Latest Offenders Hull

Description

A retired teacher has been jailed for indecently assaulting a Hull schoolboy more than 25 years ago.

Kevin Shaw, 55, spanked the victim with a sand shoe on his bare buttocks in a locked store room at Bransholme High School which became Winifred Holtby secondary in the 1990s.

The perverted geography teacher claimed he was disciplining the teenager for bad behaviour.

But jailing Shaw for 15 months at Hull Crown Court on Friday, Judge John Thackray QC said the abuse "had nothing to do with discipline".

He told Shaw: "It was entirely sexually motivated. That was the clear conclusion of the jury who have heard the evidence, and that is the basis upon which you are to be sentenced.

"I say that, firstly so there is no mistake in the community as to what this case has involved, and secondly because of your comments to the author of a pre-sentence report that it was about discipline.

"The truth is you used the cloak of discipline to hide your sexual interest in the victim, to enable you to see his genitals, and to smack his bare bottom."

Shaw, of Perth Street West, west Hull, denied any wrongdoing but was convicted by a jury last month following a trial at the same court.

In a statement read by prosecutor Nigel Clive, the victim said coping with the emotional and psychological effect of the abuse had been "challenging".

But he thanked police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and spoke of his "gratitude" to the person who took his initial call at the NSPCC.

"They instilled in me a belief I could speak up and speak out," he said.

The man said he had suffered years of flashbacks and his education suffered as a result.

Reporting the abuse was difficult, he said, as he felt "ashamed and embarrassed for letting it happen".

He said: "That damage was not something I could repair. I was in an environment that was poisonous for me."

Shaw had given the boy three options after he was caught "misbehaving" - placing him on report, informing his parents, or striking him ten times on his clothed buttocks.

The boy chose the third option because he was scared of his parents finding out. He was taken into an adjoining store room and was made to "bend over at the waist". But after two strikes he began and cry and was hit so forcefully he fell over.

He then agreed to remove his clothing as he was told he would only be hit five times if he did so.

After another two strikes, the boy fell to the ground in pain, begged Shaw to stop and he did.

Judge Thackray said he had "deliberately" hit the boy hard the first time so he would remove his pants to receive fewer blows.

Other ex-pupils complained

The jury heard from two other former pupils of Shaw's, one of whom was allegedly similarly beaten on a school trip, and another who claimed to have been propositioned by the teacher.

The judge said no charges followed those allegations because one was outside the court's jurisdiction, and because another allegedly occurred before a change in the law would allow such a prosecution.

The married Shaw showed no emotion as he was handcuffed and led to the cells, but silently mouthed "love you" to a woman in the public gallery.

Humberside Police statement

Humberside Police Detective Constable Shaun Chambers said: Kevin Shaw abused his position of authority and trust when he committed this indecent assault.

I have a huge amount of admiration for the bravery of the victim in this case. He and the other two witnesses have had to relive their childhood experiences which must have been very difficult for them.

The victim now wants to confine to history these memories and move on with his life knowing the offender has been brought to book for the offence.

This type of investigation is always challenging as the time that has passed since the offence makes it more complex to gather evidence, but it also makes it very rewarding when we get a good result like this.

I want to extend an opportunity to anyone who has experienced this type of historical offence that they can have the confidence in us to come and report their cases to us and we will consider their report sensitively and support them throughout any investigation.

People can have complete confidence that their report will be taken seriously and acted upon.

Kevin Shaw will now have time to consider his actions and this should also serve as a reminder to all those who have committed similar offences in the past that time is now barrier to justice.

Description

Christopher Sansam bragged about incest when he was jailed for eight months The relative of a convicted paedophile has spoken of his disgust after finding out he is reportedly living close to a school after being released from jail halfway through his sentence. Christopher Sansam was jailed in February after he was found with 237 indecent images including of babies and toddlers being sexually abused, as well as two movies lasting more than seven minutes. Hull Crown Court heard how he also boasted about incest, referring to getting his daughter pregnant in an online chat, despite not having one, and had used file-sharing software KIK to distribute the most extreme category of images. Sansams barrister described him as simple during the sentencing hearing, hoping it may be some mitigation for him. But speaking after finding out he had been released, one of Sansam's close family members, who wanted to remain anonymous, claimed this is not true. People should see his photograph so they can protect their children from him, said the relative. Hes not simple at all. He did well at school getting his GCSEs and he went on to gain a full mechanics qualification at college. He even worked as a temporary supervisor at Cranswick Foods hes not simple at all. He knows right from wrong and Im so ashamed of what he has done. Sansam, 24, admitted to liking children between the ages of eight to fourteen, and his online behaviour was brought to the attention of Humberside Police in March 2018. He admitted three offences of possessing indecent images, and two of distributing them. Judge Mark Bury sentenced him to eight months in prison, and he was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and was ordered to sign the sex offenders registers for a decade. But Sansam's relative said he was now living near a primary school in the east Hull area. Hes only served four months and hes out already, claims Sansams relative. The whole family are ashamed of him and we are sickened he has been moved to near a school. I just cant believe he has been near my children when he was charged with all of this and none of us ever knew. It wasnt until he was in court we knew anything about it. What Christopher did makes me sick and everyone needs to know what he has done.

