Search results for Leeds

Description

A 33-year-old man who sexually assaulted a woman in the Bradford district has been jailed for three years and six months.

Eden Dyson must now register as a sex offender for life after a jury at Bradford Crown Court found him guilty of the March 2025 assault. Dyson, with 28 previous convictions for 41 offences, was sentenced by Judge Kirstie Watson on Wednesday.

Barrister Abdul Shakoor said Dyson remembered little of the incident due to his drinking and use of controlled drugs, but wanted to apologize and was making good progress in custody addressing his issues.

“He knows the real test will come when he is released,” said Mr Shakoor.

“He’s extremely motivated to ensure he does not relapse into drug and alcohol abuse.”

The court heard Dyson is supporting other prisoners through the Samaritans and is proud of his work.

Description

“It was like a living nightmare. The only thing that really kept me going through all this was my children…

“The only reason I leave the house is to do the food shop and take the children to school. My confidence is completely gone…

“I have since been diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The doctors said it’s because of dealing with trauma repeatedly of what he did to me – it’s so loud. I sometimes hear the children screaming when they’re not. I can’t even do the things I used to do, like watching TV or listening to music, because they trigger it all.”

These are the words of the victim of Christopher Beasley.

Beasley, 33, of Cottingley Drive in Beeston, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) after he was found guilty of six counts of rape, three counts of child cruelty and one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.    

He was sentenced to 24 years with an extended licence period of five years.  

His victim reported him to police in 2022 and an investigation by the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team uncovered a catalogue of offending dating back to 2011.

The presiding Judge described the offending as ‘a campaign of rape’.  

Speaking after the sentencing, investigating officer Detective Constable Josh Holroyd, said:

“I would like to praise the bravery and resilience of all the victims in this case and thank them for their patience and trust.

“The significant sentence imposed on Beasley shows the seriousness of his offending and I hope will give some closure to those involved.

“I also hope it will give others the confidence to come forward and report crimes of this nature to us. We have a team of specially trained officers who work closely with partners to provide support to victims throughout the investigation and are committed to seeing perpetrators brought to justice.”

Description

A sexual predator targeted and repeatedly stared at an unsuspecting woman in a crowded pub before positioning himself close to her at the bar and touching her inappropriately.

Drunk on four or five pints of beer, he followed her for about 20 minutes before the assault, leaving her distressed and shocked, Hull Crown Court heard.

Deniss Mandruks, 26, of no fixed address but recently remanded in custody, was convicted after a trial at Hull Magistrates' Court of sexual assault on May 5.

Prosecutor Jeremy Evans said the woman was out with friends in the city centre when Mandruks entered their pub at 1:11am. Door staff confronted him twice for "obnoxious behaviour," spilling drinks, and acting loudly and aggressively toward two women.

"He was wobbly and unsteady on his feet," Mr Evans said. Mandruks was ejected but returned.

While she danced, "He continued to stare at her," Mr Evans added. "She caught his eye on four separate occasions. He had her under observation throughout this period of time and was clearly targeting her. He watched her, he stared at her and he stalked her."

At 1:30am, as she ordered a drink and chatted with two men, Mandruks touched her intimately, prompting her to confront him.

After time in his native Latvia, he was arrested on August 31 at Leeds Bradford Airport. He had no prior record.

Defence barrister Billy Torbett called the conduct "wholly unacceptable" and an "unpleasant offence." While denying the charge, Mandruks expressed remorse for the victim's impact.

A Latvian Russian-speaker, he worked in well-paid engineering roles across Europe and was based in Hull at the time. "He has no right to remain in the UK and he plans to return to Latvia," Mr Torbett said. Mandruks had been in custody since September 2.

Judge John Thackray KC told Mandruks: "You were in a bar. Your victim was in the same bar. There was clearly some planning by you. You positioned yourself next to your victim. You were making eye contact and you were standing next to her for quite some time."

The assault left her distressed and upset. "She felt preyed upon," the judge said. "She felt powerless and unsafe. Your offending will continue to have a profound effect upon her. There was obvious targeting of your victim 20 minutes before committing the offence."

Mandruks was jailed for two years and must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

Description

“Violence against women needs to stop, I believe it starts with women speaking out and holding up a mirror of justice to men like you.”  

A woman who was subjected to a horrendous catalogue of domestic abuse has spoken to the man who abused her in a powerful statement submitted to the court.

