Latest Offenders Kent

Description

Two abuse victims have bravely spoken of the heartbreaking toll their jailed attacker's deviant behaviour has had on their lives.

Standing in the witness box at Canterbury Crown Court, one described how they feared paedophile Adam North would "always haunt" them and that just hearing his name "sent a shiver" down their spine.

Another said they "struggled" every day and tragically wished they were no longer alive.

North, of The Street, in Willesborough, Ashford, was unanimously convicted by a jury in June of multiple offences in respect of his "sexual, violent and cruel" conduct dating back more than a decade.

The 41-year-old had maintained on his arrest and at trial that the accusations were "in their heads", and the court was told at his sentencing hearing this week that he continues to assert his innocence.

But on jailing the child molester for 18 years in front of "supportive" family and friends sitting in the public gallery, a judge said he had been found guilty on overwhelming evidence of "perpetuating evil".

He also praised the victims' courage and said "victory was theirs" as their "spirit and dignity" remained unbroken.

Visibly upset in the hushed courtroom and choking back tears, they read out their impact statements in which they detailed the devastating and disturbing consequences of North's offending.

This had involved being molested and performing sexual acts and watching child and extreme pornography, said prosecutor Daniel Stevenson.

They were also physically assaulted and threatened so they would not report their ordeals.

One said they now suffered from PTSD, hallucinations, anxiety and panic attacks, and even described being "disappointed" to wake from a suicide attempt and thinking there was "no escape."

"This will be the last time I force myself to talk about what happened because the mere mention of his name sends a shiver down my spine," the victim told the court.

"I feel I lost a part of myself I will never get back. I hope one day he will understand the pain and suffering he has caused me.

"I dread the day he is released. I hope his time in prison is punishment itself.

"He will always be haunting my nightmares and causing me pain."

The second victim spoke of also being diagnosed with PTSD and developing a "self-destructive" nature.

"I don't care what happens to me. Sometimes I wish I'm not alive anymore because every day is a struggle. When I think about the future, I don't think I have a future," they told the court.

"This will be the last time I force myself to talk about what happened because the mere mention of his name sends a shiver down my spine...”

"I don't think I will ever recover. I feel like [the abuse] will follow me forever."

North has no previous convictions and as many as 13 character references were provided by his partner, family and friends for the sentencing hearing.

"They support him, are at court today to support him, and will continue to support him, notwithstanding the sentence passed," said defence barrister Toby Cadman.

Telling North as he stood impassively in the dock that he would have to serve at least two-thirds of his jail term before parole would be considered, Judge Mark Weekes said he had "wrecked" childhoods.

"All sexual abuse scars forever. That is the sad, inevitable and notorious feature of such offending. No sentence I can impose can restore their confidence, or undo the harm you have caused," he said.

"You grossly violated both. Both suffered in silence. I have read with concern and sadness the victim impact statements.

"It has left one broken and it is quite clear this has had a devastating impact on their life. It is clear too that [the second victim] has suffered enormously.

"And yet, for all that, the final victory in this case is theirs. The courage in coming forward to report you and give evidence against you shows that your abuse did not in fact break their spirit.

"It is clear to me that you wrecked the childhood of both. You grossly violated both. Both suffered in silence...”

"You did not and could not remove the dignity of either of them. On the contrary, both can have the comfort of knowing their evidence has been accepted and has been believed.

"Both can know that they have forced you to confront your dark past. Both are to be applauded for their bravery and coming forward in that way. It would not have been an easy step.

"Each delivered their moving victim personal statements in person to me today and it is clear to me that they are both, in their own ways, remarkable."

In adding that he hoped the sentencing hearing would help their "healing process", he also told North: "I hope that a small part of you, at some point in the months and years that follow, begins to accept what you have done and you begin to understand quite what terrible harm you have caused, and perhaps to reflect, and ultimately, to regret it."

On his release, North will be subject, as an "offender of particular concern" to an additional year on any licence period, and indefinitely to sex offender notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

James Joiner, 67, of The Meadows, took advantage of his victim between February and May 2017.

