Latest Offenders Liver

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A paedophile was found hiding in a cupboard after sending a naked picture of himself to an undercover police officer.

Violent domestic abuser and convicted robber Wayne Jones, 34, then tried to shift the blame onto his innocent partner who was in hospital at the time. He appeared via videolink at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty to one count of attempted sexual communication with a child and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH).

Kate Morley, prosecuting, told how Jones flew into a rage in Runcorn on March 25 last year when his then-partner - who we have chosen not to name - “confronted” him and "questioned his sexuality" due to content she discovered on his phone. In her words, Jones “flipped” and attacked her, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Ms Morley said Jones “jumped on (his victim), kneeling on her legs, and shouted in her face - she couldn’t move”. In the ensuing struggle she grabbed his T-shirt and said she might have scratched him while “trying to escape”, and he elbowed her in the face, knocking her glasses off.

She began to cry, and “described not being able to breathe out of her nose and her lip was bleeding”.

Officers learned of the incident during a routine welfare safeguarding visit a few days later. Jones, of Arden Drive, Speke, pleaded guilty to one count of ABH on the basis he didn’t bite her.

The victim suffered bruises including to her nose, left eye, body, arms and legs. When interviewed by police, Jones said the claims were “laughable and quite funny and all a lie”.

In her victim personal statement, she said she realised she was a victim of domestic violence and when she read back what had happened - “it sounded like a film - I thought ‘is that my life?’” She said she’d completed “so many domestic violence courses” in the past but following the assault it “sank in, everything fell into place” adding: “I don’t know why I protected him.”

Jones’s conduct left her suffering “panic attacks in the night” and waking up “not being able to breathe like I’m being strangled - the doctors think it’s post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)”. She was now trying to rebuild her life but had to move to another area, and away from friends and family, and no longer wants to go out and socialise but was “glad I’ve spoken up”.

The assault happened around only a month after Jones had been engaging in a lewd conversation on social media with an undercover police officer he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. Ms Morley told the court Jones used the pseudonym “JohnJones” on Kik Messenger and said he was 32 years old.

The “girl” said she was 13, to which Jones replied “yeah”. At first he asked “why are you on this, it’s dangerous for you?” He was back three weeks later in February, telling the “girl” he was “from Runcorn” and sent a picture of his genitals.

His watch and a “distinctive” tattoo on his left wrist were enough for investigators to match the picture to Jones later on. When she said she was 13 years old, Jones made out he wasn’t aware and said he “didn’t know” and told her not to message him.

He was back again on Valentine’s Day, February 14, asking the “girl” to chat on SnapChat, where he “immediately asked for pictures”, only to “delete her” when snubbed. Jones wasn’t finished, and a week later messaged her on Kik asking if she wanted to see his genitals and perform a sex act. He also asked to see pictures of her breasts.

She refused and he branded her a “weirdo” and told her to “f*** off”, but a few days later made a similar request to see her genitals. Police enquiries linked the account to his then-partner’s address in Runcorn - but she had been in hospital. Officers found the pervert Jones “hiding in a cupboard behind a wardrobe in a rear bedroom”.

Police found the incriminating picture of Jones’s genitals with watch and tattoo on his phone in addition to screenshotted messages, and although he had deleted Kik and SnapChat, the phone still contained files showing the apps had been previously installed.

Jones tried to blame the innocent victim of his domestic violence for the messages and picture, but police eliminated that as a possibility because she had been in hospital at the time and the phone had been traced to the residential property and they had been in communication with each other so “it couldn’t be her”.

When interviewed on April 1 he denied “ever having a Kik account”.

Ms Morley said Jones had 22 convictions for 34 offences including multiple robberies, affray, dwelling and non-dwelling burglaries, ABH assaults, criminal damage, “exposure”, possessing the Class B drug ketamine and possessing prohibited items in prison and most recently possessing a prohibited item namely a phone in prison for which he was sentenced to eight months in prison last April.

James Preece, defending, noted Jones’s guilty pleas on the day of trial for the attempted sexual communication and day before trial for the ABH, and lack of previous child sex or domestic violence convictions.

He said the victim’s injuries were “not serious injuries in all the circumstances”, and he said the victim statement referred to a course of alleged conduct that went beyond the scope of the convicted ABH offence, noting the court had ordered other charges to lie on file.

Mr Preece conceded the judge would impose consecutive sentences for the different types of crime, and as such he appealed to the “principle of totality”.

He added that father-of-three and former joinery worker Jones was “embarrassed” by his child sex offence conviction and had found custody “difficult”, struggling with his “mental health and low mood”.