The below is an excerpt from the full victim personal statement:  

“Being the person that I am I will never be able to understand how another human being could intentionally physically and mentally torture another the way that you did. I’m glad I can’t understand that because I believe the ability to justify the behaviours you showed are what make you so extremely dangerous.  

“Before I met you, I had a large social circle, loved experiencing new things without a fear in the world. I was outspoken and confident in the person I was, and I genuinely believe these attributes are what led you to want to break me down and make me your victim of abuse.  

“One of the reasons I’m here today and have been pursuing justice is because you need to be held accountable for your disgusting actions. You need to see the immense gravity of what your actions have caused because no woman on this earth should ever experience any type of abuse let alone the level in which you were comfortable taking it too. Violence against women needs to stop, I believe it starts with women speaking out and holding up a mirror of justice to men like you.”  

Nathan Russell, aged 32, of Scott Hall Road, Leeds, was found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour and sexual assault following a three-week trial at Leeds Crown Court. He was found not guilty of a number of other offences.

He appeared at court again today (24 November) where he was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. He will also be subject to the provisions of the Sex Offender Register indefinitely 

An investigation was launched after a woman came forward to police after disclosing domestic abuse offences to a family member.  

The court heard how the controlling and coercive behaviour she was subjected to included Russell burning her, covering her in food, urinating on her, forcing her to lick the toilet bowl, spitting at her, tying her to chairs and tables, forcing her to eat from the floor or other surfaces and hitting her, including with a metal paddle.

Detective Constable Jessica Johnston, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said:

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank and praise this victim of domestic abuse for her immense bravery and resilience. You can hear her bravery in the words she has shared with the court, and I hope the conclusion of this process is now a new fresh chapter for her and, hopefully, closure.  

“Russell’s convictions mark the end of a long, challenging and frankly traumatic investigation for all involved. I would also like to thank the many witnesses called to the stand to give evidence and all of the police officers and police staff involved in the investigation who have worked tirelessly to take a dangerous man off the streets.  

“On behalf of West Yorkshire Police, I would encourage anyone who has been subjected to any form of abuse to report the perpetrator via 101 or 999 in an emergency. Dedicated, specialist detectives are on hand to listen to you and investigate any such crimes. It is never too late.”  

Description

A convicted pervert has been caught with a paedophile manual on how to sexually abuse children.

Curtis Critchley, 24, of Wakefield Road in Rothwell, Leeds, with prior sex offence convictions, was found with the depraved guide in his prison cell at HMP Risley in Warrington on August 6.

He was charged with possession of a paedophile manual containing ‘advice or guidance about abusing children sexually’.

After appearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court, the case went to Liverpool Crown Court, where Critchley pleaded guilty.

During a 2:30pm cell search, prison staff seized illicit materials, including notes with graphic short stories of sexual activities involving children and details on grooming via Snapchat and TikTok. The items were reported to Cheshire Police.

Critchley’s previous convictions include a three-year-and-four-month sentence in a young offender institution, imposed by Sheffield Crown Court in May 2020.

He first came to police attention after stealing children’s clothing from a neighbour’s washing line in Doncaster, where more stolen items and two indecent images of children were found.

While under investigation, he met a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat, lying about his age by claiming to be 15. She was reported missing and found with him at a Holiday Inn in Rotherham, where they engaged in sexual activity.

Critchley pleaded guilty to three counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, theft of clothing, handling stolen goods, and two counts of possessing indecent images of children.

He received imprisonment, lifelong sex offender registration, and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

For the recent offence, Liverpool Crown Court jailed him for 14 months.

Description

A man who sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl and engaged in online sexual activity with a 12-year-old child decoy has been jailed.    

Benjamin Pinchin, aged 30 formerly of Sissons Grove, Middleton was sentenced to 12 years yesterday at Leeds Crown Court following a joint investigation into child sexual offences.    

The Calderdale District Online Child Abuse Investigation Team and officers from Leeds District Safeguarding Team came together and charged Pinchin with over 30 offences, including sexual assault of a child, possession of indecent images of children, making indecent images of children, and multiple counts of attempted sexual communication with a child.    

Pinchin pleaded guilty to all the offences at Leeds Crown Court in June.    

In addition to the custodial sentence, Pinchin has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.  

Detective Sergeant Claire Salkeld of Leeds District Safeguarding Team said:    

“I want to thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward and report the dreadful ordeal she suffered. We know the significant impact such offending has on victims and their families.

“Reporting Pinchin’s offending has resulted in him being put behind bars and has put a stop to his abhorrent acts.

