Latest Offenders Merseyside

Description

A dad-of-five arranged to meet an 11-year-old girl for sex after grooming her online.

However unknown to Peter Bancroft the girl did not actually exist and a fictitious profile had been set up for her by the paedophile hunting group, Stop UK.

65-year-old Bancroft - who was later found to have child sex abuse images on his mobile phone - began chatting to Sally Smith on Facebook on June 17 this year after describing her profile picture as "lovely".

Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting said: "The decoy made it clear she was eleven years old and repeated this during conversations."

Bancroft quickly brought the conversations around to sexual matters and "asked if she wanted to know about sex. He described penetrative sex. He said he had had sex with three virgins".

Mr Wyn Jones said the granddad sent her a picture of himself and his car and asked her to send him a postcode so they could meet.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today (Monday, November 1) that he arranged to meet her at 11am on July 11 but when he arrived at the destination in Oldham members of Stop UK were waiting for him.

He told them: I have only been chatting with her."

They contacted the police who arrested him and in interview he said "his intention was to meet her and take her for a walk and claimed he did not intend to the sex.

"He said the messages were intended to warn her about sex with boys."

Bancroft, of Eccleston Avenue, Bromborough, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and arranging the commission of a child sex offence.

He also had seven offences involving possessing indecent images of children in all three categories of seriousness and extreme pornography.

Jailing him for three years and nine months Judge Andrew Menary, QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, said: "You asked her if she wanted to know about sex.

"You went on to describe sex acts, including penetrative sex, to what you believed was an 11-year-old girl."

Judge Menary told Bancroft that he drove to Oldham for the purpose of having sex with the child though he pretended he just wanted to go for a walk with her.

He added: "It is clear from the nature of the messages that your sole intention was to groom what you believed was a young girl and corrupt her into having sexual intercourse with you."

Judge Menary described the age difference as enormous and said that it was clear from the author of a pre-sentence report the defendant "was struggling to recognise the significance of what you had done".

Judge Menary said: "I hope as a consequence of work done with you in prison when you will realise the very serious nature of this intended activity.

"The seriousness of it cannot be overstated."

He ordered Bancroft, who was described by a probation officer as being "a high risk to children", to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

John Weate, defending, said: "His major mitigation is his guilty plea, although it was not entered at the first opportunity at the magistrates court."

He said that Bancroft, who has no similar convictions, recognises he will have to undertake work while in prison to address his offending behaviour.

Mr Weate also told the court that the defendant has health problems and added: "He has a large number of children and grandchildren but has no contact with them."

He said that after Bancrofts arrest "some people made it public knowledge and his property was ransacked and all his belongings have gone".

Description

A pervert sexually assaulted a vulnerable woman.

Nicholas Gillinder appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today for sentencing after pleading guilty to three offences which involved sexual activity with a vulnerable woman.

The court heard that Gillinder, 51, exchanged a series of sexually explicit messages with the victim, who was in her twenties but who had a mental age of just 13 because of her autism and learning difficulties.

He also touched her inappropriately on a number of occasions.

Gillinder, of Hart Street, Southport, worked in the care sector.

Jonathan Rogers, prosecuting, said: "The victim in this case is classed as a vulnerable adult, who doesn't leave home unless accompanied by an appropriate adult, and has little or no comprehension of sexual matters.

"He [Gillinder] would send her messages saying how much he liked her and asking if she would go to bed with him.

"At the time his marriage wasn't good, which made the victim feel sorry for him.

"He would kiss and cuddle her and in the messages would say things like 'you've got nice boobs' and 'can I feel your bum'."

Mr Rogers said Gillinder reportedly said he "just foolishly fell for her" while he was in the police van after his arrest.

The victim was assessed as having suffered "substantial psychological harm" as a result of Gillinder's actions. This included gaining a significant amount of weight and having "vivid nightmares" about the defendant.

Mr Rogers added: "The victim felt betrayed by what the defendant had done. His offences compounded the complexity of her day to day life."

Arthur Gibson, defending, said: "At the time these offences were committed, his marriage was dying, if not dead.

"He did get too close to this young lady, was not thinking straight and formed an attraction to her, and the rest is history.

"She did not appreciate the underlying significance of flirtatious banter. He thought irrationally that she was responding to his overtures in the same way he was making them."

Judge David Potter told Gillinder: "You well knew she functioned at a much younger age cognitively.

"You ignored your common sense and became infatuated. You began texting her and sending her Snapchat messages which were sexual in nature.

"Her responses were not well-informed but you took them, childish as they were, as encouragement.

"It was not right for a man of your age to engage with a female of limited capacity. You were a trusted person and you abused the trust that she had in you."

Judge Potter sentenced Gillinder to 21 months in jail, of which he will serve half before being released on licence. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years, and given a restraining order for the same amount of time.

Description

A child rapist is 'likely to die in jail' after his victim found justice 35-years after he raped and abused her.

