Latest Offenders Liver

Description

A paedophile caught with child rape photos says he's trying to change by learning the guitar and listening to podcasts.

John Hamilton was jailed for two years in 2011 for possessing, downloading and distributing indecent images of children.

The then 27-year-old, from Widnes, was told to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and hit with a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

That prevented him possessing a photo of any child under 16, unless they were a family member and he had the permission of their parent or guardian.

But when Hamilton rang police to tell them he had a new mobile phone in November 2019, officers discovered 1,205 photos of children on his old device.

And the pervert - now living in Liverpool's historic Gambier Terrance in the Georgian Quarter - confessed to downloading thousands of sickening files.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Hamilton, now 37, contacted officers on November 22, 2019 to say he had a new mobile and provide its IMEI number to the force.

Kenneth Grant, prosecuting, said he was visited by his offender manager and handed over the phone, which was satisfactory, but was then asked to produce his old one.

This Honor 6 device revealed two photos and a video of young girls aged around six, which Hamilton said he had received on WhatsApp, so the phone was seized.

It was found to contain 515 indecent images of children, a further 690 non-indecent images of children under 16, and also had a VPN attached to it.

Mr Grant said a VPN could be used to ensure greater anonymity on the internet and also assists in concealing a user's IP address and location.

The court heard there were 243 Category A files - the most serious category showing child rape - plus 243 Category B and 184 Category C files created between October 2017 and May 2019, which were all said to be photos.

The Category A photos including one of the rape of a girl aged between two and four, and another showing the rape of two boys, aged between two and three.

Judge Thomas Teague, QC, said there was also a "very disturbing" Category B photo of a boy aged between 12 and 18 months.

Mr Grant said Hamilton gave two interviews when he "denied any significant wrongdoing", before he contacted the police and asked to be interviewed again.

In his third interview he said he wanted to "admit everything" before he confessed that "over the years he had viewed thousands" of Category A images.

He admitted downloading thousands of the files between 2016 and 2019 and accepted he knew he was breaching his order, but said he never took the photos himself.

Mr Grant said: "He stated that he looked at images out of boredom. He stated he was attracted to children but he would never hurt a child and he did not want to have sex with a child."

Hamilton admitted breaching his SOPO and one count of possessing and three counts of downloading indecent images of children.

David Woods, defending, said Hamilton didn't seek to minimise his crimes, pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had shown insight into the harm his offending caused.

He said his client had voluntarily taken a course with child sex abuse prevention charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation and used the last two years "constructively" because "he takes the view quite rightly in my submission that if he's bored, without guidance, self control or he becomes idle, he's tempted to behave in the way that he has".

Mr Woods added: "First of all he has established a routine he has been playing competitive darts, he's been learning the guitar, he's been doing electronic games, reading, going out running, all sorts of normal, wholesome activities which fills in his day."

The lawyer said "unfortunately" Hamilton had been unable to gain a job since his last conviction and therefore had difficulty filling his time, but he was also listening to podcasts about stress and other issues, and talking to his older brother each day, who wasn't very comfortable with the subject matter or position, and wasn't a qualified counsellor, but was trying to help him.

Mr Woods said: "He's acutely aware he's brought embarrassment and distress to his parents and other wider members of his family."

He added that Hamilton's mum had heart problems and said his client "couldn't help but feel guilty" and wonder whether her health had been affected by his conviction.

The lawyer urged the judge to spare him jail, so he could be rehabilitated in the community.

Judge Teague accepted Hamilton had "come clean" over how many images he downloaded and was "candid" with the police.

However, he said the case was aggravated by the "age and vulnerability of some of the children" in the photos and his previous conviction.

He said: "I have to tell you straight away that in my judgement appropriate punishment in your case can only be achieved by immediate custody.

"I have to say that, having regard to the repugnant nature of the images, about which the court has heard, which are exceptionally depraved even by the standards, the appallingly low standards of this kind of case anyway."

Judge Teague said if Hamilton had possessed videos of the nature the court had heard about "you would be facing an even longer sentence" as he jailed him for 18 months.

The judge also made a new 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Description

A paedophile caught sending sexual photos to two 'girls' blamed his innocent brothers when interviewed by police.

Wayne Collins thought he was chatting to children when he discussed sex and sent naked pictures of himself online.

In reality both "Bella", 13, and 12-year-old "Jess" - who he met on Kik Messenger - were undercover police officers.

Police raided the 29-year-old's home in Belmont Road, Anfield and seized his Sony Xperia phone, containing indecent images of children and his collection of "d*** pics".

Liverpool Crown Court heard how the pervert then tried to worm out of trouble by claiming his brothers used the device.

Katy Appleton, prosecuting, said Collins chatted with Bella, an officer from South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), between July 16 and August 9, 2019.

Then 28-year-old Collins, using the profile wayno37, claimed he was 24 when Bella said she was 13 and from Exeter.

After one day he turned the conversation to sex and sent a photo of an erect penis, before asking about her breast size.

Collins said "u can practice sucking on my big lollipop" and said: "Don't show anyone the convo or pics lol x"

Ms Appleton said he sent a picture of him "naked to the waist down and wearing only his boxer pants", asked for a photo of Bella in shorts and a bikini top, and instructed her how to perform sex acts and asked "so u wana lose ur virginity to me".

SWROCU was unable to identify Collins, but North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) tracked him down.

On September 2 and 3, 2019 he spoke with a NWROCU officer pretending to be Jess, a 12-year-old from Cheshire.

