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Description

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.

Description

 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.” 

Description

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.

Description

A DRUNK Carlisle hotel guest who groped an 18-year-old receptionist after clambering over a counter to reach her has been put on the Sex Offender Register.

Bradley Wright, 36, was staying at the hotel with his partner when his lewd behaviour led to him being arrested and charged with a sexual offence, Carlisles Rickergate court heard. He admitted sexual assault.

Prosecutor George Shelley showed the court CCTV footage of the incident on August 27, showing how the receptionist at the Carlisle hotel sitting at her desk behind a counter, which was also equipped with plastic covid screens.

The receptionist was working alone at her desk when Wright looking unusually animated approached her and began chatting.

He was drunk, and making suggestive comments towards her, said Mr Shelley. The CCTV footage captured the moments when Wright clambered over the counter, past the Perspex screens, and tried to embrace the teenager.

He touched her hip and right thigh as he pinned her to her chair and kissed her on the face, said Mr Shelley. The receptionist was seen trying to push Wright away and then ordering him to leave her desk area.

She had booked the defendant and his partner into a room the previous day, said Mr Shelley. She reported the incident to her manager who, having viewed the CCTV footage, contacted the police.

When police later arrested Wright and put him into a van ready for the journey to the police station, he became aggressive, threatening to urinate in it. He then did so. The vehicle could not then be used until it had been cleaned.

The defendant, who also admitted causing criminal damage to a police vehicle, had a record which consisted of 30 previous offences, including two offences against the person and two against property.

The court was then given a summary of a statement made by the 18-year-old victim after she was sexually assaulted. She said that she already suffered from anxiety, and what happened had heightened this.

She had been unable to sleep properly, and felt physical symptoms linked to increased anxiety, including her legs shaking and her chest tightening. I have not returned to work because I cant face it, she said.

Jeff Smith, defending, said Wright had come to Carlisle for a break with his partner, who was in court to support him. Mr Smith said: He did what he knows he should not have done: he had drunk vodka I imagine a significant amount of vodka.

Regarding what you have just seen {the CCTV], Mr Wright cant recall any of it in detail. Seeing that, I imagine, creates in him a great deal of disgust. I imagine his partner at the back of court feels similarly.

He meant no harm. But he was drunk very drunk.

Mr Smith said Wright, of Boundary Walk, Liverpool, recently returned to work as a scaffolder and his life was taking on a form that was attractive to him. "But he is disgusted with his behaviour, added the lawyer.

Magistrates noted that the defendant committed the offence while he was drunk and that he had clambered over the desk past covid screens to assault the teenager. They imposed a 12-month community order, with 200 hours unpaid work.

Wright must pay his victim 500 compensation, as well as 85 costs and a 114 victim surcharge. For the criminal damage offence, he was told to payn150 compensation to Cumbria Police.

Because he is now convicted of a sex offence and serving a 12-month community order, Wright will be on the Sex Offender Register for five years, said magistrates. He must report to his local police station within three days and provide his personal details.

The defendant was told he can settle his 749 debt to the court at a rate of 100 per month. A DRUNK Carlisle hotel guest who groped an 18-year-old receptionist after clambering over a counter to reach her has been put on the Sex Offender Register.

Bradley Wright, 36, was staying at the hotel with his partner when his lewd behaviour led to him being arrested and charged with a sexual offence, Carlisles Rickergate court heard. He admitted sexual assault.

Prosecutor George Shelley showed the court CCTV footage of the incident on August 27, showing how the receptionist at the Carlisle hotel sitting at her desk behind a counter, which was also equipped with plastic covid screens.

The receptionist was working alone at her desk when Wright looking unusually animated approached her and began chatting.

He was drunk, and making suggestive comments towards her, said Mr Shelley. The CCTV footage captured the moments when Wright clambered over the counter, past the Perspex screens, and tried to embrace the teenager.

He touched her hip and right thigh as he pinned her to her chair and kissed her on the face, said Mr Shelley. The receptionist was seen trying to push Wright away and then ordering him to leave her desk area.

She had booked the defendant and his partner into a room the previous day, said Mr Shelley. She reported the incident to her manager who, having viewed the CCTV footage, contacted the police.