Barry Lake, 70, from Newton-le-Willows was charged with 10 counts of rape of a child and two charges of gross indecency with a child last month.

The charges related to the historical abuse of his victim over a four year period in the 1980s.

Originally from Pembroke Dock in Wales, Lake had denied all 12 charges relating to the offences between January 1986 and January 1989.

Lake was first questioned by Dyfed-Powys Police in April 2020 in what would become an intensive and complex investigation.

Investigating officer DC Claire Lewis said: Lake denied all charges, putting his victim through the ordeal of a trial.

As they have done throughout the investigation, they [the victim] showed great courage and dignity in the face of adversity to help us convict their abuser.

This was a long and intensive investigation with a lot of work to achieve this outcome today.

This sentence shows that it doesnt matter how long ago a victim has suffered sexual abuse, we as police are here to listen and take seriously any person who has suffered any form of sexual abuse albeit a day or 35 years after.

Please do not be scared to come forward, we are here to listen to you.

Once again, I would like to commend the victim for their bravery for coming forward and achieving this outcome today.

The pensioner, who after being found guilty of all 12 charges, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, October 22.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for historical rape and abuse of a child and will also serve another year on licence upon his release.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A convicted paedophile repeatedly met up with three little girls in a Wirral cemetery despite being banned from such contact with any child.

Michael Mooney, 52, was jailed for nine years in 2005 for child sex abuse and an order made to keep him away from youngsters was renewed in April 2012 - but a court has heard he has now persistently breached it by meeting up with the girls.

The devastated mum of one of the girls told a judge about the impact Mooney had on her daughter and their family.

While Mooney did not molest the children Judge David Potter said: As to your ultimate intent I cannot exclude it was for sexual gratification. There is clearly evidence of grooming behaviour.

Mooney, of Old Chester Road, Rock Ferry, who admitted breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, was jailed for three years and four months and ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Rebecca Smith, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court on Friday that his breach of the order came to light after a 10 year old girl told her social worker about a man she had regularly encountered in Bebington cemetery.

She told of occasions when she, along with another 10 year old girl and an eight year old friend, were playing in the cemetery, which is attached to a park, and had encounters with Mooney in May and June this year.

It began when he asked if he could stroke the dog which two of them had with them and he then followed them and stared at them.

A few days later they made a den and Mooney, who told them he was 26, approached asking about it and within days they met him again.

He was exercising doing press-ups and the girls asked if he could spin them around by their legs while they held onto a branch which he did.

On a later occasion two of them took a small tent to the cemetery and Mooney asked if he could join them in the tent.

When asked if he had a girlfriend he said he had one who was 14 years old and they had touched body parts. He spent five to 10 minutes in the tent with them, said Miss Smith.

On another occasion they met him by some local shops and they asked him for some money which he gave them and was spent on sweets.

About five days later they met him again and after asking for money he said the cash was stashed on him and told them to search him and to "pat him down".

They asked if it was in his boxer shorts and he flicked the waistband and gave them 5, which was not the first time he had given them money, said Miss Smith.

After this encounter, a social worker told the 10-year-olds mum what she had been told by her daughter.

The mum and other members of the community confronted him and detained him until the police arrived.

The mum told the judge the incidents had a massive impact on my whole family. I feel I have failed my daughter although I know that is not the case.

She said: She has changed from being a happy child to being angry, she was never like this before.

Staring at Mooney she said he had been waiting in the cemetery preying on my daughter and other children. He is a child predator.

The court heard that when interviewed Mooney said he went to the park to exercise and the children had approached him and it was an unavoidable situation.

John Weate, defending, said Mooney had taken the decision not to challenge anything the children had said, although there were discrepancies, as he did to want to put them at risk of having to give evidence. He accepts his involvement with these children.

He had complied with the terms of his licence and SHPO for a considerable time. He had lived an isolated life since his release and suffered from anxiety and depression.

He used to go to a gym to keep fit but the pandemic brought that to an end and so we went to the park to keep exercising which is where he came into contact with the children.

Mr Weate said that Mooney has already been punished by having his home vandalised since his arrest and when he is eventually released he will have to find new accommodation.

Mr Weate said: He has passed on his apologies for what has happened and understands he has to be punished."

In sentencing Judge Potter said: "I have heard you are sorry. I consider you are more sorry for about your own position than the impact your offending has caused.

Description

A sex offender was today jailed for historic sex offences spanning over a period of 30 years.

Anthony Duckers, of Black Horse Close in Newton, Wirral, was found guilty of five counts of indecent assault after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

The 64-year-old committed the offences between the 1970s and early 2000s.

He was jailed today for 16 years and handed a restraining order for life.

He was also given a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Detective Constable Kevin Thomas said: I am pleased that Duckers will now spend a number of years behind bars as a consequence of his actions.

I hope that todays proceedings will allow his victims to now move on with their lives and encourage anyone who has been subjected to a sexual offence to come forward and report it.

