Latest Offenders Lancashire

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A “depraved” sexual predator from Chorley who abused two young children under the age of ten has been jailed.

Damon Townsend, 35, raped his first victim when she was under the age of 10.

That victim said she is now scared to be around boys and men.

Townsend sexually assaulted his second victim when she was also under the age of 10 and told her to keep what he had done a secret.

While those offences were being investigated information came to light that Townsend might have pornographic images on his phone.

Townsend’s phone was seized and an examination discovered the device contained a number of indecent images of children and other prohibited images.

He was subsequently charged with a number of sexual offences and remanded into custody.

Townsend, now of no fixed address but formerly of Cornflower Close, Chorley, pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of children, however denied any offences relating to the victims of his sexual abuse.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, Townsend was found guilty of raping a child under 13 and indecently assaulting a child under 13.

He was deemed to be a dangerous offender and given an immediate custodial sentence of 16 years with a further four years extended licence.

Townsend will have to go before the Parole Board who will assess whether he remains a risk to the public. It will only be after that assessment that Townsend could be released.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

DC Louise Dutton, of South CID, said: “Townsend is a manipulative individual with an abhorrent and warped sexual interest in children.

“Not only did he target his victims because of their vulnerability, he also forced them to relive their harrowing ordeals by taking the case to trial.

She added: “I am glad this dangerous sexual predator has now been given a substantial custodial sentence. The associated court orders will also mean Townsend will be monitored by the authorities once he is eventually released from the custodial element of his sentence.

“I want to place on record my admiration at the bravery displayed by both victims during the criminal justice process and beyond.

“I know these offences have understandably had a significant and ongoing impact on them and I hope they can take some comfort in knowing that their abuser will be behind bars for some time.

“I hope the outcome of this case will encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward, knowing that they will be believed and we will do everything in our power to put the perpetrators before the courts.”

Description

A dangerous sex offender who had indecent images of children on multiple electronic devices has been jailed for five years. In December officers from the East MOSOVO (Management of Sexual or Violent Offenders) Team carried out a compliance visit at the home of Martin Blake after concerns were raised that he was not complying with the requirements of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Blake, 58, who had previously been convicted for child prostitution and numerous fraud offences, was already required to adhere to the notification requirements and a court order restricting his access and usage of the internet. During the visit carious electronic devices were seized, including an iPhone, USB sticks and a PC. After an extensive investigation, a mixture of Category A, B ad C indecent images were found on the PC, iPhone and five USB sticks. It was also found that Blake had committed a significant number of other breaches, including using numerous unregistered names and bank accounts, as well as failing to provide further devices identified in the investigation. Blake, of Redwood Drive, Longridge, pleaded guilty to possession of indecent images of children, as well as breaching his Sex Offender Notification Requirements and his SHPO. At Preston Crown Court earlier this week he was given the custodial sentence, a revised 10-year SHPO and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A vile pervert has been caged after his victim bravely set up a camera to catch him in the act of abusing her.

Michael Halliday, of Chorley, started his sickening campaign of abuse before his victim had reached the age of 12. The 67-year-old groped and kissed her on numerous occasions, Preston Crown Court heard.

Despite living in fear of Halliday, the victim bravely set up a secret camera to catch him in the act of abusing her. She then informed school, who reported the matter to police.

An investigation was then launched an investigation into Halliday. He was subsequently convicted of two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16.

He has now been jailed for 30 months.

At Preston Crown Court earlier this month, Halliday, of Springwood Drive, Chorley, was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. He was also made subject of indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order conditions for when he is released from custody.

DS Samantha Bartley, of the South Exploitation Team, said: First and foremost I want to praise the victim for the incredible bravery she has shown throughout this process. I know Hallidays offending has had a profound impact on her and I hope the fact he has been convicted for what he did to her will be of some comfort.

Halliday is an opportunistic sexual predator who targeted his victim for his perverted sexual interests.

I hope this case clearly demonstrates that the Preston Child Exploitation Team takes all reports of sexual assaults, grooming and similar offences against children extremely seriously and will act upon any information we receive.

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Derek Clayton of Unsworth Way, Oldham, was handed a two-year suspended sentence at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday, September 12, for 12 offences that breached a restraining order imposed on him in 2002.

The court heard that over a period of two weeks from May 14 to May 29, the 76-year-old had three boys under the age of 18 in his flat, including one that was just 12, and permitted them to smoke cannabis and cigarettes.

The police were alerted, and Clayton was arrested by GMPs Oldham Complex Safeguarding Team and charged with 12 breaches of his restraining order on July 15.