When police later arrested Wright and put him into a van ready for the journey to the police station, he became aggressive, threatening to urinate in it. He then did so. The vehicle could not then be used until it had been cleaned.

The defendant, who also admitted causing criminal damage to a police vehicle, had a record which consisted of 30 previous offences, including two offences against the person and two against property.

The court was then given a summary of a statement made by the 18-year-old victim after she was sexually assaulted. She said that she already suffered from anxiety, and what happened had heightened this.

She had been unable to sleep properly, and felt physical symptoms linked to increased anxiety, including her legs shaking and her chest tightening. I have not returned to work because I cant face it, she said.

Jeff Smith, defending, said Wright had come to Carlisle for a break with his partner, who was in court to support him. Mr Smith said: He did what he knows he should not have done: he had drunk vodka I imagine a significant amount of vodka.

Regarding what you have just seen {the CCTV], Mr Wright cant recall any of it in detail. Seeing that, I imagine, creates in him a great deal of disgust. I imagine his partner at the back of court feels similarly.

He meant no harm. But he was drunk very drunk.

Mr Smith said Wright, of Boundary Walk, Liverpool, recently returned to work as a scaffolder and his life was taking on a form that was attractive to him. "But he is disgusted with his behaviour, added the lawyer.

Magistrates noted that the defendant committed the offence while he was drunk and that he had clambered over the desk past covid screens to assault the teenager. They imposed a 12-month community order, with 200 hours unpaid work.

Wright must pay his victim 500 compensation, as well as 85 costs and a 114 victim surcharge. For the criminal damage offence, he was told to payn150 compensation to Cumbria Police.

Because he is now convicted of a sex offence and serving a 12-month community order, Wright will be on the Sex Offender Register for five years, said magistrates. He must report to his local police station within three days and provide his personal details.

The defendant was told he can settle his 749 debt to the court at a rate of 100 per month.

Description

A paedophile who had sex parties with children has been allowed to change his name.

Steven Sullivan was jailed for six years in 2009 after the then 18-year-old hosted sick events attended by boys and girls aged as young as 12. Between 10 and 20 kids would attend each sordid gathering and were plied with drink and drugs.

The pervert would arrange for taxis to pick his victims up, and indecent pictures and videos of children were found on computers and mobile phones when police raided his home. Officers also discovered disturbing chat logs where Sullivan groomed girls and asked other twisted adults to send him images of five-year-olds.

He was subsequently convicted a string of sexual offences but was released on licence in January 2012. Just over a year later, in April 2013, he was arrested on suspicion of raping a 15-year-old girl - but charges were ultimately dropped "due to weaknesses in the case".

However, Sullivan was recalled for breaching his licence conditions and remained in prison until November 2014. The sex offender continued with his despicable behaviour though, playing with himself in front of a camera while talking to a 14-year-old girl online.

He also bought two mobile phones without telling police - against the terms of his sexual offences prevention order - and used one of them to send the teenager sexually charged texts during 2015.

Sullivan, then of Damwood Road in Speke, admitted engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and breaching his SOPO. He was locked up for three years aged 27 in July 2016.

The aforementioned order was extended at this point, and it now runs indefinitely. Today, Friday, Sullivan appeared back before Liverpool Crown Court in a bid to have its conditions amended in order to allow him to change his name.

Wearing a white 2007/08 Liverpool away shirt in court, he submitted that he had struggled to gain and keep employment in the past due to the publicity of his crimes in the media. He also claimed that he had been subjected to harassment at his home address on several occasions.

Judge Denis Watson approved a change to the SOPO which will allow Sullivan to change his name by deed poll in the next 10 weeks. He must also notify Lancashire Police, the Probation Service, the Crown Prosecution Service and Liverpool Crown Court of his new identity within 48 hours of this alteration.

An additional requirement was also added to the order, requiring him to inform the authorities of the details of any planned foreign travel at least seven days before his scheduled departure. Giving his judgement, the QC said: "In short, Mr Sullivan's offending was reported with his name prominent in the reporting such that a general search of his name and this area leads very quickly to a detailed report of some of the facts that underline the convictions - which has led to a numbers of issues for Mr Sullivan, including the loss of employment where he has performed his job well and without complaint.