Mr Preece said Jones said the reason why his last sentencing hearing was adjourned was because two men had attacked Jones with a broom handle in his cell on his “usual prison wing” after he entered his guilty plea to the sexual communication matter.

The attack left him with “two black eyes, bleeding behind one eye and a gash to the front of his face”, as well as being moved to another wing. Mr Preece said Jones has been undertaking courses with a view to rebuilding his life after leaving prison.

Judge David Potter sentenced Jones to two years and two months in prison and placed him on the sex offenders register with Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years in addition to a restraining order.

He said the relationship between Jones and his then-partner had been “toxic” and troubled with “difficulty from day one”

Commenting on the impact of Jones’s domestic assault during his sentencing remarks, Judge Potter said: “She now suffers from panic attacks and PTSD from the trauma she’s been put through and as a result of the assault had to leave her home area and start again with no friends or family. This relationship is thankfully at an end and there will be a lengthy restraining order imposed today.”

The judge gave a factual chronology of the attempted sexual communication matter, adding: “You denied that you had been responsible for those messages and in fact blamed the victim for being the author of those messages. You persisted with that denial right the way through until the beginning of your trial."

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A man caught with more than 15,000 indecent photographs of children claimed he ‘didn’t realise it was illegal’.

Tony Collins, 49, escaped jail after officers searched his Liverpool home in 2021 to find images of children as young as five and ‘children’s knickers’.

Investigators, acting on intelligence, found the trove of images on electronic devices including a Samsung mobile phone, a hard drive and a laptop.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday how officers found ‘category A images’ – the most graphic – on the devices, including a photo of a 13-year-old girl.

Around 138 ‘category B’ pictures were also found on top of 15,248 ‘category C’ images of children aged between eight and nine.

Some of the photographs included a child estimated to be around five and seven, prosecutor Sarah Holt added.

The images were all downloaded across the space of four years from 2017 to 2021, some of which ended up in the recycling bin of the devices.

During a voluntary interview, Collins said he has learning difficulties, struggles to read and write, and ‘didn’t realise it was illegal to look at those photos’.

He alleged he ‘didn’t look for images of children he wasn’t sexually attracted to’.

Collins faced a maximum punishment of a decade in jail – but the judge spared Collins jail, given his lack of prior convictions and his ‘personal characteristics’.

‘It’s important to note viewing and downloading of images, you are perpetuating a wicked and repellent market for the exploitation of children, some are very young,’ Recorder Harris said.

‘The corrosive effects and psychological harm caused to children who are forced to pose for these photographs is incalculable.’

Collins previously pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs and possessing indecent images and prohibited photographs of children.

‘Making’ indecent images of children, which can involve producing or distributing them, carries far more severe punishments than ‘possessing’ them.

Such charges are ‘serious enough to warrant punishment by immediate imprisonment’, Recorder said.

Though he was assessed as being a ‘medium risk of harm to children’, Recorder Harris said Collins had a ‘realistic chance of rehabilitation’.

Collins was handed an ‘alternative’ punishment that includes three years of concurrent community orders and a rehabilitation requirement of 30 days.

He must show his probation officer he is taking the steps to prevent further offending by ‘educating’ himself and working with the police sexual offences unit.

Recorder Harris also ordered Collins to be on the sex offenders register for five years and issued a sexual harm prevention order.

Collins must also pay £70 costs within a year and a statutory surcharge.

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This is the face of a man jailed for sexually assaulting a woman at a house party.

Merseyside Police officers received a report on Saturday, October 29, 2019, that James Madine, 34, sexually assaulted a woman at a house party in St Helens. Following forensic examinations and complex investigations, detectives from Merseyside’s Unity Team - who specialise in Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Offences - charged Madine, of Kamala Way in Norris Green for sexual assault by penetration.

Madine was then found guilty following a seven day trial and convicted of sexual assault on January 31, 2023. He was sentenced to four years at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, March 3).

Madine also received a 10 year restraining order against his victim, a sexual offences prevention order and a lifetime on the sex offences register.

Detective Constable Rebecca Igglesden said: “This sentence follows a lengthy investigation to bring Madine before the courts so that he pays for his crimes. His victim showed great determination and bravery when reporting this to police and throughout the entire process.

"I hope this result brings her the closure she deserves and allows her to move on from this knowing he cannot harm them or anyone else. Madine will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars for his deplorable actions and offences.

“Today’s results shows that violence against women and girls will simply not be tolerated and we will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice. We are committed to protecting victims of sexual offences, and anyone who reports an incident to us will be safeguarded and supported throughout the investigation.

“Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us. We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”

Call 101 to report a sexual offence allegation where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers, or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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A pyromaniac who was previously jailed for life for setting fire to a curry house said "I feel sick" after he was outed as a paedophile.

