire and dumping her body in a Hull river.

The father-of-two had committed a string of sex offences against women before killing the 21-year-old.

His case will be examined under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, the Attorney General's office said.

Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to decide whether to refer cases to the Court of Appeal, where the sentence may be increased.

Relowicz, 26, who worked as a butcher, was jailed on 12 February following a 14-day trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

Jurors heard he had "cruised the streets" in the student area of Hull before spotting "vulnerable" Ms Squire, 21, in a drunken state on Beverley Road in the early hours of 1 February 2019.

He drove her to nearby Oak Road playing fields where he raped her and then dumped her body in the River Hull.

The body of Ms Squire, of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, was recovered from the Humber Estuary nearly seven weeks later.

Pathologists were unable to establish how she died, or whether she was still alive when she went into the water. 

Relowicz's attack on the University of Hull student came after earlier offences which included performing sex acts in public and stealing underwear from women's homes.

He was convicted for these offences, including voyeurism, in August 2019.

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A former soldier who encouraged underage girls to send him naked pictures has been spared jail.

Josh Boynton-Eckles embarked on behaviour described as the stuff of parents nightmares when he was serving in the military in 2015 and 2016.

Hull Crown Court heard how Boynton-Eckles, of north Hull, sent naked pictures of himself to girls under the age of 16 and images of bondage equipment and cartoons of adults spanking saying this is going to be me and you.

The 24-year-old also admitted to using the identity of another woman on anonymous chat site so he could encourage gay or bisexual women to send him naked pictures.

His offending first came to light when the mothers of two of his victims contacted police after they found indecent images on their daughters phones.

Their two daughters were friends, said prosecuting barrister Claire Holmes. One mother became aware that her daughter had been taking pictures of herself whilst naked in the shower and posted screenshots of the defendants chats to police.

Both mothers were able to identify the defendant by finding the Facebook account linked to the messages."

At the time, Boynton-Eckles was around 20-years-old and serving in the armed forces stationed in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

A police investigation found he contacted a number of girls aged between 12 and 17 online from around the world.

In a conversation with one victim, aged 13 and 14 at the time, he discussed kissing and touching her bottom when they met and sent her a cartoon image of a man smacking a womans bottom saying this is going to be me and you.

In another conversation, again with a girl of a similar age, he discussed having sex with her and sent her an image of bondage equipment laid out on a bed.

Ms Holmes said: "He regularly chatted to females using various online applications. He would repeatedly ask for images.

"He was not deterred by age or vulnerability and would in fact use their vulnerability to get the images he wanted.

"Im looking at one such example. These are conversations with one complainant. She says I look a mess to which he says I bet you are beautiful. She says I assure you I am not and he says prove it.

"In my submission that is an example of a female expressing doubt in the way she looks and he was using that in order to get her to show him a picture."

Boynton-Eckles also encouraged a 15-year-old girl to send him naked pictures on Whatsapp and made references to taking her virginity.

Ms Holmes said: She confirmed she had sent him naked images and the conversation had been sexual and they discussed meeting up for sex. She said no such meeting took place.

Boynton-Eckles pleaded guilty to five counts of causing or inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity and appeared at Hull Crown Court to be sentenced.

In a victim impact statement, one of his victims said she felt a lot of shame after her encounter with Boynton-Eckles saying it made her feel stupid and worthless.

Boynton-Eckles also stood in the dock to be sentenced for one count of fraud after he admitted to using the identity of another woman on the anonymous social media app Whisper.

He would use her name and images to create a profile encouraging gay or bisexual women he was speaking with to send him naked photos, Ms Holmes told the court.

She said: Examination of the Whisper app chat records showed he used a womans image on a number of occasions and pretended to be her by name or without a name.

There are 20 examples of the defendant using her identity in order to obtain sexual chat and or pictures and two specific examples are when he exchanged naked pictures of the woman with the person he is speaking to.

Boynton-Eckles was also sentenced for one count of making an indecent photograph of a child and distributing a photograph of a child, after police found 59 category C images on his mobile phone.

Mitigating barrister, Keith Allen, told the court that Boynton-Eckles put a stop to his behaviour when another soldier sent him an indecent image of a child.

If I can start by addressing the slightly unusual feature of this case," said Mr Allen. "The defendant was a serving member of the military.

"During the period of his service he was contacted and in communication with another member of the military that sent to him indecent images of children.

He reported that to the military police and he handed over as part of their investigation the devices. It is in fact that time period where his report of the other person to the police is in essence the end of his offending behaviour.

The realisation appears to have dawned on this defendant the behaviour he was engaging in was unlawful and also wrong.

Mr Allen also referred to a psychologists report suggesting Boynton-Eckles had difficulties in interpersonal functioning likely caused by childhood trauma.

The report read: Mr Boynton Eckles offending behaviour is most likely to be driven by his difficulties in interpersonal functioning, most likely to be the result of childhood trauma.