"But when employers find out about his past, which he did not have to disclose because it didn't involve working with children, he has been summarily dismissed and his accommodation has been targeted by those hostile with him by reason of his previous convictions. He is clear in his application that he does not seek to alter the other prohibitions.

"However, he does say he is unable effectively to function and continue his rehabilitation - which he is trying to do - while the public and employers are able to read of his past, because it prevents him from obtaining work or retaining work and because of the risks to him from others. He now wishes to try and protect himself by changing his name.

"The protections of the system are still in place, because they will have responsibility for checking up on him. They will know precisely where he is and what name he is going under."

No parties objected to the amendments passed. The SOPO also limits Sullivan's use of electronic devices capable of accessing the internet and his contact with children, while he is banned from keeping any image of an under 18 without the permission of their parent or guardian.

Description

A pervert attacked a woman, sexually assaulted her and stole her possessions on a busy city centre street.

Cole Thomas headbutted and throttled his victim before groping her during a shocking incident outside St Johns Shopping Centre. The 22-year-old then made vile threats to rape her and her family.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday, that the incident occurred shortly before midday on November 9 last year. Thomas, from Aigburth, "began shouting at" the complainant before grabbing her fingers and headbutting her.

She pushed him away, but he responded by "grabbing her round the throat and digging his fingers into her neck". The defendant continued to be "verbally abusive", calling her "disgusting" and saying that her mum was a "paedo".

Thomas, of Mossley Hill Drive, then told her: "I hope you get raped. I will rape your mum and siblings while I'm at it."

He then began "stroking her face" and grabbed her breasts over her clothing as she was pinned up against a wall. The sex offender "suggested she was enjoying it" and added: "How does it feel to be touched without consent?"

Thomas, who appeared in court via video link to HMP Styal with two of his fingers in a bandage, took her purse from her handbag - causing the bag to rip - stole three bank cards and ripped up her train ticket before leaving. Police attended the scene and found the victim "very distressed and crying", while her assailant was located nearby and arrested.

In a statement read out to the court on her behalf, she described how she had been "overwhelmed by the incident". She said: "It was the most frightening time of my life. He had no issue assaulting me in public and taking my property as if it was his. I don't leave the house as I'm scared.

"I don't know how to live anymore. I can't even look at myself in the mirror. I'm not the person I used to be. I'm unable to build up the courage to go out of the house.

"He has ruined my life in more ways than you could imagine. I'm stuck in a pattern of being unable to move on and put it behind me."

Defending, Jim Smith stated that his client suffers from conditions including ADHD and bipolar disorder - adding that the attack was "not sexually motivated". He added: "He is someone with no substantial criminal history and who has never had experience of a custodial environment.

"He deeply regrets the harm and distress she has suffered. He wishes to contribute to society and he is still a very young man."

Thomas admitted sexual assault and theft and was jailed for 30 months. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order and a 10-year notification requirement.

Sentencing, Recorder Eric Lamb said: "She was left feeling overwhelmed. She has found it frightening.

"It has resulted in panic and left her struggling to live her normal life. She summed it up, 'I'm not the person I used to be'.

"That's as a direct result of your conduct towards her. The impact of your behaviour towards her has been devastating for her."

Thomas was also told to pay a victim surcharge.

Description

A convicted rapist who carried out a sickening attack in a graveyard has been rapped by a court over a 6,000 drugs stash.

Leslie Ryder was previously locked up in 2005 after dragging a teenage student teacher off the street and raping her in the grounds of St Michael in the Hamlet Church in Dingle. He was hauled back before Liverpool Crown Court today, Wednesday, after he was caught harvesting cannabis by police for a third time in six years.

The court heard that plain clothes officers were on patrol on Windfield Green in Garston shortly after 10.15am on January 18 last year when they encountered the 41-year-old, who "smelled strongly of cannabis". Ryder was stopped and searched, during which a wrap of cocaine and a quantity of the class B drug was found upon him.

He was also in possession of a phone which displayed a message reading "are you bagging it now?". The addict had replied: "No, tomorrow."

This led to a raid on his home on the same street, during which cannabis was discovered in a shoe box, a gift bag, a plastic tub and two boxes. A set of scales was also recovered inside.

The stash weighed a total of 414.37g and came with an estimated street value of up to 6,215. Ryder had bypassed an electricity meter in setting up the grow.