Alan Cashman held daily lewd chats on Facebook with what he believed was a 14-year-old boy and exposed himself during a video call. But, unbeknown to him, he was being ensnared in a paedophile hunter sting.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Thursday, that the 39-year-old first contacted the decoy - which was being operated by the Saving Our Children Online group - on October 10 last year. Cashman, of no fixed address, sent the supposed youngster a friend request then began conversing with him on Facebook Messenger on a "daily basis" over the course of the next 12 days.

David Watson, prosecuting, described how the pervert sent a series of explicit images and performed a sex act during a video chat - encouraging him to do the same. A hunter then contacted him on another account, this time under the guise of an adult, and made arrangements to meet up for sex.

But he was confronted by group members at the rendezvous point on Greenheys Road in Toxteth on October 22 2022. When police attended the scene and arrested him shortly after 7.45pm, Cashman replied: "I feel sick."

His four previous convictions for four offences include two for arson, one of which saw him handed a life sentence in 2010 when aged 26. It came after he set a fire that ripped through the Spice City Indian restaurant, on Stanley Street in Liverpool city centre, and the flats above it in the early hours of August 9 2009.

Cashman then waited around to watch the building burn before, hours later, trying to pass himself off to the ECHO as a hero who had tried to save four residents trapped inside by the flames and smoke. But his lies were soon exposed and a judge described him as a "pyromaniac", having set rubbish in the rear doorway alight.

Residents described having woken up "choking on thick smoke", with one believing he may have to jump from his fourth floor apartment in order to escape the blaze. Others fled to the rooftop and clambered away onto other buildings.

Flames destroyed interior walls and the roof of the grade two-listed structure, causing an estimated £1.7million of damage. Cashman, then of Alfonso Road in Anfield, was given a minimum term of four years on this occasion.

He was locked up for the same offence in 2004 after picking up a 64-year-old man in Paco's Bar, also on Stanley Street, returning to his home in Huyton to continue drinking then setting fire to the property. The defendant was recalled on licence to prison following his latest crimes.

Ben Berkson, defending, told the court: "He has admitted to a sexual interest in children, which is often difficult for offenders to admit and is the only route to rehabilitation. He is intent on dealing with his sexual attraction to children.

"He is shocked and stunned that he is now a sex offender. He does demonstrate remorse for what he has done.

"He is exceptionally sorry and describes it as a big mistake. He is completely unaware and in the dark about when his release date is to be."

Cashman admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to cause a child to watch sexual activity and attempting sexual communications with a child. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for 20 months as well as being handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders' register for the same period.

Sentencing, Recorder Jeremy Lasker said: "It is to your credit, and unusual in the experience of these courts, that you are a defendant who is prepared to accept that you have a sexual interest in young boys. I do accept a degree of remorse on your part."

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A north-east babysitter has been placed on the sex offenders register after showing pornography to children as young as four.

Kirsty Sutherland also used controversial website Omegle to make a sexually explicit video call with an unknown male while in the presence of two other children she was supposed to be looking after.

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A tearful pervert cried and wailed as he was jailed after being caught in three paedophile hunter stings.

Alan Thomley engaged in lewd online chats with three decoy accounts posing as what he believed were teenage girls aged as young as 13. The 51-year-old asked one of the supposed youngsters what colour her underwear was and exposed himself on video while in the bath to the others.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday, Tuesday, that he began communicating with a '13-year-old' on messaging service SayHi in July 2021 before continuing to talk with her on WhatsApp over the course of the following month. Thomley, of Longfield Road in Bootle, "asked what colour knickers she had on" and told her to "lift her top up so he could see her bra".

Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, described how the paedophile "said she was sexy and had sexy eyes". He then began communicating with a hunter pretending to be a 14-year-old girl on the same platform, requesting naked pictures.

Thomley again instructed her to lift up her top and offered to video chat with her as he performed a sex act while bathing. In August, the defendant began attempting to groom another supposed 14-year-old - again asking for indecent images and filming himself in the bath, as well as "asking her what her bra size was".

He was eventually confronted at his workplace in Manchester by the groups on August 20 and was arrested. Under interview with police, Thomley "denied any sexual motivation".

This is the second time he has been convicted for such offences, previously being caught in such a sting back in 2015 before breaching his sexual harm prevention order during 2017. The court was told he acts a carer to his "vulnerable" partner and gained new employment after losing his job once caught out.