Addressing Clayton at the sentencing, Judge Mark Savill said: You are 76 years of age and to be sentenced by me for 12 offences that breached a restraining order imposed on you in 2002.

Over a lengthy period of time from the 70s, 80s, 90s and culminating in 2002, you were convicted of a number of sexual offences against young males.

"In 2002 you were made the subject of a restraining order indefinitely to which you have fell foul of and are to be sentenced for today.

In mitigation, defence barrister Robert Stewart called for Judge Savill to consider Claytons age, mobility, and ill health when imposing a sentence.

Judge Savill acknowledged the points in mitigation and noted that Clayton had not committed any sexual offences for at least 20 years.

Clayton was handed a suspended sentence of two years, an indefinite restraining order and ordered him to complete a 30-day rehabilitation requirement and 31 days of the Horizon programme.

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A Greater Manchester Police officer has avoided jail, despite downloading thousands of sick child abuse images over a 10-year period. The disturbing photographs and videos were uncovered by Thomas Woods’ pregnant wife after she looked through his phone, suspecting that he was having an affair.

His wife - who was not named in court but is also a serving police officer - asked a friend for advice after discovering the images, prosecution barrister Mark Pritchard told Minshull Street Crown Court. She later told the same woman, referred to in court as Ms Spencer, that the images were being used as part of an investigation, to 'lure' predators in, following a conversation with Woods.

Ms Spencer suspected that she was being lied to and reported Woods, 34, to the police. GMP's Sexual Offences Unit denied that any such investigation was taking place and Woods was subsequently arrested.

At the time of the offence, Woods was an active police constable in GMP's Salford district. He has been suspended from the force since his arrest and misconduct proceedings will commence "in due course", GMP confirmed.

The court heard that across Woods’ two phones and his laptop, there were 2,567 indecent images - 678 of which were in the most serious category. The images featured children aged between three and 16-years-old and had been downloaded between 2010 and 2021 - with some pre-dating Woods joining GMP.

Mr Pritchard said that one of the most serious videos showed a four-year-old girl being raped and told the court that "discernible pain and suffering by children" was an aggravating feature in the case. There was also a 'prohibited' CGI image of children and an 'extreme pornographic' video, featuring a woman and a dog, found on his devices.

Woods, of Brookdale, New Longton, Preston, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images, possessing a prohibited image of a child, and possessing extreme pornography. The judge, Recorder Anthony O'Donohoe told defence barrister Richard Brigden that he had decided to follow the recommendations in the pre-sentence report As a result, Mr Brigden offered no additional mitigation in Woods' defence.

Woods, who sobbed in the dock throughout the hearing, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years. Recorder O'Donohoe said: "For part of the time, you were a serving police officer. You should have known better and the public have the right to expect higher standards of behaviour from police officers."

Under the terms of his suspended sentence, Woods will have to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 rehabiliation activity requirement days. He is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and will have to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years. Recorder O'Donohoe added: "You will inevitably lose your employment as a police officer and, in fact, you will leave the police service in disgrace."

Following the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Dave Jones, of GMP’s Professional Standards Branch said: "Possessing indecent images is disgusting behaviour from a police officer, who members of the public trust to fight crime and keep people safe. Greater Manchester Police's officers and staff are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour and those who fall below these standards are investigated and, when relevant, prosecuted. Following the conclusion of criminal proceedings, misconduct proceedings will commence in due course.”