After his arrest, he "maintained that he didn't sell drugs" and claimed the text had been from his cousin in relation to a drill. The defendant added he had grown the cannabis for his own personal use, having been "heavily reliant on it since the age of 12".

But Ryder has now "stopped using entirely". No grow was located inside the flat, but the substances found equated to a yield of around seven plants.

He has 14 previous convictions for 34 offences dating back to 1996, including two for production of cannabis in April 2015 and May 2021. Most seriously, he was locked up for seven years in the mid-2000s after being convicted of rape.

The 19-year-old victim was walking home late at night when she was attacked by Ryder, who was described as a "petty thief who lay in wait for a woman to pass by". He threatened the woman with a knife and told her: "Don't scream, just walk with me."

His own heavily pregnant girlfriend was at home just weeks away from giving birth to his child at the time of the incident, and he fled to her apartment afterwards. But he was ensnared after DNA evidence linked him to the appalling crime.

Then aged 24, the sex offender was jailed for only four years and four months originally. But this was later extended by the Court of Appeal after the sentence was deemed to have been "unduly lenient".

Presiding over the appeal, Lord Justice Gage said: "This was a very serious offence of rape occurring in an attack late at night. Ryder threatened the woman with a knife and subjected her to conduct that the trial judge described as sexual indignities."

She ultimately quit her university course as a result as she was too upset to sit her exams.

Ryder, now of Strathmore Road in Tuebrook, has spent the past month in custody and appeared via video link to HMP Liverpool. He admitted production of cannabis, possession of cannabis and possession of cocaine and was handed a two-year community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days.

Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: "This is now your third time before the courts for producing cannabis. You admitted growing cannabis in order to manage the problem you had at the time.

"It is accepted that you were producing cannabis for your own benefit. I know you were heavily addicted and you have now stopped using despite your heavy addiction.

"You have stable accommodation which you will likely lose if you were to receive a custodial sentence. You now wish to live a life which is not involved in criminal offences.

"You have the support of your family, who are keen to see you rehabilitated. You are very lucky to have their support, given all you have put them through. I encourage you to continue with this motivation and continue making positive progress."

Ryder must also serve a six-month drug treatment programme and pay a victim surcharge. Forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and paraphernalia was ordered.

Description

A paedophile son who was outed as a sex offender after brutally attacking his mum with her own walking stick has a shocking history of beating her black and blue.

John Skelton was this week brought to justice for attempting to groom what he believed were two 13-year-old girls. He was in fact being ensnared in a paedophile hunter sting.

And The ECHO can now reveal the extent of the 46-year-old's criminal history. His record extends to 36 convictions for 65 offences, which "on the main" have been for episodes of violence and were committed as long ago as the late 1980s.

These include counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 1999 and 2006, the latter of which he received an extended prison sentence for. Then, in 2011, Skelton received another extended sentence for wounding after breaking his mother Hazel's jaw.

His rap sheet also includes convictions for battery, drunk and disorderly behaviour and flouting court orders. Matters escalated further in September 2019 after he was banned from Ms Skelton's Wirral home for "threatening to snap her back" during an assault.

But he breached this restraining order and even moved out of a bail hostel and into the address in Rock Ferry in early 2020, telling her that the Probation Service had allowed it. Skelton's behaviour deteriorated again, and he "lost his temper" during a row in the early hours of May 15 that year.

He attacked the 66-year-old after she refused to buy him alcohol, subjecting the pensioner to a "sustained and repeated" assault. She was lying defenceless in bed when she was battered using the walking aid, which was broken in half and left covered in blood as a result.

Ms Skelton suffered a "large and deep laceration" to her head, fractures to her rib, finger and arm and bruising to the face. Despite this, her son would not allow her to call 999 and she had to wait until he had fallen asleep before sneaking out of the house and seeking refuge with a neighbour.

She was left with a permanent scar from the attack. Skelton later admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and breaching a restraining order and was handed 10 years behind bars with an extended licence period of four years in December 2020.

But he appeared in court again on Friday after a phone seized from him upon arrest was analysed and revealed lewd chats with teenage girls on Facebook. Skelton - of no fixed address, but previously from Kensington - sent the decoy profiles pictures of his penis, encouraged them to perform sex acts upon themselves and asked for indecent images of the pair.