Thomley admitted three counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of attempting to incite a child to watch sexual activity and three counts of attempting sexual communications with a child. He was jailed for 45 months, handed a new lifetime SHPO and told to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Sentencing, Recorder David Knifton KC said: "You engaged in extensive online chats, apparently with three girls aged 13 and 14. In fact, unbeknown to you, the teenage girls were adult members of vigilante groups seeking to catch paedophiles by acting as decoys.

"Even then, you denied any sexual motivation - suggesting you were simply lonely and keen to engage in contact with females you suggested were adults. It appears your sexual offending resumed due to difficulties in your relationship with your partner and what you describe as a lack of sexual activity.

"Had you been in communication with real children, there would undoubtedly have been the potential for a high level of lasting sexual and emotional harm. You are assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm to children.

"Your conduct is aggravated by your previous conviction and your failure to respond to previous warnings. We will never know how far your conduct would have gone, but for the involvement of the vigilante group who confronted you."

Thomley was seen shaking in the dock as he was sentenced, then put his head in his hands as he was told he would be imprisoned and appeared to be on the verge of tears. Once taken down to the cells, the sex offender could be heard loudly crying and wailing.

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A man told what he presumed was a 12-year-old girl he wanted to see her "in her birthday suit" and plotted a sordid sex meeting at McDonald's. Harry Croft said he would pretend to be the youngster's grandad if customers or staff became suspicious during a series of lewd online chats.

Yet thankfully, and unbeknown to him, he was actually talking to an undercover police officer. Liverpool Crown Court heard that the 61-year-old began communicating with what he thought was a 12-year-old child in a chatroom in November last year.

Carmel Wilde, prosecuting, described how the pervert asked to see pictures of her in a "sexy nighty or her birthday suit". Croft, of Turton Close, professed that "there are groups out there trying to trap men like me" and confessed that he was "scared of being found out".

Nevertheless, he arranged to meet her at the McDonald's branch in Newton-le-Willows and said that they would "pretend to be granddad and granddaughter" if anyone became suspicious. The pervert also told the decoy: "I've always wanted to see what it's like to be with a young girl. As we get on so well, it's only natural for us to try."

Croft was arrested on December 20 at the arranged meeting point. Under interview, he said he had been on a website for over 18s and it had been a "fantasy, just playing along" - according to the ECHO, adding that he went to McDonald's to "see if anyone turned up" and that they would "have a laugh" if so.

The defendant has one previous conviction for two offences. David Rose, appearing on his behalf, told the court: "He has had some difficulties in coming to terms with and accept his guilty, but he accepts he committed the offences."

Croft admitted attempting sexual communications with a child and arranging a child sex offence on Friday. He was jailed for 30 months, handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and told to sign the sex offenders' register for the same period.

Sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said: "The reality is, you recognise, there must be a prison sentence for these matters. The hope is, when you have served it, you will not commit any further offences in the future."

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Ahmed Khalio, a married man with an 11-month-old son, had no previous convictions.

A shop worker has been jailed after he sexually assaulted a girl wearing her school uniform on her 16th birthday.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Ahmed Khalio groped the teenager inside the convenience store where he worked and pinned her against the counter, but later claimed he had only been "messing around".

The city's top judge today told the dad that his sickening attack had been "outrageous".

The girl stopped in the Go Local store on Scargreen Avenue in Norris Green on her way from school on the day of the attack early last year, the court heard yesterday (Tuesday, January 17).

Andrew McInnes, prosecuting, said the youngster was alone and still wearing her school uniform on what was her 16th birthday.

Khalio, who was employed as a part-time shop assistant, was stacking shelves when she entered. He then followed her as she approached the till and touched her on her bottom.

The 22-year-old walked away to the front door before returning to her, pressing his body against hers from behind and sandwiching her against the counter.

Khalio - of Webster Road in Wavertree - asked her "if she loved him" as well as how old she was, telling her "not to tell anyone what happened".

The pervert then lifted up her skirt and began touching her legs and thighs before continuing his assault by touching her over her underwear.

The incident lasted a "couple of minutes" and only stopped when another customer entered, causing him to "jump away quickly" and allowing her to escape.

She was left "scared and in shock" and reported the attack to police that evening after telling a friend about what had happened to her.

The teen recalled "telling him to get off her" but Khalio continued regardless, while she also stated she had been "so scared she felt she couldn't scream or shout".

Under interview, the sex offender "accepted flirting" with the girl - whom he thought was aged 17.

He also "denied putting his hand up her skirt or touching her private area" and said he had "just been messing around".

Khalio, a married man with an 11-month-old son, has no previous convictions.

Sam Parham, defending, told the court: "He is extremely sorry for his actions and any negative impact on this young lady."

The defendant was assisted by an interpreter in the dock after being found guilty of four counts of sexual assault following a trial before magistrates.