He was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child following an earlier trial, and on Friday 27 October 2023 at Canterbury Crown Court was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

Police staff investigator Stewart Ross-Cumming of Kent Police said: ‘The offences committed by James Joiner caused his victim a great deal of emotional trauma and she was very brave in coming forward to report what had happened to her.

‘I hope she can now continue to rebuild her life and take comfort in the fact that her abuser will now spend a significant length of time behind bars.

‘Joiner has proven himself to pose a danger to children and I am pleased no others will be at risk whilst he serves his custodial sentence.’

Description

A convicted sex offender posted selfies taken at court on social media shortly after being spared jail for molesting a teenager.

On being handed a suspended sentence, Charlie Steine was told by the judge he should “reflect on and be grateful for” the forgiveness shown to him by his victim and his mother.

But within hours he had updated his Facebook profile picture to show him posing outside Canterbury Crown Court, captioning the image with a laughing emoji and saying: "Crown court for the 7th time this year.”

The 23-year-old also shared selfies he had taken inside the building – itself a criminal offence of contempt, so KentOnline cannot publish the images.

Steine was at the court to be sentenced having earlier pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a boy in Ramsgate.

Appearing there last Friday, Judge Mark Weekes remarked the victim and his parent had shown "considerable understanding and insight" into the defendant's behaviour on June 25 last year.

Prosecutor Suzanne Fewins said the youth was in Ramsgate when Steine, who the teen had previously seen begging, asked for 20p before questioning the boy about his sexuality and asking him to rate his appearance.

"The victim felt uncomfortable but, not wanting to be rude, responded "Six out of 10"," she told the court. "The defendant then asked for a hug. He then hugged the victim, stroked his back and started kissing his neck.

"The victim said he was frozen and didn't know what to do so stood still. The defendant let go and asked him to kiss him back. The victim said "No" and started to walk away."

However, Steine followed and tried to give him his Snapchat details.

"The victim said he felt really worried, wanted to get home, and kept shouting "no" in the defendant's direction," added Ms Fewins

The incident was reported to police and Steine, having been identified from CCTV footage, was arrested 11 days later at his grandmother's home.

When interviewed, he said he could not remember where he had been that day and "would not have kissed the boy and was not gay", said Ms Fewins.

However, Steine, who has seven previous convictions for 42 offences but none of a sexual nature, later pleaded guilty on the first day of trial in July.

The victim and his mother both attended that hearing and in a subsequent statement read to the court she described how she was "heartbroken" to hear the defendant had been dealt "a hard hand in life" but pleased he had been drug-free for a year.

"I left feeling pity for him and hoped that his future sentencing would be minimal," she continued. "My son said he felt extremely sorry for him and doesn't deserve what's coming to him.

"He knows [Steine] wasn't in his right mind when he did what he did and holds no hate towards him. He hopes he gets all the help he needs for a better life. He wishes Charlie all the best, as I do."

Kerry Waitt, defending, acknowledged the "very magnanimous" victim impact statement, adding the incident would have been "undoubtedly deeply distressing".

But he told the court Steine, who is from Ramsgate, was "effectively homeless, living on the streets" and should be given the "support and encouragement needed to move on in his life".

Passing sentence, Judge Weekes said the defendant, while intoxicated, had initially engaged his victim in "what might crudely be termed some form of banter" before accosting him in a "quite distressing and frightening" manner.

But he said he was "heartened" to read the "exceptionally humane" statement from the boy's mother and told Steine: "She and your victim are extremely forgiving people and you should be extremely grateful for that.

"They understand and have considerable insight into the state you were in at the time of this offence and you would do well to reflect on that when you leave court. Your victim has demonstrated a considerable milk of human kindness."

The judge added it was "most unfortunate" Steine had not pleaded guilty at an earlier stage, and highlighted the fact he had continued to maintain his innocence

But he told him that was now "water under the bridge" due to the "very good progress" he had made, and that while his behaviour was "troubling", he did not pose a significant risk to the public.

Steine was handed an 18-month jail term suspended for two years, with 20 rehabilitation activity sessions and a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement. He must also sign on the sex offender register for 10 years.