Time should never be a barrier to obtaining justice.

"Merseyside Police takes every report of sexual offences extremely seriously, whether or not they are recent, and has dedicated officers within the forces Unity Team who are specially trained to both thoroughly investigate allegations and make sure that those reporting them are properly supported.

"I would like to take this opportunity to reassure anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we will deal with you sensitively and make sure that reports are properly and thoroughly investigated."

Description

A trainee solicitor sexually assaulted a sleeping law student at a colleague's party and molested another woman as she slept at the same event.

Tom Hagyard had just started working at one of the worlds largest law firms when he molested a drunken woman as she slept in the party hosts bed.

Minutes later Hagyard groped another woman, who was asleep on the living-room couch.

The 29-year-old told the jury the sexual activity was consensual.

Earlier that same night Hagyard treated his parents and two sisters to a celebratory three-course meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant with his first pay check in the legal profession before making his way to the 700,000 Fulham Road flat party venue in west London.

Hagyard, of Fylde Road, Southport was convicted of two counts of assault by penetration in relation to the first woman and two counts of sexual assault in relation to the second woman.

The jury failed to reach a verdict on one count of raping the first woman.

Jailing Hagyard for eight years, Recorder Simon Russell Flint QC told him: Nobody thought it was going to be anything other than a normal party for young people to get to know each other with drinking and dancing and having fun until your actions brought to an end how that night would be remembered.

The first victim had a lot to drink and was put into bed and out of kindness and regard for your comfort you also were invited to sleep in the bed.

You almost immediately started to touch her. This young lady was sound asleep when you began to touch her sexually and she did not kiss you or give you any encouragement.

She had no idea what was happening to her and could not identify who it was. You were a stranger to her and she did not consent to what you were doing and neither did you believe she was consenting.

You went ahead and did what you wanted to do to this woman and, getting little or no satisfaction, went looking for another victim.

You went into the living-room, where the second woman was asleep.

In her victim impact statement the first woman said the night left her with chronic stress, anxiety, insomnia and panic attacks, adding: The nightmares I have in relation to the assaults are impossible to shake off.

The defendants actions have destroyed my trust and personal faith in other people. I have felt ashamed that I did not fight back and still berate myself about it.

The second woman, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, said: Tom Hagyard, I dont hate you. You are a stranger to me.

I hope you can explore why you are the way you are and seek resolution so you do not harm anyone else. I am grieving for the loss of my old self, I miss her deeply.

The last four years have been torture with the anticipation of being in court, she told the court.

Isleworth Crown Court heard that Hagyard arrived at the party, on October 15, 2017, with a bottle of wine and in the early hours the first victim woke with Hagyard on top of her.

We got very drunk and I dont remember a lot. I took myself to bed and I woke up and there was a boy sort of on top of me, she told the trial.

The woman added: I was going in and out of consciousness and did not think I could move. I froze a bit, I didnt fight him off or anything.

I remember trying to push him away. I was staring at the wall for a while.

I felt very drunk, nine or ten out of ten drunk. I kept my eyes closed for a bit and I remember feeling confused.

He was on top of me and I was in pain. I felt like I could not move or fight him off and my memory goes in and out, I have flashes.

Hagyard claimed the second woman invited him onto the sofa, where he began massaging her chest.

However, prosecutor Richard Job said: She had also had a bit to drink and was sleeping in her clothes. She was woken at 5.30am by someone touching her chest.

She was scared and she got up and went quickly to the hosts bedroom.

Hagyard complained about how his potentially distinguished career was destroyed before it even started.

It has been difficult. I lost my job at the law firm, he told the court.

Hagyards lawyer Karina Arden told the court: This is a terrible tragedy not just for the complainants, but for the defendant and his family, who have accompanied him throughout the trial.

His professional life that he worked so hard for is over. He has changed from being a confident young trainee solicitor who was ambitious and dreamed of a career in commercial law.

He has suffered every day for the last four years and regrets the incident that night in that flat and it will remain with him for the rest of his life.

Hagyard will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely and must serve two thirds of the sentence before he can be considered for parole.

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A judge today told a paedophile he had no doubt a jury was right to convict him of sexually abusing a young boy.

Ryan Kitchen, 26, repeatedly molested his vulnerable victim by sexually assaulting him on 20 separate occasions.

Kitchen, of Strafford Drive, Bootle, denied any wrongdoing and claimed the child was lying in a trial last month.

But after jurors heard evidence from both him and the boy, they unanimously found Kitchen guilty of six counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child, while acquitting him of one further count of sexual assault.

Judge Garrett Byrne today told Kitchen: "You continue to deny the offences and seek to blame others for the situation you find yourself in.

"Having seen the evidence of the boy during the trial, I have no doubt the jury's verdicts were correct."

He jailed Kitchen for eight years, prompting one of Kitchen's supporters sitting in a public gallery to question: "Seriously?"