Description

A depraved predatory “monster” who sexually abused three vulnerable teenage boys has been jailed.

David Pritchard, 61, of HMP Hull, has been jailed for 12 years and has been given an extended licence period of six years for his crimes.

So disgusting were his offences that a judge said he had “behaved like a monster”.  Meanwhile, a Detective Constable has branded him an “extremely dangerous predatory paedophile" and said he fears officers have only "scratched the surface" of the true extent of his crimes.

The force is urging anyone who has fallen victim to "such foul and perverted behaviour" to come forward.

A hearing at Hull Crown Court heard that Pritchard had pleaded guilty to 25 counts over three separate indictments against three teenage boys – all of which were under the age of 16 at the time of the abuse.

The course of the abuse started in Derby in 1990 against a vulnerable young boy who had run away from home.

After being plied with drink and cannabis, he was abused up until he was 18 by Pritchard – who managed to keep him quiet by threatening to kill his mum.

The boy was too scared to report the abuse until he confided in a probation officer after he was arrested for minor crimes himself in 2018.

Prosecuting, Miss Charlotte Baines said Pritchard had subjected the boy to horrific sexual abuse and incited him to engage in a number of sexual activities with him.

A second and third boy were also sexually abused by Pritchard while he was living in Wellstead Street, off Hessle Road in Hull, and Pinfold Street in Bridlington between 2014 and 2018 when they were under the age of 16.

In victim impact statements read out to the court, one boy said he had attempted to take his own life, and the other said he “cannot sleep or eat” and regularly suffers from flashbacks as a result of the abuse.

Miss Baines said Pritchard would involve himself with sexual touching, oral and penetrative sex with the victims.  She said: “The abuse was still happening around two to three weeks before one of the victims spoke out.

"Summarising the victim impact statements one of the victims said that he is finding it difficult to live and he has attempted to take his own life.

“It has left him feeling like life would be better if he wasn’t here. He is not confident around others and finds it very difficult to trust people.

“Another victim said that he has lost weight and struggles to eat and sleep and thinks about it every day. He has also thought about taking his own life and suffers flashbacks and sometimes cannot go to bed at all as it is all he can think about.”

Pritchard already had similar convictions and served a five year sentence in 1989 for buggery.

Mitigating, Richard Thompson said that Pritchard had admitted his crimes at the earliest opportunity and was already being interviewed for his abuse on the first victim when reports of the second and third were reported to police.

He said one of the only mitigating factors in the case was that: “He admitted his offending against each victim from the outset. He was expressed remorse for his behaviour. He understands there is to be a significant custodial sentence which will allow time for action and treatment and support to treat the risk he poses in the future.”

The court heard that during his interviews with police, Pritchard admitted he had a “sexual interest in pre-pubescent males.”  He also told cops that he was “glad it had all come out so they could get it sorted.”

Sentencing him, Recorder Gurdial Singh told Pritchard that he had “behaved like a monster” and told him the lack of physical violence in the abuse (whereby he had instead used coercion and grooming) meant he had narrowly avoided a life sentence.

However, Recorder Singh slammed him with a custodial sentence of which he must serve at least two thirds of before being released on an extended licence period of six years.

He said: “Your history shows a pattern of predatory sexual offending on your part. The breach of trust from you is just unfathomable. One victim has attempted to take his own life and another said he suffers from flashbacks.

“You behaved like a monster against these young men in order to have your evil way with them. I have to regard as to whether you pose a danger to the public and in my view you most certainly do. It is said on your behalf that you are remorseful but I can’t help but think that remorse is born out of you being caught.”

Recorder Singh imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Pritchard until further notice and ordered him to sign the Sexual Offenders Register, which he must be on for the rest of his life.

Responding to the sentence, Detective Constable Rob O’Neill from Humberside Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said: “David Pritchard is an extremely dangerous predatory paedophile who has posed a considerable sexual threat to young boys in the past.

“Behind bars, he won’t pose that threat anymore.

“Today’s sentence is substantial and reflects how serious this man’s crimes were. David Pritchard may have admitted to these offences, but that doesn’t in any way change the physical, psychological and emotional damage this depraved individual has caused to these children.

“We may have only scratched the surface with this man’s offending. I feel that by highlighting his crimes and highlighting today’s sentence, it might now encourage people who have been subjected to such foul and perverted behaviour to come forward.

“I want to thank the victims who did come forward for their bravery which has in no small part contributed to bringing this man to justice to face his horrendous crimes.”

Detective Constable O’Neill encouraged any other victims of sexual offending to come forward.  He said: “If you have anything to tell us please come forward. We take every sexual offence reported to us very seriously and we will investigate fully.

“I’d also like to thank the officers in this case who have dealt with some extremely distressing details. They have worked diligently to take this man off the streets and put him into prison where he will pose a danger no more.”