He thanked the judge as he left court, before later sharing the selfies taken inside and outside the building.

In a post that morning he had told his Facebook friends he was due at crown court, and when one asked why he replied: “For having to say guilty for something I was innocent of, how crumbled the system is.”

After the sentencing hearing he wrote that he had once been a “very bad naughty druggy boy”, but was now “such a different person”.

Days before he had posted a video he had sent to someone in an effort to engage them in a fight, shouting in the footage: “Come here now and scrap me d***head.”

Description

Jack Usher was arrested and charged after detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate investigated the incident on 13 May this year.

The 18-year-old admitted attempted rape at Canterbury Crown Court in July and was jailed for six years and nine months at the same court on Tuesday 17 October.

He will serve an extended six-year licence period after that term and has been placed on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.

The victim was walking along a woodland path near Dunes Road, Greatstone, shortly after 5pm on 13 May when she encountered Usher, who was not known to her.

He ran up behind her and repeatedly hit her to the head, knocking her to the ground.

He told the woman he was going to rape her and attempted to drag her towards some bushes.

The victim managed to push him away and leave the area before contacting police.

An investigation was launched which saw an extensive review of all CCTV in the area, leading to Usher being identified as a suspect.

He was arrested at his home in Marsh Crescent, New Romney on 18 May and was charged the following day.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Ross Gurden said: ‘This attack would have been terrifying for the victim and I would like to praise her courage in supporting our investigation and this prosecution.

‘I hope the quick arrest and charge of this suspect, as well as the jail term now imposed, reassures the local community, who must have found the incident very concerning.

‘Tackling violence against women and girls is Kent Police’s top priority and an important part of that is tracking down and bringing to justice offenders like Jack Usher.’

Description

A pervert who once used his neighbour’s WiFi signal to download vile images of child sexual abuse has now been caught trying to chat to Russian teenagers online.

Terence Standage, a registered sex offender from Maidstone, secretly accessed thousands of indecent images and videos using next door's web connection for more than six years.

Almost 12,000 illegal images and videos of children being abused were discovered, of which more than 300 were classed in the most serious category.

Police also identified him committing further “upskirting” offences involving a number of unknown women on a train and a bus.

Standage was subsequently charged with four counts of making indecent images of a child and three counts of outraging public decency and in May 2021, pleaded guilty to the charges.

He was recalled to prison having breached his licence terms imposed from previous sex offences, and was then jailed for two years and four months for the offences and made subject to the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

This banned Standage from having any unsupervised contact with a child under the age of 16 unless supervised by an adult.

However, on June 19 this year, officers went to the 64-year-old’s home in Maidstone to see if he was complying with the order and found he had been trying to chat to teenagers in Russia on the country’s most popular social media platform, VK.

Standage, of Tonbridge Road, had also set up two aliases online to talk to girls aged 14 and 15 not only on the VK site, but on TikTok too and had started asking the youngsters if they spoke English.

When police made the unannounced visit to his home they found him using apps on a mobile phone to communicate with the teens.

He admitted breaching his SHPO by talking to the youngsters and failing to comply with notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act, by creating the aliases police were unaware of, when he appeared before magistrates in Medway on October 4.

Debbie Jones prosecuting said: “Officers made an unannounced home visit and his phone was reviewed and it was discovered he’d been on the Russian social media site, VK.

“He had been talking to young females who were 14 and 15 years old. He had also been on TikTok and had two aliases and his mobile was seized.

“He made full admissions to both offences and told officers he had been stupid but admitted to them he had been sexually interested in young people and that he had failed to tell them he had the profiles online.”

The court also heard he had only asked the Russian youngsters if they spoke English before he had the visit from police.

Magistrates decided to send the cases to Maidstone Crown Court to be dealt with and Standage will be sentenced there on a date to be fixed.

The bench also ordered a pre-sentencing report to be carried out on him before then and he was granted bail until his next appearance.

Description

The family of an underage girl bombarded with explicit selfies by a 32-year-old roofer says he “got off lightly” after he was spared jail.

