Latest Offenders Lincoln

Description

A man who raped and sexually assaulted a child on multiple occasions has been jailed for 18 years and six months.

Alex Walster of Gainsborough* had pleaded guilty to 13 charges at an earlier hearing before he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court for sentencing today, Friday, 11 September.

The 38-year-old, who committed the offences across 2023 and 2024 in a village near Lincoln, had tried to avoid sentencing by leaving the country before he was found and arrested in Ireland.

In a personal statement, the victim told Lincolnshire Police the crimes against her had a significant impact on her life and it is something that will affect for years to come.

However, she said she is determined to rebuild her life, be a strong person and not look back at what Walster did to her.

Walster was handed a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order which prevents any contact with the victim and her family.

DC Victoria Robbie, who led the investigation, said today’s result is a testament to the hard work of those within the force and the strength and composure of the child involved in the case.

“Today’s outcome marks the end of our investigation into Walster’s repulsive offending,” she said.

“We are grateful to, and inspired by, the victim and her family who have so patiently waited and worked alongside us to bring Walster to justice.

“The victim of this case is remarkable, and I believe will go on to live a full and fantastic life with the support of her family, in spite of the abhorrent crimes Walster committed against her.

“Every day we come to work to reclaim the childhoods and lives of victims of these terrible crimes and today we are pleased that Walster’s sentence reflects this.”

Description

A man who sexually assaulted two children on multiple occasions has been jailed for 18 years.

William Lynas of Moons Green in Spalding appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday, 3 September for sentencing after he was found guilty of 13 sexual offences at an earlier hearing.

The offences involving the 84-year-old took place between the 1980s and 2023 in the Spalding area.

Both of his victims were underage at the time the incidents took place.

Lynas had denied the charges but was found guilty by jurors and will now face a lengthy period behind bars.

He was placed on the sex offenders register for life and also given an indefinite restraining order in relation to both victims.

Lynas will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.

Detective Constable Victoria Oaks, who led the investigation, said Lynas deserved a significant sentence for his actions and praised those who came forward.

She said:

"Lynas caused real harm and will deservedly spend a long time behind bars.

“I want to praise the victims at the heart of this case who bravely came forward to reveal what had happened to them and who was responsible.

“The period of time the crimes took place over, made this investigation complex, but the team did a great job gathering evidence to bring Lynas to justice.

“Lynas thought he was untouchable and attended court confident he could pull the wool over the eyes of the jurors in this case.

“At his trial he hobbled into court with a walking stick – but later left the building walking normally.

“He was caught out when the jurors left the building at the same time and spotted him – this demonstrates Lynas’ arrogance, he thought he could get away with it."

Description

A 62-year-old Grantham man was found guilty of a string of sexual-related offences, including making indecent photographs of a child, when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court.

Following a three-day trial, which began on Tuesday 25 August, Steven Robins of Fourth Avenue was found guilty of the following offences:

• Two counts of making indecent photographs of a child
• Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under the age of 16
• Two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a child under the age of 16
• Causing the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 18

Robins was remanded into custody until his next appearance at Lincoln Crown Court in October.

Description

A man who manipulated and raped a teenage girl has been jailed for eight years.

Kato Tsang, 45-years-old, of Bridge Street in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, who identifies himself as Chinese, was found guilty of raping a girl under 16-years-old following a seven-day trial that concluded at Grimsby Crown Court on Tuesday, 28 July 2026.

He was subsequently bailed by the courts to await sentencing which took place yesterday (Tuesday, 25 August 2026), where he was also handed a lifelong Restraining Order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order valid for 20 years.

An investigation was launched by our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit in May 2022, after a teenager came forward disclosing she had been raped by a man she knew, naming him as Kato Tsang.

Officers were immediately deployed to arrest Tsang and transported him to custody where he was interviewed.

When questioned, Tsang offered a pre-prepared statement claiming he was not responsible and had not committed the offence. After this, he answered no comment to the rest of the questions asked.