He has struggled to relate to people his own age and has found it difficult to trust and feel rejected by them.

He has become isolated and experienced low mood and has coped with these difficulties by turning to the internet for social contact and found it easier relating to young girls.

Sentencing Boynton-Eckles to 20 months imprisonment suspended for two years, Judge David Tremberg said his behaviour was the stuff of parents nightmares.

He said: We have already seen in many ways you found young girls easier to manipulate, to groom, to control, to exploit, and the indictment reflects your involvement with three young girls who you groomed and exchanged indecent photographs with and encouraged into sexual activity.

In other devious criminality you even went as far as a form of identity fraud masquerading as a young woman exchanging indecent images of her in order to wheedle indecent images out of other women of a significant age.

What you did is likely to have a serious and emotional effect upon the girls. Your behaviour is the stuff of parents nightmares, that people like you should be floating about on the internet looking for the opportunity to take advantage of children.

There are no contact offences here. If there was the sentence would have been much greater.

I bear in mind you have been in no trouble since and you appear willing to take help available to you. I bear in mind you psychological presentation has been a factor in your offending.

In all the circumstances of the case and by a rather fine margin I am satisfied that justice can be met by imposing a sentence that does not require immediate custody.

Boynton-Eckles must complete 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement and take part in the Horizon programme.

He will also be a registered sex offender for the next ten years and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years.

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A sick paedophile has avoided going to prison after being caught with more than a hundred indecent images of children after he sold his laptop to a pawn shop in Hull.

Neil Omer, 57, of Burdale Close, Hull, has taken his white Lenovo laptop to Cash Express in Holderness Road and the company held it for 28 days should Omer have wanted to buy back the item plus interest.

But as Omer had not returned after the set date, the manager at Cash Express accessed the laptop on April 12, 2018 in order to restore it to factory and settings and then sell it on.

Hull Crown Court heard the manager found two files entitled "boys" and the other "girls" and when she opened them she disturbingly discovered indecent images of children and reported this to the police.

A sick paedophile has avoided going to prison after being caught with more than a hundred indecent images of children after he sold his laptop to a pawn shop in Hull.

Neil Omer, 57, of Burdale Close, Hull, has taken his white Lenovo laptop to Cash Express in Holderness Road and the company held it for 28 days should Omer have wanted to buy back the item plus interest.

But as Omer had not returned after the set date, the manager at Cash Express accessed the laptop on April 12, 2018 in order to restore it to factory and settings and then sell it on.

Hull Crown Court heard the manager found two files entitled "boys" and the other "girls" and when she opened them she disturbingly discovered indecent images of children and reported this to the police.

"The category A images included penetrative sex of children between the ages of 10 and 16 years old including penetration of males with sex toys," said Mr Robinson.

"Other prohibited images included cartoon-style illustrated images of children under the age of 12.

"In his police interview the defendant said he had accessed the images using Tumblr and thought that only lawful images could be uploaded to the site and gave a no comment answer to whether he is sexually attracted to children.

"The defendant's past convictions are not similar and were for dishonesty, but he has nothing on his record since 1985.

"The aggravating factors are the videos and the age and vulnerability of the children".

Defending Omer, Kylie Peach said that he was "bitterly ashamed of his actions" and a lonely and vulnerable man with a heroin addiction and "clearly in dire need of assistance".

"Mr Omer is bitterly ashamed of his actions and has been out of trouble for more than 30 years and is a man that can live comfortably within the parameters of the law," she said.

"He says that he has 'learnt his lesson'. He is a vulnerable man and his last relationship ended 10 years ago and since then he has lived a lonely life. He has no friends or family and goes for days without speaking to people.

"He struggles with his mental health and has schizophrenia and depression, but his medication has not been sufficient and his mental health has declined, with Mr Omer being referred to the crisis team before.

"He slipped into using heroin to mask his feelings but has self referred to Renew and wants to go on a drug rehabilitation programme to address his addiction.

"He is at a low risk of re-offending and at a low risk to the public and is clearly in dire need of assistance".

Sentencing him to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, Recorder Tom Little QC gave Omer full credit for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity and also imposed a sexual harm prevention order and a 30 day drug rehabilitation programme.

Addressing Omer, Recorder Little said: "You have not been in front of the criminal courts for many years and you have pleaded guilty for offences relating to indecent images and videos found on your electronic devices.

"On March 10 you took your laptop to Cash Express and they waited 28 days in case you wanted to buy it back with interest. But after this time was up, the manager accessed the laptop in order to sell it and found folders labelled 'boys' and 'girls' and this set about the investigation.

"On all four of your devices images and videos were found, spanning across two years in which you viewed them including internet searches.

"You have become addicted to heroin as well as suffering depression.

"Having considered the guidelines it seems that in conjunction with a sexual harm prevention order and assessment by the probation service for drug rehabilitation, there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation so I am willing to suspend your prison sentence.