Dad Jamie Scott, from New Romney, repeatedly sent pictures of his penis to the disgusted teenager, blaming his heavy cocaine use.

He captioned some of the images “you could be on this”, “this could be yours” and “we could have a relationship”.

His deviance only came to light when a disturbing letter written by the victim was found in her bedroom by her mum, who alerted police.

Scott was arrested and later admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child between January and September 2020.

The girl said the explicit images were sent to her as often as five times a month but Scott refuted this, saying it was limited to two or three occasions.

But he could not give an explanation other than it was induced by his heavy cocaine use, the court was told.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, did not provide a statement detailing the impact his behaviour had had on her, but her sister spoke exclusively to KentOnline at Canterbury Crown Court after Scott was spared jail on Thursday.

Wiping away tears, she said she felt "massively" let down by the sentence imposed.

"He has got off lightly,” she said.

“He had no answer for any of this apart from he was on cocaine. Yes, he is now going to be monitored but that's not enough. It's certainly not what I was hoping for.

"My sister is feeling bad, even three years on. It is just horrible. He doesn't realise the impact it has had and how it's affected her and us as a family in so many different ways."

Describing the moment Scott's depravity was discovered, the relative continued: "My mum was going through my sister's room and came across a letter in which she had drawn speech bubbles saying 'I feel disgusting' and 'I've washed myself in bleach'.

"We didn't know about it until then, and the public needs to be made aware of people like this who get away with it. It's disgusting."

The victim also had to give evidence at a trial earlier this year where Scott faced more serious 'contact' offence allegations. He denied any wrongdoing however and was subsequently cleared by the jury.

"We didn't know about it until then, and the public needs to be made aware of people like this who get away with it. It's disgusting...”

Judge Simon Taylor KC therefore told Scott that the law required him to "put the more serious matters out of mind" when deciding the appropriate punishment for the sexual communication offence he had admitted.

But the judge acknowledged the victim would have felt not only "very let down" after the trial but also by the suspended sentence he was "just persuaded" to impose.

He told Scott: "Sending a teenage girl images of your penis with such captions as 'you could be on this', 'this could be yours' and 'we could have a relationship', and saying you wanted to 'snort cocaine off her butt and boobs’, whether under the influence of cocaine or not, is obviously extremely serious and utterly destructive for that young lady making a transition from teenage years into adulthood.

"No doubt she feels very let down, and very let down by the sentence I impose today. But I follow guidelines and I am true to them."

Judge Taylor said he had also taken into account Scott's guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, employment, the realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and the impact an immediate jail term would have on his young daughter.

"A child deserves to have their father in their life, even if their father behaved in such a disgraceful way as you did," he added.

Scott, of Lydd Road, New Romney, was given 12 months' imprisonment suspended for two years, with 30 rehabilitation activity requirements, 200 hours of unpaid work and attendance on the Horizon sex offender programme.

Judge Taylor also added a nine-month tagged curfew between 8.30pm and 3am so as to "considerably curtail your social life".

"That will punish you and serve as a productive measure for you if you are truly making progress with your cocaine addiction," he told Scott.

"Your almost inexplicable behaviour is such that there is a continued risk if you relapse or continue to use cocaine."

Lesley Manley, defending, said Scott had already taken "very serious steps" to rehabilitate himself which included working with the Forward Trust drug and alcohol abuse charity.

She added he was a "very hard-working man" running a business with his brother, and had had the stress of the trial "weighing heavily" on him for three years.

In addition to his suspended sentence, Scott was also made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must sign on the sex offender register for the same time period.

He was given 28 days in which to pay £535 court costs.

Description

The married woodcutter, of Skeete Road, Lyminge, near Folkestone, was in his late 50s when he subjected her to a variety of sexual acts in several locations, including his workshop, local woods and truck.

The victim later reported him to police, saying she wanted to protect other women and children, and bravely gave evidence at Jones's trial earlier this year.

He denied six offences of sexual activity with a child and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity but was unanimously convicted by a jury.

He has since returned to Canterbury Crown Court for sentencing – and heard the devastating impact his deviant behaviour had on her life.

