Latest Offenders Liverpool

Description

He used an app to secretly film another woman in a bathroom but his partner found out A shocked girlfriend discovered a disgusting toilet video of another woman that her pervert boyfriend filmed on his phone. Aiden Peel downloaded a Secret Camera Recorder app before placing his mobile in a bathroom to capture an unsuspecting victim. The 24-year-old recorded the woman going to the toilet, undressing until she was naked to take a shower, then towelling herself dry. But the sick voyeur also inadvertently filmed himself setting up the covert device on a sink and returning afterwards to collect it. Peel later claimed that he downloaded the app after being "inspired" by a YouTube video and thinking it would be good for "pranks". However, he kept the footage for five or six weeks, until it was "discovered by chance" by his girlfriend after he had been on a night out. Peel, of Mersey Road, Aigburth, was found guilty of voyeurism after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in April this year. During the trial, the jury heard Peel was "heavily intoxicated" after the night out and his now ex-partner said she hadn't ever seen him like that before. The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, today said: "He couldn't speak, he was crawling on the floor and she was concerned as to what he had consumed. "She therefore wanted to speak to his friends to see who he had been out with. Of course, as the jury heard, there was other activity on his phone, which was concerning enough for her, but of course I don't sentence the defendant for that." His ex told the jury she discovered upsetting information, but then also came across the app, which attracted her attention and had taken one video. When she realised it was a secret recording of the victim she became "confused, upset and clearly distressed" and rang a friend to tell her what had happened, before deciding to call police. Recorder Unsworth said officers spoke to the girlfriend and the victim herself, before Peel, who had no previous convictions, was arrested and interviewed. The judge said: "He maintained throughout the trial and as he maintains now in the pre-sentence report that was a prank that had gone wrong." He added: "That assertion was rejected by the jury. "This is from these facts a serious case, an alarming one but also an unusual one." The court heard the app used the front-facing camera of his phone but the screen was blank, so to anyone present the device would have appeared inactive while it recorded the 16-minute clip. Stella Hayden, prosecuting, said the woman Peel filmed didn't want to have her victim personal statement read out in court. Recorder Unsworth said: "It appears to have had a profound effect upon her." Ms Hayden said it involved a significant degree of planning, as shown by him downloading the app, which wasn't available on Google Play and had to be sought out online. The court heard there was no evidence the video had been ever shared with anyone else, or that anyone else had ever seen it. David Polglase, defending, said: "There is no evidence of what would otherwise be a grave aggravating feature of distribution and dissemination onwards." He said his client was still "very young" and the Probation Service said it was willing to work with him on his "lack of insight, distorted thinking and behaviour". Mr Polglase said Peel lived with a new partner's grandparents and the judge could see what "he does for them and what he does for his own parents". He said Peel was due to become a dad "very shortly" and "there would be an impact on those other people if he were to go to custody". The lawyer said Peel would be unable to care for his pregnant girlfriend and their unborn child, while his job would also be at risk. He urged the judge to spare him jail so that he could undergo rehabilitation. Recorder Unsworth agreed there was no evidence the clip was shared. However, he said: "But for this accidental finding it isn't clear as to when that material would ever have been deleted. "Mr Peel's assertion at trial that he had simply forgotten that the material was there is something that I am unable to accept." The judge said there was "a significant degree of planning". He said: "In terms of his remorse, it isn't easy to discern given the defendant's stance. "He's clearly sorry as he expressed to the jury that the victim was captured in the way that she was, that as much appears to be genuine, but he of course still maintains his innocence." Recorder Unsworth said Peel was assessed as a "medium risk of harm" and his lawyer invited him to consider there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and the impact on others. He said: "In my view this was a gross invasion of the privacy of the victim." The judge added: "In my judgement this was a cunning, deliberate and pre planned act. "But for the accidental discovery of this material there is no indication as to when that video would ever have been deleted. "I reject your assertion that you had forgotten about it and by the very nature of the jury's verdict, you did obtain that for your own sexual gratification." Recorder Unsworth jailed Peel for nine months, made a five-year restraining order to protect his victim, and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. Peel turned to his new girlfriend and family as he was sent down and said: "I love you."