Description

A "disgusting" paedophile with a "foot fetish" filmed himself sexually assaulting a young girl. Marco Assogna, 44, also took pictures of an intimate part of his body "on her feet" and created a dedicated file on his computer to store them in. The pervert also allowed indecent images on his computer to be accessed by other paedophiles. He now faces deportation to his native Italy after being jailed for nine years for child sex offences. Nicola Quinney, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court police raided Assogna's home last year after his IP address featured in an investigation of users of "peer to peer platform sharing of indecent images". Assogna had not physically distributed the material, but had software which allowed the files to be accessed, the court heard, and some were. He cried into a handkerchief as he sat in the dock listening to Miss Quinney describe how had repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl. In total, across Assogna's laptop and three mobile phones that were seized, police found a total of 235 indecent pictures or films at category A - the most extreme - 52 at category B, and 147 at category C. 'Aroused by feet' Miss Quinney said when he was arrested and interviewed, Assogna "admitted he had what he described as a foot fetish, and was sexually aroused by feet". There were 24 images of the victim's feet, which also included Assogna kissing and licking them. In a harrowing victim statement, the girl's mother said Assogna's "monstrous actions" had devastated hers and her daughter's life to the point where she questioned "if we'll ever recover". She said Assogna's manipulative behaviour "makes him even more dangerous". The girl was "frightened what will happen when he comes out of prison", and had "talked of wanting to kill herself". 'We'll battle through this' The victim will need "a lot of help over the years from professionals", her mother said. She said the abuse had "turned my world upside down", but said: "With my love and the wonderful people we know we will battle through this." She also said: "I will be forever grateful to the police." Assogna, of HMP Hull, admitted five sexual assaults of a child under 13, five offences of making indecent photographs, and 27 of either possessing, making, or distributing indecent photographs. 'Deport him' "The UK Borders Act applies to him, doesn't it?" Judge Mark Bury said. "He's an Italian national. Automatic deportation provisions apply. "If the Home Office have got anything about them they will use them, and I'd like that passed on to the appropriate authorities." Richard Thompson, mitigating, said Assogna had written a letter to the court and there was also a pre-sentence report. He said: "The defendant accepts that there has to be a significant custodial sentence for these offences. He has discussed them with the author of the pre-sentence report. "That has not been a straight-forward process for him. He has perhaps expressed himself better in the letter he's written. 'He wants to be a baker' "He has a job in the prison kitchen as a baker, and says that is potentially a future career for him." Assogna would not challenge deportation, Mr Thompson said, and planned to return to his family in Italy. Jailing Assogna for nine years, Judge Bury told him: "It's clear you obtained sexual gratification from this tawdry behaviour. You are , in my view, a disgusting individual. I would approve of a Home Office decision to deport you at the end of this sentence."

Description

A pervert who was already on the sexual offenders list lurked in a public toilet before attacking a teenage boy.

Aylin Hadarov, 33, of Beverley, was fuelled with cocaine when he approached a 14-year-old boy and sexually assaulted him in the towns train station toilets.

He said to the terrified youngster: Let me suck your dick twice before pulling on the boys belt and stroking his left thigh.

The boy then shouted what the fuck, no in a loud voice with the hope of being heard, only for Hadarov to make a shushing gesture towards him.

The boy felt trapped and Hadarov left soon after, with the boy then fleeing the toilets and collecting his bike from the racks.

He said he could feel his attacker staring at him from the platform.

Scared, the young boy called his girlfriend in tears and told her he had been sexually assaulted by a stranger.

The court also heard that this was not Hadarovs first sexual offence against teenage boys.

Back in his hometown in Bulgaria, on April 9, 2014,

Hadarov received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence after he sexually abused a 14-year-old boy, threatened him with a knife and forced himself upon him.

Hadarov was also put on the sexual offenders list and banned him from being around boys under the age of 16, except with permission, for 10 years.

Prosecuting at Hull Crown Court, Claire Holmes told the court the attack had deeply affected the victim, who is receiving counselling for the trauma Hadarov put him through.

She said: The incident has affected the victims travel routine and he now immediately leaves the station and is worried about being there and is also scared to use the public toilets.

In McDonalds he used the toilet but had to get a friend to watch the door for him.

Hes also been having mood swings, a short temper and says he is difficult to deal with for his family and loved ones.

Hes finding it difficult at school and struggling with his work so much that his mum had to go into the school and explain what happened. As soon as he found out that the defendant had been arrested, he felt relieved.

His confidence is coming back, and now he just wants to put it all behind him.

After being comforted by his girlfriend, the boy then contacted his dad who was driving home from Doncaster and told him what had happened.

The court was told the boys father felt helpless as he was miles away and unable to comfort him face to face. Soon after, he called his mum and she took him to Beverley Police Station.

She said her son was agitated and upset and she was also upset thinking what might have happened.

Police released CCTV footage of the suspect at the train station and Hadarov was later identified by a member of the public at the bookies. He was arrested on October 14.