Referring to her two victim impact statements, prosecutor Jose Olivares-Chandler told the court: "Because of Ivor Jones, she grew up into a nervous, anxious and vulnerable adult who never felt good enough for anyone.

"She said she saw herself as a woman with no self-worth and had an excruciating feeling of shame about her body.

"She felt that he took years of her life away from her and she needed to escape from reality, using unhealthy coping mechanisms as a result.

"But she wanted to protect other women and children which is why she came forward and put herself through a trial, which she found extremely emotional, difficult and stressful."

The victim also spoke of how Jones had gained her trust to take advantage.

"She felt the defendant manipulated her to get what he wanted, knowing her age, and she wished she had never met him," continued the prosecutor.

"She said the defendant took the best years of her life away....She felt she was the problem and wasn't good enough.

“You took the opportunity to groom - and that is the right word here - for her to accede to your sexual advances...”

"As she says 'These monsters are able to hide behind the friend mask. Who can we trust?'"

Jailing Jones for six years last month, Judge Douglas Marks Moore said although he could take the pensioner's previous good character and his 82-year-old, bed-bound wife's poor health into consideration, he had to be punished for what was "an extremely serious series of offences".

He told Jones: "Children are by definition vulnerable. They are members of our society that need protection.

“They are members of our society that often can be targeted because of their vulnerability.

"I have absolutely no doubt at all that you were able to see and were aware of her particular vulnerability. You knew her age.

"You took the opportunity to groom - and that is the right word here - for her to accede to your sexual advances.

"You had the opportunity to stop, you had the opportunity to reflect, but you carried on for your own sexual gratification."

On his release from prison, Jones will be subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and an indefinite requirement to sign on the sex offender register.

Description

A former Tunbridge Wells resident who used social media apps in attempts to groom children for sexual abuse has been jailed for seven years.

Gareth Lucas repeatedly sent explicit images to the profiles of two children he believed were only 14 years old.

Operating under the alias of ‘Garfuncle Lucas’, between 2 August and 13 November 2019 he accessed Facebook and instant messaging apps to seek out and contact victims.

Despite receiving several replies, clearly stating they were 14 and were at school, Lucas bombarded two children with messages of an explicit nature, urging them to engage in sexual activity and to send him indecent images.

Lucas also made efforts to meet one of them in Sevenoaks, where he planned to carry out abuse on a train.

Phone hacking claims

Unbeknown to him, the children did not exist – their profiles were linked to fictitious accounts. He was arrested in Tunbridge Wells on 12 November 2019 and taken into custody.

During police interviews, Lucas initially denied responsibility and claimed his phone ‘had been hacked’.

At Maidstone Crown Court, he admitted two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and three counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity.

Lucas denied a further charge of attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence but was found guilty following a trial.

On Friday 22 September 2023, Lucas, 31, of Hollingworth Road, Maidstone was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment, with an extended licence period of four years.

Upon his release from custody, he will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. He was also added to the sex offender register for life.

Hugely concerning

Detective Constable Carl Evans, of the Paedophile Online Investigation Team, said: ‘Lucas made persistent and repeated efforts to contact children for the purposes of his own gratification. He has displayed a clear desire to meet and abuse them, and the graphic detail and demands he included in his messages was hugely concerning.'This case also acts as a reminder to parents of children who have mobile phones and tablets to speak to them and help them understand the precautions they should take when using the internet, or the many instant messaging services that are available.'Children should only communicate with people that they know personally and report any suspicions or inappropriate advances from strangers to their parents, schools, or the police.’

Description

A paedophile has been jailed after he travelled more than 100 miles to meet an underage girl which turned out to be a police decoy.

Leslie Gearing, 78, went from his home in McKenzie Road, Chatham, to Central Park in Peterborough on February 20 after arranging to meet up with a 13-year-old girl.

He began grooming the “girl” online in December, exchanging messages and sending multiple sexually-explicit images.

He asked all traces be cleared of their conversations and said any photos he received would be put in an encrypted folder on his computer’s hard drive.