Description

A sex attacker who molested and photographed a sleeping friend had his arm snapped in "retribution".

Lee Monaghan, now 48, targeted the woman, who was in her 20s, after she had earlier come to his aid.

She woke to find him sexually assaulting her, when he brazenly claimed he thought she had consented.

But after he confessed in texts the next day and begged for forgiveness, the victim's sister and others went to his home.

Monaghan suffered a broken arm, which both his own lawyer and a judge today remarked many people would say he "deserved".

Liverpool Crown Court heard the attack happened at Monaghan's home in Smollett Street, Bootle late one night in 2017.

Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, said the victim had come across Monaghan "arguing furiously" with another man.

She defused the situation and took Monaghan back to his home, before leaving, only to later return to check he was okay.

Mr Gibson said they chatted, drank a significant amount of alcohol and likely both took drugs, before the woman fell asleep on a settee.

The court heard he sexually assaulted her by pulling down her lower clothing, touching her and photographing her naked body.

The victim was totally unaware of this until police discovered the photos when they seized his mobile phone.

Mr Gibson said Monaghan committed a further more serious sexual assault, which caused her to wake up.

She demanded to know what he thought he was doing and Monaghan said he thought she wanted him to do it, even though she had been "fast asleep".

The angry and upset victim walked home but bumped into a friend and through tears said: "I told him I didn't want it but he done it anyway."

The following morning the crying woman rang another friend and said "I didn't want him to do it", adding: "Jugsy done things to me."

The friend went to her house and found her in the bath crying, saying "I didn't want him to do it" over and over again, so called her mum, who rang the police.

Mr Gibson said Monaghan effectively admitted what he had done in a series of texts from 9.30am, after first asking the victim if she was "alright".

She replied "are u messing after u touch me why I was asleep" adding "thats's called rape you do now that".

Monaghan replied: "I no. am so sorry plz forgive me x"

He then begged "plz av said am sorry", "let me come an c ye plz am so sorry", "soz sorry sorry **** plz am so sorry" and "plz don't hate me now x".

Mr Gibson said the victim's sister and a number of friends went to see Monaghan, who was physically assaulted.

He fled his home and went to a friend's house, where he was arrested, but first had to be taken to hospital due to his fractured arm.

When interviewed the next day, he admitted having a "little play with her below" but denied anything else, until confronted with the photos in a second interview in 2019, when he admitted putting his hand in her underwear but denied any further sexual assault.

Monaghan, of Linacre Road, Litherland, admitted assault by penetration on the opening day of a trial, having previously admitted sexual assault.

The court heard he had previous convictions for assault, but nothing for sexual offences.

Trevor Parry-Jones, defending, said Monaghan had a "big problem with alcohol" but had since attended drug and alcohol courses.

He said his client quit using any "hard drugs" and while he still smoked cannabis, also "greatly reduced his alcohol consumption".

Mr Parry-Jones said Monaghan's girlfriend sitting in the public gallery knew of his crimes but was prepared to help him.

He said: "Obviously they have great respect for each other and she will assist him and hopes he can come home."

The lawyer said Monaghan was "ashamed" and "horrified" by his actions, for which he had already been "punished".

He said Monaghan had to have his arm set at hospital following what was a "proper fracture" and a "proper beating".

Mr Parry-Jones added: "Many would say he deserved it."

He said following that "retribution" Monaghan was "fearful" and moved away from the area.

The barrister said Monaghan's dad died in 2015, his sister died in 2016, one of his brothers lives in America, and his other brother has cancer.

Urging the judge to spare him jail, he added that his mum was 84 and Monaghan "does everything for her".

Judge Trevor-Jones said the victim was a friend of Monaghan's but "nothing more than that" who had tried to help him.

He said Monaghan sexually assaulted her "as she lay there clearly quite defenceless and unaware".

The judge said the victim blamed herself, was left more reserved socially and it worsened her mental health issues.

Judge Trevor-Jones told Monaghan people "understandably angry" went to his home when "it seems you were then the subject of an assault".

He said he took account of these "violent consequences", but added: "Many will say you probably thoroughly deserved that."