Tsang was subsequently conditionally bailed pending further investigation whilst detectives got to work gathering evidence and obtaining a victim impact statement from the teenager.

Following a lengthy and complex investigation, he was then charged in September 2025 with rape of a girl under 16-years-old.

Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Becky McInnis from our Child Sexual Exploitation Team, who said:

“Our investigation uncovered how Tsang would manipulate and ploy the teenager with alcohol and behave in an over-familiar manner towards her, with CCTV enquiries from the day of the incident showing Tsang touching her numerous times and putting his arm around her, invading her personal space.

“He then offered to take her home but not before he took her to a secluded location where he raped her.

“It took a lot of courage for the teenager to tell someone she trusted what had happened to her, before then taking that next brave step and reporting it to the police with the support of her parents. For this, I commend her immensely.

“This has been a complex and lengthy investigation with the woman being forced to sit through the gruelling ordeal of a trial to relive what happened to her as a teenager all over again after Tsang’s refusal to admit what he had done and lack of accountability.

“The events of that night will undoubtedly stay with the woman for the rest of her life, and no amount of justice will erase the physical and mental harm Tsang has inflicted, but I hope knowing he is behind bars for a very long time will bring some kind of relief.

“We take all reports of rape and other sexual offences extremely seriously and continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of predators like Tsang.”

Description

A former teacher has been jailed for engaging in sexual activity with a teenage boy.

Emily Drury, 26, of Tuplin Road, Mablethorpe, appeared at Lincoln Crown Court today, Friday 21 August, charged with five offences of sexual activity with a teenage boy.

She pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a teenage boy, and four charges of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a teenage boy.

She was sentenced to four years and six months in prison. She must serve at least half of the sentence before being considered for released. She was also given a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order to last five years,  and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life*.

The court heard how Drury had engaged in sexual behaviour with the minor on numerous occasions whilst acting as a private tutor between May and June 2025. She had offered to tutor the boy after lower-than-expected mock exam results, to help him pass his GCSE exams.

In a statement read out in court, the victim said:

"She was kind to me. She would say positive things to me, buy me clothes, she would talk to me and made me feel better about myself. I trusted her and confided in her about some very personal things.”

He went on to describe how he felt after the allegations had been made, he said:

“I felt judged. I felt that people blamed me. I felt unable to simply be a child. I worried that people would not take me seriously because I am a boy. I believed there was a stigma attached to being a male victim of sexual abuse, and that fear made it even harder to cope.”

The victim initially had concerns about how his allegation would be perceived because he was a teenage boy, and the offender was an adult woman - in a position of trust and authority. We reassured him that gender is never a factor in how reports of sexual abuse are investigated and that he would be treated with the same care, sensitivity, and support as any other victim. Throughout the investigation, we worked closely with him to help him understand the criminal justice process and ensure he felt supported every step of the way.

The offender prolonged what was already an extremely difficult experience by delaying her guilty plea until the very last opportunity. As a result, the victim spent many months living with uncertainty about the outcome of the case. Despite these challenges, he showed remarkable courage and resilience. His willingness to come forward and remain engaged throughout the investigation has been instrumental in bringing the offender to justice.

The officer leading this case from East Lindsey’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, Detective Constable Julie Jode, said:

Drury abused her position of trust and exploited the access she had to a vulnerable young person for her own purposes. As an adult in a position of authority, she was expected to provide guidance, support, and protection. Instead, she used that position to target and manipulate someone who should have been able to trust her implicitly.

Offences of this nature can have a profound and lasting impact on victims, particularly when they involve a significant imbalance of power and an abuse of trust. The victim in this case was forced to navigate an incredibly difficult and challenging period of his life while also facing the uncertainty of a lengthy criminal justice process. The fact that the offender delayed accepting responsibility only added to that ordeal.

Throughout the investigation, the victim showed exceptional courage, dignity, and resilience. He came forward despite concerns about how he might be perceived and remained committed to seeing the process through. His bravery has been instrumental in securing this outcome and ensuring the offender has been held accountable for her despicable actions.