He complimented the girl’s appearance but unbeknown to him he was speaking to an undercover police officer. Gearing said she was a “very pretty girl” and he wanted to take naked photos of her and have sex.

He was arrested upon his arrival in Peterborough in a pre-planned operation carried out by members of the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT).

A search of the man’s car found child-size underwear, sex toys and camera equipment.

More than 30,000 indecent images of children were discovered on different devices in his home and a further examination found more sexual communications with children and adults, with some attempts to arrange sexual activities with minors.

On Monday (September 18), at Cambridge Crown Court, Gearing was jailed for three years and 11 months.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, three counts of attempted sexual communication with a child and two counts of causing a child aged 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity.

He also admitted two counts of distributing an indecent photograph of a child, one count of possession of an extreme pornographic image and one count of attempting to meet a child under 16 following grooming.

Gearing was found guilty of a further count of attempting to meet a child under 16 following grooming and this was ordered to lie on file.

DC Cheryl Lee, from the POLIT, said: “Gearing, through his self-serving depravity, was prepared to travel more than 100 miles with no care for the physical and emotional damage he would have caused by engaging in sexual activity with an underage child.

“The items he brought with him show just how much of a risk he poses to children. Thankfully he has been exposed and caught and will be held accountable for his actions.

Description

A teenage girl has been praised for bravely speaking out to put a “dangerous” child predator who groomed her behind bars.

Johnathon Marren, of Cecilia Road in Ramsgate, committed multiple online sex offences after contacting the youngster on social media. He first started talking to the teenager online in December 2020 before beginning a weeks-long grooming campaign. Marren, 26, spoke to the child sexually, sent explicit photos and even sent a list of “rules” to try to control the victim. 
 
In January 2021, the victim, who is from Warwickshire, approached the police with the support of her family. After telling police what had happened, detectives were able to build a case against Marren and arrested him. When he was interviewed, Marren remained silent and only surrendered passwords to his electronic devices when he was warned it was an offence not to do so.

The 26-year-old was subsequently charged with attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, causing a child to view images of sexual activity, possessing indecent photographs and attempting to meet a girl following grooming. 

On Wednesday last week, Marren was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison in a hearing at Warwick Crown Court.

Det Con Emma Smith, of Warwickshire Police, said: “Marren is a dangerous predator who sought out a young girl in the hopes of completely controlling her.

“So appalling was his attitude, he believed he could even send a list of ‘rules’ that his victim must follow.

“He was quite happy to bombard a child with thousands of appalling messages but he had nothing to say for himself when my colleague and I brought him in for interview.

“All of us at Warwickshire Police are so proud of the girl for her courage. Thanks to her bravery, and the support of her family, we have been able to gather enough evidence to see the court take Marren off the streets.

“I hope this can serve as a message to other young people who might find themselves in this situation. We will listen and we will help.”

Description

A paedophile litter picker who claimed in sexually explicit online chats with young girls to have been a youth worker has been jailed.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that Mark Clover, from Folkestone, communicated with a 12-year-old girl via WhatsApp over a four-and-a-half month period and tried to get her to send him an image of her naked breasts.

Their conversations between March and July 2019 began innocently, with Clover telling her he was a "good and loyal person" and she was "beautiful".

However, they were soon filled with references to puberty, male genitals and a sex toy.

When that chat came to an end after his perverted request for the topless photo was refused, Clover moved onto Kik messenger where he told his 14-year-old victim he was looking for "role play and maybe love".

But he claimed during his trial he was not responsible for any of the deviant conversations, despite admitting to police after his arrest that his phone was with him "24/7, nines times out of 10".

A former flatmate also described Clover as being "very possessive" over the device.

The 36-year-old, however, told the court he would lend his phone to others to use, and spoke of his email account being hacked.

Clover, who was a volunteer litter picker in Folkestone between November 2018 and July 2019, also dismissed his "brief" use of a TeenChat app as being for role play and finding people of his age to date. He claimed that an online search for child pornography related to his coursework for an NVQ in childcare.

The Trinity Gardens resident denied inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, sexual communication with a child, and attempted sexual communication with a child.