Collins - now claiming to be 22 - sent her a photo of his erect penis, asked about her breasts and for photos, then sent an image of himself holding his penis.

He asked if he could "f***" her and the next day asked for photos, then suggested they meet so she could suck his "lollipop".

NWROCU discovered Collins' IP address and Merseyside Police went to his home on November 13, 2019.

Collins claimed he hadn't had KIK for about two years before his Xperia phone - found to contain two Category C indecent images of a child - was seized.

When interviewed, Collins claimed his KIK account was blocked and he hadn't used it since moving into his home in June, despite confirming the profile was his.

Ms Appleton said: "He denied sending images of his penis to any child but admitted that his mobile telephone would have images of his penis, which he has sent to adults.

"He stated that as his phone is not PIN protected, his two brothers could have used it without his knowledge."

Collins, who said his brothers used the phone to call his step dad, denied being sexually attracted to children and said while he had been sent indecent images in the past, he blocked them straight away.

He denied putting a picture of his torso on his KIK account or talking with Jess, and when he said he was 28, not 22, told police one of his brothers was 20 or 21.

Police spoke to his two brothers, one of whom said he had been to Collins' home three times that year, but never used his phone or social media.

The other brother said he lived with Collins for two weeks in 2019, but spent all his time at work or at his girlfriend's.

He admitted using Collins' phone once in the past, when he said he and the other brother found indecent images of girls, which girls had sent to Collins, and "d*** pics" Collins had sent back.

He told police he called Collins "dirty" and they had an argument, which he told his mum about.

The court heard a probation officer for this brother confirmed they had met with him at the time Collins was chatting to Jess.

When interviewed again, Collins called the brother who told police about the images on his phone "a pathological liar" and said he thought that brother may have used his internet on September 2.

He then claimed he was with that brother during his probation appointment.

Collins, who has no previous convictions, admitted downloading and possessing indecent images of a child, two counts of attempting to sexually communicate with a child, two counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of attempting to cause a child to look at an image of a person engaging in sexual activity.

Paul Becker, defending, said Collins, of Croxteth Drive, Sefton Park, had a character reference from his step dad, who was sitting in the public gallery.

Referring to denials he made in a pre-sentence report, Mr Becker said: "I think the best I can say for the defendant, given his vehement denials, is these are very embarrassing matters and he was interviewed in the presence of his parents.

"He's brought shame upon himself and his family and he's facing the prospect of an immediate period of custody."

Mr Becker argued that Collins and the community would be better served if Collins was spared jail and sent on a Horizon sex offenders treatment programme, rather than spending time in prison, when he might not get the help he needs.

He said Collins was "not sophisticated", adding: "He seems to me to be socially isolated, he seems to me to be the sort of person who doesn't have many friends, who is far more comfortable being on a device as opposed to being in a crowd of people. He lacks self-esteem, he lacks confidence."

The judge, Recorder Mark Ainsworth, told Collins: "The offences are very serious and you must appreciate just how serious they are."

He jailed Collins for 20 months and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Description

A convicted rapist who twice went on foreign holidays including to the Philippines without telling the police was put back behind bars today.

James Farquhar, who served 12 years in prison for repeatedly raping a teenage girl, was required to tell the police if he applied for a passport or went abroad under the terms of the Sex Offenders Register.

But Liverpool Crown Court heard that he applied for a passport in November 2019, and the following March he flew to the Philippines for a months holiday.

Derek Jones, prosecuting, said Farquhar's offender manager was told about the jaunt on his return and enquiries began into his passport acquisition.

However Farquhar was not interviewed by Merseyside Police until November 2020 - by which time he had also spent a week on the Greek island of Cos a few weeks earlier.

Mr Jones said that if the police had had any particular concerns about what he had been doing in the Philippines he would have been arrested sooner.

Judge Garrett Byrne, sentencing, today told 62-year-old Farquhar: This was flagrant disregard of the notification requirements which are designed to manage the risk you pose to the community."

Judge Byrne said that in interview Farquhar had feigned ignorance of the requirements but had in fact travelled in full knowledge that he was breaking the rules.

Farquhar, of Ford Lane, Litherland, but formerly of Southport, pleaded guilty to three offences of breaching the Sex Offender Register requirements and was jailed for nine months.

He was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court in 2005 for 15 years for five offences of rape, involving a girl aged between 16 and 20, and was ordered to sign the Register indefinitely. The jail term was reduced on appeal to 12 years.

He received a suspended prison sentence in February 2018 for battery of his ex-partner and staying at her home for longer than seven days without notifying the police.

Matthew ONeill, defending, said that Farquhar told the police he was not aware he should have notified them about obtaining a passport and going abroad on holiday. He signs the Register annually but had not been aware of those particular conditions.

He told the court: It was not deliberate. It was due to a mistaken belief that he did not need to notify the authorities.

Mr O'Neill said his client is in ill health and due for open heart surgery in five months time.

He added Farquhar has been in custody for a month after pleading guilty to the offences, which has been challenging because of the pandemic, and he urged the judge to suspend any prison sentence.

Description

A paedophile who filmed a girl undressing at a beach and downloaded vile photos will be set free in two weeks' time.

David Cadman was arrested after recording the nine-year-old when she was with her parents at New Brighton beach last August.

The 65-year-old was jailed for 16 months for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in relation to the video in November.

But he was back in court today to be sentenced for keeping a twisted collection of pictures, including 20 images of children being raped.