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A serial rapist who groomed a schoolgirl before going onto sexually abuse her in Burnley has been given a further 12 years in custody. Shaun Collins, formerly known as Shaun Greenwood, is already serving a life sentence after being convicted of three separate rape offences against three different victims in 2006. After reading about Collins conviction, a fourth victim wrote a letter to a now retired Lancashire Police Detective Sergeant in 2006 outlining how her life had been affected by the defendants sexual offending, but at that time she was not ready to make a formal complaint. In 2020 the victim, now in her 50s, was recontacted by the police where it was established that Collins, who used to perform as a busker in Burnley, had raped her on more than one occasion when she was under the age of 16. Such was the impact on the victim, she had to seek counselling years after the attack due to ongoing nightmares. Collins, 58, of no fixed address, was charged with rape but denied any wrongdoing. He was found guilty of rape following a trial at Burnley Crown Court, and appeared at the court today (August 17) to be sentenced for 11 counts of rape and one count of indecent assault. Collins was told that he would have to serve two thirds of the 12-year sentence before he is eligible to go before the Parole Board, where he will have to demonstrate that he no longer poses a risk to the public or will remain in jail. DC Kyle Hazelaar, of the East MOSOVO (Management of Sexual or Violent Offender) Team, said: Collins is a dangerous individual who carried out a sickening campaign of sexual violence against women over many years. I am pleased he has had his time in custody increased. Not only did he carry out these appalling crimes for his own perverted sexual motives, he also made the victim re-live her ordeal by having to give evidence. She has shown incredible bravery in the case and I want to place on record my admiration for the incredible bravery she has shown throughout this process. Collins carried out his abuse over several decades and I am convinced there could be more victims who have not yet come forward. I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to make contact with the police knowing they will be listened to and believed. No matter how historic the case may be, we will investigate it and do everything in our power to put the perpetrator before the courts. In a statement, the victim said: First, I would like to commend Detective Constables Treena Peel and Kyle Hazelaar of Lancashire Police. They have supported me throughout this process from the early stages of the investigation right through to the conclusion of the trial. They have been a huge source of support and I could not have wished for more. Secondly, I would like to implore any victim of sexual violence or abuse, whether recent or historic, to come forward to report the crimes against you to seek justice. I never imagined I would have my case heard and believed after more than three decades. Collins has previously been ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A "wicked and cruel" man who tied up and raped a woman after attacking her with an axe has been jailed. Mark Yeates, 51, hit the woman on the head with the weapon at a property in Accrington, Lancashire, on 28 February. Yeates, of Nuttall Street, Accrington, posed "a real risk of further offending towards women", Lancashire Police said. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to three counts of rape and one of assault. A police spokesman said officers were alerted to a serious sexual assault at a property at about 10:25 GMT on 28 February. 'Dangerousness' He said Yeates was quickly identified as the prime suspect and arrested later the same day, but answered no comment to all questions put to him during interview. Yeates was given a further eight years on extended licence and ordered to sign the sex offender's register for life. Speaking after sentencing, Det Con Jo Billington said he was "a wicked and cruel individual, who, as recognised by the judge, poses a real risk of further offending towards women". She said she was pleased with the sentence he received, which reflected "his dangerousness". She added that the woman who he attacked deserved praise for her "bravery" during the case. "I hope the courage she has shown... will encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward," she said.

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A woman raped by a "brutish and violent" thug while pregnant went on to suffer a miscarriage soon after.

The woman was repeatedly raped by Faran Abbas during a nine month long campaign of abuse which left her feeling scared, broken and unable to recognise herself in the mirror. Preston Crown Court today heard that Abbas attempted to use his religious background to justify his behaviour but that was rubbished by a judge who told him: "There is no excuse, nor could there ever be."

The victim had only known Abbas, 28, for a few months but after an initial good impression, he soon began to "treat her life as his own, her body as his own". In a powerful victim impact statement read to the court, the woman revealed the extent of the impact caused by Abbas' evil action. He, meanwhile, has since remarried a "new, young wife".

In a trial at Preston Crown Court, Abbas, of Church Street, Accrington, was found guilty of five counts of rape and two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour. Each of those rape charges accounted for more than one incident and the jury took just one hour to make a decision.

That trial heard that the woman kept a heartbreaking diary in which she wrote: "He took and took from me until I no longer existed." She said Abbas repeatedly raped her during the eight month ordeal and that members of his family turned a blind eye, while her own family saw her go from a "bright, bubbly, confident young lady to a woman they hardly recognised".

Abbas returned to the court to be sentenced today as David Traynor, prosecuting, summarised the victim's impact statement. He said she had been left suffering from nightmares and insomnias, had lost friends and her career and was constantly scared of being attacked and kidnapped.

It continued: "I feel I'm a stranger in my on reflection. I don't recognise myself in the mirror. I do want to believe the broken person staring back is me. I have lost everything [...] because of what he did to me."

Defending, David Ellis accepted the was no credit available after what he described as an exceedingly fair trial. Arguing against a life sentence, he offered the small mitigation that this wasn't a "campaign" in the legal sense that it wasn't multiple victims. Mr Ellis described Abbas as "a creation of his upbringing and his own heritage" and that he had five character references from people who supported him, including one from his "new, young wife".

Sentencing, Judge Simon Medland QC said: "You behaved in a brutish and violent way. You treated her as someone whose opinions were not worth listening to, who could be treated with the utmost contempt and indeed on many occasions with cruelty.

"You sought, in my view, to subvert the peaceful and respectable religion of Islam to use that as an excuse for your conduct. Islam is no excuse for your conduct. There is no excuse, nor could there ever be. The impact on your victim is very significant indeed."