Description

Update: 12 August

A man has been jailed for 14 years after pleading guilty to 13 charges under the Sexual Offences Act, many of which involved children.

Rhys Lynn, 32, of HMP Lincoln, pleaded guilty to the offences which took place between July 2017 and April 2026.

He pleaded guilty to all 13 offences in the face of such robust and compelling evidence.  He appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday 7 August where he was jailed after the judge applied an exceptional extended period of four years to the maximum custodial term of 10 years.

He is also banned from working with children or vulnerable adults and will be required to sign the sex offenders register for life.

The officer in charge of this case, DC Portia Hakes of Lincoln’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said:

We welcome the sentence handed down by the court. This man committed a series of serious sexual offences and has rightly been held accountable for his actions. The extended sentence recognises the ongoing risk he poses and provides additional protection for the public. I hope this outcome gives victims some reassurance that their voices will be heard and their experiences taken seriously.

6 July

A man has pleaded guilty to thirteen charges under the Sexual Offences Act, many of which involved children, during a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on 19 June.

Rhys Lynn, 32, of HMP Lincoln, pleaded guilty to the following offences which took place between July 2017 and April 2026:

• Make 267 indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (Class A images)
• Make 102 indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (Class B images)
• Make 387 indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (Class C images)
• Possess an extreme pornographic image
• Two counts of causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity
• Causing a child under 13 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity
• Causing a child under 13 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity
• Two counts of breaching a sexual harm protection order
• Causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child aged between 13-17
• Threaten to share a photograph or film of a person in an intimate state
• Send a photograph or film to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation

Lynn has been remanded into custody and will appear at Lincoln Crown Court on 7 August 2026 for sentencing.

The officer in charge of this case, DC Portia Hakes of Lincoln’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said:

“Thanks to the bravery of a child victim coming forward, we were able to secure vital evidence involving numerous vulnerable victims across the UK. Due to this evidence, this dangerous and relentless offender has been remanded into prison awaiting sentencing. We wish to thank vulnerable child victims for having the courage to speak out against individuals like this and help end the suffering to other children across the UK.”

2023-02-23

A sex offender previously jailed for getting girls to send him naked photos is back behind bars after he failed to notify the authorities he was in a new relationship with a partner who had two young children.

Rhys Lynn, 27, was jailed for 16 months after he admitted failing to notify the police of his new partner’s address and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order on four occasions.

Lynn, formerly of Hawthorn Avenue, Cherry Willingham, and now of The Quays, Gainsborough, was sentenced to five years and four months imprisonment at Lincoln Crown Court in February 2019.

In addition to his jail term, Lynn was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told to comply with sex offender notification requirements.

Those orders required Lynn to notify the authorities if he began a relationship which put him in possible contact with children or if he was staying at a new address.

Lincoln Crown Court heard Lynn started working at a chicken factory in Gainsborough and began a relationship with a woman who had two young children around a year after he was released from prison.

Caroline Bradley, prosecuting, said Lynn did not disclose his offending to the woman and on occasions would act as a babysitter for the children and stay at their address.

There were also other child visitors to the property, and Lynn also visited a friend who had a teenage daughter, Miss Bradley told the court.

Lynn was arrested after the authorities became aware of the contact.

During interview he admitted failing to disclose his new relationship to his risk offending manager and the Probation Service because he was happy.

Neil Sands, mitigating, said Lynn had been successfully co-operating with the Probation Service for a year after his release from prison before this new relationship began.

Mr Sands told the court Lynn’s best mitigation was his early guilty plea and candour with the police.

Passing sentence Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight made it clear there was no evidence of further sexual offending.

But the Judge told Lynn: “I understand the desire for happiness, but you have a history others do not.”

Lynn’s sentence hearing in 2019 was told he posed as a teenager and also threatened his victims that he would distribute images of them that he had already obtained if they did not send him even more.