Khalio was jailed for six months, as well as being handed a seven-year notification requirement and a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim for the next two years.

Sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC said: "You simply took advantage of the fact she was alone and no one else was about. You touched her despite the fact she plainly did not want this attention from you.

"This lasted for a couple of minutes, although for her it must have felt like an eternity. Although you express some remorse for this incident, you continue to maintain that you did not simply assault her - certainly not in the was she describes.

"Your behaviour on this particular day was outrageous."

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A man has been jailed after raping a woman on multiple occasions in a house.

Gheorghe Tirzuman, 39, raped a three times woman at a house in St Helens. Police said his victim was subjected to "great physical and emotional abuse" during the month in which she was raped multiple times by Tirzuman.

Tirzuman, of Quebec Quey was jailed for 14 years yesterday after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court for the three counts of rape, which happened in August 2021. He has also been given a indefinite restraining order and made to sign the sex offenders register.

Merseyside Police have praised the bravery of his victim for coming forward and bringing the rapist to justice.

Detective inspector Laura Lamping said: "Thanks to the bravery of Tirzuman’s victim he will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars for his actions. Tirzuman subjected his victim to great physical and emotional abuse and I would like to take this opportunity to praise her in coming forward and the fear they have overcome to bring him to justice.

"While no sentence will repair the damage that Tirzuman has caused, I hope that by seeing him sent to prison for such a considerable period of time will give his victim some sort of closure and allow them to move on with their lives knowing he can no longer harm her or anyone else.

"We are committed to protecting victims of sexual offences, and anyone who reports an incident to us will be safeguarded and supported throughout the investigation.

"Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence or is concerned for the safety of someone they know should come forward and speak to us. We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.

"As shown in this case time is no barrier to reporting offences and I would urge anyone who has been victim of a sexual offence at any time to come forward and we will do everything we can to help and support them."

"Anyone with information or wants to report sexual offence allegation is asked to call 101 where you will be spoken to by specially trained officers or you can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If you’ve been affected by sexual violence of any kind don’t be afraid to tell someone, find the courage to come forward and get the help you deserve."

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Dean Newland has 19 previous convictions.

A man has been jailed after assaulting and threatening staff at a Wetherspoons while drunk.

Dean Newland, 33, of HMP Altcourse but formerly of no fixed address, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates court on Wednesday.

He appeared before the courts on three counts of assault for an incident in the Richard John Blackler branch of JD Wetherspoon on Great Charlotte Street, Liverpool city centre - as well as one count of failing to comply with sex offenders register notification requirements.

Yvonne Dobson, prosecuting, said that on October 10 at around 11.45pm, the victims were both at work in the Wetherspoon pub. A female member of staff noticed Newland standing near a group of men in the pub and asking them for money, so she approached and asked him to leave the premises.

He then became aggressive and demanded a drink, and when she refused, Newland sat at a nearby table which had a half-finished drink on it, the Liverpool Echo reports.

She tried to remove the glass from the table, as “he was acting in a very aggressive and threatening manner” so she was concerned, the court was told. She asked her colleagues for assistance, at which point a male colleague approached and also attempted to get Newland to leave. He continued behaving aggressively towards the Wetherspoons staff, and threatened the female member of staff, claiming his sister would “assault her”.

Newland then assaulted her, pushing her in the chest area. Ms Dobson said: “The defendant poured the half pint over the floor and raised the glass as if he was going to throw it. He continued making threats, and then leaned over, touching her left breast area. She felt instant pain at this point.

"He continued to be aggressive until police arrived at the scene and arrested him.” Amy Butler, defending, said Newland had been remanded in custody since October 12, and had positively used alcohol addiction recovery programmes while in prison.

She said: “Mr Newland does not try to minimise his behaviour on that day but alcohol is his problem, he is an alcoholic.

"He is a different person from what happened on the 12th of October. He has completed a 12-step program and has begun a mentoring program.” The court was told Newland has failed to comply with notification requirements six times, and this offence took place while he was subject to two suspended sentences for previous sexual offences.

In sentencing, Judge James Hatton said: “The big problem in this case Mr Newland is your record of convictions. You have been put on trust by the court and you have continued to commit offences. I know that it is difficult for you because of your personal circumstances, but you know what your responsibilities are.”

Judge Hatton activated two previous suspended sentences, of eight weeks and 12 weeks each, both previously given for breaching the sexual offences notification order. For the latest breach of a notification order, he was sentenced to a further 16 weeks, to be served consecutively. For the three cases of assault relating to the incident in Wetherspoons, he was handed four weeks each, to be served concurrently.