"Over a period of nine months, I am quite sure you behaved in a violent and brutal way to a woman who did not deserve any such treatment. Treating her life as your own and her body as your own."

Ruling out a whole life term, Judge Medland handed Abbas an 18 year sentence. He also ruled that Abbas should be classified as a dangerous offender. That means that he will only be released if a parole board approves it and that he can only apply for parole two thirds of the way through the sentence.

He will also spend an additional two years on licence after the full term and will be subject to notification requirements for the rest of his life.

Description

A paedophile who was jailed after drugging a teenage boy and raping him has died in prison after applying for early release on compassionate grounds.

Terrence Eastwood was jailed for 19 years in 2017 following a trial at Preston Crown Court, where a jury heard how he gave the boy cocaine and tramadol before raping him on a caravan holiday.

The abuse continued over a number of years, with Eastwood keeping his victim quiet by buying him clothes and gifts. His victim later bravely spoke to a counsellor, who reported Eastwood to the police, reports LancsLive.

Eastwood was found guilty of rape and sexual assault and spent two years at Preston Prison Eastwood before being transferred to HMP Wymott near Leyland in 2019. The prison, next to HMP Garth, houses sex offenders.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer after reporting shortness of breath to the prison GP in May 2021. The 67-year-old then applied for early release on compassionate grounds, but died on October 2 before the application could progress.

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman carried out an independent investigation to determine if the care provided to Eastwood was in line with that he would have received in the community - as takes place with all deaths in prison. No non-clinical issues were found, but the ombudsman did make recommendations relating to referring prisoners with suspected cancer to specialist services, shielding and record keeping.

In her report ombudsman Lisa Burrell said: "The prison GP saw Mr Eastwood on 1 July. He noted that while in hospital, Mr Eastwood had a chest X-ray.

"The results showed a partial collapse of his left lung and possible evidence of a malignant growth in his lung. The prison GP made a two week wait referral to the oncology team at Royal Preston Hospital.

"On 20 July, Mr Eastwood attended Royal Preston Hospital for his two-week wait referral. He was admitted to hospital as an inpatient and underwent a series of tests.

"The results showed that Mr Eastwood had developed lung cancer. Hospital staff considered that the cancer may have spread to other areas in his body and that palliative care was the only treatment option open to him. Mr Eastwood was discharged from hospital and went back to the prison on 29 July.

"Mr Eastwood was added to the prisons palliative care register and referred to St Catherines Hospice for support with his prescribed medications and care. His care plans were updated, and healthcare staff continued to review him regularly.

"The prison started a compassionate release application on his behalf. Mr Eastwood died before the application was completed.

"On 6 September, the prison GP saw Mr Eastwood. They discussed his wishes in respect of resuscitation. Mr Eastwood said that he did not want to be resuscitated in the event his heart or breathing stopped. He signed a do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) order on his behalf.

"On 1 October, Healthcare Assistant (HCA), saw Mr Eastwood. Mr Eastwood told him that he had been suffering from shortness of breath and that he had blood in his phlegm when he coughed. He also said that he was struggling to keep fluids down when he drank. The HCA referred Mr Eastwood for an urgent GP review.

"A prison GP saw Mr Eastwood later the same day. He took his observations and noted that his oxygen saturation level and temperature were low.

"Mr Eastwood was taken to Royal Preston Hospital by emergency ambulance and was admitted as an inpatient. Mr Eastwoods condition continued to deteriorate in hospital and at 10am on 2 October 2021, it was confirmed that Mr Eastwood had died."

In September 2021, just after Terrence Eastwood was diagnosed with cancer, his son Darren was given a suspended sentence after it was discovered he had continued to claim his dad's benefits while he was in prison. Darren, who was 42 at the time, splashed out on holidays, takeaways and shopping trips using 20,000 set aside for care needs by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

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A "dangerous sex offender" who raped and attempted to rape a woman has been jailed for 13 years and six months. Christopher Hide, 30, targeted the woman between April 2015 and April 2017. Lancashire Police said Hide, of Blackburn, had "committed several sickening attacks on his victim". He was jailed at the Sessions House in Preston where he was also given an extended licence period of four years as well as a restraining order. Detectives said Hide was arrested after the woman came forward and spoke to police in April 2020. He pleaded guilty shortly before his trial in February to two counts of rape and a further charge of attempted rape. 'Courage and strength' Det Con Alex Prendergast, of Lancashire Police, said: "Christopher Hide is a dangerous sex offender who committed several sickening attacks on his victim. "I must praise the victim for her strength in supporting our prosecution. "She showed great courage and strength in coming forward and reporting the crimes to police. "I hope this case will give other victims of sexual offending the confidence to come forward, knowing that we will listen to them and act on the information they provide."