That hearing was told the five girls involved, one of whom was only 12, were left badly affected by their contact with Lynn over the internet with a number of them having to undergo counselling.

One later told police that her chances of success in her A levels had been completely wrecked by him.

Lynn had set up accounts on sites such as Instagram and Snapchat using fictitious names claiming he was a teenage boy, his original sentence hearing was told.

Four of the girls sent him naked photographs of themselves and Lynn also sent sexual images of himself to them

Before being sentenced in 2019 Lynn admitted five charges of causing or inciting exploitation of a child, two charges of causing a child to watch a sexual act, a further charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and three charges of making a total of 1,218 indecent images of children.

Description

Leslie Jones, 59, of Haven Road, Barton, has been jailed for two years after admitting further offences involving indecent images of children while subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Jones admitted breaching a sexual harm prevention order on 16 June, three offences of making indecent images of children, and one of possessing prohibited images of children, between 3 February and 16 June. Prosecuting, Michele Stuart-Lofthouse told Hull Crown Court that police received information about an internet user involved in a file-sharing programme for child sexual abuse. As a registered sex offender under a 10-year order imposed on 28 October, officers attended his home. Asked if he had any devices other than a mobile phone, he replied “No.” A tablet he had tried to “conceal” was found in a bedroom.

It contained 45 Category A videos of young girls (three lengthy), 62 Category B images (60 videos), 1,025 Category C images (including 18 videos), and two prohibited images of children. There was no distribution.

Jones had nine previous convictions, including wounding in 1999, drink-driving, producing drugs and breaching a community order. On 28 October he received a 14-month suspended sentence, 150 hours’ unpaid work and 25 days’ rehabilitation activity, plus the 10-year sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration, after admitting making indecent images of children, possessing prohibited images and possessing extreme pornography images of bestiality between April 2021 and December 2022.

At that earlier hearing, when he lived in Dundee Street, west Hull, police seized a mobile phone, tablet and laptop on 14 March 2023. They found 813 Category A, 562 Category B and 5,996 Category C indecent images of children (including videos), plus 478 prohibited images and three extreme pornography images. Search terms included “Lolita.” The girls depicted included ages five, six, eight, nine and 11. Jones denied distribution or a sexual interest in children and claimed the material appeared by accident—a claim branded a “lie.” He was told: “Nobody has that many accidents.” Recorder Geraldine Kelly KC said he had “deliberately” searched for and downloaded the images because of an “unnatural, perverted sexual interest in children” and that he “should be ashamed,” describing a “sordid collection.”

Mitigating, Julia Baggs said that after the October appearance Jones lost his job and home, received abuse in the street and became reclusive. He completed all but seven-and-a-half hours of unpaid work and began finding paid employment outside the area. It was “deeply disappointing” he had reoffended. He had been on remand since the new offences came to light and had difficulties settling into prison.

The two-year term includes a consecutive nine months for activating the suspended sentence. His phone and tablet were forfeited and he must remain on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Description

A man who plied a group of girls with drugs before sexually assaulting one of them has been jailed for four years and nine months.

James Briggs, aged 42 of Coniston Avenue, Grimsby, was found guilty at Exeter Crown Court on 6 July 2026 of sexual assault on a child under 13.

Briggs had also previously pleaded guilty to six counts of offering to supply and supplying a controlled class B drug - Ketamine.

The court heard how Briggs had sexually assaulted the girl in East Devon in 2023.

The girl bravely came forward to police to report the incident which resulted in Briggs being arrested and his mobile phone seized.

Examination of his phone showed that Briggs had recently purchased Ketamine and videos evidenced children being under the influence of drugs.

In interview, Briggs stated he had been speaking with the girl in relation to her mental health issues and she had become upset. He denied sexual offending.