“If you or someone you know has been a victim of child sexual offences, please be encouraged, you will be listened to, supported and it will be dealt with sensitively by specialist safeguarding officers.”

Detective Constable Denis Parke, from the Calderdale Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) added:      

“Pinchin is clearly a dangerous predatory man who poses a significant risk to young children, and we are pleased that Pinchin will now face a custodial sentence for his actions.
  
“The making, possession and distribution of indecent images is degenerate and those who engage in this or in sexual communications with children online, should expect to be prosecuted”. 

Description

A convicted Doncaster paedophile hid his sordid past to befriend a family and sexually assault their young boy.

Michael Fisher, 37, was already on a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) banning contact with girls after a 2021 conviction.

He never disclosed this while visiting the family's home earlier this year, where he played with the children and insisted on taking them swimming.

The unsuspecting mother noticed the boy becoming withdrawn, refusing school, swearing, and misbehaving.

In June, the child revealed Fisher had "touched his bits," referring to his genitals, while touching himself. Prosecutor Jazmine Lee told Leeds Crown Court that Fisher would sit next to the boy and touch him.

Arrested on June 28, Fisher's devices revealed three Category A videos of "very young" children being abused, involving rape.

In his police interview, Fisher claimed he was gay and preferred younger men but denied attraction to children—despite his 2021 conviction for drunkenly assaulting a sleeping young girl, for which he was jailed 20 months and given the SHPO.

Appearing via video link from HMP Leeds, Fisher admitted sexual assault of a child under 13, making Category A images, and breaching his SHPO.

Mitigating, Peter Byrne said Fisher pleaded guilty early to spare the child a trial and had used prison time constructively on educational courses.

Judge Christopher Batty said Fisher had "wormed" his way into families in 2021 and this year, adding: "You have a sexual interest in children. You took an opportunity to assault this boy. There was no thought to the long-term consequences of what you were doing, you could not have cared less. Your sexual gratification was all that counted."

He jailed Fisher, now of Burnsall Grange, Armley, for three years and nine months, placed him on the sex offender register for life, and imposed a new lifelong SHPO.

Description

A man who indecently assaulted a young girl in the 1980s has been brought to justice following an investigation by specialist safeguarding officers in Leeds.

Richard Brown, aged 60, of Kelmscott Avenue, Manston, was convicted of two counts of indecent assault against the victim after being found guilty by unanimous jury verdicts following a trial at Leeds Crown Court, which concluded on June 18.

The victim came forward in 2022 to disclose the abuse after hearing Brown was being investigated by the police on suspicion of possession of indecent images. The images investigation was not able to progress to charge.

Specialist officers at Leeds District Safeguarding Unit obtained a detailed account with the victim in a video recorded interview as part of a comprehensive investigation into the offences. Brown was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of indecent assault against a girl aged under 14.

The victim was granted special measures for the trial, which meant her video interview was considered as her main evidence and screens were used in the courtroom to keep her out of view of the offender and the public gallery.

Today, Brown was sentenced to two years and four months in prison and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order preventing any unsupervised contact with a female child under 16.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register and the victim was granted an indefinite Restraining Order banning Brown from having any contact with her.  

Detective Inspector Thomas Crosfill, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said:

“The victim in this case has had to live for many years with the knowledge of what Brown did to her as a child and the traumatic impact that has had on her life.

“When she was ready to come forward and disclose what had happened, specialist safeguarding officers were able to give her all the support necessary to give a detailed account and obtain the best evidence possible to secure these convictions against Brown.

“We hope it will give her some degree of comfort to know that he has now had to answer for his actions and been held criminally responsible for the harm he caused.

“We will always treat any reports of offences of this nature very seriously and do everything we can to get justice for victims and protect others from harm.

“We hope the successful outcome of this case will help other victims of similar offences to have the confidence to come forward, knowing they will be supported throughout the investigation and the court process.” 

Description

An aspiring Rothwell Buddhist who sexually abused two women and hoarded indecent images of children has been jailed.

Harvy Tak targeted two women between 2016 and 2023, filming both of them as they performed sex acts, Leeds Crown Court heard on Friday.

The court heard that Tak's first victim was handcuffed and blindfolded and was unaware he was filming her at the time. It was also said that she had set boundaries for the consensual sexual activity, which Tak ignored, leading to him being convicted for rape following a trial.

Her Honour Judge Rayfield told Tak as she sentenced him: "She made it clear to you and you made a promise...You were not entitled to ignore the caveat she asked of you but you continued to ignore it knowing that she didn't want that. I can't be sure whether you planned to do that from the outset.