The woman then moaned: "F***ing lies. Send an innocent man to jail, all for lies."

Liverpool Crown Court heard Kitchen repeatedly performed sex acts on the boy, both over and under his clothing, tried to get the boy to touch his penis, and performed sex acts in front of the child.

Seven supporters of the victim, including his mum, sat in one public gallery, with 10 supporters of the defendant sitting in another public gallery.

The boy's mum told the court that when her son confided in her about Kitchen's sexual abuse "my whole body went cold with shock".

David Polglase, prosecuting, read out her statement in which she described how she holds "a lot of anger and resentment" towards Kitchen.

She said: "I hope in the future I will be able to channel this more productively, but at the moment it cripples me."

The mum said the ordeal of giving evidence impacted on her son and before the verdicts were returned he kept repeating that if they were not guilty, "it meant people thought he was lying".

She said her son had spent days crying in his room, his mental health was affected and along with thoughts of suicide, she had found him threatening to kill himself.

The mum said: "I'm in constant fear that he will actually follow through with his threats."

The boy's father told the court in a second victim statement that he also felt suicidal about what had happened to his son.

He said: "I hope that Ryan Kitchen realises he's destroyed my son's life. He's totally obliterated his trust in people."

The victim's mum cried as the statements were read and was comforted by members of her family.

Nick Cockrell, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and nearly 30 character references submitted to the court, which "paint a very positive picture of Mr Kitchen".

He said: "That of course has to be set against the offences for which he has been convicted by the jury, but in total it seems there were almost 30 people who had taken the time to write letters or emails of support for Mr Kitchen."

Mr Cockrell said there was also a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service, but added: "Where there have been convictions after trial, convictions which it's clear from the report are still denied and disputed by Mr Kitchen, it does make such a document difficult in the circumstances.

"Your honour has no option but to sentence Mr Kitchen to a lengthy custodial sentence and it will be hoped that some of the concerns that are raised in that report can be addressed as part of that sentence."

Mr Cockrell added that Kitchen was still relatively young and it would be his first prison sentence, and asked the judge to take into account conditions in jail during the coronavirus pandemic.

Judge Byrne said the jury had found Kitchen guilty of eight counts of sexual abuse against the victim, "representing a total of 20 separate occasions when you sexually abused the boy".

The judge told Kitchen he took advantage of a situation "by sexually assaulting the boy for your own pleasure".

The judge said Kitchen had "deliberately and cynically" abused a situation to molest his victim.

He said the offences had a detrimental impact on the "vulnerable" child's mental health.

Judge Byrne said: "During the course of his evidence, he said this, he would ask himself 'why, why is he doing this?'

"It would make him feel angry and sick. He said 'I thought it would never end'."

The judge said weighing in Kitchen's favour was his previous good character.

He said: "I've read all the references. Very many people have spoken very highly of you, describing your positive influence, that you're a good friend, that you're a caring person and you're a hard worker.

"I've also read the moving letter from your parents and I will of course take into account the impact the sentence is going to have upon them and your family."

Kitchen showed no emotion when he was jailed, which prompted the outburst from a female supporter.

A male supporter started sobbing and was consoled by others, before the woman continued to swear and complain as she walked out of the courtroom.

Kitchen must comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Judge Byrne also made a 10-year restraining order, preventing Kitchen from contacting the boy or his parents.

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An A&E nurse caught with baby rape videos was spared jail after a judge heard of his "positive good character".

John Wadeson worked at Aintree hospital's emergency department in Fazakerley until he was exposed as a paedophile.

The 30-year-old had previously helped victims of the Manchester Arena bombing while on placement at Bolton hospital.

But the whole time he was downloading a sick collection of indecent images of little children and disturbing extreme porn.

Liverpool Crown Court heard police raided Wadeson's home in Borron Close, Newton-le-Willows, at around 8.30am, on June 10, 2020.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said: "Mr Wadeson was present at the address with his partner. Police officers cautioned and arrested both males."

Officers seized a Lenovo computer, an iPad and a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, containing 142 child sex abuse images.

They included 56 Category A indecent images - the most serious category showing child rape - of which 11 were videos.

Mr Blasbery said the Category A files showed children as young as babies aged between newborn and 12 months.

There were 35 Category B images - including eight videos - involving boys just four to six-years-old.

A further 51 Category C photos included pictures of boys aged as young as three to four.

Police also found 35 extreme porn images, including two videos, and 11 prohibited - cartoon - images of children.

Wadeson was interviewed that day, when he denied any wrongdoing, saying he had "no idea" how any indecent images were linked to him.

He was interviewed again on May 29 this year, when he confirmed he had a Kik Messenger account "but got rid of it when he met his partner".

Wadeson said the computer belonged to both of them, but confirmed the iPad and Samsung devices were his.

The nurse confessed he knew there were indecent images on the phone, but said "he couldn't remember viewing them".