Briggs was sentenced on Friday 17 July 2026 and was given a prison sentence of four years and nine months, was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and made subject to a seven-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The officer in case DC Jonathan Stephens said:

“We welcome the outcome and would like to acknowledge the courage shown by the victim and other child witnesses in this case. We ask anybody who has been the victim of child sexual abuse to report it, whether it be recent or non-recent, and we will investigate each matter thoroughly”

Description

A man has been jailed after storing thousands of indecent images and videos of children on 21 devices and engaging in sexual communication with children spanning almost 20 years. Forensic analysis uncovered more than 19,000 images and 628 videos.

Douglas Bowyer, 67, of Chester Way, Boston, appeared before Lincolnshire Crown Court today (Friday 9 July), where he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

This highly complex case began on 26 October 2020 after we received information from a regional unit focused on identifying, safeguarding and supporting victims of child sexual abuse.

A user with the handle ‘Boy4GirlUK1’ had engaged in sexualised conversation with someone whom they believed to be a 13-year-old female child. This user also incited the child to commit sexual acts.

During the conversation, ‘Boy4GirlUK1’ said that they were a 19-year-old male from Lincolnshire, named Dan. The profile picture on the subject’s profile was a blonde-haired young male.

The user then provided the Snapchat account of ‘danny_boi5620’.  The conversation continued on to the Snapchat platform, with the user again being sexualised in the conversation and inciting the child to masturbate.

Specialist digital research was conducted to establish the identity of the person behind the profile.

On 10 November 2020, Police arrested Douglas Bowyer, then 61, at his home in Boston.

Bowyer was previously unknown to police, but in interview he gave a full and frank admission to the offences put to him. 

He admitted regularly talking to children online ‘for some time’ through the app ‘Chat Avenue’.  He said this sometimes progressed on to Snapchat.  He admitted posing as a 19-year-old called Danny, admitting to having spoken to around 50 children, referring to himself as ‘a stereotypical dirty old man’. 

Extensive forensic digital investigation

When Bowyer was arrested in October 2020, officers seized numerous computer towers, laptops, mobile phones, hard drives and discs for forensic examination. Owing to the number of exhibits seized from the address, 49 in total, a forensic strategy had to be put in place to triage and work through the devices in stages.

This meticulous forensic work uncovered the extent of his depravity, requiring the officer in charge of the case to view and grade over a million images, 19,000 images and 628 videos of which were classified as follows:

• Category A – 2,923 images, 256 videos
• Category B – 2,326 images, 79 videos
• Category C – 12,956 images, 279 videos
• Prohibited – 798 images
• Extreme – 1 image, 14 videos

In addition to the thousands of indecent images that were identified across the numerous devices, there were also hours’ worth of recorded live chats and online conversations. From this information it became immediately apparent that Bowyer had been having sexualised conversations with a large number of female children online for years. 

In the case of two children who were aged 13 and 15 at the time that have been identified by Police, Bowyer had online ‘relationships’ for several years with them. One child had even disclosed during an online chat that they had been receiving counselling for potential clinical depression, highlighting the extent of his exploitation. He not only targeted children because of their age and vulnerability but also sought to manipulate those experiencing mental health difficulties.

Extensive enquiries were conducted to try and identify all of the children in the images; however, it appears that Bowyer has been talking to children from all over the world for a significant period of time – the earliest dating back to 2002.

Despite extensive enquiries, only three victims have been officially identified. They are all now adults.

At a plea trial hearing in April 2026, Bowyer pleaded guilty to the following offences:

• Two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child
• Attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child
• Three counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity – penetration
• Attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity – penetration
• Six counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child
• Possessing a prohibited image of a child
• Possessing extreme pornographic images / images portraying rape
• Possessing extreme pornographic image / images portraying an act of intercourse / oral sex with a dead / alive animal.

The officer in charge of this case, Detective Constable Nicola Paradowski of the Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), said:

This has been a hugely complex and intensive investigation. The scale of Bowyer’s offending over nearly two decades, coupled with the volume of devices seized and the number of potential victims identified, meant investigators were faced with an immense amount of material requiring forensic examination. This amounted to thousands of hours of painstaking digital research to be able to present compelling and robust evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service.