Description

A paedophile who filmed himself raping a two-year-old girl and shared it online has been jailed for life. Terry Coneyworth, 31, abused the child a number of times in 2018 and took photos and videos. He pleaded guilty to 19 child sex offences at a previous Hull Crown Court hearing. Sentencing him to a minimum of eight years, Judge Mark Bury said: "Your offending plumbed the depths of depravity." Coneyworth, of Derwent Avenue, Hull, attacked the child in October and November, sharing the images on a messenger service. On one occasion, the toddler was unwell when he "inflicted the abhorrent" attack. The court heard 965 indecent images were found at his home. Of the 22 images he had distributed, nine of those were of the child he abused. 'Boasted about abuse' Judge Bury said: "These crimes are of the utmost severity. You sexually abused her even when she was ill. "You boasted about the abuse. "You have, by your own admission, a sexual interest in young children. "These images will be available to like-minded people all over the world." The court heard he had been making indecent photos of young children since he was a teenager. Prosecutor Geraldine Kelly said during a police raid in November, officers seized letters in which he wrote of "being in a dark place, full of hate and ashamed of himself". Defending, Richard Thompson said Coneyworth had "problems in his childhood and had not dealt with them how he should have done". Coneyworth was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

Description

A prolific sex offender who tried to rape an 11-year-old girl was only prosecuted because he reported himself to police. Matthew Aldurs, 30, walked into a police station on September 13, 2017, and confessed to a series of child sex offences through "feelings of guilt and shame", Hull Crown Court heard. When the four victims were informed, a woman who was aged ten at the time, was "upset" but could not remember the incident; a male victim did not want to co-operate with police; while the girl he tried to rape said she felt "s***" but was "relieved he'd admitted what he'd done". Richard Thompson, prosecuting, said in 2006 - after those offences, and before his police station confessions - Aldurs admitted three rapes and assault occasioning actual bodily harm against another victim, a teenage girl. The assault included him trying to strangle her and causing a chipped tooth. Aldurs was sentenced to five years detention in a young offenders institution for those offences at the same court in 2006. His criminal record began in 2003 and features offences of dishonesty, vehicle crime, and breaching court orders - including multiple breaches of his notification requirements as a sex offender. Aldurs had also been jailed in October last year for a "dissimilar matter", and had been removed from a sex offender treatment programme for "inappropriate behaviour". Aldurs, of Anlaby Road, west Hull, pleaded guilty to attempted rape, three sexual offences, and indecent assault. Defence barrister Dale Brook said Aldurs had lived a "vagrant lifestyle" and did not appear to have worked. Mr Brook told Judge Mark Bury: "These are unusual circumstances by any reading or definition. "Serious offences, no doubt. I'm not instructed to put forward personal mitigation, and your honour will perhaps not be surprised by that given the approach taken with the author of the pre-sentence report." 'Erratic' Judge Bury said the pre-sentence report made "depressing reading". It found Aldurs suffers from anxiety and depression, was "highly emotional", and described his behaviour and thinking as "erratic". Jailing Aldurs for three years and four months, the judge told him: "It would never have been brought to court but for your admissions, and you have pleaded guilty at an early stage. Since these offences have been committed you have been sentenced for another sexual offence and given a significant sentence. "You wouldn't be before the court but for your feelings of guilt and shame." The judge warned Aldurs if he committed any further sexual offences he would be classed as a dangerous offender.

Description

A serial sex offender has been jailed after he spoke to an 11-year-old boy in a caf and attempted to video call him on Facebook.

Christopher Jones, 46, of William Booth House, Hull city centre, breached a sexual harm prevention order when he spoke to the young boy at a caf in Hulls city centre on numerous occasions.

The boy was enjoying a day with his mum at the caf in November 2018 and took a seat next to Jones and a woman where several conversations took place.

A hearing at Hull Crown Court heard after attending a Christmas party at the centre in December, the boys mum realised a Facebook account under Jones name had requested her son to join an online game of Cluedo, waved at him, and attempted to video call him.

Jones Sexual Harm Prevention Order was issued in 2009 and extended in August 2012 indefinitely after he was caught waiting in a public toilet for young boys.

The order prevents him from having any contact in the community by any means what so ever with any person, a child under the age of 16 except in exceptional circumstances.

Following the Facebook activity, the mum of the young boy grew concerned and at another trip to the caf, noticed that from another table Jones was looking at her son almost constantly.

Her friend also noted the man staring at the young boy and reported it to a member of staff, who told her Jones was a resident at William Booth House.

The mother then informed police, who were able to see where Jones was at the dates and times of their meetings through a buddy tag he had to wear as part of his probation.

After being questioned following his arrest in February this year, Jones said he had been in contact with the 11-year-old six times and said that the pair had chatted about things including Star Wars, Hull KR, and what the boy was getting for Christmas.

Prosecuting, Stephen Welch said: He claimed he hadnt breached the order as he thought he was able to contact a child as long as the child was supervised but he was told he was not allowed to do that.

During the interview he denied being the person behind the Facebook account but the prosecution dont accept that as it seems too much of a coincidence. The police say they havent been able to track the account.

Mr Welch said Jones had a substantial history of committing sexual offences.

He said: These started in 1999, when he was 26 years old, for two counts of indecent assault on two young males, one under 16 and one under 14. All offences on his record are related to sexual offences.

The last conviction on his record is from October 2009, which he was sentenced for five years and three months imprisonment. It was made up of two offences of inciting a male child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Mitigating, Miss Charlotte Baines said Jones acknowledged he had a problem and an interest in young boys, but would benefit from an assessment and rehabilitation and appealed for a suspended sentence with an assessment and rehabilitation.

She said: He admits he is still struggling and battling with these thoughts and feelings and has spent time in prison and has accessed programmes to assist with this type of offender.

"He has had a buddy tag and there have been no sexual offences of this type on his record since his release.