But he was unanimously convicted on all charges after jury deliberations lasting just one hour.

At the start of his trial, prosecutor James Lofthouse said it was "absurd" to suggest anyone other than Clover was responsible.

Not only were the explicit chats discovered on his phone but they also contained unusual spellings and words such as "Hay" instead of "Hey", "Hugz" for "Hugs" and the regular use of "He he" - all of which were found in his more innocent, day-to-day messages.

Police also found sexually explicit internet search terms in respect of underage girls including "virgin rape" and "10-year-old porn videos", the court heard.

After asking his younger victim to send him a topless photo he apologised and said: "I was truly not trying to be a paedo."

The jury heard he then told the girl, who had expressed a concern about her breasts: "I'm a trained nurse but I have been a youth worker as well."

Although Clover's 12-year-old victim was traced by investigating officers, the identity of the older girl was never discovered, said Mr Lofthouse.

During cross-examination, Clover maintained he was "100% positive" he had not engaged in explicit chats with young girls and said he found the allegation he made numerous searches for child pornography as "quite upsetting".

Asked by Mr Lofthouse why, as a man in his 30s, he went on TeenChat, he told the jury he believed it was a role-playing app and he was looking for dating matches.

At this point, the prosecutor said: "What sort of matches were you looking for on TeenChat?"

Clover replied: "I was looking for people between the ages of 29 and 30. I didn't realise it was that kind of chat."

But Mr Lofthouse retorted: "Teen. Isn't the clue in the word?"

Passing sentence on Wednesday, Judge Simon Taylor KC told Clover his warped actions were neither "a one-off nor a one-victim offence" as he jailed him two years and seven months.

Philip Romans, defending, told the court Clover was dyslexic, had been diagnosed with an emotional personality disorder, and was on benefits.

It is not known if Clover, who has no previous convictions, ever officially worked as a youth worker.

On his release, he will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will have to sign on the sex offender register indefinitely.

Description

A former secondary school teacher has been jailed after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting two pupils under his care.

Russell Tillson denied a string of allegations relating to abuse which began in the 1980s but was convicted after a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.

Allegations which related to Tillson’s employment at Tonbridge School were first made to Kent Police in 2018.

An investigation led to evidence he committed offences over a period spanning almost 20 years, in both the classroom and in a private residence he held at the school.

Exploited

Tillson occupied a senior role and any decisions he made could have a significant influence on pupils’ future educational aspirations. He exploited this influence to make advances on victims, including one incident when a boy was offered an enhanced university reference, that Tillson suggested could be achieved by ‘unconventional methods.’

Tillson was arrested in October 2020 and during police interviews denied all allegations put to him, dismissing them as ‘fiction’. He was charged with five counts of indecent assault but denied any wrongdoing and the case went to trial, where an additional count of the same offence was added.

Aged 73, of Ship Close, Dymchurch, Tillson was convicted on four counts. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on the other two charges.

On Friday 1 September 2023, he was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to five years and eight months. He was also given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. 

Damage

DC Josh Gearing, of the West Kent Vulnerability Investigation Team, said: ‘Sex offenders like Tillson wreak incalculable damage on their victims, many who will suffer in silence for years, or throughout their whole lives.'Thankfully in this case the victims have shown tremendous courage to come forward. Today’s sentence will not take away the trauma they were made to endure as children, but it will hopefully bring some closure.‘I hope that this case is a reminder that all non-recent allegations of abuse will always be investigated fully by Kent Police, and we will do everything within our powers to ensure offenders are brought before the courts and punished.’

Description

A former Margate resident convicted of non-recent child sexual offences committed in the UK and abroad has been jailed.

In 2019, the Met Police launched an investigation alongside authorities from the United States of America (USA), France and Israel after two men came forward stating that they had been assaulted more than a decade ago.

Jair Klein, 55, of Majestic Court, Margate was found guilty at Harrow Crown Court on Wednesday, 19 July of five sexual offences committed against two victims.

The charges were:

• Three counts of sexual activity with a child that was aged 10 or 11.
• One count of sexual activity with a child that was aged 13 or 14.
• One count of sexual activity with a child that was aged 14 or 15.