I would like to thank the victims for the courage and determination they have shown in supporting this case and helping to bring this manipulative and prolific offender to justice. Their evidence has been instrumental in exposing the full extent of his offending and securing this conviction.

As part of his sentence, Bowyer was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and was issued a Sexual Harm Protection Order. 

Description

A sex offender who abused a young girl in Margate has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Abuse

Kevin O’Toole repeatedly sexually abused a child, beginning in spring 2022. He gained the trust of his victim before eventually forcing her to perform sexual acts on him. The abuse continued for around a year before the victim disclosed the offences to an adult, who reported it to Kent Police the same evening in April 2023.

Interview

An investigation was immediately launched, and O’Toole was arrested. During his police interview O’Toole categorically denied ever touching his victim, even going as far as answering ‘no way in hell’ when posed questions about his abuse. The 46-year-old was released under strict conditional bail whilst the investigation continued.

Police in Lincoln, where O’Toole moved following his arrest, conducted a warrant on his address in June 2025 and discovered over 180 indecent images of children on his devices. He was arrested and investigated for these offences.

O’Toole, formerly of Canwick Road, Lincoln, was later charged with 7 sexual offences, including 3 for the indecent images discovered on his devices.

He pled not guilty, however, following a three-day trial in May 2026, a jury found him unanimously guilty on all counts at Canterbury Crown Court. On Thursday 9 July he was sentenced to 10 years in prison at the same court. He will also be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the rest of his life.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Michael Lord, said:

‘I firstly want to praise the courage of the victim in this case. The bravery she has shown in disclosing what happened to her and supporting our investigation across the years has been remarkable.

‘O’Toole took the opportunity to lie at every possible point in our investigation, denying his actions despite the overwhelming evidence against him. I welcome the sentence given by the court and hope it gives the victim and her family a sense of closure.’

Description

The strength, courage and resilience of brave victims of a sex offender has resulted in their abuser being jailed for 18 years and 11 months.

Raymond Utley committed vile and heinous sexual acts against his victims, causing them emotional and psychological turmoil that destroyed one woman's childhood.

Utley raped and sexually abused his first victim when she was just 14 years old, with offences taking place in Doncaster, Barnsley and Sheffield.

He would buy her alcohol and even filmed himself on a camcorder sexually abusing her.

Utley's offending had a traumatic impact on his victim for over two decades. However, she showed incredible bravery and courage to report his crimes to police, resulting in him being charged with multiple sexual offences.

In respect of his first victim, Utley, 59, of Eastern Avenue, Gainsborough, pleaded guilty to two counts of raping a female under the age of 16, three counts of indecent assault and one count of taking an indecent photograph of a child.

Detective Constable Mike Tilley, who was the officer in charge of the case for South Yorkshire Police, said:

"Utley exerted power and control over his victim, causing her psychological turmoil which has haunted her for decades.

"He was even twisted enough to record himself sexually abusing his victim, using a camcorder that he kept in a locked case.

"He then destroyed all evidence of this but the power of her testimony ensured that he would face justice for crimes committed more than two decades before.

"This was a complex investigation as we worked alongside Lincolnshire Police to ensure that all of Utley's victims were able to secure justice and I do hope that today's sentencing brings closure to them because it is the very least that they deserve after the ordeal they were put through.

"Please know that if you have been a victim of a sexual offence, you are not alone. We are here to listen, we are here to support you and you will be believed."

Utley also pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault in respect of two other victims, with these cases investigated by Lincolnshire Police.

DC Joe Wood, of Lincoln Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said:

“Following today’s sentencing, our thoughts remain firmly with the victims, who showed immense courage and resilience throughout this investigation.

"The offences committed between 1 August 2021 and 31 October 2022 were committed against children - young people who should have been safe, protected, and free from harm.

