Latest Offenders Luton

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Two Luton men who brutally raped and beat a woman in an 'appalling' joint attack will spend fifteen years in jail for their crimes.

On March 3 2020, police found the distressed woman on Hockwell Ring, Luton, after a member of the public alerted them to her screams.

She had been raped, sexually assaulted and beaten with an object by the two men, a police statement said.

Detective Sergeant Clare Gilbert, who led the team of investigators at Bedfordshire Police said: "The level of violence and fear, in this case, is one of the worst I have ever known in my time as a police officer."

On Wednesday (February 17), a jury at Luton Crown Court found Alyas Hussain, 41, and Slamet Nazir, 38, guilty of raping and assaulting the woman.

Her Honour Judge Herbert said: "This was an appalling, brutal joint attack. Hussain had an arrogant belief, evident from the way he spoke to police, that she was expendable.

"He was less directly involved in the sexual assaults, but his violence facilitated them.

"The disrespect and contempt they had for this victim was clear."

Hussain was sentenced to serve 15 years' imprisonment for rape, assault by penetration and wounding with intent.

Nazir was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for rape, assault by penetration and wounding with intent, and he was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Detective Sergeant Clare Gilbert said: "If it wasn't for the intervention by the members of the public, I am in no doubt the outcome would have been much worse.

"I would like to thank the people that came to this woman's aid, firstly by reporting the incident to us, but also by providing such strong and compelling evidence that the jury saw through Hussain and Nazir's lies.

"We will always seek to prosecute anyone who commits rape or sexual offences, and the length of the sentences handed down here reflects the depraved level of their offending."

Detective Inspector Michelle Lack added: "If something has happened to you, please report it. We will believe you, and we will do all that we can to investigate so that perpetrators are brought to justice and you receive appropriate support.

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A child sex offender described by the police as 'calculating and deceptive' has been jailed for almost seven years.

Thomas Brooks, 41, of Green Close, Luton, pleaded guilty in court to three counts of sexually abusing a child.

Last week the court heard that Brooks met his teenage victim several times and plied her with drugs and alcohol before engaging in sexual activity with her.

When the victim told Brooks that she no longer wanted to meet up with him he continued to message her, attempting to persuade her to have further meetings.

Detective Constable Stephen Francis, from Bedfordshire Police's protecting vulnerable people team, which investigated the offences, said: "Brooks is a cold manipulator who took advantage of a teenage girl for his own gain.

"He was calculating and deceptive, and even tried to put the blame for the offences on the victim and threatened her, saying that she would also go to prison if she reported the abuse to the police.

"Thankfully the brave victim persevered and disclosed the offences to the police."

Brooks was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for each count he pleaded guilty to.

The three sentences will run concurrently.

Detective Constable Stephen Francis said: "I would like to encourage all victims of sex offences to come forward, no matter when the offences happened.

"We will believe you and investigate your report, and we will work with our partner agencies to find the right support for you."

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A "callous" and "self-entitled" sexual predator who raped two teenagers was jailed for 18 years today (January 15) at Luton Crown Court.

Barry Brice, 24, of no fixed address was found unanimously guilty by a jury of three women and nine men of four counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and two counts of false imprisonment.

He was also served with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and an indefinite restraining order not to contact his victims.

The predator used a fake Facebook profile of a 17-year-old boy to chat and arrange to meet young girls.

On October 28, 2019, he arranged to meet a 16-year-old girl and they spent the day together before he drove her to a field.

Price then raped the victim in his car, after making her put her mobile phone into ‘airplane mode’.

Price then drove the victim to a property in Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire, where he continued his predatory attack and subjected her to a further rape and sexual assault.

He then took her to a nearby railway station, callously telling her “good luck getting home”.

On 7 November, 2019, Price met a 15-year-old girl, who again believed he was the 17-year-old boy she had chatted to on Facebook. He took her to the same property in Gamlingay, where he also put her phone on ‘airplane mode’ and subjected her to a sexual assault and rape.

When she tried to leave, he threatened her and destroyed her mobile phone.

Recorder James Wood QC described Price as callous and of showing no remorse or empathy. Mr Wood added that he had no doubt Price planned the rapes, showing a self-entitlement to sexually abuse his victims.

Praising the two young girls for their courage in coming forward, he told Price: “The memory of what you did to them will live with them forever.”

Detective Sergeant Clare Gilbert, of Bedfordshire Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team, who led this investigation, said: “I am satisfied to see that Price will now be incarcerated for such a significant time after committing these heinous sexual offences, by deliberately hiding his true identity on social media for the purpose of gaining access to young girls.

"The fact that Price has been jailed for this length of time reflects the severity of his offending and the trauma and anguish he inflicted on his victims.

"Seeing this length of sentence handed down drives us to do the work we do, and will continue to do, every single day to protect the public."