However, Wadeson accepted he must have downloaded them and also admitted watching extreme porn videos, which he said others likely sent him on the messaging app Telegram.

Mr Blasbery told the court: "He said there was a period of time when indecent images of children were on his mind, he did accept responsibility for everything and his partner had no idea what was going on and was not aware of what he was watching - he was solely responsible."

Wadeson admitted three counts of downloading and one of possessing indecent images of children, plus possessing prohibited images of children and extreme porn, all between September 2016 and June 2020.

Ben Berkson, defending, urged the judge to spare his client jail, who he said had no previous convictions and "many aspects of positive good character".

He said Wadeson was supported by his husband, who provided a character reference, and others sitting in the public gallery.

Mr Berkson said: "This course of conduct is described as shocking and out of character by those closest to him and by the defendant himself."

He said Wadeson struggled from an early age with his mental health and self-harming, and had a past diagnosis of psychosis.

The lawyer added: "A particularly dark point as a child was the death of his foster brother, which has had a profound impact on this defendant."

He said: "As a gay man he experienced bullying at school generally and had difficulty with his sexuality growing up, due to fear of homophobic abuse.

"Notwithstanding those difficulties, he qualified as a nurse in 2017 and began working in the A&E department at Aintree hospital.

"But immediately prior to that he was part of a nursing training placement at Bolton hospital. As part of that he actually helped the victims of the Manchester bombing."

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, told Wadeson his collection was "not as big as many that this court encounters" but the Category A files were "of the worst kind, plainly".

He said: "You realise now, if you didn't realise before, that this sort of activity has very real victims."

The judge added: "It feeds and encourages this sort of trade in appalling misery for the children involved.

"The impact on them, here and abroad, cannot be overstated, and though your activity is very remote from that, nonetheless, as I say, it plays a part in the continuation of this particular trade."

He said sentencing guidelines indicated a starting point of 12 months in jail, but told Wadeson: "I'm not going to send you to prison today".

Judge Menary said the reason for that wasn't because the offences weren't serious, but because he had to follow a guideline on the imposition of community and custodial sentences.

He told Wadeson this meant he had to consider whether there were "reasons to believe that you would be punished sufficiently and assisted in terms of preventing further risk to the public by some other means of dealing with you".

The judge said: "I could send you immediately to prison today. I have no doubt that is the sort of sentence many members of the public would demand.

"But that could not be for a significant period and inevitably you would be released back into the community, with no or little support.

"So I hope enlightened members of the public will understand why I am taking the course I am."

The judge said Wadeson had "already suffered a significant amount" by losing his career in nursing.

He said: "You have gained employment within a family business, but that loss is by itself a very significant punishment for you.

"I am impressed by the commitment shown by your husband in supporting you and I bear in mind all that's said in the reference he has written."

Giving Wadeson one third credit for his guilty pleas, Judge Menary handed him eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

He must complete a 60-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, including a Horizon sex offenders treatment programme, and pay £500 court costs.

Wadeson must also comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.

Description

A teenage girl fought off a man who tried to rape her before he later claimed she 'came onto him'.

Gary Mulligan took advantage of and sexually assaulted his vulnerable victim when she was drunk.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he came as close to raping her as possible, without actually doing so.

But the cowardly predator later suggested it was him who had resisted the advances of the child.

Mulligan, 51, of Riddell Way, Juniper Grove, St Helens, targeted the girl one night in 2005.

She confided in her best friend at the time but didn't feel able to make a complaint to the police until November 2018.

Peter Killen, prosecuting, said Mulligan denied any wrongdoing when interviewed by officers and said the girl came onto him, but he resisted.

The dad and businessman maintained this claim during a five-day trial, when his traumatised victim had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence.

Mulligan was unanimously found guilty by a jury of attempted rape, causing a child to look at an image of sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones today told Mulligan: "You took advantage of her drinking. You didn't ply her with alcohol, but she was drunk and you took advantage when she had dozed off."

He said the girl had been watching a horror film with Mulligan, but after she fell asleep he put on a pornographic film, and when she woke she was "astonished".

The judge said: "You made a series of sexual advances towards her. She was protesting and distressed."

The court heard Mulligan tried to rape the "vulnerable" girl, then sexually assaulted her, before the "scared" child fled.

Judge Trevor-Jones said in a victim personal statement the now adult woman outlined how she had "a lack of self-worth" and has ongoing therapy because of the "enduring impact" of the abuse.

He said the attempted rape caused "severe psychological harm" and occurred during a sustained attack.

Judge Trevor-Jones said: "It was an attempt, but the complete offence was only prevented by her resistance."

David Polglase, defending, highlighted his client's previous good character and said he hadn't offended before or since this incident.

He said Mulligan had a logistics firm involving the transport of medical supplies and had worked his way through the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Polglase said Mulligan was the sole carer for his 80-year-old mum and had spoken to his son about fulfilling this role in his absence.