“I want to be absolutely clear: we will always listen. We will always support. We are committed to gathering robust evidence, ensuring that victims feel heard, believed, and treated with dignity at every stage of the process. No child should suffer in silence, and we encourage anyone who has been affected by abuse to come forward - when you do, you will be taken seriously.

“Investigations of this nature are complex and often deeply distressing, but our officers work tirelessly alongside partner agencies to build strong cases and bring perpetrators of such heinous crimes to justice. Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of these offences and sends a clear message that abuse of children will not be tolerated.

“I would like to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward and their support throughout the judicial process. It is because of their strength that this offender has been held to account.

“Our commitment does not end here. We will continue to work to protect the most vulnerable in our communities, pursue those who cause harm, and ensure that justice is served.”

Utley, who was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday (3 July), faced further charges of sexual abuse and rape in respect of the same three victims with these ordered to lie on file.

Description

A referral from National Crime Agency (NCA) colleagues has led to the conviction of a man from Wragby, near Market Rasen, for multiple sexual assault offences against children. 

McCorley Booth, 30, of Newton Close, Wragby, Market Rasen pleaded guilty to inciting a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity, assault of a boy under 13 by touching, two counts of making indecent images, and distribution of indecent images.  

He appeared before Lincoln Crown Court, yesterday (Thursday 25 June) and was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison.

Booth pleaded guilty to two offences which took place in February 2025 and was sentenced as follows: 

• Cause / incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity – no penetration [seven years]
• Make indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child [eight months concurrent]

He was remanded into prison and later pleaded guilty at a subsequent hearing to three offences dating back to 2024, and was sentenced as follows: 

• Assault a boy under 13 by touching [four years concurrent]
• Make indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child [eight months concurrent]
• Distribute an indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child [eight months concurrent]

He was handed a 15-year sexual harm prevention order along with a five-year restraining order. He will be placed on the sex offender register for life.  

Thanks to fast-moving intelligence provided by NCA colleagues, we were alerted to some disturbing content appearing on a web chat.

Booth was swiftly arrested at a location in Market Rasen on suspicion of making and distributing indecent images. A download of his phone subsequently identified multiple offences.  

A search of his house uncovered a pair of distinctive trousers which also helped identify him as the perpetrator in one of the disturbing images discovered on downloads from his phone.

The officer leading this investigation, Detective Constable Kye Sykes said:

This has been a deeply troubling investigation. The offences uncovered represent a profound abuse of trust and a calculated exploitation of vulnerability. It is particularly disturbing to confront the reality that someone in a position of responsibility could manipulate and harm those who should have been safe in their presence. 

Throughout this case, our thoughts have remained firmly with the victims and their family. The impact of such offences extends far beyond the immediate criminal acts; it leaves lasting emotional and psychological harm for all associated with the case. I want to commend their courage in supporting the investigation and engaging with the process despite the immense sensitivity and difficulty. 

I would also like to recognise the outstanding work and ongoing collaboration between our partner agencies. Safeguarding vulnerable individuals requires a coordinated and determined response, and this case demonstrates the strength of that partnership. From frontline officers to specialist investigators, and from child protection services to digital forensic experts, every contribution has been vital in securing this conviction and preventing further harm. 

Let me be clear: individuals who prey on the vulnerable and seek to exploit their position for such warped and criminal purposes will be relentlessly pursued. We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to identify, disrupt, and bring to justice those who pose a risk to our communities. Protecting the public - particularly children and vulnerable people - remains our absolute priority.

Description

A ‘manipulative and devious’ man who sexually assaulted a child on multiple occasions has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Kevin Rawlings formerly of High Street, Spalding, appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday, 23 July after being found guilty of 11 charges at an earlier hearing in May.

The 58-year-old had denied three counts of sexual assault and eight charges of failure to comply with a sex offenders notification but was judged responsible for the offences by a jury.

The crimes date back to a number of incidents in 2021 and saw Rawlings breach restrictions placed on him for previous sexual offences.