She added: “It wasn’t easy for the girls to report what he did to them, and I want to thank them again for their strength in coming forward, which has been truly inspirational. Hopefully seeing Price locked up will allow them to begin their journeys to recovery.

“Anyone who commits rape or sexual offences must expect to face the considerable consequences of their actions."

Detective Inspector Michelle Lack added: “Our specially trained officers work closely with highly skilled, specialist and empathetic partners to ensure anyone who has experienced rape or sexual assault can get the right help they need.

“If something has happened to you, please let us know. We will believe you and we will do all we can to support you, and investigate so that perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Victims of rape and sexual assault can receive support and guidance from Bedfordshire Police and its partner agencies, including the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), as well as support through the criminal investigation process.

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A man who was convicted of the murder of a Sawtry schoolgirl has today been jailed for horrific crimes which took place in the 1980s.

Martin Cooper, 61, admitted charges of rape, false imprisonment and assault and was jailed for seven years when he appeared at Peterborough Crown Court.

The case involved an incident that took place in March, 1987, but thanks to painstaking work by Cambridgeshire police, detectives were able to bring a prosecution more than three decades later.

Cooper convinced his victim to get into his car before locking the doors and driving her to a wooded area near Leighton Bromswold, near Huntingdon.

Cooper, who was known as Colin Hill at the time, ignored pleas from the victim to turn the car around towards the arranged location, and instead began to kiss and grope her without consent.

After making several threats of violence, Cooper raped her.

Afterwards he grabbed the victim and told her he would, keep her for a few days, and, he didnt know what he was going to do with her.

In a bid to escape, the victim told Cooper she needed to use the toilet and he stopped the car at a nearby pub.

She ran through the pub and hid under the landlords car until Cooper eventually left. The landlord found her under the car and arranged for her to be collected by her family.

Several weeks after the incident, Cooper raped and murdered Leanne Scott, a schoolgirl from Sawtry, and was initially jailed for 18 years. After the murder, the victim spoke to officers and informed them of the rape.

Cooper, of Russell Street, Luton, was released in 2018, but jailed again shortly afterwards due to concerns about his behaviour and licence breaches.

DC Elaine Penniket said: I would like to applaud the phenomenal bravery shown by the survivor in this case, who has had to live with the devastating impact of Coopers horrific actions.

This case highlights the significance of reporting serious sexual offences to police. Tackling rape is a force priority and if you or someone you loved has suffered at the hands of a rapist, I would urge you to come forward to report it to police.

Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to someone, can apply for disclosure information through Clares Law and Sarahs Law.

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A Luton man who was part of a paedophile ring convicted of more than 30 child sexual abuse offences has been jailed for 32 years.

Robin Hollyson, 30, had pleaded guilty to three counts of raping a child under 13, three counts of conspiracy to rape a child under 13, sexual assault of a child under 13 and possessing indecent images of children.

He was one of seven jailed for a total of 107 years at Bristol Crown Court today.

The investigation by the National Crime Agency (NCA) alongside Bedfordshire Police, Wiltshire Police and Avon & Somerset Police was launched in September and the network of offenders began to be identified.

Bedfordshire Police had already arrested Hollyson after being alerted to a possible offence before the NCA contacted the force with information about his involvement in the wider ring.

The court heard the men shared indecent images and videos of children being abused, communicating via social networking forums.

Evidence showed that the groups victims were mainly babies and infants, with at least one victim given stupefying drugs to enable offenders to carry out sexual abuse.

The men were convicted of offences including the rape of a child under the age of 13, conspiracy to rape a child under the age of 13, sexual assault on a child under 13, sexual activity with a child under the age of 13, administering a substance with intent, making and possessing indecent images of children (IIOC) and breaching a Sex Offender Prevention Order (SOPO).

The victims identified so far were under the age of five at the time the offences were committed.

Detective Inspector Jerry Waite form Bedfordshire Police said: The sentences passed today show just how seriously the courts and law enforcement agencies consider the evil actions of these men.

Hollyson and these men went to great lengths in order to carry out their depraved acts.

Befriending and grooming a family in order to target their child is truly sickening and clearly shows their level of determination to identify and exploit a victim.

The family of Hollysons victim said: We would like to thank Bedfordshire Police, the National Crime Agency and all the other law enforcement agencies involved for their support and handling of what has been a very traumatic and distressing experience for us.

No family ever wants to find that their child has been the victim of abuse, nor would they ever knowingly put their child at risk.

As a family we now need to mend - seeing the perpetrators being brought to justice is the first step.

The NCAs continuing investigation has resulted in the arrest of an additional 28 people so far, three have been charged with child sexual abuse image offences.

Nine children have been safeguarded, bringing the total number of children safeguarded to 33.

Of those arrested, seven were in positions of trust four teachers, two charity/fundraiser workers and one was employed by a local authority. In addition, two people received cautions for extreme pornography offences.