Cadman, of Espin Street, Walton, admitted three counts of downloading and one count of possessing indecent images of children at a hearing last month.

However, while he hadn't been charged over those images by the time of his sentencing last year, Judge Anil Murray today said he had previously taken them into account.

The judge said: "The offences that are before the court today were known about at the time of my sentence and were part of the factual matrix of that sentence, because I had to assess culpability for the breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and part of that breach was having those indecent images."

Zillah Williams, prosecuting, said: "Indeed it was and your honour expressly commented that you had taken into account the existence of those images."

Police found Cadman's sickening stash, along with the video he took of the girl undressing, when they raided his home last August.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he had 20 Category A - the most serious category showing child rape - 14 Category B and 121 Category C files.

Judge Murray said: "The defendant has just told Ms McCloskey [Louise McCloskey, defending] that he is due to be released on April 14, which is about two weeks' time.

"Ms Williams, it seems to me that having already taken these into account, I ought not pass a sentence that would lengthen the defendant's stay in prison and I ought not pass a suspended sentence that would place him in further jeopardy."

The judge said in those "unusual circumstances" it also wouldn't be appropriate to give Cadman a conditional discharge and that he would instead impose a "very short" prison sentence, which didn't extend his time in prison.

Judge Murray said intended to jail Cadman for 28 days, meaning he would serve half of that term and be released in around two weeks' time.

He said: "Clearly that doesn't reflect the guidelines, but this is an unusual case because I've already taken it into account."

Judge Murray jailed Cadman for 28 days and ordered him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for another seven years.

Cadman's indefinite SHPO was first imposed when he was jailed for 14 months for possessing indecent images of children in November 2015.

He has previously been convicted of indecent assault in 1977 and of exposure in 1990.

Last year, when officers raided Cadman's home and seized a black Sony mobile phone, they discovered he had wiped his internet history five or six weeks previously, which he claimed was due to an update.

The court heard it was obvious from the video of the girl on the beach that her parents were unaware she was being filmed and were trying to cover her up with a towel as she was getting changed.

When asked about the video, Cadman said: "I didn't know her, she was just on the beach with her family. I know it's wrong, I don't know why I did it."

Another mobile phone was seized along with a digital camera, a Samsung Galaxy tablet and four USB sticks, from which the indecent images were recovered.

Officers also found a small amount of cannabis.

When asked last year what explanation her client gave for taking the video of the girl, Ms McCloskey said: "The main explanation which has been advanced is that he felt isolated and lonely.

"He didn't go out to commit any offences, took the photographs and realised what he did was wrong.

"When the police officers came there isn't an explicit denial of sexual motivation, but there isn't a full admission."

Description

He once tried to rape a boy and a girl A paedophile who once tried to rape a boy and girl was caught worming his way into a child's home. Jordan Duckworth was locked up for 30 months for two attempted rapes when he was aged just 17 in January 2011. He has been on the Sex Offenders Register and subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) ever since. The order prevented Duckworth from contacting any child under 16 without the written approval of social services. But the pervert kept flouting the ban and after being caught with a 13-year-old boy this year he tried to blame the child's mum. Liverpool Crown Court heard Duckworth, 27, of Needham Road, Kensington, first breached the order on February 4, 2017. Michael Stephenson, prosecuting, said: "His partner and her child had visited him and they had all three shared a double bed." Duckworth admitted the breach on February 6, 2017 when he was sentenced to eight weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months. However, just two days later he met with another woman and headed to her home, where her then nine-year-old son lived. Mr Stephenson said it was revealed Duckworth "dropped in" on the woman "most days" and he was jailed for 12 weeks for the breach. Social services attended the same woman's home in Wavertree on February 15 this year for a "risk assessment" and "welfare check". She was there with her now 13-year-old son, but so was Duckworth, who "lied initially about who he was". Police were informed and arrested Duckworth at his home, when he became "upset" and said: "I've breached my SOPO." He was so distressed officers had to abandon an interview, but he admitted the breach before magistrates on February 19. Desmond Lennon, defending, told the court it had been four years since his client's last breach. He said Duckworth accepted going to the woman's home "on a number of occasions, but on each occasion this youngster wasn't there". Mr Lennon said Duckworth didn't expect the boy to be there on February 15 and there was no suggestion the child was in fear or at risk of harm. The lawyer said: "He gave a false name, panicked and ran off, but he clearly wasn't going to go very far. "He was traced and detained by police. The first thing he said was 'I've breached the order and I'm going to go to prison." Mr Lennon said Duckworth accepted it was inevitable he would now be jailed, as his client cried on a video link from HMP Altcourse. He said: "The defendant is sorry and ashamed for what has happened - he hadn't given any real thought to the seriousness of the position he was putting himself in. "He now sadly recognises the seriousness of it having been in custody for the past four weeks. "He's found prison very, very difficult. It's been a completely overwhelming experience for him." Mr Lennon said Duckworth was "very distressed" and showed "troubling behaviour" when interviewed, when it dawned on him he would be jailed again. He said his client had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression, had struggled with self-harm and attempted suicide in 2011. Mr Lennon said Duckworth had also undergone the "trauma" of seeing his mum and grandad die in 2014 and in 2019, when working on a railway, he saw a colleague killed, which was "a dreadful experience for him". Duckworth sobbed as the judge, Recorder Ciaran Rankin, passed sentence. He told Duckworth: "You were in that house in the company of a young boy, a boy you had shown some interest in in the past. "You actually lied about your identity and attempted to flee the scene, no doubt because you knew just how much trouble you had placed yourself in." Recorder Rankin said Duckworth pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, but initially took "limited responsibility" for his behaviour. He said: "In fact you continue to blame and divert the blame onto the mother of the child, of this 13-year-old boy. "You said you were invited to that address and it was only when you got there you discovered the young boy was there, expecting him to be at school. "If that is correct Mr Duckworth, you should have immediately turned on your heels and left the address, putting some distance between yourself and the boy. You did not do that."