The judge said from a starting point of 30 months he deducted six months because of the "considerable delay", some of which was of Monaghan's making, and the fact he had no previous relevant convictions.

Giving him credit for his guilty plea, he further reduced the sentence to 21 months, then deducted two months to take account of the "retribution", and a further one month for the effect of serving a prison term during the pandemic.

Jailing him for 18 months, he said a case involving "the sexual exploitation of a vulnerable woman who was asleep" demanded immediate custody.

Judge Trevor-Jones told him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and made a four-year restraining order.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Julia Jennings said: "Monaghan consistently lied to police about what took place in his home in the early hours of that morning and has forced his victim to relive her ordeal by denying that he sexually assaulted her.

"I would like to pay credit to her as she has shown immense courage and strength throughout the whole of this investigation.

"Unfortunately because of the Covid pandemic this case has been repeatedly delayed so I am pleased that Monaghan has now been put before the courts and sentenced for his crime and I hope it now affords his victim the chance to get on with her life.

"I also hope that this will encourage other victims to come forward and speak to us.

"We take issues such as this extremely seriously and specialist officers are on hand to offer support and guidance through the courts process."

Description

A married man who raped two boys as a teenager collapsed in the dock when jailed today.

John Merritt, 60, of Leathers Lane, Halewood, denied sexually abusing the children more than four decades ago.

But at the age of 14 or 15, when going by the name Walter Merritt, he raped his victims in Belle Vale and Netherley.

Merritt offered chocolate to Boy A, before inviting him into his house and raping him in a bathroom and a nearby field.

He also raped Boy B in the bathroom, pouncing after his mum invited the disadvantaged little boy in for tea and cake.

Boy B described how the abuse "destroyed" his life and even landed him in jail, after he stole to buy drugs to block out the horror.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the now dad-of-four carried out the attacks in the 1970s.

Stephen McNally, prosecuting, said they came to light when Boy A made a formal complaint to the police in 2016.

He previously told his sister about the abuse 30 years earlier and also mentioned it in a letter to police in 2014, but hadn't taken it further at that stage.

When interviewed, Boy A told police he believed it happened to others and mentioned Boy B, who was traced by officers and interviewed in 2018.

Mr McNally said Boy B wasn't told who provided his name, but both men "independently provided accounts which bore a number of similarities".

Boy A said Merritt passed him in the street, offered him chocolate and invited him into his home, before raping him in the bathroom. He said Merritt also raped him at another location and in a field in Netherley.

Boy B said he went to Merritt's home because Merritt's mum was nice to him and fed him, when times were hard in his family and he was "largely left to fend for himself".

Mr McNally said: "He said that Mrs Merritt offered him tea, biscuits and cake, which he didn't get at home."

The court heard Merritt followed him into the bathroom, locked the door and raped him on two occasions.

Merritt was convicted of three counts of a sexual offence which would now be classed as rape after a trial in March.

In a victim statement, Boy A - who attended the sentencing - said the abuse "destroyed his life".

Mr McNally said: "He describes how he turned to drugs because he 'needed not to remember'."

Boy A didn't wish to make a victim statement, but in evidence described how the abuse affected his "personal relationships" and he also turned to drugs.

The trial heard Merritt was convicted of wounding aged 15 in 1976, when he threw a bike cog at a girl's face, leading to him being put in care. His family later moved to Speke.

Mr McNally said in 1980 he was convicted of possessing a weapon, "a stick with a chain" when "part of a Teddy Boy outfit".

Merritt was most recently convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence in 2015.

The court heard he had character references from his wife, adult son and two adult daughters.

Louise McCloskey, defending, said her client "acknowledged" the jury's verdict, but maintained his innocence.

She said Merritt was "only a child" at the time and expert evidence, including an intermediary's report, detailed his "educational difficulties and learning difficulties, as well as significant physical difficulties".

The judge, Recorder Ian Harris, accepted there had to be a significant reduction in the sentence, because of Merritt's age at the time and his "characteristics".

Ms McCloskey said Merritt was assessed as being "a low risk of re-offending" and hadn't committed any crimes since.

She said: "The man before the court, 60 years of age, is a very different one from the teenager that committed these offences."