The pervert also asked one to be his girlfriend and talked about meeting up for sex. He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting sexual communications with a child and two of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and was handed a further two-and-a-half years behind bars, to be served consecutively to his current jail term.

Description

A child rapist who groomed a girl with sweets and cigarettes has been jailed for 14 years.

Brian Morton, from Halewood, turned his victim against her own family in order to manipulate her for his sick sexual urges - even telling her that her parents did not love her. More than a decade later, the now 61-year-old attempted to groom another 14-year-old - although he was spared prison when he was caught out.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Friday, that he began grooming his first victim when she was 11. Morton also bought her mobile phone top-ups and took her for ride in his car, where he would sexually assault her.

The pervert would watch her while she bathed and "offer to clean her". Then, when she was aged 15, he raped her while she was sleeping in the spare bedroom of his home.

His actions had a "severe psychological impact" on the girl, who turned to drug abuse in order to "self medicate" and "block out what happened to her". In 2018, Morton was convicted of engaging in sexual communications with a child after sending a string of sexually charged messages to another teen the previous year - grooming her "in similar terms to all those years ago".

He again asked her to go out for drives in his car, while one text message he sent read "night night sexy bum". The paedophile received a community order after she reported what had happened to her, admitting the offence but "denying a sexual interest in children".

Defending, Trevor Parry-Jones told the court that his client had attempted to take his own life five years ago. He said: "He maintains his innocence.

"This is obviously a serious case, and it is a sensitive case. This defendant will receive a lengthy custodial sentence, and he accepts that.

"He will spend a considerable period of his remaining life in custody. By the time he is released from this sentence, he is going to be approaching the age of 70."

Morton, of Torrington Drive, was found guilty of two counts of rape after a trial. Appearing via video link to HMP Liverpool, he was also handed an indefinite restraining order and a lifelong notification requirement.

Judge Gary Woodhall described the "devastating impact" his crimes had had. He added: "You offered her treats she wasn't getting at home, you bought her sweets and cigarettes, took her for rides in your car and bought credit for her mobile phone.

"You suggested her family did not love her. You told her you loved her, and that she was pretty. You told her you wished you could be with her. You would even wear aftershave is if to impress.

"It's clear she was being groomed for some time prior to these rapes. You behaved as this was a normal, loving relationship when it was anything but. You knew she was someone who could not consent. She simply froze, and had to pretend it was not happening.

"She lived with the knowledge of what happened to her with feeling of self-loathing. She tried to block out what you did to her for years. She struggled to cope with the consequence of your offending. She has resorted to the use of drugs to self-medicate for her poor mental health and to escape.

"She is still struggling to process what happened."

Referring to Morton's conviction in 2017, Judge Woodhall said: "This is almost identical offending to the way you offended so many years previously. This demonstrates an established pattern of sexual interest in young girls and a willingness to act on those urges."

Morton was also handed a restraining order, preventing him from contacting the victim and her family. Detective constable Lucy Emmet, who led Merseyside Police's investigation, said: "Thanks to the determination and bravery of Mortons victim, he will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars for his actions.

"I would like to take this opportunity to praise Mortons victim for her compelling statements when reporting his crimes and the strength they have shown throughout the whole of this investigation. While no sentence will repair the damage that Mortons abuse 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 cannot harm 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, 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. 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."