He said Mulligan had never been to prison before and asked the judge to take into account serving a jail sentence during the pandemic.

The judge accepted Mulligan was of previous good character and that this incident could be seen as something of an "aberration".

He said he took this into account in his favour, along with the impact of serving a prison sentence in the current climate.

Judge Trevor-Jones jailed Mulligan for 11 and a half years and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Mulligan will have to spend two thirds of the sentence - seven years and eight months - behind bars, before he is released on licence.

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A depraved dad who got a schoolgirl pregnant was slammed by a judge who told him: "You were the adult. You were supposed to know better."

Simon Holt repeatedly took advantage of his victim, sometimes while both were drunk.

The 39-year-old was today locked up after he admitted having sexual activity with a child.

Holt remained silent in the dock as Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, outlined the case against him.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that several of the offences took place after both had drank alcohol while, on one occasion, he pinned his victim down, told her he was "horny" and committed a sexual act upon her even after she had told him she was "tired".

Holt's crimes came to light after the victim's mum discovered her daughter was pregnant and called police.

A DNA test later established the child was Holt's.

The warehouse worker offered no comment when questioned about his actions, but later admitted five counts of sexual activity with a child.

Ms Kenny summarised the ordeal suffered by his victim, who felt "isolated and alone" in the aftermath of his offending.

Jeremy Hawthorn, defending, told the court the dad-of-one had a "positive" relationship with his own son and had pleaded guilty to the allegations he faced.

He added, however: "Nothing I seek to say here is going to be an attempt to deflect responsibility in this case. Mr Holt realises he was the person responsible for this and does not seek to shift blame.

Judge Gary Woodhall blasted Holt as he made him the subject of a restraining order and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

He told him: "You were the adult. You were supposed to know better."

Holt, of North Road in St Helens, was sentenced to six years and nine months in jail. He will also have to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A paedophile told a mum he wanted to rape her two daughters aged eight and 12.

Dad-of-three Colin Waring shared a child rape video during sickening online chats with a woman called "Jennie".

The 30-year-old even sent her a picture of his penis with "Ped Dad" - short for paedophile dad - written on it.

But the whole time the pervert was talking to an undercover police officer and her daughters weren't real.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Waring spoke to the officer, who posed as Jennie on chat service Kik Messenger, between April 30 and May 5 last year.

He said he wanted Jennie to let him rape her eldest child "Emily", who was supposedly 12, and her youngest daughter "Rachael", who was said to be eight.

Waring, of Thornleigh Avenue, Eastham, sent her the two indecent images on May 4, 2020.

One was a "graphic" Category A video - the most serious category involving child rape - showing a girl who was just four-years-old.

The other was a Category B photo of a girl aged around four or five being sexually abused.

When arrested and confronted with the evidence, Waring pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing indecent images of children.

However, he denied two counts of intentionally encouraging the commission of an offence, namely the rape of a child under 13.

Waring stood trial and told a jury he knew it was an undercover officer and what he said in the conversation was "fictional".

Frances Willmott, prosecuting during the trial, said this was false and he had in fact intended to carry out the two rapes.

The jury convicted him by a majority of 11-1 this morning, following a five-day trial and more than four and a half hours of deliberation.

Waring breathed heavily in the dock and appeared to be hyperventilating when the guilty verdicts were returned.

Ember-Jade Wong, prosecuting today, said aggravating features of the case included the vulnerability of the children in the indecent images.

She said there were also "attempts to conceal evidence in this case, the defendant having deleted items from his mobile phone".

Desmond Lennon, defending, said the length of any prison sentence would inevitably be increased because there were two children involved in the discussions with the undercover officer.

However, he said there was "no real victim in the sense of the word", as the two daughters didn't actually exist.

Mr Lennon said: "Having been a person as the court knows of hitherto good character prior to the onset of these proceedings, and having no experience of the criminal justice system in any way, shape or form, he now finds himself in a position of real jeopardy.

"The impact upon him will inevitably be of the greatest significance."

The defence barrister said Waring would lose his job and his relationship with his partner was "floundering".

He said: "As the court knows, there are three children. There are aspects of this case no doubt that have caused interest in respect of the welfare of those children.

"He will struggle to see them in the future and his future is bleak, to say the least."

Judge Murray said Waring did believe Jennie was the mum of two young girls.

He said: "You asked her whether her children were sexually active.

"You said you wanted to commit the offence of rape of a child under the age of 13 with those children.

"You sent photos of your penis with the word "Ped dad" written on your penis by you, written by you to represent "paedophile dad"."

The judge told Waring he had directed jurors not to convict him of the two offences unless they were sure "it was your intention to commit the offences of rape of a child under 13".

He added: "The jury were clearly sure that was your intention."

Judge Murray said if Waring had actually raped the two girls, he would have jailed him for 11 years.

The judge said he had to reduce this to reflect the fact there was not actually any child involved.