"I will give you the benefit of the doubt that it was impulsive."

The court heard the young woman did not know that Tak had filmed the sexual activity. The judge said: "She was horrified and asked you to delete it but you wouldn't, demonstrating you put your own sexual needs and desires above hers. Over the years, you oscillated between agreeing to delete it and blackmailing her, telling her you wouldn't delete it until she agreed to meet your sexual demands."

It was said that when police arrested Tak in 2023, they seized a number of devices and discovered indecent images of children at categories A, B, and C.

He was released under investigation and it was found he had targeted another young woman. He again filmed them taking part in consensual sexual activity. The judge told Tak: "While she knew you recorded the act for your own personal use, what she didn't know is you retained that until the police found it.

"She was very upset that you still had that image of such a private act in your possession and describes one occasion where you showed her an image of a five-to-eight-year-old engaging in sexual activity with an adult man and you enquired whether this was the kind of activity she would be interested in.

"You told her you had accessed images from the dark web which enabled you to hide your IP address."

The court heard police discovered more indecent images at category A, B and C when Tak was arrested.

Prosecutor Michael Greenhalgh summarised the first victim's impact statement, in which she said she had suffered from anxiety between the offences taking place and her initial report to police. She said she was "ashamed" and "felt dirty."

She added: "Because I felt so low I believed at the time that by letting him abuse me in that way I was protecting others. It made me feel I wasn't worthy. When I reported this, my anxiety increased. I was scared he would turn up at my house. At times it would cause me to shut down.

"I was afraid of bumping into him and I get seeing him in my nightmares where he was oblivious about what he did to me, which made me more anxious about sleeping. I didn't want to sleep and would go to sleep very late and wake up early to avoid it. Sometimes I crash out where I am. I started drinking more caffeine."

In her statement, the second victim said: "This has caused my to develop severe anxiety and PTSD. I find it distressing to go to where the crime occurred. The crime has overall affected every manner of my relationships and has caused me to become very paranoid and not trusting of those around me.

"I find it difficult to connect in a healthy manner and I don't let people get too close. It has affected my ability to work, especially during the proceedings in the case and has left me with no choice but to be unemployed for the near future. My anxiety makes it extremely difficult to perform in work places."

Mitigating, Jane Brady, told the court Tak has a diagnosis of autism. She said: "He was [at the time of the offending] a much younger man who was deferential to authority. He is from a strict Chinese, Buddhist family who intended him to become a Buddhist."

It was said Tak was bullied at school and "isolated" due to being from the "only non-white family in Rothwell."

Ms Brady said: "The [pre-sentence] report acknowledges he had an isolated childhood which resulted in him being ill-prepared for relationships...His feelings are of great shame and reluctance to engage in the process but he will unequivocally not offend again."

Judge Rayfield jailed Tak for eight years and made him the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until further order.

Description

A monk who sexually abused two boys at Ampleforth College has been jailed for seven years. 

Michael James Callaghan, 71, of Moortown, Leeds, also known as Father James, denied 12 counts of indecently assaulting the first victim, with four taking place when the boy was under 16, and one count of sexual assault on the second victim.  

But following a trial at Teesside Crown Court he was found guilty of all counts, and today, 19 June 2025, sentenced to seven years in prison. He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely, which will forbid him from any contact with the victim and from having any unsupervised contact with any person under the age of 16. 

The offences took place at Ampleforth College, North Yorkshire, between 1994 and 2013. Callaghan targeted the first boy at Ampleforth between 1994 and 1997. He went on to indecently assault the second boy in 2013. 

The first incidents were reported to North Yorkshire Police in December 2022 and an investigation was launched by our Non-Recent Abuse Investigation Team.  

Callaghan was arrested and interviewed, and despite denying any wrongdoing he was charged. 

The court heard victim impact statements from both men in which the men spoke about the impact Callaghan’s abuse had had on their lives. 

The first victim described how he felt there were two parts to the abuse he suffered at the hands of Callaghan - the sub-conscious effects from before his acknowledgement of what happened, and the devastating impact on his life since then.  

He described how he became withdrawn, stopped taking part in activities he enjoyed, and how it has affected his view of the world and impacted him both financially and mentally.   

He said: “This man knows what he has done, he knows exactly how this will have affected me. He knew what he was doing was wrong – why else would it have had to be a secret?  