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A registered sex offender who was caught with more than 2,000 indecent images of children on a hidden mobile phone has been sent back to prison. David Martin Nappin, 38, was released on licence following a previous prison sentence on July 30, 2020. As part of the previous sentence, Nappin the subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, limiting his contact with children and use of the internet. He was also made subject to a notification requirement. Those requirements meant that he had to make any device capable of accessing the internet to the police or a probation officer on request. On November 10, 2020, officers from the East (MOSOVO) Management of Sexual and Violent Offender Team were contacted by the manager of the probation hostel in Blackburn where Nappin was living to say that an unregistered phone had been discovered in the defendants room. Nappin was arrested, charged and recalled to prison while the investigation progressed. Nappin had also sent the hostel manager a message on his registered mobile phone which read: you'll find something, the stuff that got me in trouble last time. Officers from the MOSOVO unit attended Nappins place of work the same day arrested him and seized his registered and unregistered mobile phones. On the unregistered mobile phone, experts found 2209 illegal files. Of those 802 were Category A the most serious examples of child sexual abuse - 491 were Category B and 898 were Category C. There were also eight prohibited images and to extreme pornographic images. Robert Richards, from the East MOSOVO Team, said: Following an investigation by Lancashire Police, registered sex offender David Nappin was convicted of possessing over 2209 indecent images of children, including 802 of the most serious category A photographs and videos. The images in this case were described as harrowing, and Nappin by his own admission, not only wishes to view indecent images, but to also act on those desires, and presents a very high risk of serious harm to female children under 10.

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A SCHOOL sports coach who was jailed for having sex with a 14-year-old in a classroom has avoided being sent back to prison despite breaching a court order. Glyn Harrison, previously known as Glyn Thompson, had been working in a primary school in Burnley when the original offences took place back in 2011-2013. In September 2013 he was sentenced to eight years in prison for the offences and was also made the subject of a sexual offence prevention order and notification requirements. At the time Preston Crown Court heard how the then 30-year-old had groomed and had a sexual relationship with his victim over an 18-month period. His teenage victim even took a pregnancy test to ensure she wasnt carrying the Burnley teachers baby. It was heard how Thompson - who has since changed his surname to Harrison in an attempt to hide his past - had "groomed" the youngster over a series of weeks, initially swapping e-mails and then exchanging naked pictures of each other. But this eventually progressed to kissing, oral sex and then full intercourse with the girl. On Monday, Burnley Crown Court heard how Harrison had breached the SOPO by having unsupervised contact with a female child under 16 years of age, without the approval of social services and the childs parent was unaware of his convictions. He had also breached his sex offender notification requirements by not informing the relevant authorities where he was residing and staying for a period of seven days or more where a child under 18 resides. Harrison, 40, of Meadow Bank Mews, Nelson, pleaded guilty to the charges at an earlier hearing. He was jailed for two years, suspended for 24 months, with a seven-month curfew and 20 Rehabilitation Action Requirement Days. Katie Lord, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: Thompson changed his name to Harrison in an attempt to leave his past behind him. "He didnt disclose his past offending to the women he dated so they could make informed decisions and he failed to adhere to the SOPO and notification requirements put in place to protect children from him reoffending. "I hope this conviction and sentence will remind him and others of the consequences of breaching sexual offences prevention orders and notification requirements.

Description

George Preston, 21, of Windsor Place, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape of a child under 13 and one count of rape of an 18-year-old woman at Preston Crown Court on Monday.

One of Preston's victims, who cannot be named, was just 12-years-old when she was raped by him in an 'abandoned gas shelter which was dirty with no windows'. She said: "George didnt just rape me, take my innocence away and my relations, but he also killed that person I ought to have been and that person I once was. No sentence long enough could ever begin for me to bring the real me back because one day he will be walking down the road just like nothing had happened."

She told the court: "I am terrified of men, groups of people, loud noise, and people touching me. I get consistent flashbacks and every day I will have a panic attack or a breakdown... It is a constant reminder of everything George did.

countless time, to which most people are unaware of except my closest friends. I am permanently scarred by what George did to me and there is no escape of that. I will forever have to carry this along with me. I will have to grow up knowing that each day I will still have been that victim, that child who got raped.