Recorder Taryn Hunter described Jones history and current breach of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order as more than troubling as she sentenced him to two years in jail.

A pre-sentence report written by the probation service said Jones was at very high risk of reoffending.

It also stated at a risk management system assessment in July last year Jones had never had a relationship with an adult and could not see himself having one as he still had a sexual interest in children.

Recorder Hunter said: There was a number of contact with this young boy from November of last year. You have a very long history of sexual offending involving young boys and this case is a great concern.

"Your order prevents you having any contact with children under 16, except in special circumstances, which did not apply to the contact you had with this young boy in December, January and February.

There was a persistent breach. There are alarming comments on the pre-sentence report which cause extreme disquiet.

She said she hoped he would be able to start work on rehabilitation and added: Such that when you are released you can hopefully move forward and not present the risk you currently possess to young boys or anyone in your sexual prohibits.

Description

Disgraced former police inspector Bryan Calam has been jailed for five years after being convicted by a jury of repeatedly sexually abusing a "particularly vulnerable" schoolgirl more than 15 years ago. Calam - who later worked for Hull City and Hull FC, and was chairman of Hessle Golf Club - had denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the victim's account as "absolute rubbish". But a jury of seven women and five men took just an hour and 40 minutes to find him guilty of all charges he faced - five offences of indecent assault and three of indecency with a child - after a five-day trial at Hull Crown Court. Calam, now 71, also had sex with the victim 20 to 30 times over the two-year period of the abuse, but was not charged over that activity for legal reasons. Sentencing Calam after the verdicts were delivered on Friday, trial judge Recorder Christopher Knox told him: "It has to be a substantial sentence of imprisonment. You know that and I know that. 'You will suffer in jail' "You will suffer very considerably at your age and with your antecedents [police background] in prison." Calam, of Wood View, Swanland, spent most of the time standing in the dock with his head bowed and his eyes closed during sentencing. After being told he will now be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life, he was placed in handcuffs and led from the dock There had been a slight shake of his head when the guilty verdicts were being announced, but as sobs broke out in the packed public gallery he put his hands over his face, then held them together as if praying. But whatever his thoughts were, they were not for the victim - whom he called "vindictive" when giving evidence in the trial. The judge told him: "The only mitigating feature is you didn't make her pregnant, although she was fearful of that at some stage. You have shown no sign of having any regret about this at all. 'You made up evidence' "You in fact half-confessed this [when confronted by the victim] in 2017, but you then tried to brazen it out. You declined to answer questions to the police and you forced your way through this trial - in my view making up parts of your evidence as you went along." Calam had "planned" his grooming of the victim, the judge said. He told the grandfather and father-of-two: "I'm satisfied that you were charismatic ... you were influential, and you used all your powers of persuasion and patronage to impose yourself on this little girl, who was at the time particularly vulnerable. "And you used the position you had to exploit her, during which time you had the effects which we have heard in that extremely moving and devastating victim impact statement." The court had sat in silence as Claire Holmes, prosecuting, read the victim's statement to the court before sentencing. 'He makes me feel sick' The victim said: "I remember the first time he had sex with me quite clearly, and now it makes me physically sick. This was a man [in his 50s] wanting to have sex with a child. I knew this experience wasn't normal as none of my friends were talking about similar experiences." She said Calam had warned her not to tell anyone about the abuse as it "would kill his wife and he worshipped the ground she walked on". She said: "He took away the chance of me experiencing the normal way of growing up and losing my virginity [with someone her age]." The victim said she has had 33 counselling sessions to try to cope with the abuse, which at first she did with "no support because I was ashamed of telling people". She also revealed she had been diagnosed with an illness triggered by stress, which she believed was a direct result of Calam's abuse. 'He ruined my life' She said: "It has ruined my life and I don't see why he should be able to continue with a normal life and not pay for what he's done to me mentally and physically. "I would panic every day I would see him. I have lived in fear since reporting this that he is going to come after me and I'm always looking over my shoulder. "It makes me feel sick to think about it - that a grown man would want to do this to a child. I hope this case will give me closure by justice being brought." The court heard during the trial that when the victim told Calam to stop the abuse, he "begged for one more time and said he might have to go to a prostitute". As well as sexually touching the girl over and under her clothing, Calam had her perform a sex act on him while he was driving on a motorway in his Jaguar, performed sex acts on her, and had sex with her in a garden, in a caravan, and before he played golf.

Description

A "pathetic and isolated" Scout leader has been jailed for attempting to meet a "14-year-old boy" for sex.

Matthew Thomson, 36, of Littleham Close, Bransholme, pleaded guilty to searching for indecent images of young boys on the internet, as well as grooming what he thought was a 14-year-old named David on homosexual dating app Grindr.

However, "David" was actually a fake profile created by a paedophile hunting group Keeping Our Kids Safe.

A hearing at Hull Crown Court heard that after "David" told Thomson he was just 14, the conversation continued and Thomson attempted to set up a meet for sex.

However, he then realised the profile of "David" was actually fake and so contacted Keeping Our Kids Safe, who then issued an ultimatum.

Judge Roger Thomas QC, sentencing said: "At some point he got wind of the fact this this wasn't what he thought it was and it was a set up to try to discover people like him.