Rawlings had been remanded in custody following his conviction until yesterday where he appeared before court officials to receive his sentence.

He was jailed for eight years and, after serving his sentence, could be recalled to prison again if he offends within four years of release.

On sentencing, the judge referred to Rawlings as manipulative and devious.

The result concludes a lengthy investigation spanning multiple years and finally brings Rawlings to justice for his crimes.

Multiple agencies worked together, as well as a number of officers within Lincolnshire Police to piece together the evidence.

DC Sarah Oliver of Lincolnshire Police said:

“Rawlings showed total disregard for the victim at the centre of this case and should be ashamed of his actions.

“His behaviour is unacceptable on every level and there is no place for it in our county or society at large. He will rightfully spend a long time in prison.

“I am proud of the bravery and maturity the victim has shown in standing up and speaking – this has significantly impacted their childhood. But I’d like to thank them for remaining steadfast in the investigation and it is thanks to their courage that he is in prison.

“I know this isn’t the end for them, but I hope this sentence does in some way, help them move forward.

“And finally, I want to thank all those involved in the investigation who came together to ensure Rawlings was brought to justice and made to answer for his crimes.

“It was a complex case that required a broad variety of skills and expertise to bring to conclusion.”

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A convicted sex offender has been jailed again after breaching a strict court order.

Lewis Garraway, 28, flouted a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by having contact with children, including some time unsupervised, without telling police.

The order was imposed on him in 2018 following a sexual offence with a girl and a two-week custodial sentence in a young offenders institution.

He breached the notification requirements of the order and was jailed for 18 months in October 2021.

Then, in 2024, Garraway met a woman in her early 20s through a dating app.

In October that year, he met her in person for the first time and stayed at her family home in the Littleport area, where two children also lived.

He failed to notify police of this contact, as required under the terms of his SHPO.

During his stay, he took one of the children to a park to play rugby without supervision, again breaching the order.

Garraway lied to his girlfriend that he was between properties, had lost the key to his home and had nowhere to live.

However, a family member grew suspicious and confronted Garraway after finding out about his previous offences.

The family member contacted police and on Friday, 12 June, at Cambridge Crown Court, Garraway, of Seagate Terrace, Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison after admitting breaching a SHPO and two counts of failing to comply with the Sex Offenders Register.

Investigating officer DC Claire Cummings said:

“Garraway showed a complete disregard for the restrictions placed on him to protect others, particularly children.

“Sexual harm prevention orders and notification requirements are there to manage risk and safeguard the public. Breaching them is a serious offence, and we will take robust action against anyone who fails to comply.

“I would encourage anyone who has concerns about someone’s behaviour, particularly where children may be at risk, to report it to us so we can take action.”

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A man found guilty of rape and sexual assault has been jailed for 13 years.

Jamie Twigg of Jellicoe Avenue in Lincoln was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on Friday, 5 June – just a day after he was found guilty of the offences in an eight-day trial.

The 43-year-old had been charged with eight counts of rape, including two counts of rape of a child and two counts of sexual assault.

Twigg had denied the offences – which took place between 2014 and 2023.

In a moving personal statement read to the court on Thursday, 4 June, the victim said they felt robbed of their childhood.

They told the court what happened will impact them for the rest of their life – but said that they were determined to have a ‘good life’ once Twigg had been dealt with.

Twigg was jailed for 13 years, given a sexual harm prevention order and an indefinite restraining order.

Detective Constable Bell, who led the investigation from Lincolnshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit, said:

“Today’s sentence concludes an exhaustive, difficult and lengthy investigation into the abhorrent crimes committed by Jamie Twigg spanning almost a decade.

“We will not and cannot be intimidated by anyone in the pursuit of safeguarding the children of Lincolnshire.

“We will leave no stone unturned and wish for others to know that support is available for them.

“I’d like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and all third-party agencies who have worked tirelessly alongside Lincolnshire Police over recent years to bring Twigg to justice for his crimes.”