Description

A danger to women dragged his victim from a city centre street and towards a secluded alley so he could sexually assault her.

Dhanji Punja claimed he only wanted to kiss his victim, but a judge didn't believe him and ruled he had intended to sexually assault her.

The 42-year-old preyed on the lone woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as she walked on Lord Street on July 12 last year.

He grabbed her and forced her across towards Dorans Lane, calling her a "f****** b****", and only letting go when faced with three security guards.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he has previously sexually assaulted a woman on a train and lay on a shop floor to look up a woman's skirt.

The judge, Recorder Tom Gilbart, said: "She was out in Liverpool city centre and was with several others in a bar drinking.

"She left to make her way home. As she made her way alone through the city centre she was looking at her mobile phone.

"You appeared and took hold of her with both of your hands. You moved the victim against her will across the street.

"You moved in the direction of a smaller darker street of passageway which was away from the main thoroughfare.

"As you did so you called the victim b**** or a f****** b****.

"Your intention was to commit a sexual assault on her once you had her in a more secluded place."

Recorder Gilbart added: "In her statement she described trying to fight to get away but being unable to do so.

"She was shocked and frightened and feared for her safety."

Fortunately three security guards nearby saw what was happening and intervened - at which point Punja let go of his victim, and when police arrived he was arrested.

Recorder Gilbart said: "Police officers who arrived at the scene described her as looking very distressed and shocked. It's no wonder."

Gerald Baxter, prosecuting, detailed how In a victim personal statement the woman said she was now too frightened to go out on her own.

Mr Baxter said: "She can't go into Liverpool on her own because she thinks about 'walking down Lord Street and past the alley where the man tried to pull me towards'."

The woman said she "couldn't imagine seeing that street again", adding "I just couldn't go to Liverpool city centre".

The court heard the woman has been unable to sleep and "lies awake thinking about what happened."

Mr Baxter said she is "unable to be independent and go to the shops on her own".

Punja, of Stanley Street, Liverpool city centre, has four previous convictions for four offences.

Recorder Gilbart, outlining the offences, said: "In 2005 you were convicted of outraging public decency when you lay on the floor of a shop in an effort to look up a woman's skirt."

"In 2012 you were convicted of sexually touching a woman whilst she was travelling on a train. As a result of that conviction you were made the subject of notification requirements. You breached these requirements and were cautioned for that."

Stuart Nolan, defending, asked the judge to consider the amount of partial credit that should be awarded for Punja's guilty pleas.

Mr Nolan added: "Without alcohol misuse he appears not to be of significant risk."

Recorder Gilbart noted that following his previous conviction for sexual assault Punja said he would "reduce his use of alcohol and address it" but he has gone on to commit another sexual offence eight years later.

Mr Nolan said: "It is also important to state at this point the previous conviction is some distance away - there have been elements of control over alcohol misuse."

He asked the judge to consider the time Punja has served in custody during the pandemic and that he "indicates his remorse".

Pujna admitted kidnap and kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Recorder Gilbart, sentencing, said: "This was a frightening and quite an outrageous attack on a woman on a street.

"You felt entitled to use force to kidnap her and you did so with the intention of committing a sexual offence. Your act was only foiled because of others."

The judge added: "This was a predatory act by you, seizing an opportunity to try and take advantage of this victim.

"The victim was more vulnerable than she might have been because she was a lone woman at night who had drunk alcohol. This was a disgraceful offence."

Referring to the victim's personal statement Recorder Gilbart said: "She can't face walking past the place where you did this.

"She struggles to sleep and spends time at her mother's house because she feels unsafe in her own home.

"She feels she has lost the feeling of being an independent adult and she suffered from anxiety."

The judge explained there was an issue with Nolan's basis of plea, forcing the victim to relive the events in a Newton hearing - a form of mini trial based on the facts of a case which is also referred to as a 'trial of issue'.

Recorder Gilbart said: "The crown's case was you kidnapped the victim with the intent of raping her, your case was you kidnapped her with the intention of kissing her."

The judge said: "The victim was upset in parts of evidence and couldn't bring herself to watch CCTV footage of the incident."

Following the hearing the judge accepted neither the prosecution case nor Punja's but said there was an intent to commit a sexual offence.

The judge noted that the case is "mitigated by the fact you suffer from an identified mental disorder of alcohol misuse" and "to a small extent by your expressions of regret to the author of the psychiatric report".

Judge Gilbart said Punja was a "dangerous" offender and jailed him for five years, with an extended two years on licence.

This type of sentence means he will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars.

Punja will then only be released before the end of his five-year sentence if a parole board considers he is no longer a risk.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A man placed on the Sex Offenders Register for exposure was jailed after failing to comply with the requirements of the order.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that David Moriarty, 69, had repeatedly breached the terms of the register.

The most recent was in October of last year, when he failed to notify police he was of no fixed abode after being released from prison for another offence.

The court heard Moriarty was a "hard working and intelligent man" whose life spiralled out of control after he became addicted to drink and drugs.