"He tried to get out of the hole he was in and contacted the group."

The vigilante group eventually gave Thomson an ultimatum and told him that if he did not hand himself over to police, they would release his personal details on their Facebook page.

Thomson - a Beaver Master in charge of young Scouts between the ages of six and eight - met the paedophile hunting group in May last year and they filmed him outside Clough Road Police Station before he handed himself in.

In the video, Thomson admits saying to "David", after finding out that he was 14, that they could start with "kissing and touching" before going onto a sexual act.

Defending, Mr Harold Bloomfield, said: "There was nothing to suggest that David was a child, Grindr is for over 18's and contact was made. The defendant accepts that the pictures showed someone who appeared as being 14, and first contact wasn't as a 14-year-old, as no 14-year-old should be on Grindr."

He went on to add that Thomson is of good character and has been in the same job since leaving school, although this has since ended after the video went on Facebook.

Mr Bloomfield also added there has "never been any concerns expressed by those he had charge of, or their parents, that they were any any risk of him."

After a police interview, Thomson's personal computer was recovered and was found to have seven indecent images of Category B, and 16 images in Category C.

However, Thomson told the probation service that he had "no sexual interest in children".

Prosecuting, Mr Philip Evans told the court the images featured black rectangles, covering the private parts of the children used in the photos which "could be an attempt to confuse the software" used by the IPS and authorities to detect indecent images.

The sentencing hearing also heard that during forensic examination of Thomson's computer, it was found he had searched terms of indecent images including those of "young gay boys," "very, very, very young boys", and worryingly, "Scouts".

Judge Thomas described Thomson as a "lonely, pathetic individual" who lives with his mother and his brother.

He said: "His use of the internet and what he is interested in, and the fact he was able to get involved with the scouts is disturbing.

"As well as having a job you have been involved with the Scout movement and have been involved with the most junior, the Beavers, who are very young boys, who will move in later years to the Cubs and Scouts.

"When you joined them, maybe it was because you were wishing to give them good service to a good organisation.

"The suspicion may be though that you had some sort of interest in them young boys that was unhealthy, however it cannot be said that you acted anyway untoward.

"The three charges do show an unhealthy interest in sexual activity with a child. You said you had no sexual interest in children, that can't be right. What brought the police to your door was that you attempted to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex."

Sentencing to 12 months in jail, as well as to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, Judge Thomas said: "This is a serious case. This sentence seeks not just to punish you but to send a message that people who access material are at risk of going to prison, and people who commit sexual offences with boys as young as 14 will go to prison."

Thompson must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

Description

A convicted sex offender in hospital for an operation used another patient's laptop to download "cartoons" of child abuse. David Driver, 47, befriended the 80-year-old man at Castle Hill Hospital and asked to borrow his laptop. But when it was returned, a nurse who knew of Driver's status as a sex offender asked to see its search history, and saw what he had been up to. Neil Coxon, prosecuting in Hull Crown Court, said Driver had twice accessed the internet, at 1.10am and 1.20am on August 1 last year, using paedophile search terms. These included "incest videos", "forbidden" sex, and others making reference to "Lolita". In total, he was caught with six computer-generated prohibited images, most of which would have been in category B if they were photographs, and also category A - the most extreme or serious. "Most related to child sexual activity, and in particular, incest," Mr Coxon said. One was supposedly of a child aged five. The images were accompanied by speech bubbles, which "gave a graphic description of what was happening in the images". Driver, of Great Thornton Street, west Hull, was arrested on September 5 and in police interview "accepted that he had used such search terms," Mr Coxon said. "He accepted he'd seen images of females and thought they were under 18 in states of undress. He said he hadn't downloaded anything, and therefore, in his terms, he hadn't made the images". History of sex offending Driver admitted possessing prohibited images, which has a maximum sentence of three years in jail. He was sentenced to a "significant" prison sentence for sexual contact offences committed in his late 20s and early 30s, and also had convictions for drugs and shop theft. Driver had previously been sent on sex offender treatment programmes, which "appear to have worn off", Judge David Tremberg said. Paul Genney, for Driver, said: "I've never come across this before. These are drawings, these are cartoons. Whether it makes the offences less serious I don't know, I'm in your honour's hands." "I think there's an argument for saying that it does, on the basis that no live children have been exploited," the judge said. Sentencing Driver, Judge Tremberg said he would deserve "every day" of the relatively short prison sentence he faced, but he would come out an "unreconstructed sex offender", and society would be better protected if he were to have more treatment. Driver was sentenced to a two-year community order, which includes 29 group sessions on the Horizon sex offender programme, and up to 15 days rehabilitation. He must register as a sex offender for five years, and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely. Driver had been in hospital to have bones removed from his neck.