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A man has been jailed for 17 years for historic sexual offences against a child. Alan Dreha, aged 70, of Kirkby was jailed for 17 years, plus two on licence for 14 counts of sexual assault. The court heard how Dreha subjected his young victim to sexual assault for a period of 11 years, between 1990 and 2001. Following a trial, Dreha was convicted on Monday 16 May and sentenced yesterday, Thursday 23 June, at Liverpool Crown Court. Detective Inspector Yoseph Al-Ramadhan said, Dreha denied his offending meaning his victim was forced to endure a trial. We welcome that he will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars to consider the consequences of his actions. I would like to take this opportunity to praise Drehas victim for their courage in coming forward to report his crimes, and the dignity they have shown throughout the whole of this investigation. While no sentence will repair the damage that Drehas abuse has caused, I hope that by seeing Dreha sent to prison for a long time, this will give his victim some sort of closure and allow them to move on with their lives knowing he cannot harm 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, 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. 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. Senior Crown Prosecutor Sarah Egan, a specialist lawyer with CPS Mersey Cheshires Rape and Serious Sexual Offences unit (RASSO) said, Alan Dreha repeatedly sexually abused this victim over many years, from childhood through to early adulthood. He was controlling, and manipulated and groomed the victim in order to satisfy his own sexual needs. He maintained her silence with threats. This has been an appalling, gross abuse of trust. He has shown no remorse at all for what he has done to his victim. She has spoken of how difficult she found it to write her Victim Personal Statement. She said she felt controlled and manipulated throughout childhood. She still struggles to trust people, and it has severely affected her mental health, to the point where she has contemplated suicide. She said that it is such a lonely life you live when you are the victim of sexual abuse. Dreha has spent the last thirty-two years living a lie and maintaining an image of a respectable life, whilst the victim has had to endure, and deal with, the consequences of the sexual abuse she has suffered. There is absolutely no doubt that Drehas actions have caused this victim grave harm. The Crown Prosecution Service would like to thank the victim and family for the courage and strength they have shown throughout the proceedings, as well as the parties involved who have assisted in bringing a successful prosecution. We hope that the prosecution allows the victim to move forwards with her life. Anyone with information or wants to report a sexual offence 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 youve been affected by sexual violence of any kind, support is available through the Police and Crime Commissioners Victim Care Merseyside service delivered jointly by two registered charities.

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A paedophile who kept more than 10,000 images of child sex abuse has walked free from court.

Andrew Lomax, who worked as a carer for 30 years, stored more than 1,600 videos of child rape in his disturbing collection across a number of devices.

The youngest victim among the child abuse images was an 18-month-old baby girl.

The 45-year-old kept 3,188 videos of children being sexually abused and 8,052 indecent images of children, and in total had 11,240 of the vile images.

Chris Hopkins, prosecuting today at Liverpool Crown Court, explained police acted on "intelligence received" about internet use in a property in Woodchurch, where Lomax was living at the time.

On October 21 last year police went to the address and Lomax said he "knew why police were there" and confessed to having indecent images on his computer.

Lomax told police in an interview they would find "images of toddlers up to the age of about 14 or 15" and admitted he had a sexual interest in children.

Mr Hopkins explained 1,694 of the child rape images were videos and he also had 1,494 videos of other types of child sex abuse.

Lomax stored 2,000 indecent images of children on a computer tower, the earliest of which was created on September 30, 2019 and the most recent was created on June 16 last year.

He kept 1,300 indecent images of children on an Acer Laptop and had 151 prohibited images of children as well as 42 indecent images on a HP laptop, on which the earliest creation date was April 2015.

Lomax stored another 679 prohibited images of children on an external hard drive, on which the earliest creation date was January 2013.

Mr Hopkins explained one of the sex abuse videos involved a baby girl aged 18 months old.

Lomax is of former good character.

Jim Smith, defending, said Lomax had made "frank admissions" and "expressed remorse".

He said Lomax had been a carer for 30 years with the "most vulnerable in society including dementia sufferers" but left the role after his offences came to light.

Mr Smith said: "To his benefit your honour he has acknowledged not only his wrongdoing and criminality but tried to explain and certainly been frank and honest in relation to his offending behaviour."

He said Lomax's relationship had broken down and he "retreated into addictive online voyeurism" and into the "markedly criminal world".

Mr Smith said Lomax was "deeply sorry" and has been working with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to address his "unhealthy addiction".

He said: "He is trying to do everything he can to rehabilitate himself from this addiction from which he became subservient to for a significant period of time."

Mr Smith said Lomax had suffered anxiety and depression and was an "extremely lonely individual".

Lomax, of Needham Road, Kensington, admitted possession of extreme pornographic images, possession of indecent photographs, three counts of making indecent images and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

Judge Brian Cummings, QC, said: "In order for all these images to be created real children, including babies, have been subjected to the most appalling and damaging abuse, all for the benefit, if that's the word, of you and others like you.

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A paedophile collected nearly 2,000 "horrific" child rape and abuse images.

James Mercer was hit with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) in 2013 after he was caught with a sick stash of indecent images of children. The decade-long order prevented him from accessing the internet unless he retained the browsing history and made it available for inspection by police.