Michael Stephenson, prosecuting, said Moriarty was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years in October 2015 after being jailed for exposure.

One of the terms of the order was that Moriarty should notify police of any change of address within three days.

Mr Stephenson said: "Mr Moriarty was arrested and sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment last October for possession of a controlled drug.

"On his release, he should have attended a police station within three days to notify them that he was of no fixed abode.

"He did not do so. Instead he voluntarily attended St Anne Street police station some six days later to say he'd forgotten because he'd got out of the habit, whereupon he was arrested for the offence.

"He should have been aware of his obligations and it was a deliberate breach."

Paul Becker, defending, admitted Moriarty had "an appalling record of compliance with the order", having failed to comply eight times. This was among his 44 previous convictions for 81 offences.

Mr Becker said Moriarty had eight O-levels, and his previous jobs had been with British Rail, the ambulance service, and Royal Mail.

He added: "He fell on hard times, became addicted to drink and drugs, and spiralled into trouble."

Mr Becker said Moriarty was suffering from ill-health, including an unspecified neurological condition.

He had been held in custody since November 4 for the breach, to which he had pleaded guilty.

Judge Louise Brandon told Moriarty, who appeared via video link from HMP Altcourse: "You have been a hard-working and intelligent man in your life, but since your lapse your life has been chaotic."

He was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison.

Description

A Liverpool University archaeologist tried to arrange sex with a 13-year-old girl while her mum watched.

Jason Hall discussed how he wanted to molest the girl - and the 50-year-old even took a train to Chester to fulfil his twisted sexual fantasy.

But neither the woman nor her daughter were real and he was instead met by police waiting outside the station.

Officers searched his rucksack and found a pack of condoms and an Easter egg he bought for his intended victim.

And when they searched his home, they discovered a sick stash of more than 2,000 indecent images of children.

Hall, of Greenbank Road, Mossley Hill, was a senior archaeology technician at the university's School of Histories, Languages and Cultures for more than a decade.

Liverpool Crown Court heard undercover officers set up a decoy profile of a woman calling herself Poppy on an adult website.

Neil Bisarya, prosecuting, said she was contacted on the site by Hall, who said he noticed she was based in Chester and that he was in Liverpool and worked at the university, on March 26, 2018.

Poppy told Hall she was a mum-of-two with an eight-year-old son and a daughter aged 13, before two days later telling him she was interested in young teens.

Hall replied "lovely, about your girl's age?" and she agreed and told him her daughter was called Natalie, before Hall said he would like to have sex with her and Poppy said she would like to be present.

Their conversations continued on Skype and an encrypted chat service called qTox and on April 16 that year they discussed him coming to Chester.

Poppy sent Hall two photos, supposedly of her and Natalie, and he sent one of himself in return, before on April 26 they talked about arrangements.

She then set up chats between Hall and Natalie on Skype from May 1, when he called her a "cutie", then on May 8 discussed having sex with her.

Mr Bisarya said Hall sent her of a photo of his erect penis when he was in the bath and said he wanted to have sex with her while her mum watched.

On May 10 he asked for a photo of her bottom and after confirming the arrangement with mother and daughter and promising to bring some chocolate, on the morning of May 11 set off to Chester but was arrested at 11.48am.

Mr Bisarya said his mobile phone was seized along with his rucksack, containing "a packet of condoms with a receipt that had been recently purchased and a Twirl Easter egg".

Officers went to his home and seized 17 items - laptops, computers, hard drives and mobile phones - and found next to his bed a transcript describing sex with a 12-year-old.

Hall, who had no previous convictions, made no comment in a police interview, but later confessed after his devices were analysed.

They revealed 102 Category A images - the worst category showing child rape - plus 271 Category B and 1796 Category C images.

In total he had downloaded 2,169 child sex abuse images between September 2005 and May 2018, plus 13 animal porn files.

He admitted arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence, attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child look at an image of sexual activity, three counts of downloading indecent images of children, and possessing extreme porn.

Rebecca Smith, defending, said Hall knew he would receive a "lengthy" jail sentence and made admissions to police in a second interview.

She said despite the contents of his rucksack, no sexual activity was ever going to take place because Natalie was a "fictional character".

Ms Smith said Hall was "co-operative" and "candid" and had shown a willingness to "explore and understand his criminal behaviour".

She said he completed work with child sex abuse prevention charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, plus other courses and counselling.

The lawyer said Hall had references from his parents and sister, who talked of his "introverted and isolated adulthood" and now he had received assistance and been "honest and truthful" with them, they hope to provide him with the support he needs when he leaves prison.

Ms Smith added her client had been "held in high regard" at the university faculty, won awards, and they had been "proud" of his achievements.

Judge Anil Murray noted the "high disparity of age" between Hall and his intended victim, along with his "grooming behaviour".

He said: "The absence of a real victim does not reduce culpability."

However, the judge said he had to make a downward adjustment to recognise the absence of actual harm, as the child didn't exist.

Judge Murray said the pre-sentence report concluded that Hall demonstrated "entrenched sexual interests in children" and assessed him as a "high risk of sexual recidivism and a high risk of causing serious harm to children".

He said: "I agree completely with those assessments."

The judge also noted that Hall's mum said he was "usually a caring son" and his sister said he had expressed remorse to her.

He jailed Hall for two years and eight months, of which he will serve half behind bars.

Judge Murray ordered him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

Description

A MAN from Merseyside has been jailed after he admitted two counts of engaging in sexual communications with a child in Northwich.