He was found not guilty of a further two counts of sexual activity with a child.

At the Old Bailey on Thursday, 24 August he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, extended on licence to 16 in recognition of the danger he poses.

He will also be the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for an indeterminate period.

The father of one of Klein’s victims, said: “This conviction could never have happened without the dedicated professionalism and determination of the Metropolitan Police and the CPS, who were there every step of the way to ensure justice, treating us with consideration and dignity. It has been a difficult journey, but well worth it, and we are delighted with the result.”

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, said: “Klein abused the trust that had been placed in him by two young children. Whilst the offending started in Barnet, he followed them abroad where he continued to offend.

“I would like to praise the bravery of these men in coming forward and telling officers about what happened. Having pleaded not guilty, Klein forced them to recount their experiences in court. But again, they found the strength to speak out – ultimately leading to this conviction.

“I would also like to thank the authorities in the USA, France and Israel for assisting us with our investigation regarding matters overseas.”

In December 2019, officers from the Met were contacted by two men who informed them that they had been sexually abused – by the same suspect – in the United Kingdom, USA and France between 2010 and 2014.

They detailed how Klein had given them gifts and taken them on days out, including to a swimming pool where he would watch them undress. Once alone, he would abuse them.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Philip Maunders launched a highly complex investigation, and on 27 September 2019, Klein was arrested. He provided a prepared statement in which he denied the allegations, making no further comment.

The investigation gathered further evidence and the witness accounts provided harrowing details. The investigation continued, and on 11 June 2022, he was charged.

During the course of the trial the courts heard that Klein had a previous conviction from Israel 2014 for a similar offence for which he received a three year custodial sentence for.

DC Maunders, said: “Klein was a master manipulator who groomed two children and their families to make them believe he could be trusted with their care.

“I would like to thank the families for their courage and tenacity throughout the investigation and the whole court process.

“I also encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, whether in the past or recently, to contact police, or any number of charities who can provide support. The Met remain determined to bring perpetrators before the courts.”

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A Ramsgate man who carried out sexual offences against girls has been jailed for 10 years.

Victor Walkom, formerly of Dumpton Park Road, was charged with five counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act.

The offences took place in 2016 and 2017, when the two victims were aged less than 15 years old.

Investigation
The victims later reported the offences to Kent Police, prompting an investigation by detectives from the Vulnerability Investigation Team.

Walkom denied the charges but was found guilty of all six counts by a jury at Canterbury Crown Court.

The 84-year-old was sentenced to 10 years at the same court on Tuesday 15 August 2023. He was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A “depraved” paedophile has been locked up after years of his child sex offending were uncovered.

Thomas Hawkwood, 69, was responsible for the rape and indecent assault of a child dating back to the 1990s.

He was arrested in November 2020 as part of an investigation by the Medway Vulnerability Investigation Team but denied any wrong doing.

Hawkwood, of Wrotham Road, Gravesend, was later charged with inciting a child into sexual activity, rape and indecent assault.

A trial took place at Woolwich Crown Court earlier this month where it was heard he had harassed his victim with threats of violence and abused them.

He was found guilty by a jury on eight charges.

On Monday he was sentenced to 14 years in prison and put on the sex offenders register.

‘He terrorised a vulnerable child with threats of violence...’

Luke Grimmett, who led the case against the sex offender, said: “Hawkwood is a depraved and intimidating individual who has shown no remorse for his appalling actions. He terrorised a vulnerable child with threats of violence and subjected them to the most abhorrent abuse.

“Offenders like Hawkwood wreak incalculable damage upon their victims and it is sometimes extremely hard for them to come forward and report what they have experienced to the police.

“In this case, the victim has thankfully found tremendous courage to provide evidence and ensure Hawkwood has now faced justice.

“I do hope this sentence reassures the public that we will do everything we can to put offenders behind bars and support survivors as much as we can.

“It is never too late to report any sexual offence, you will be supported by specially trained officers throughout the process, and we always treat any information with the utmost confidence and sensitivity.”