In total, he was sentenced to 36 weeks imprisonment. A community order was also imposed, stating Newland cannot have alcohol of any kind on his person in Liverpool city centre for two years.

She said: “Mr Newland does not try to minimise his behaviour on that day but alcohol is his problem, he is an alcoholic.

"He is a different person from what happened on the 12th of October.

“He has completed a 12-step program and has begun a mentoring program.” The court was told Newland has failed to comply with notification requirements six times, and this offence took place while he was subject to two suspended sentences for previous sexual offences.

In sentencing, Judge James Hatton said: “The big problem in this case Mr Newland is your record of convictions. You have been put on trust by the court and you have continued to commit offences.

“I know that it is difficult for you because of your personal circumstances, but you know what your responsibilities are.”

Judge Hatton activated two previous suspended sentences, of eight weeks and 12 weeks each, both previously given for breaching the sexual offences notification order.

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A top chef shook his head and smirked as he was finally brought to justice for sexually abusing young girls.

Peter Wright, who has worked in some of the city's most highly-regarded restaurants and been hired to cater for private clients abroad, "poisoned" his two victims - leaving them "devastated". Despite this, he has shown an "utter disregard" for his vile crimes and "does not seem to care" for the impact on their lives.

A trial at Liverpool Crown Court previously heard that the now 31-year-old, of Old Swan, repeatedly targeted them when they were aged as young as 12 during the noughties. Wright, who was also a juvenile at the time, also tried to rape one of the girls on one occasion.

Natalie Cornwall, prosecuting, on Friday read out statements to the court on behalf of the complainants describing the extent of the effect his actions had upon them. One said she had suffered nightmares and wet the bed as, adding: "I don't feel like I have a normal childhood.

"There is a huge void that can never be filled. It's hard to accept my life is never going to be normal because of what he did to me."

The other victim outlined she had self-harmed and attempted suicide due to Wright's abuse, saying: "I felt like I was overwhelmed with pressure and pain. I withdrew more and more and distanced myself from everybody.

"It feels like the poison he has caused is never ending. He has an utter disregard for the devastation he had caused - he does not seem to care."

Wright appeared to be shaking his head and smiling as the statements were aired and said "I don't think so" at one stage, which saw the dad reprimanded by the judge. Andrew Jebb stated in defence of his 6ft7 client: "He himself was a child at the time of the offences.

"He is a very talented chef. He has worked here in Liverpool for some very esteemed establishments.

"He has travelled on a private client basis to Ireland to provide private dining. There are very positive aspects to this defendant.

"Obviously what he did as a teenager was appalling behaviour and he is about to be punished for it. He is now a positive, hard-working member of society."

Wright was convicted of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault by a jury. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: "I have to bear in mind you were a child at the time and I take into account your immaturity at the time. In recent times there are positive aspects to your character.

"You have got a good work record and looked after your brother when he was ill. While you deny the offences, they were committed at a time when you were an adolescent, which is a period of rapid change.

"You fail to take responsibility for your actions and there is no remorse. You have been shaking your head during the sentencing process."

Wright was also told to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely. Judge Murray imposed a restraining order preventing him from contacting his victims for life.

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A paedophile travelled from Northern Ireland to Merseyside and raped a girl in hotels and fields after grooming her on Snapchat.

David McMullan sent his teenage victim a string of gifts before flying over to sexually abuse her four times over the course of around 18 months. On one occasion, the 32-year-old plied her with drugs which knocked her out - before she awoke to find him having sex with her.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Friday, that the "sexual offences arose from an online relationship dating back to 2019". Frank Dillon, prosecuting, described how McMullan "initiated contact" with the youngster via Snapchat when she was aged 12.

He told her that his name was Sean Maxwell, he was 16 and from London - when he was actually approaching his 30th birthday and lived in County Down, Northern Ireland. The pervert would turn his phone off between 8am and 3pm to keep up the charade that he was at school.

After around three months of messaging, McMullan sent her a picture of his penis and "begged her to send him" indecent images of herself. Mr Dillon said: "She was reluctant to do so but he would persist with his requests and, adopting a form of emotional blackmail that was to characterise his contact, he suggested if she was not sending such pictures to him then she must be sending them to someone else.

"He went so far as to say that he would kill himself if she did not stop talking to this imaginary other boy. He would tell her that she did not love him, because if she did she would send him the requested pictures."

The two became "boyfriend and girlfriend", after which McMullan confessed his true location and said that he was aged 19 - later revising this to 23. He sent a parcel to her home on Valentine's Day containing a card with a picture of her face on it and a photograph of a man he purported was himself - as well as a teddy bear, a hoodie, £30 in cash, lubricant and a bubble wand.