Description

A paedophile who thought he was making lurid suggestions to a 12-year-old girl was actually talking online to an undercover police officer. Anthony Press, 37, was already under investigation for doing the same thing to another "decoy" when he took part in the online chats for 15 days from June 13 last year. Stephen Robinson, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court the officer had created a profile for a fictitious 12-year-old called "Emma", who used the online name "Yorkshirelass123". Press, whose online identity was "Anthony1981", initiated the contact and asked the girl: "Can I get your pants down, honey?" The "girl" stated her age, but Press continued making a variety of other more extreme sexual comments, also suggesting they meet "on Friday or Saturday". Press gave the girl his mobile phone number, which revealed his links to a care centre where he had "sought some assistance", and also showed it had been used close to his home in Trippet Street, city centre. Police duly paid him a visit there on July 9 and arrested him. Mr Robinson said while Press believed he was in conversation with a 12-year-old girl, "in fact it was an undercover police officer". That brought an end to his offending, following his similar encounter with "Chantelle Manchester" in January, who was really a member of the paedophile hunting group Northern Justice posing as a girl aged 13. Mr Robinson said of the group: "They appear to take a fairly serious interest in their hobby." The group followed a practice of creating a decoy profile and ensuring first contact is made by the suspect. They then respond with answers "designed to be as innocent or naive as possible", while regularly stating their age. "Chantelle" was lying in wait for Press on the chat site Nearby, and he first contacted her at 3am on January 18. Press requested a meeting in Manchester, where she purported to be from, and said he "would ring when he arrived". But he failed to turn up, saying he was "unwell". The girl's number was later found on a piece of paper in Press's flat, the court heard. One of his online conversations Mr Robinson gave an example of his conversations with "Chantelle" as: PRESS: What are you wearing baby? CHANTELLE: Clothes. PRESS: Can I have my hand in your knickers baby? CHANTELLE: What do you mean? I'm 13. Press also made explicit comments about what he would like to do to the girl, and also said he would like to watch her urinate. Northern Justice passed Press's information to a similar Hull-based group called Team Hunters. Mr Robinson said the Hull group would normally confront people like Press and stream it live on Facebook, but after learning he had cerebral palsy decided instead to pass his details to police, which the prosecutor said was "a more responsible attitude". Press was arrested for that offence in a taxi close to his home at 1.30pm on January 21. He initially denied any wrongdoing but later admitted two offences of attempted sexual communication with a child. He had no previous convictions. Claire Holmes, mitigating, said society would be better protected if Press attended a sex offenders treatment programme, which was available in the community but not in prison, according with the recommendation of a pre-sentence report. "There is, in my submission, a difference between someone who sends messages of this manner intending they would happen, rather than someone engaging in a fantasy," she said. "This defendant had the opportunity of meeting someone he was messaging and didn't attend." 'Disgraceful' Recorder Simon Eckersley told Press his behaviour was "disgraceful", and sentenced him to 18 months in jail, suspended for two years. He was ordered to attend a sex offenders treatment programme for 90 days and have 15 days of rehabilitation. Press was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and must register as a sex offender for the same period.

Description

A paedophile former teacher once jailed for secretly filming children undressing has walked free from court after downloading and distributing indecent images. Simon Whitfield, 58, had just been released from prison when a tip-off from Canadian authorities led police to his home in Highgate, Beverley, on October 19, 2017, Hull Crown Court heard. Phillip Evans, prosecuting, said Whitfield was the only one living in the house, which was searched by police and resulted in the seizure of his Acer laptop. Analysis showed he had downloaded six indecent photographs between September 17 and October 1, 2015, and had also used Skype to distribute two category C images on the latter date. Child abuse 'chats' Mr Evans said the offences were committed against "a background of conversations on what are called chat logs of a highly prurient nature involving the abuse of nine-year-old children". He had appeared under the name Simon Knowles when he was jailed for four and a half years at York Crown Court on April 25, 2013 for similar offences, as well as 11 counts of voyeurism. The voyeurism related to him filming children getting changed for PE at a school in West Yorkshire - using tiny spy cameras hidden in a pen and a shirt button. He accidentally caught his own face on camera. He was on licence, and subject to a sexual offences prevention order indefinitely, at the time he committed his latest offences. Charity support Whitfield was supported at court by a member of the Christian Jacob's Well charity, who had written one of his references, his barrister Nigel Clive said. Whitfield worked four hours a week as a volunteer for the charity. "This defendant is ashamed he is once again before the court," Mr Clive said. "This defendant says he took a lot from the sexual offenders work he undertook in prison, but when he was released he found adjusting to being back in society with a label such as he did, difficult. He found himself in a dark place." Since being caught, Whitfield had installed a programme on his computer which alerts The Lucy Faithfull Foundation of "suspicious" internet activity and the charity then alerts police, Mr Clive said. Judge explains sentence Sentencing Whitfield, Judge Simon Jack told him his latest crimes were "committed not long after you were released from serving a substantial prison sentence for similar offences. "If you had been caught and dealt with at that point you could certainly have expected an immediate prison sentence. "But I have to look at the overall picture, and the overall picture is that after going off the rails to some extent after your release from prison, you must have seen the error of your ways, and despite downloading indecent images, and in a couple of cases distributing them, you took steps to ensure you would not do it again, and there's no evidence to say you have done it again since the end of 2015. "And for that reason it seems to me that I can avoid doing what would otherwise be inevitable in sending you straight back to prison." Whitfield was sentenced to a two-year community order, which includes attendance on the Horizon programme and 20 days rehabilitation. He was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely, replacing the previous order, and must already register as a sex offender for life. Whitfield, who "has a pension", the court heard, was also ordered to pay the 500 costs of the prosecution. He offered to pay this immediately but was given 28 days. The judge told him: "I hope this is the last time you are in court. You should be aware if there is any lapse on your part you will be back and the likelihood is you will go back to prison again."