Ms McCloskey said the Probation Service recommended a community-based sentence, so Merritt could undergo work to rehabilitate him.

She said his family thought "very highly of him" and he was a "great support" to his wife and 12-year-old son, who has health difficulties.

Ms McCloskey said: "The defendant was convicted of these offences - not his family. Since this case was first publicised, his family have been subject to the most despicable abuse and general intimidation."

She added: "His family are guilty of nothing and should not be treated as such.

"They themselves perhaps your honour could be considered victims of the offences."

Recorder Harris said Merritt, when 14 or 15, raped Boy A up to five times, when the child was nine or 10, and raped Boy B twice, when the victim was eight or nine.

He said Merritt "befriended" then groomed and isolated the boys, which involved "significant planning".

Referring to Boy A, Recorder Harris said: "It's quite clear there has been a lifelong impact upon him."

The judge said Boy B, who screamed and shouted out during the rapes, was left with "lifelong psychological harm".

He said Boy B told the court: "I needed not to remember what this man did to me as a kid, so I took drugs, which made me not think about what had been done to me by him.

"He ruined my whole life. All my relationships failed with me being insecure with what happened to me. I stole to fund my drug habit, which put me in jail... one big, vicious cycle."

Recorder Harris said a pre-sentence report referred to Merritt's "dysfunctional sexual interests" as a teen and how the rapes allowed him to "exert power and control over the victims".

The judge noted his learning difficulties and said Merritt suffered from physical problems, including abnormally short arms, as a result of his mum receiving thalidomide treatment when pregnant, which Merritt said led to him and his family being "marginalised and verbally abused" when living in Netherley.

He said the report suggested "optimistically and unrealistically" that he could be spared jail, but if Merritt had been an adult at the time of the abuse, he would have faced more than 16 years in prison.

Recorder Harris jailed him for eight years, at which point Merritt collapsed, hitting a wooden rail as he fell.

When helped up by a dock officer, he claimed "I just fainted a bit", then muttered: "It's my back as well."

He will serve at least six years in prison, before he is released on licence.

Merritt, who must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life, waved to his crying wife and adult son as he was sent down.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Julia Jennings said: "The actions of Merritt have clearly had a long lasting and devastating impact on his victims, who have been forced to relive their ordeals through his trial.

"I would like to pay tribute to their courage and strength in coming forward to speak up against Merritt and I hope that today's sentencing will finally give them the closure they have waited so long for.

"Time is never a barrier to investigating a crime and bringing someone to justice and I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward. We have specially trained officers who can support you through the investigation process."

Description

A paedophile football coach catfished a girl on Snapchat by pretending to be a 17-year-old boy.

Ian Kaufman, 48, sent the 16-year-old pictures he had taken from the internet so he could groom her.

The vile pervert would then use software to save videos and pictures she sent him on Snapchat.

When police raided his home they discovered Kaufman kept other sick images of child sex abuse and cartoons of children being raped.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard one of the disgusting images involved a girl as young as two-year-old.

Ken Grant, prosecuting, explained police raided Kaufman's home after receiving "information about the uploading of an indecent image of a child to the internet using the Kik Messenger service."

As officers searched Kaufman told them he had a concealed mobile phone in his bedroom, which was seized along with various other items.

In an interview, Mr Grant explained, Kaufman "stated he set up the Kik account and that the name was JJDingle1".

Kaufman denied uploading any indecent images of children but admitted to speaking to a 16-year-old from Scotland on Snapchat, claiming he didn't know it was an offence.

Mr Grant said: "He admitted he had told her he was 17 and admitted he had sent her images taken from the internet of a male penis."

The 16-year-old girl from Scotland had sent Kaufman a video of herself "using a sex toy" and "fondling her breasts".

He said: "All these images were recorded by the defendant from Snapchat using an application called Mobizen."

The court heard that the software allows the user to keep videos from the social media platform even after they are deleted from Snapchat.

Mr Grant said: "He believed the Scottish girl sent them to him around February 2020 and didn't ask her for them but was in an online relationship and it was in the context of that relationship in which she sent him those videos."

He said: "He had sent her money on two occasions and also sent her a necklace.