Kieran Mark Thomas, of Blackhurst Road in Lydiate, has been sentenced to 15 months behind bars for the offences, which took place between November 22 2019 and January 18 last year.

The 27-year-old also admitted to making an indecent image of the girl, who was under the age of 16, on March 1 last year with the judge handing him a three month concurrent sentence for that particular offence.

Thomas first appeared before Magistrates on August 26 last year, where he entered no plea, but was given his prison sentence at Chester Crown Court on Monday, January 25.

As well as being jailed, Thomas will also have to sign the sex offenders register for the next ten years and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

Description

A convicted sex offender who performed a sex act on himself outside a block of student flats in Islington has been jailed.

William Sung was seen in the city centre performing the act on himself on two occasions while stood at the window of a takeaway.

The 45-year-old was on Gildart Street in August when he pulled down his trousers on the street corner, despite already being on the Sex Offenders Register.

He was seen again later the same day in the same place performing the act on himself.

Sung, of Nelson Street, in the Baltic Triangle area, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court after previously pleading guilty to two counts of exposure.

In a court hearing on September 25, Mark Teare, prosecuting, told the court Sung was found performing the sex act on himself in the same street "for a period of time".

Sung has previous convictions for harassment and exposure and in 2013 he was handed a nine-month prison sentence for sexually assaulting a female by touching.

David Achilles, defending, told the court that Sung admitted the offence and explained Sung suffers from learning difficulties.

Mr Achilles stated that Sung is more socially isolated than others as he has no family in this country.

He asked the magistrates to follow the guidance given in the report and requested that any sentence was suspended.

Chair Magistrate, Glenys McGill, sentencing, said: "We have taken time to discuss these matters and listened carefully to the facts in the case and also to what Mr Achilles said on your behalf.

"Having talked about it at length we believe these matters are so serious the custody threshold has been passed.

"Matters were aggravated because it was a prolonged incident. You were drunk at the time and you were subject to a notification requirement on the Sex Offenders Register."

Sung was handed four months in prison and must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.

He was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation to his victim.

Description

A paedophile who plotted for a baby to be brought to his home so he could watch it being sexually abused was struck off the nursing register.

Thomas Harrison devised a sick plan with who he thought was the baby boy's dad in horrific online conversations.

The 31-year-old, from Mossley Hill, was completely unaware that he was actually chatting to an undercover police officer in a sting to catch him.

This week, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) revealed that they have removed Harrison, who worked as an adult nurse at Cornerstone Surgery in St Helens, from their nursing register.

Harrison's plot began on July 23 last year when he sent repeated messages to a fictitious profile created on the dating app Grindr.

Once the 31-year-old had struck up a conversation with his new contact, their messages moved onto Wickr, an encrypted messaging platform.

The undercover officer asked Harrison what he was interested in sexually, with Harrison responding "anything goes".

When the officer revealed he had a four month old son, Harrison was asked whether he would prefer sexual activity with the officer or the baby. He said "he would choose the baby".

The pair agreed to meet and the officer arrived at Harrison's home on the night of July 27 2020, where he told the officer to his face that he wanted to watch him abuse the child.

The officer's colleagues from Merseyside Police and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit then arrived and arrested Harrison for facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

In October last year at Liverpool Crown Court he was sentenced to two years in prison and put on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

NMC documents, covering the hearing on September 17, stated: "The panel was provided with a certificate of conviction which confirmed that on 16 September 2020 at Crown Court in Liverpool Harrison was convicted of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

"The panel also noted that Harrison had admitted the charge against him.

"The panel agreed that the nature of Harrison's conviction is very serious and involved a very vulnerable baby who was, in the past, placed at unwarranted risk of harm.

"It also breached fundamental tenets of the profession and brought the profession into disrepute.

"Harrison has been convicted of a serious sexual offence involving the attempted sexual abuse of a four month old baby.

It determined that a fully informed member of the public would be appalled by Harrison's conviction, and extremely concerned should a finding of no current impairment be made in light of his convictions."

Detective Constable Craig Doyle said: "Harrison has shown by his actions that he clearly poses a danger to children, and I am very pleased to say he is safely behind bars today.

"He will now spend time behind bars where he can no longer pose a risk, and I hope he uses that time to reflect on the seriousness of his offence and the impact it could have had on a victim, their family and the wider community."

Alongside being struck off the nursing register, the NMC also imposed an 18 month interim suspension order.

This means that Harrison's registration is suspended and they must not practise for the duration it is in place.

On making their decision to remove Harrison from the register, the NMC said: "The panel noted that the serious breach of the fundamental tenets of the profession evidenced by Harrison's actions is fundamentally incompatible with him remaining on the register.

"The panel agreed that the appropriate and proportionate sanction is that of a striking-off order.

"Having regard to the matters it identified, the panel has concluded that nothing short of this would be sufficient in this case."

Description

A rape trial was delayed for more than six months after Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyers demanded access to the victim's school and social service records.

Merseyside Police had asked the CPS to approve charges against ocean sciences student Luke Hudson, 21, who was later convicted of raping the unconscious woman at a drunken house party in December 2017.

The analysis of the victim's records proved irrelevant to the case.

Hudson, of Alderson Avenue, Wavertree, was caught out when concerned friends placed a mobile phone under the door of his locked bedroom and saw him appearing to have sex with the woman while she was motionless.