The defendant travelled to see the by then 13-year-old four times, but first made a "reconnaissance mission" - taking an EasyJet flight from Belfast and staying at the Premier Inn in Birkenhead and the Village Hotel in Whiston over the course of his three-night visit to the area to "check how easy it might be to take her to a hotel room without challenge". When they did meet for the first time they went to a burger restaurant then took a bus to the Whiston hotel, travelling separately "as not to arouse suspicion".

Once in his room, McMullan gave her a Pandora bracelet. He told her he had cocaine and "pressurised her into" sniffing white powder from a key.

The substance caused her to fall asleep, and she woke up to find him raping her. After realising she was awake McMullan began kissing her, ran a bath and "picked her up and put her in".

On his second visit, he brought her chocolates and met her in a field near her home where he filmed them having sex. The vile predator met her again after school the same day, buying her a Dr Pepper and giving her a sex toy before taking her into woodland and raping her.

After travelling over for a third time, McMullan took the teeanger to the Birkenhead hotel - telling her to pretend to staff that he was her dad and he was visiting her from Ireland. He then raped the schoolgirl in his room despite her "repeatedly telling him to get off".

On his final visit, she was "extremely reluctant to meet him" but agreed to meet him in the field near her home after he said he "had wasted all his money making him come over to see her". While she was "really upset, crying and shaking", McMullan exposed himself to her and forced her to perform a sex act on him.

He made threats to distribute naked pictures and videos she had sent him to her friends and family if she did not "comply", as well as threatening to kill himself. At one stage, the sex offender "deleted any reference to him" from her phone and blocked her on Snapchat.

His crimes were uncovered when the girl reported the abuse to a member of staff at her school. McMullan was arrested at his home on Demesne View in Downpatrick in March this year.

Under interview, he falsely claimed he had began speaking to a 19-year-old woman with a different name on a dating app - either Tinder or Plenty of Fish. He stated she had blackmailed him by threatening to report him for sexual offences unless he gave her money and denied having pretended to be Sean Maxwell.

A statement which was read out to the court on behalf of the victim's mum said the family's "lives had been turned upside down". Meanwhile, her sister described how she "feels like nothing is real and everything is stressful and frightening".

Fiona McNeill, defending, said: "This is a distressing case with many troubling aspects. The impact of these offences has a ripple effect.

"That has been recognised, at least in part, by the defendant. The impact will remain with them for some time to come, if not forever.

"This is the first experience of custody Mr McMullan has had, and the prospect of a lengthy custodial sentence weighs heavily on him. He will spend his middle age in prison."

McMullan, who has no previous convictions, admitted four counts of rape on the first day of a scheduled trial after the complainant had given evidence under pre-recorded cross-examination. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool wearing a grey Under Armour zip-up tracksuit top, he was jailed for 19 years with an additional five years on licence.

Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: "Over a period approaching two years you groomed, exploited and then repeatedly raped a young girl. You have no previous convictions, but that is of limited worth in these circumstances.

"I find them to be grave and very troubling offences, painting a very worrying picture of your personality. I am satisfied that you are a dangerous offender."

McMullan was handed a restraining order, a sexual harm prevention order and a notification requirement - all of which will be run indefinitely. Forfeiture of his Samsung phone was also ordered.

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George Constantin was handed jail sentence eight years ago for sexually abusing 14-year-old.

A child rapist on the run was found living in Liverpool and now faces extradition.

Police discovered that George Constantin had been stay at an address on Altcar Avenue in Toxteth when he was arrested last week. He appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday, November 5, after being detained by officers.

The court heard that the 29-year-old had been wanted on a European Arrest Warrant from Romania to serve an outstanding sentence for rape and robbery. According to a wanted listing on the Romanian police website, Constantin - who did not oppose extradition and was remanded into custody - was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for sexual offences against a 14-year-old child in 2014.

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 A SEX offender from Merseyside has been jailed after committing sexual offences against "vulnerable" teenager from Bury. 

Kyle Jago, 24, was sentenced at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday, after pleading guilty to several sexual offences against a 15-year-old girl from Bury.

Jago, of Higher Road, Halewood, met the victim on social media in May this year, before arranging to meet her in person later that month.

The defendant proceeded to groom the girl and engage in inappropriate sexual behaviour, including exchanging sexually explicit images.

Peter Cadwallader, prosecuting, told the court that Jago travelled with the victim from Manchester Piccadilly rail station to a park in Bury on three occasions.

On the third occasion, the court heard the victim has sex with the defendant in a nearby wooded area. 