He continued: “Yet, when given the opportunity to acknowledge this himself, he chose to continue the abuse by denying it. He chose to leave me, when I was already devastated myself, having to fight for the 14-year-old boy he hand-picked for his own gratification. 

The second victim said: “I looked up to him; I trusted him. And what was the response? He chose to violate my boundaries; first to groom me over a period of time, and then to sexually assault me.”  

He described how he suffers from nightmares, panic attacks, becomes startled if someone unexpectedly touches him, and still has sleepless nights to this day.  

“He chose to prey on me, in full knowledge of how very vulnerable I was. It all leads me to ask: How come? Why? And how obsessed was he with me in particular, or was I one of a larger number of victims?” he said.  

Speaking after the sentencing today, Detective Constable Alison Morris of North Yorkshire Police’s Non-Recent Abuse Investigation Team said: “Not only did Callaghan abuse his position of trust in the most appalling way, taking advantage of vulnerable boys he should have been caring for and protecting, he denied his offences throughout and showed no remorse for the pain and suffering he caused.  

“I want to pay tribute to the incredible bravery of the victims, whose courage and support throughout the investigation were vital in ensuring Callaghan was brought to justice.  I hope today’s outcome brings them some sense of closure. 

“I also want to take this opportunity to reassure any other victims of sexual abuse that the passage of time is no barrier to justice. We are absolutely committed to investigating these offences, no matter when they took place, and specially trained officers are ready to listen, support you, and take action.” 

Description

A man who subjected three women to abuse, including rape, over a 13-year period has been jailed.  

Nathan Quinn, aged 35, of HMP Armley, was sentenced on Wednesday, 9 April, at Leeds Crown Court to a total of 26 years in prison.  

He has also been made to sign the sex offenders register for life and restraining orders have been given to prevent further contact with all the victims.  

Quinn pleaded guilty in January of this year to a number of offences including three counts of rape, one count of assault by penetration, two counts of grievous bodily harm and two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour.  

On sentencing, the Judge remarked that this was the worst case of controlling and coercive behaviourthe court had seen. 

Description

A man who took a photo up an 11-year-old girl’s skirt in Ripon, before committing the same crime again against a 17-year-old girl in Harrogate whilst on the way to court has been jailed for nine months.

27-year-old Joel Humberstone of Woodville Square, Leeds was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years when he was sentenced today (11 April) at York Magistrates' Court. 

The first incident occurred on the morning of 7 June 2024 as the girl walked to school. She noticed a man passing by and felt his phone rub against her leg, which she initially thought was accidental.

However, as she continued down Allhallowgate towards Priest Lane, the same man came up behind her, lifted her skirt, and took a photograph.

Two builders witnessed the crime. One immediately pursued the suspect, while the other stayed with the girl to provide support and ensure her safety.

Despite the pursuit, the man managed to flee down Stonebridgegate in the direction of Aldi and Ripon Police Station.

We launched an investigation and reviewed CCTV footage, which showed a man matching the suspect's description running through Aldi's car park around the time of the incident.

A public appeal led to witnesses identifying the suspect as Humberstone and he was swiftly arrested on suspicion of voyeurism and interviewed before being released on bail. We also seized his mobile phone as evidence.

Despite giving a no-comment interview, withholding his phone's PIN, and refusing to participate in the identification process, Humberstone was charged.

At court he pleaded guilty to operating equipment beneath clothing of another without consent and attempting to operate equipment beneath clothing of another without consent, commonly referred to as voyeurism and attempted voyeurism.

He was due to appear at court on Thursday 27 February 2025, when, on the way to court he carried out the same act once again.

In the second incident, the victim had been walking on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate when Humberstone approached her from behind, pulled up her skirt a took a photograph/video up her skirt.

She described how she felt Humberstone’s phone brush against her leg, prompting her to push him away.

She then took out her phone, began recording him, and yelled at him for his actions before calling the police.

Humberstone was swifty arrested once again before being charged.

Description

A man has been jailed after being convicted of historic sexual offences against children.

Philip Tomlinson appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday 23 September where he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The 56-year-old, of HMP Altcourse but previously of Leeds, had been found guilty of three counts of rape of a girl under 16 and two counts of buggery, following a week-long trial in June.

In February 2022, Cheshire Police were contacted by a woman reporting that she had been raped several times in the 1990s.

The victim disclosed being raped on at least three occasions by Tomlinson, once in Winsford and twice in the North Wales area.

Police then received a further report from a male victim, who stated he had been raped by Tomlinson.

This second victim reported the offences took place in the 1980s in the Northwich area.