He said Waring was "an offender of particular concern" and jailed him for seven years, with an extended one year on licence.

This type of sentence means he must serve at least half of the term in prison - three and a half years - before he can apply to the Parole Board for his release.

He will only be released before the end of the seven years if he is no longer considered to be a risk and will then serve an additional year on licence.

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

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A KFC worker groped a colleague's breasts then claimed she was racist when she reported his sexual assault.

Joseph Puravady followed the woman to a staff room, where he knew she would be alone, in a "predatory" attack.

The married dad later had his own adult daughter send a text apologising to the victim and asking for her forgiveness.

But the 59-year-old, of Clearwater Close, Kensington, then denied any wrongdoing and accused the woman of racism.

Even after being found guilty of sexual assault by a jury, he moaned she was a "bully" who held a "grudge" against him.

Judge Anil Murray today said: "The complainant went upstairs to the staff room and you followed her within a minute.

"You told the jury that was a coincidence and you didn't see her leaving her work station.

"I'm sure it was not a coincidence and that you deliberately followed her upstairs, to where you knew she would be alone.

"Your work station was very near to hers and you must have seen her leaving to go upstairs.

"Once upstairs, you approached her from behind, rubbed her breasts over her clothing and tried to kiss her neck.

"The incident ended because she ran away in distress.

"You later had a message sent saying you were really sorry about what happened and hoped for forgiveness."

The woman outlined in a victim statement at Liverpool Crown Court how the attack impacted on her physical and mental health.

She struggled emotionally, had difficulty sleeping, lost trust in others, suffered from anxiety and went to see her GP for help.

Puravady was assisted by an interpreter in the dock and supported by his wife and daughter sitting in the public gallery.

Brendan Carville, defending, urged the judge to suspend any prison sentence given to Puravady, who was sacked by KFC.

He said: "I wasn't trial counsel but I know a lot about the case. I know there were certain elements that were unattractive from the defendant's point of view - a suggestion the defendant's daughter sent an apologetic text message..."

Judge Murray interjected: "And the defendant in his evidence said this was a false allegation, that was in part racist."

Mr Carville said: "As I say, that's not an attractive part of the case."

The lawyer said Puravady was in "poor health" and on a waiting list for heart surgery.

He said prior to this attack he was a man of "good character" and a "family man".

Mr Carville said: "Following his conviction he was photographed outside court by the local press, of course there's the shame and embarrassment that goes with that, not just to himself but to his immediate family and distant family..."

He said the author of a pre-sentence report believed Puravady could be helped in the community.

Mr Carville said his client was unable to do unpaid work because of his heart condition.

He said: "He's been unemployed - he was released from his employment by KFC and he hasn't worked since. His wife works as a nurse, she is the family breadwinner."

He added that while it was an "unpleasant" and "nasty" attack, it was short lived and it was hoped the victim would recover with time.

Paul Treble, prosecuting, asked for a restraining order on behalf of the victim, which Judge Murray made for four years.

Judge Murray said he saw Puravady, the victim and witnesses give evidence, meaning he was "in a much better position" to assess him, his mitigation and the harm and culpability involved.

The judge said he saw the "serious effect" of Puravady's attack on the victim when she gave evidence.

He said: "She was very distressed when asked to recall your behaviour towards her.

"At trial you suggested to the complainant and to the complainant's witness that they held a grudge against you for reasons connected to your race, and other reasons, and that the allegation had been fabricated. The jury found that not to be the case.

"I do not pass a longer sentence because you ran an unattractive defence, however, it's something that I must take into account when deciding whether you're someone who has a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

"You blamed your victim and accused her of racism. It's clear that you cannot accept responsibility for your actions."

"The view of the author is you chose instead to totally disregard court orders and to lead a life of lies and deceit."

The judge said there was "some planning" as Puravady followed his victim to where he knew she would be alone.

He added: "It took place at her place of work where she was entitled to be respected and well-treated by her co-workers."

Judge Murray said: "I've read the pre-sentence report, in which you describe the complainant as a bully.

"The author of the pre-sentence report found your version of events to be implausible, as did the jury.

"Your actions are described by the author of the pre-sentence report as predatory.

"You say you're remorseful, but deny that you are guilty so I cannot accept that you're remorseful."

The judge said Puravady had "some strong personal mitigation", but said: "Rehabilitation does not just mean no further offending.

"I find there is not a realistic prospect of rehabilitation in this case. You cannot bring yourself to accept responsibility and blame others."

Judge Murray jailed Puravady for eight months and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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A dad-of-two arranged to meet a 13-year-old girl at McDonald's so he could take her back to his house for sex.

Gareth Rogers wanted "Lily" to be his "friend with benefits" when his wife was at work and his children were in day care.

The married 41-year-old even told the child he wouldn't need to wear a condom because he'd undergone a vasectomy.

But the paedophile, of Easton Road, New Ferry, was actually talking to an undercover police officer the whole time.