"Theres a question I have always wanted to know the answer of and that is why.

"George has ruined my life, my views, and my mental and physical state and I do not see myself getting past this. When I look into the future all I see is a black hole. George took my life away from the first time he abused me, and I will never get my life back. I lay there at night thinking of if I had killed myself how people would move on and carry on being happy. George has taken my life away he killed the person inside that I once was, and I do not see a sentence long enough to let the lives of his victims ever build back up to how they were."

Preston was sentenced to nine years in prison, and received a 10 year restraining order preventing him from contacting either of his victims. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register.

His victim, who is now 17, said: "I was once a happy child excited to see what their future held and what they would experience. Yet instead, Im a lost teenager with no future in their eyes and no hope or aspiration for the future. I see a dark hole that I cannot reach out of. I am trapped and I will never be set free. George will always have that hold over me.

"I would have loved to see what my life held for me if I had not met George; I would have loved to know what I would have achieved and what I could have built for myself rather than it being taken away from me.

"I know there are a lot of things I could say, but to this day I am still terrified of what he may do. I might be stronger minded and stronger physically now than I was when I was 11, but I could still not face him and say what I think. That man will forever terrify me, the things that resemble him and the places where he made me go will forever be a constant reminder of what he did... I will never forgive him of what he has done."

Description

Case brought by the Counter Terrorism Policing North West unit A 19-year-old man who posted extreme right-wing and racist material online and who made indecent photographs or 'pseudo-photographs' of a child has been jailed for two years. Thomas Leech, of Derby Drive, Preston, pleaded guilty to seven charges, including three counts of publishing a statement intending members of the public to be directly or indirectly encouraged or otherwise induced to commit, prepare, or instigate acts of terrorism contrary to the Terrorism Act 2006. He also pleaded guilty to four other offences not covered by terrorism legislation. These were: Publishing or distributing written material which was threatening, abusive or insulting intending thereby to stir up racial hatred, or having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred was likely to be stirred up; publishing or distributing written material which was threatening, intending thereby to stir up religious hatred; making 211 indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child and making four indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of a child. He was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today, where he was also given a 12 month extended licence period to be applied on completion of his prison sentence, plus 10 years on the sex offenders register, a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a 10-year notification requirement under Part Four of the Terrorism Act 2008. On February 28, 2020, a report was made to police identifying an online user posting hateful and racist comments and demonstrating support of an extreme right-wing ideology. An investigation was conducted by Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) and, aided by Counter Terrorism Command, identified the online user to be Leech. Further research identified many more online postings by Leech, including comments of an anti-Semitic and racist nature. Leech was arrested at his home address in November 2020 but, after being released on bail, posted more material online. During the examination of Leech's digital devices, a number of offences were discovered including indecent images of children and in February, 2021 he was further arrested on suspicion of making indecent images of children. In December, 2021, he pleaded guilty to seven offences. Detective Superintendent Will Chatterton, head of CTPNW investigations, said: "Leech's comments and behaviour online was despicable and a thorough investigation was able to identify these posts and evidence them before the courts. "CTPNW will always take complaints of this nature very seriously and exercise full powers to bring offenders to justice."

Description

A Lancashire man has been jailed for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting two young children. Nigel Turner, 72, from Morecambe, was arrested by National Crime Agency officers in November 2021, after he distributed multiple indecent images of the children (IIOC) via an online messaging app. Some of the images, which he shared using an account created with a false name, showed him sexually abusing one of the children. When arresting him, officers seized his phone for analysis. On it, they found a collection of images and videos which showed he had raped and sexually assaulted two children, as well as engaging in sexual activity in front of them on multiple occasions. Although Turners face cannot be seen in the images, NCA investigators were able to identify him as the suspect from clothing, jewellery and voice recognition. He was charged with 21 offences: seven counts of raping a child under 13, three counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13, two of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and 12 counts of distributing, taking and making IIOC at categories A-C (A being the most severe). Turner pleaded guilty to all 21 charges in December last year. Yesterday [14 March 2022] he was sentenced to 20 years in prison at Preston Crown Court. Turner was also given a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and was put on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Hazel Stewart, from the National Crime Agency, said: Turner carried out the most serious sexual abuse on these children. His crimes are truly incomprehensible. After capturing the abuse on his phone, Turner shared it with others online using a fake profile, in an attempt to mask his identity. Clearly he thought this would save him, but the NCA has the capabilities to disrupt offenders who use anonymisation techniques, and we are focusing those capabilities on catching the most dangerous of criminals.