"He did this because he felt sorry for her and she had needed help financially."

Mr Grant explained that while searching his devices officers discovered Kaufman had kept other indecent images of children and had an image of bestiality.

In a second interview Kaufman denied using Twitter to access indecent images of children, Mr Grant explained.

Among the images were eight category A videos, two category B pictures and 37 category C images.

Kaufman has no previous convictions.

Des Lennon, defending, explained that despite a difficult upbringing Kaufman went on to work as a "football coach in the community", adding there were "no complaints about his conduct" and it was "quite startling these matters have come to light in recent times".

Mr Lennon said there had been "issues within his marriage" and he was "searching for sexual gratification online".

He said: "This is a complete aberration as far as he is concerned."

Mr Lennon said Kaufman accepted the behaviour was "unacceptable" and "inexcusable".

He said: "The defendant is utterly sorry and ashamed for what he has done and is genuinely remorseful."

Mr Lennon said Kaufman had made efforts "of his own volition" such as reaching out to the Lucy Faithful Foundation and completing 12 modules.

He said Kaufman suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy and had been the victim of "unspeakable acts" as a child.

Mr Lennon explained Kaufman volunteered information about the girl to police, which is why they were able to trace her.

He added Kaufman suffers from mental health difficulties and had tried to take his life four times since April last year.

He said: "Once this issue came into the public domain he was vilified by members of his local community and as a consequence had to move out."

Mr Lennon explained that he had since been "living in his car outside the city" and suggested he would be "terribly vulnerable" if he was sent to prison.

Kaufman, formerly of East Dam Wood Road, Speke, admitted possession of category A, B and C images, possessing an image of extreme pornography, attempting to take indecent photographs of a child and making indecent images of a child.

Judge David Swinnerton, sentencing, explained Kaufman had sent the girl 50, a necklace and photographs of a boy who he pretended was him.

The judge said Kaufman claimed he hadn't asked for the videos, but admitted using screen capturing software to save them.

Judge Swinnerton said that whether he had asked or not "she still sent them because of your deceit and your lies, which I regard as grooming".

The judge said there were 10 videos of the girl, some of which were eight minutes long, adding it was unclear if the girl was aware he was saving the videos.

Judge Swinnerton said he was in "no doubt" Kaufman "kept them for your sexual pleasure".

The judge ruled that capturing the videos and keeping them was "clearly production".

Judge Swinnerton said: "You encouraged her while she was filming herself with highly sexualised comments."

The judge ruled that his grooming was an aggravating feature but also took into account Kaufman's disabilities, his early admissions and difficult childhood.

Kaufman was jailed for two years and eight months.

He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same period.

Description

A child rapist spent his life on Liverpool's streets having committed horrific acts of sexual abuse against a young girl.

David Whiteside raped the child nine times and committed five other sexually abusive acts against her in Kirkby.

The 36-year-old then denied his crimes in court, forcing the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, to relive his monstrous actions in a trial.

His victim said she couldn't even go into Liverpool city centre, where she knew he begged on the streets, out of fears of bumping into him.

Paul Becker, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, read two victim person statements from Whiteside's victim to the court.

The woman said it was only when she learnt about sex education at school that she "realised what David had been doing".

She said: "I hope he suffers like he has made me suffer.

"I wake up in the night with terrors, crying, remembering what he did."

The woman said disgusting Whiteside would tell her "You know you want it" as he raped her.

She said she was a shy child but Whiteside's horrific abuse "made me withdraw into myself even more" adding "I didn't have an ounce of confidence at all".

She said: "I won't even go into Liverpool city centre where David lives on the streets and begs for a living because I'm scared of bumping into him."

After his trial she she was "angry David did all those things" and that he "forced" her to "go through the ordeal again"

Whiteside, of Prescot Road, Old Swan, was found guilty after a trial of nine counts of rape of a child, four counts of sexually assaulting a girl with no penetration and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Carmel Wilde, defending, said: "Although the defendant hasn't particularly led a good life since, his previous convictions are relatively low level."

She explained Whiteside had "difficulties in his home life" which led to his "misuse of drugs and alcohol".