Tomlinson was subsequently arrested and interviewed in relation to the offences against both victims, but denied the allegations.

Officers then conducted a lengthy investigation to ultimately get charges authorised against Tomlinson, while supporting the victims. 

On top of his custodial sentence, he is subject to asexual harm prevention order and required to sign the sex offender register.

Description

A known pervert who nicknamed his penis “Frank” told a 13-year-old that he “wanted to hide him” after grooming the youngster on Facebook.

Leeds Crown Court was told that the remark was Ronald Ling’s way of suggesting he wanted sexual intercourse with the girl.

The convicted paedophile, who is already on the sex offender register for life, also said he wanted to play strip snap with her, and suggested they meet but she bring a change of clothes because it “could get messy”.

The girl was in fact a decoy profile run by the online hunter group, Predator Exposure. Ling, 53, was suspicious of the supposed girl and even suggested he may be getting set up, but continued to message.

Prosecutor Nick Adlington said the profile received a friend request over Facebook from Ling on May 1 this year.

Despite her telling him she was only 13, he persisted in calling her “sexy”, even though he admitted to her he may get called a “nonce” and raised questions over the legitimacy of the profile.

He sent an indecent image of a child and a picture of an erect penis. He told her be had bought her a mobile phone and confectionary. He even suggested what bus she could get to reach his home on Wykebeck Road in Halton.

Ling then referred to his penis as Frank and her vagina as Cat, before making the euphemism about hiding Frank.

A video call took place between him and member of Predator Exposure on May 19, even though the decoy told him her camera was not working on her phone. Ling gave her a guided tour of his home and the garden, even telling others living there that he was on the phone to his niece.

He was approached and detained by members of the hunter group two days later at his home, after they recognised it from the video call. The police were called and he was arrested.

Ling admitted it was his Facebook profile, and that he had been communicating with the girl, but said he knew he should have not taken part. He claimed he had no intention of meeting her, and tried to claim he had no sexual interest in children.

The court heard that Ling had been jailed in 2007 for 44 months for eight counts of sexual activity with a child. He was put on the sex offender register for life and given a life-long sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

For his latest offending, he admitted attempted sexual communication with a child, attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence, and breach of his SHPO. He has been held on remand since his arrest.

Mitigating, Michael Walsh said: “He tells me he got carried away with what was happening. On one level he was enjoying the interaction with the other person.

“On another level he did think that this maybe is some decoy or an attempt to dupe him. He is a man of significant health problems and he is awaiting various medical procedures.”

The judge, Recorder Alex Menary, said that given Ling’s history and previous offences, only a custodial sentence would suffice.

He jailed him for 32 months, and said he would continue to remain on his SHPO and the sex register for life.

Description

A vile predator from Leeds trawled the internet looking for like-minded parents who would let him abuse their children.

Connor Churchill latched onto what he thought were two guardians on the messenger services Kik and Snapchat, asking to either abuse their children or watch them abusing the youngsters.

There was even an agreement to meet one at a service station on the M62 where he could abuse their eight-year-old niece, although Churchill made excuses not to attend.

But the profiles were both being run by undercover police officers, posing as paedophiles, Leeds Crown Court heard. Churchill, 24, admitted two counts of arranging a child sex offence, and three counts of making indecent images of child abuse was found on his Samsung phone.

Prosecutor Ayman Khokhar said he first made contact online in July 2022 when he said he was looking for like-minded people with a kink. He said he preferred girls aged between six and 14 but was open to most.

After the officer offered up his fictitious eight-year-old niece, there was a meeting arranged at Hartshead Moor Services.

He was also communicating with with another officer on Kik after he told Churchill that he had a seven-year-old daughter. Churchill, now of Clog Mill Gardens, Selby, but who had been living in Micklefield, discussed having sex with the girl, but again he made excuses about meeting.

He was arrested on October 11, 2022 and told officers: I would never have gone through with it. I need help. His mobile phone contained five category A images - the most serious - one category B and six category C.

He continued to claim he had no sexual interest in children. Mitigating, Celine Kart told the court: He desisted from attending those meet-ups. He made several excuses. He backed out of them.

He is incredibly remorseful. Its clear he is ashamed. To be blunt, he hates what he did and hates himself. He is not afraid to address his offending behaviour. Its a complex journey he is embarking on.

Judge Andrew Stubbs KC took into account his remorse, his lack of previous convictions, and that he backed out of the meetings. But he jailed him for five years, gave him a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and put him on the sex offender register for life.