When they tried to force the door Hudson, naked from the waist down, opened it and they saw the victim covered in vomit and seemingly asleep on the bed.

Hudson denied the two had penetrative sex but traces of her DNA were found on his body.

During his trial, Judge Louise Brandon expressed concerned about the length of time between the attack and charges being laid, and asked for a chronology of the case to be compiled.

After Hudson was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, prosecuting counsel Ben Jones indicated a timeline had been prepared.

He said: "After medical reports had been completed Merseyside Police indicated that charges were ready in June 2018.

"However there was then a dispute between the police and CPS over access to the complainant's school and social service information."

Mr Jones said the police suggested the CPS request was "speculative," but the wrangle lasted for around six months.

Judge Brandon said the parties should "reflect" on the process.

Hudson was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

The CPS said they received the file from police in September 2018, and said the case was charged in March 2019.

The service highlighted that the evidence collected in the complex investigation secured a conviction.

Deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire Aksha Shahid said: "The CPS received this case from Merseyside Police in September 2018.

"A review of the material that had been collated during the investigation was carried out and further lines of enquiry were identified.

"The Police did not decline to pursue these lines of enquiry and they were carried out. The case was then further reviewed and charge was authorised in March 2019.

"This was an extremely complex and sensitive case in which the defendant exploited the vulnerability of the victim at a time and a place when she was entitled to feel safe.

"Justice was secured for this victim and a rapist was convicted because of the effective teamwork of the CPS, the Police, Counsel  and the forensic expert.

"The defendant was convicted of rape on December 2, 2019, and sentenced to four years six months imprisonment and he has been entered onto the sex offenders register."

In September, the annual Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) report from (CPS) showed the number of rape prosecutions in the region fell from 202 in 2017-18 to 119 in 2018-19.

Across England and Wales, there were just 1,925 convictions for rape or an alternative lesser offence during the financial year 2018-19, down from 2,635 in the previous 12 months - a drop of 26.9%.

This is despite the number of rape claims dealt with annually by police forces in England and Wales rising from 35,847 to 57,882 during the last four years.

The drop in prosecutions led campaigners to argue that rape is becoming "effectively decriminalised."

A coalition of women's organisations, represented by the Centre for Women's Justice (CWJ), is preparing to launch a judicial review case against the CPS over claims cases are being "dropped" without good reason.

But the CPS said the drop in rape charges was due to "a number of factors", including a reduction in the number of referrals from the police to the CPS, and an increase in the volume of time-consuming digital data.

Description

A paedophile who fantasised about raping children blamed his sick perversion on the death of his pet dog.

Mathew Tharme, 48, downloaded sickening photos of child sex abuse victims including newborn babies.

The married dad-of-two even shared images from his vile collection with other deviants in online chat rooms.

But the computer sales worker walked free from court today after explaining how he had been "in a really bad place".

Police received intelligence that an IP address had shared an indecent image of a child, via chat service Kik Messenger, last October.

Liverpool Crown Court heard they traced it to Tharme's home in Kilburn Avenue, Eastham, Wirral, which they raided on December 15.

Tharme was present and said he was aware of the incident, before he was arrested and his Apple iPhone and Asus laptop were seized.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said police found 20 Category A - the most serious category - images of girls aged three to five being raped.

There were 35 Category B images, including a newborn baby being sexually abused, and 63 Category C pictures, showing girls aged two to three.

An extreme porn image was discovered and officers identified he had used Kik Messenger on his phone to distribute two Category C pictures.

Mr Blasbery said when interviewed later that day, Tharme admitted using online chat rooms "to engage in fantasy chat, as he called it".

He said he may have sent indecent images to other users during these chats and revealed he had searched online for Category C images.

Mr Blasbery said: "He said he would talk about the rape and sexual assault of children, but denied having any intention of carrying this out and denied having any sexual interest in children.

"He went on to explain his offending was a way of releasing his frustration at his current situation and stated he was in a really bad place personally having lost his job and having lots of time on his hands, his brother had a serious illness and also because of the loss of his pet dog."

Tharme, now of Marline Avenue, Bromborough, Wirral, admitted three counts of downloading and one of possessing indecent images of children.

The dad, who has no previous convictions, also pleaded guilty to distributing indecent photos of children and possessing extreme pornography.

Christopher McMaster, defending, said his client had been "exceptionally frank" about what led to his crimes in a pre-sentence report.

He agreed that distributing the photos was "the worrying aspect of this case" and an aggravating feature.

Mr McMaster said there were not any videos, nor a high volume of pictures, and Tharme had shown "real insight" and remorse.

He said Tharme worked with a therapeutic counsellor from December to July, then due to financial reasons started a course with The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse.

Mr McMaster said Tharme was still working full time in computer sales but not allowed to live with his family and could only see his 16-year-old son under supervision.

He said his client had moved in with his mum, adding: "There will be a long and hard road for him ahead, whatever the conclusion of this court."

Mr McMaster said Tharme contributed greatly to his family's income and his wife would suffer significantly if he lost his job.

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, said though 118 images was a lower amount than in many cases, the photos were of an "extreme nature".

He said if the photos Tharme had shared had been Category A pictures, then he would have faced prison.

The judge said: "The distinction between the sort of offences that might enable the court to pull back from immediate custody and those where there are bound to be a prison sentence will often be the difference between simple possession and distribution.

"It's a terribly serious aggravating feature."

However, he said because those shared were Category C, plus the limited number of photos and the steps Tharme had taken since, he would spare him jail.