But when officers performed a routine check on his computer equipment as part of the SOPO, they discovered another library of "appalling" photos. The 41-year-old, of Ashburn Avenue, Tower Hill, Kirkby, later admitted possessing 1,997 indecent images of children.

According to the charge, he downloaded the files over a near three-year period between May 16, 2018 and March 17, 2021. Mercer admitted downloading 368 Category A images - the most serious category involving child rape - plus 323 Category B and 1,306 Category C files.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he also pleaded guilty to possessing seven prohibited [cartoon or animated] images of a child. Prosecutors said Mercer was not in fact in breach of the SOPO, as the sex offender had not deleted or attempted to manipulate his search history.

The judge, Recorder Michael Taylor, said his previous convictions were an aggravating feature of the case. He decided the offences were so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.

Recorder Taylor jailed Mercer for 12 months and made him subject to a new indefinite SOPO. The judge told Mercer he must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Speaking after the case, an NSPCC spokesperson said: "Every child featured in these indecent images is a victim of horrific abuse. The demand created for this appalling material by offenders like James Mercer means he shares responsibility for their terrible experiences.

"The NSPCC is determined to ensure the Government's upcoming Online Safety Bill is strengthened to prevent offenders like Mercer from using the online world as a gateway to abuse children."

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William Ormandy approached his victim as she went to get a taxi home from Liverpool Lime Street A vile man who raped an 18-year-old woman behind Liverpool Lime Street station was jailed after his "sickening" attack. William Ormandy, 31, approached and started talking to an 18-year-old woman just before 2am on Sunday, February 6 as she walked alone towards Liverpool Lime Street Station taxi rank. Ormandy said, youre gorgeous, and asked where she was going as he followed. A short while later he said, give me a kiss to which she told him no, he then grabbed her and tried to kiss her. Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, at Liverpool Crown Court, said: "She told him she just wanted to get home, but he continued to follow her asking to go back to her house with her. She told him that she lived at home with her mum and told him she was only 18." The court heard how at just after 2am he pulled her into a service alleyway near the station and continued trying to kiss her as she pleaded for him to let her go. She decided to walk up to London Road to get to the next taxi rank, Ormandy then raped the victim and left the location. When she started to walk off he told her "come here" but she left the scene and he went in the opposite direction. Luckily three women came across the 18-year-old in a distressed state and she explained what happened. One of them refused to leave her and flagged down a taxi and took her home. A major investigation was then launched by BTP detectives to trace and arrest Ormandy. On Wednesday, February 16, Ormandy handed himself in at St Anne Police Station and was arrested on suspicion of rape. In interview, he stated he consensually kissed the victim three times and denied raping her. In a statement, the 18-year-old victim explained how she must take medication to sleep and described the impact of the rape. She said: "Since the incident l have not left the house unless I am accompanied by a family member. I dont like to be left alone. I need to know where my family are at all times, and I often sleep in same bed as my sisters. "There have been times that my mum has held me whilst I cry. I am awake at all times in the night having showers, washing myself. "The incident has had a devastating effect on my education. I had been aspiring to go to university, but I have failed all my university interviews. I had clear ambitions and dreams, now I dont know what the future holds for me." William John Ormandy, 31, of Derby Court, Church Road, Halewood, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court via video link on Friday, March 18 where he pleaded guilty to rape. This afternoon (April 25) Judge David Potter sentenced him to eight years and three months in prison and imposed an extended four year licence.. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. On handing down the sentence at Liverpool Crown Court, the judge said he was satisfied that Ormandy deliberately targeted a lone 18-year-old and isolated her, showing a significant degree of planning. The court heard Ormandy has 13 convictions for 29 previous offences including a history of violence against women. He was convicted last year of assaulting and harassing a former partner and was subject to a community order at the time of the rape. Sarah Holt, defending, said that Ormandy struggles to comprehend his behaviour and has no recollection. She added: He is ashamed of himself and says he is lost for words. Miss Holt said his family is devastated and does not condone his behaviour but will support him when he leaves jail. Judge Potter told Ormandy, his previous convictions reveal a worrying attitude that you have towards those you are involved within intimate relationships. You have a violent history against women. It was a persistent incident and force was used. The pre-sentence report demonstrates a lack of insight into your offending. Judge Potter said that he agreed with the probation officers view that Ormandy represents a high risk of harm specifically to women, known to him or strangers. Senior Investigating Officer in the case, Detective Inspector Granville Sellers, said: Despite claiming he didnt commit the offence in interview, Ormandy is undoubtedly an opportunist sexual predator that preyed on a vulnerable girl and subjected her to a sickening ordeal. He realised the net was closing in as my team worked round the clock to apprehend him and he subsequently handed himself in. "The physical and emotional impact his despicable crime has had on the victim cannot be underestimated. She showed incredible bravery to report his actions to us, and we continue to support her as Ormandy faces his adequately long stint behind bars. "While crimes like this are extremely rare on the railway, they will never be tolerated. I hope his quick journey between committing the abhorrent crime and being convicted serves as a stark warning to sexual predators we will catch you and promptly bring you to justice."