 Mr Cadwallader described the girl, who has additional learning needs, anxiety and depression, as “immature and extremely vulnerable".

He said: “It shows how successful he was at grooming her.”

“She was besotted by him and wanted to marry him.”

Jago was arrested on June 22 this year at his home after the victim’s mother found sexually explicit images on her daughter’s phone.

Jago was transferred to Bury Police Station where he was interviewed by members of Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Child Sexual Exploitation Team. 

Through her victim impact statement, the victim's mother told the court her daughter was “trusting of all the wrong people".

She said: “Since the sexual assault and grooming, she is no longer trusting of people.

“She finds it hard to trust what I say.

“Our relationship has been set back.”

Mark Shanks, defending, told the court that Jago deserved credit for pleading guilty to the charges at the earliest opportunity.

He told the court that Jago had suffered a difficult start to life and has been unable to access adequate mental health support while in prison.

He said: “He has begun his life in a very, very difficult and chaotic way.”

“Since he has been in prison he has been threatened.”

“To say he has not had a good time of it is an understatement.”

Judge Tina Landale jailed Jago for four years and made a restraining order for him not to contact the victim and her mother.

Addressing him, Judge Landale said: “You contacted [the victim] on social media and you knew she was 15 from the very beginning.

“Your corruption and grooming of her were so skilful that she became besotted with you.”

Jago is now subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has also been ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for life.

Detective Sergeant Ben Harris, of Bury’s Complex Safeguarding Team said: “We are pleased with today’s sentencing result.

"This is another example of GMP getting those who target children off the street.

“There’s nothing more important than protecting Greater Manchester’s young people from harm.

"Our district’s complex safeguarding teams are here to build strong and positive relationships with victims and young people who are at risk from child sexual exploitation (CSE), support them into adulthood and help change their futures.

“We are supported by partner agencies and support services, who do invaluable work in helping us get sexual predators off the street.

"If you, or anyone you know, is a victim of this type of crime, we encourage you to contact us either by dialling 101 or through our LiveChat facility on our website, www.gmp.police.uk.

"We can assure you that you will be listened to and supported.” 

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A MAN who sexually assaulted an elderly patient at Liverpools Royal Hospital just a couple of months after he had assaulted another woman has been jailed for three years.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said that Carl Burger, 55, of Fenwick Street in Liverpool, assaulted the elderly woman when she was in the accident and emergency unit at the Royal Liverpool Hospital in August 2022.

The 81-year-old woman was in a cubicle at the hospital, awaiting further treatment by staff.

Pretended he was a doctor

Burger entered the cubicle and pretended he was a doctor. He then sexually assaulted her.

A nurse entered the cubicle and challenged him.

He tried to leave but was detained by the nurse with assistance from colleagues and security until police attended and arrested him.

He was later charged with sexual assault.

In June, a couple of months before this attack, Burger had assaulted a woman in her own home in Liverpool in the early hours of the morning.

The victim had been asleep and woke to realise she was being assaulted.

She raised the alarm and he was told to leave. A report was immediately made to police who attended and took statements. He was later charged with sexual assault.

Guilty to both offences

At Liverpool Crown Court last month he pleaded guilty to both offences.

On Friday, October 21, 2022, he was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

A restraining order was imposed and he was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Victim - I cannot believe someone would do something so awful

The Victim Personal Statements of both women were read to the court and showed the devastating impact such offences have on victims and their families.

The elderly victim said: I am in the later stages of my life, a period where I should be carefree and just be able to enjoy being with my family.

"Since this incident however I am more vulnerable than ever. I feel I have lost my spark and my family would also share those concerns.

"I appear like I have just given up, defeated and my family say they have lost the nan they know and love.

"The males actions have not only had a profound effect on me, but also my family. They fear the worst, and we hope that no other person has to suffer at the hands of this terrible male.

"I cannot believe someone would do something so awful to a vulnerable person in need, and hope this male is punished for what he has done.

In her Victim Personal Statement, the younger victim said: I worry about him ever turning up at my address and worry that I will come across him again.

The incident has made me feel incredibly conscious and worried about everything, at night I want every door to be locked and checked as I worry that someone will creep into the house and do something to me.

'Serial sex offender'

Senior Crown Prosecutor Chris Fontaine, a specialist prosecutor in CPS Mersey Cheshires Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit, said: Burger is a serial sex offender who preyed on vulnerable women in circumstances that meant they were even more vulnerable.

"We would like to thank the victims, their families and the staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital for immediately reporting these offences to the police and stopping this offending behaviour before it escalated further.

"It is because of their actions, their evidence and their support that Merseyside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service were able to build a strong case and bring this case to justice in a timely manner.