Judge Menary handed him 10 months in jail, suspended for two years, a 25-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 100 hours of unpaid work.

He said Tharme must sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “Each one of Tharme’s sickening collection of indecent images and videos represent an horrific attack on an innocent child.

“By downloading, sharing and engaging in the trade of this repulsive content he is creating a demand, and encouraging others to force vulnerable children into situations which will scar them mentally, emotionally and physically for life.”

Description

A paedophile groomed and raped a girl who was so vulnerable she was forced to eat ants to survive.

William Bresnahan targeted and exploited the neglected 11-year-old daughter of two heroin addicts. She had to go out to find work to pay for her parents' drug habits, before her dad committed suicide.

Bresnahan, now 75, befriended the abandoned girl and gave her food, money, clothing, trips and treats. The carpenter, whose wife had died, then raped her at least five times at his home in Waddicar Lane, Melling. 

Liverpool Crown Court heard she saw him giving cash to her mum, who knew she was staying at his home. However, despite the horrific abuse, she described how she had seen the pervert as her "rock and saviour". The now adult woman told police: "It was a small price to pay to be fed and clothed."

The brave victim today stared down her unrepentant attacker, as he learned he will likely die in prison. John Wyn Williams, prosecuting, said Bresnahan specifically targeted an "extremely vulnerable" child. He said: "Your honour will recall the evidence of how she had to eat ants to feed herself and find menial work just to survive." 
 
During a trial, a jury heard she would sell flowers at a cemetery and find shopping trolleys to get the pound from them. The woman described how she was "starving and desperate" when she met Bresnahan, who offered her jobs and money. He gave the deprived girl food and clothes, let her stay at his home and took her out to a farm and the seaside.

But she recalled he instructed her to tell anyone that asked he was her uncle, before the vile abuse began. Eventually genuine relatives told him to stop seeing her, but she did not feel able to report what happened until 2017.

Bresnahan claimed his victim was a liar, who held a grudge against him because he broke off contact with her. The ex-labourer accepted handing cash to her mum, but offered no explanation for why he gave money to her. He was unanimously convicted by jurors of three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault last month.

She told the court: "I'm messed in the head. This has messed up my life." The victim, who felt ashamed and embarrassed, suffered panic attacks, headaches and nightmares. She turned to alcohol, suffered from depression and experienced problems forming relationships. 
 
The woman said: "The worst thing has been everything, every day. It has destroyed me." However, she added: "I am so glad I got justice and couldn't thank the courts enough."

Louise McCloskey, defending, said Bresnahan, who has no previous convictions, still maintained his innocence. She said: "While he understands the verdict of the jury, he would not wish me to address the court in respect of the facts, because they are not accepted."

Ms McCloskey said: "This sentence will be tantamount to a life sentence for Mr Bresnahan, who is in the twilight of his years." She added: "This will inevitably be a long and difficult sentence for him, from which he may not ever be released back into the community."

William Bresnahan, 75, of Waddicar Lane, Melling, was found guilty of three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault.  Judge Rachel Smith said the victim, who sobbed throughout the hearing, suffered severe psychological harm.

The judge said she was unsure whether the victim's mum accepted the cash knowing Bresnahan was sexually assaulting her, "turned a blind eye to the situation" when someone who was not a heroin addict would have realised what was going on, or because she was on drugs, was not aware at all. However, she said: "Your motivation in giving her money was to maintain access to her daughter in order to abuse her."

Judge Smith said Bresnahan was "an offender of particular concern" and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a restraining order for life. She jailed him for 16 years, with an extended year on licence, prompting his tearful victim to clap and cheer, while Bresnahan showed no emotion in the dock. The type of sentence means he will serve at least half of the term – eight years – behind bars, before he is eligible for parole at 83. He will then only be released before the end of the 16-year sentence - at 91 - if he is no longer considered to be a risk to the public.

As he was sent down, his victim shouted "yes, rot!" and "suffer!", while a male friend yelled: "Rat, rat, rat!"

Description

A Liverpool man who admitted enjoying watching the live abuse of young childrenhas been jailed after being convicted for the third time in nine years of online child sexual abuse offences.

Richard Thomas, 31, pleaded guilty to five offences at Liverpool Crown Court. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

He admitted three counts of making indecent images of children, one of encouraging the commission by another of the offence of distributing indecent images of a child, and one of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The NCA identified that Thomas was using an online video conferencing platform to watch indecent images of children online.

Investigators were able to prove that the chat room user names 'Ped UK' and 'P1' belonged to him.

Thomas has two previous convictions for offences related to indecent images of children. In 2010 he was given a three-year community order, then in 2016 he was given a 12 month prison sentence and a SHPO prohibiting him from accessing the internet unless approved by a police officer. .

As well as the prison sentence, Thomas was ordered to be on the sex offenders register for life. The SHPO remains in place.

Graham Ellis, NCA operations manager, said: "This is Thomas' third conviction for offences related to online child abuse. By viewing these horrific images of children he – and others like him - are fuelling the abuse of young children across the world.

"We know that the scale and severity of this type of offending against children is getting worse and increasing. With many individuals we see an escalation in offending which is very frightening; going from viewing abuse images to sexually abusing children.

"The NCA and our law enforcement partners will not stop pursuing child sex offenders and will do everything in our power to bring them to justice."

The NCA's most recent National Strategic Assessment published this week shows the number of referrals to the NCA from industry of online child sexual abuse and exploitation has increased by 997% from 2012 to 2018.