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A girl who was filmed being sexually abused by a man twice her age had her life torn apart when the video was shared publicly.

Marcus Ellison was jailed yesterday after impersonating a 16-year-old boy on Snapchat and luring a 13-year-old to a park. The then 30-year-old then filmed them having sex in bushes in Birkenhead Park in a video that he later shared with one of her school friends and which went viral online.

Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday how the girl was initially left shocked by the sharing of the video and then began to feel shame at people having seen it. Summarising a statement from the victim, Neil Bisarya, prosecuting, said: “She experienced anxiety at school because of people saying things to her, calling her a ‘slag’ having seen the video.

She even had one from Yorkshire contacting her who had seen it. She was not able to trust people in the same way and has lost friends.”

He said the incident had long lasting effects on the girl and she was still suffering the consequences of it. Mr Bisarya said: “Her school work has suffered and she has left school to avoid this and now does home schooling. She has felt very distraught as a result of what happened. She said ‘after all this came out it really, really took a toll on me’.”

The judge, Recorder Ian Unsworth QC, labelled Ellison a “predatory paedophile” and said he had used deceit to lure her and then sexually abuse her. He also criticised the people “who had the audacity to call her a slag” after the video of her being abused was shared.

Recorder Unsworth said the video recorded and shared by Ellison “permanent record of the abuse she suffered” at his hands and jailed the 31 year old for nine years.

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Francis Ward, 36, of Fox Street, was jailed for 25 years at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, April 22, 2022.

A rapist looked stunned as he was jailed for 25 years for sexually assaulting two teenage girls.

Francis Ward refuses to to accept he raped one of the teenagers and sexually assaulted the other even after being found guilty earlier this year. The two girls and their families faced him down in court today and celebrated as the sex attacker was led to the cells. 

He was open mouthed as Judge Robert Trevor-Jones sentenced him to a lengthy jail term. David Birrell, prosecuting, said Ward, from Fox Street, Liverpool, committed his first attacks on one girl before then targeting the second girl. 

He said that after being arrested Ward, who turned his head away from the victims seated in the public gallery for much of the hearing, denied the attacks took place. Mr Birrell said: “He was arrested and taken into police custody. He was questioned and answered 'no comment' to each and every question."

Ward's denials continued through all of his court hearings, including the trial. Jurors found him guilty of the attacks on March 18. Jonathan Duffy, defending, said Ward still disagreed with the jury’s verdict. Mr Duffy said: “As your honour knows from having heard the trial and what is said in the pre sentence report, the defendant does not agree with the verdicts of the jury but he respects them and understands your honour will have to sentence him on the facts as the jury found them.”

One of the girls addressed the court today, explaining how Ward’s attack had made her contemplate taking her own life. A statement from the second girl, read out by Mr Birrell, outlined similar psychological trauma.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones told Ward his actions continued to have far reaching consequences for both girls. He said: “Each of them clearly articulated an enduring trauma and scarring. As far as they are concerned, I am satisfied you inflicted serious harm on them.”

Judge Trevor-Jones added that Ward’s continued denials during his trial had forced both girls to “relive the horrors of this abuse, branding them liars in the process”. He jailed Ward for 18 years for the rape and sexual assault of one of the girls and for seven years for the sexual assault on the other.

The length of the sentence appeared to take Ward by surprise. He was open mouthed and shook his head a number of times after the verdict was announced before being taken down to the cells.