Ms Wilde said: "Clearly the defendant was found guilty after a trial. Your honour will see he maintains his innocence although he accepts the jury's decision."

She said Whiteside was "keen to engage with probation" and confirmed he had already signed up for a number of programmes while in custody.

Judge Garrett Byrne, sentencing, said here had been a "devastating and long lasting effect" on Whiteside's victim.

The judge noted that Whiteside "singled her out" and also "threatened her".

Judge Byrne said Whiteside had "no relevant previous convictions" adding "on the other hand you have not led an unblemished life".

The judge said Whiteside was an offender of "particular concern" and jailed him for 13 years and nine months with an extended one year on licence.

This type of sentence means he will spend at least half of the custodial term - around six years and 10 months - behind bars.

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

A restraining order preventing Whiteside from contacting his victim was imposed for life.

He must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same amount of time.

Description

A dangerous paedophile used Snapchat to groom a young teenage boy before abusing him.

John Smith, previously a junior football coach, was jailed in 2019 for using Snapchat to send pictures of his penis to boys.

But the sick 24-year-old was back in Liverpool Crown Court after using the app again to target a child before grooming and abusing him.

After discovering what had happened to her son, the child's mother said: "I feel like I don't know my own son at all anymore."

A Liverpool judge branded Smith's "unwanted and predatory instincts" as "dangerous" to young boys.

Peter Killen, prosecuting, explained that Smith first began speaking with the boy on a different app before he suggested they move onto Snapchat.

Mr Killen said that once on Snapchat they exchanged numbers and would FaceTime each other.

In the messages Smith said he thought the child was "17 or 18" but when the boy told him he was a young teen he went on to groom him.

Mr Killen said: "The conversations began normally, they exchanged information about one another."

Smith then began to ask the boy to "meet up for a kiss" and they later did meet near to Smith's workplace along with the boy's sister, and when she walked ahead of them Smith said: "Your sister has walked off now should we kiss?"

Mr Killen said the boy didn't reply as he was "embarrassed" but added that they did kiss.

He explained that once they left Smith "snapped him 'thanks for the kiss'".

The pair met up again on another occasion when they kissed again and as he touched the boy's genital area Smith said "kiss me if you want me to stop".

It was only when the victim's sister called him that the sexual abuse was brought to a halt, with the boy telling Smith he had to go home.

Smith had also asked the boy to send pictures of his genitals and sent the boy a video of him performing a sex act on himself.

Mr Killen explained the boy discovered Smith was also contacting his friend, while believing they were in a relationship.

When the boy's family then found out about the abuse the child told Smith they knew - and the paedophile then blocked him on social media.

In a victim personal statement the boy's mother said her son "hadn't been sleeping properly" and said he was in "overall bad health" and "very much not himself".

The mum said: "I feel like I don't know my own son at all any more. This is very upsetting."

She also said she didn't want to stay in the area and feels "her son isn't safe".

Smith was convicted after a trial in March 2019 for sexual communication with three boys, for which he was jailed for 18 months and ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which he breached by committing the new offences.

Peter White, defending, explained Smith "accepted the Crown's case in its entirety".

He explained Smith "describes a very quiet, stable, happy childhood" with a "good education" and a "good history of employment".

Mr White said: "He has a very supportive family who are completely at a loss to understand, or able to make any sense about his offending behaviour."

He said Smith has "some issues regarding his own sexual orientation" adding it "in no way justifies this type of offending".

Mr White said Smith "genuinely is remorseful" and is "at a loss to explain his offending behaviour".

Smith, formerly of School Way, Speke, admitted four counts of sexual activity with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexual communication with a child and breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, said: "You subjected another victim, another young boy, to your unwanted and predatory instincts."

Referring to the victim's interview the judge said: "He has nothing to blame himself for and neither does his mother."

The judge said: "You had [the victim] exactly where you wanted him and all of this for your own sexual gratification with a young boy."

The judge said Smith posed a "significant risk of causing serious harm" adding "it's clear you possess little or no insight into the damage your activity has caused".

Recorder Unsworth said Smith was a "dangerous" offender and jailed him for four years and six months, with an extended three years on licence.

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

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

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.