Description

A dangerous paedophile has admitted he would have raped an eight-year-old girl if he had not been interrupted by a school caretaker. John Baker, 41, who has 13 aliases and wore a wig for his appearance at Hull Crown Court on Thursday, was jailed for five years in 1998 for indecently assaulting the girl after taking her off a school premises in Bradford. The self-employed removals firm boss was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely, which included a prohibition on him using the internet at home. But after Bakers lodger reported him for accessing the internet at home, he admitted doing so in the early hours while his partner was asleep. Police found 363 images at category A - the most serious - 235 at category B, and 342 at category C. There were also 16 prohibited images, although no detail was given of what these were. Baker told the probation service one image was of an eight-month old baby, but it was not clear if this related to earlier offences. Claire Holmes, prosecuting, said Baker had used a website which "showed images from all over the world of people of all ages having sex. He saw adults but also saw a number of child sites where he saw young children performing sexual acts." Baker admitted "getting excited" but denied getting sexual gratification from the images. He continued viewing them because they continued to excite him, he said. Baker claimed he had been doing this for three to four months, but Miss Holmes said evidence suggested it had gone on longer. Baker also admitted using computer programmes to conceal his internet usage. List of aliases Other names used by Baker included "Sam Turner". On January 14 last year, Baker, accompanied by his partner, gave his name as Sam Turner when visiting another sex offender in Hull Prison. He also failed to give details of his other names when attending Osborne Street police station in November 17, 2017, to complete the sex offender registration form. Baker, of De Grey Street, west Hull, admitted three offences of making indecent photographs, possessing a prohibited image, breaching a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), and failing to comply with his notification requirements as a sex offender. He said he kept changing his name to protect his removals business, which was launched eight years ago. His 62 previous offences included the indecent assault, possessing indecent photographs and pseudo photographs, and failing to comply with notification requirements. Caretaker 'saved girl' Describing the circumstances of the assault on the eight-year-old, Judge Mark Bury said: "You had entered a school premises and you led her away. You were to admit to the probation service that had you not been interrupted by the caretaker you would have raped her." Referring to a pre-sentence report, the judge told Baker's barrister, Stephen Robinson: "He's regarded as a high risk of serious harm to children and a very high risk of further offending."

Description

A joiner was caught by online paedophile hunters trying to incite underage girls to have sex. Cameron Haigh, 24, later told police he was "looking for a f*** buddy" when he went on the social media dating website Jaumo, Hull Crown Court heard. He admitted continuing trying to engage them two "girls" in sexual activity and chat even after they told him they were 13 and 14. They were in fact "decoys" deployed by two paedophile hunting groups, with a 13-year-old called "Paula" set up by One Reason, and "Gabby", 14, posted by Justice4Kids. Richard Thompson, prosecuting, said Haigh was using the social media site Jaumo, and claimed he had set his parameters for girls aged between 17 and 21, but this could not be confirmed by prosecutors. Haigh communicated with "Paula" between October 13 and December 20, 2017, and with "Gabby" between February 20 that year and February 1, 2018. Mr Thompson said: "The defendant sent indecent photographs of himself and requested the same in return, despite it being made clear to him to profile related to a child." 'I'm only 13' "Paula" had told him she was on the site to make friends, but Haigh "made suggestive comments" of a sexual nature. She replied: "I'm only a kid. I've never done that before". But the suggestive comments continued. Mr Thompson said: "The defendant set out in explicit terms the sexual acts he would like to perform. The response he received was 'Why would you want to do that when I'm only 13?' The defendant said it did not matter." "Gabby" also received explicit messages from Haigh, who suggested they could "meet up". He also used WhatsApp to send her explicit pictures of himself. But his phone number on WhatsApp allowed him to be traced to the home he shared with his parents in Beverley, and members of Justice for Children paid him a visit on February 10. He confirmed he was the person responsible and was arrested after police were called. Haigh, of Nursery Gardens, Beverley, admitted four offences of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and two of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He had received a caution for common assault in 2010, and had a conviction for inflicting grievous bodily harm from a juvenile court. Haigh, a twin, provided the court with references from a retired detective inspector, his GP practice, his employer, and an aunt and uncle. Kylie Peach, mitigating, said: "What Mr Haigh is trying to advance is that normally he is a hard-working, polite young man who's acted out of character. He's deeply apologetic for his actions. The offences themselves are totally disgraceful." Haigh's father gave evidence and said the former Beverley Grammar School pupil was borderline dyslexic, which had caused him "frustrations" and led him to leave school at 15. 'You knew this was wrong' Sentencing Haigh to six months in jail, suspended for two years, Judge David Tremberg told him: "You knew what you were doing was wrong but you did it and you did it for sexual gratification, and you were either unable or unwilling to demonstrate the necessary control mechanism to decline from this behaviour." Haigh must also attend the Horizon programme, have up to 15 days rehabilitation, and comply with a 28-day curfew between the hours of 8pm and 6am. He must register as a sex offender for seven years and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.