And when he turned up at the McDonald's restaurant in Hunts Cross, the pervert was stopped in his car and arrested.

Liverpool Crown Court heard an officer created the decoy profile on messaging app Kik Messenger on November 15, 2019.

David Watson, prosecuting, said Lily received a message from GDR1980 on January 22, 2020, who said he was 39 and from Wirral.

Rogers said: "Looking to chat, flirt, maybe more, hoping to hear from you soon, Gareth."

They exchanged messages as Rogers went on to say he wanted to swap nude photos, he worked from home for a software company and Lily should delete their chats.

Mr Watson said Rogers asked Lily "if she did anything to herself" - "suggestive the prosecution say of sexual behaviour" - and the officer noted he had already been a member of Kik Messenger for 441 days.

On January 23, Lily reiterated she was 13, but Rogers requested a photo of her, which was declined, then sent a headshot of himself.

Mr Watson told the court: "He said he was looking for someone to help him out of the rut his wife had created."

On January 27, Rogers told Lily because of their ages he had to be "careful" and on January 30 said she had been a "tease".

On February 18 he told her he was "looking for a friend with benefits", before asking what type of sex she was prepared to have, specifying three different types.

The prosecutor said: "He suggested meeting Lily, who told him she was off school. He specified the dates that were best for him as his wife was in work and his children were in day care."

On February 19, Rogers made an arrangement to meet her two days later at McDonald's, between 9.30am and 10am.

Mr Watson said: "The defendant said it if was going to be her first time they could do as little or as much as she wished.

"The defendant told Lily he had a vasectomy and therefore a condom would not be required."

Rogers also reassured Lily he would be "gentle" and requested nude photos, which he said would help prepare her to get over the "hurdle".

On February 20 he asked whether she was a police officer or connected to police, but he went ahead with the meet.

He was arrested in Hunts Cross the following morning, when his phone was seized before he was interviewed.

Mr Watson said: "He claimed he was going to meet Lily to tell her that nothing would happen between them.

"In fact, say the prosecution, the last message he sent suggested she order some food so they could eat it in his car on the way back to his house."

Rogers then confessed he thought Lily was 13, said he was "stupid" and he "didn't know why he hadn't stopped sooner".

Rogers admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted taking, possessing and distributing one Category C indecent image of a child.

Cheryl Mottram, defending, said her client, who has no previous convictions, was "genuinely remorseful".

She said: "He can offer no real explanation as to why he engaged in the chat that he did during the period of time that he did and he finds it difficult in his own mind to reconcile his behaviour during this period of time with the man he's been up to that point."

Ms Mottram said "fortunately" the girl wasn't real, but his actions had "far reaching consequences, not just for himself".

She said Rogers' wife had suffered "taunts" from people in the community who were aware of what he was in court for.

The lawyer said his partner had been left to struggle on her own with two young children and found it "very emotionally draining" as a single mum, but Rogers "has only himself to blame".

Ms Mottram said her client was no longer working, but as the main "breadwinner", was now borrowing money from his dad to cover their mortgage and bills.

She said Rogers hoped to "put this behind him", "address deficits in his thinking" by undertaking courses in prison and when released from jail, be reunited with his family and his wife, who "remains supportive of him".

Judge Anil Murray said Rogers believed he was talking with a 13-year-old girl when he arranged to meet and told Lily he was "throbbing for her".

He said: "I understand the devastation this must have on your family, but as Ms Mottram says, I'm afraid that is your fault.

"You've left your wife struggling with the children."

However, the judge said he had read a letter from Rogers' wife "to say she has forgiven you" and "otherwise you're a wonderful father".

Jailing him for two years and four months, Judge Murray said Rogers must sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

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A grandad confronted by paedophile hunters on Facebook Live said only death would cure his sexual interest in children.

Alan Cherry, 64, formerly of Akenside Court, Bootle, keeps getting caught trying to talk to underage girls on the internet.

The former window cleaner has twice been convicted of sexual offences and last year was jailed for eight months.

But after yet more sick online chats this summer, he was confronted outside his new home at Holley Court, Rainhill.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Cherry confessed to sending filthy messages to two 'girls' he thought were aged 12 and 13.

He said: "I have a problem, there is no cure for me. The only way I can be cured is if I'm not alive."

Cherry was first caught having sex chats with an undercover police officer, who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, in 2017.

When his home was raided, a stash of indecent images - including children as young as three - was discovered.

He was handed a three-year community order, so he could attend a sex offenders treatment programme, in 2018.

However, in October 2019 he was back online, using Kik Messenger to send photos of his penis to a decoy profile of a girl aged 14, created by paedophile hunters.

Cherry was jailed for eight months and hit with a new five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in March 2020.

In July this year, a member of the group "Shatter the Silence" created a fake profile of a girl called Isla on the dating app Tagged.

Jamie Baxter, prosecuting, said the profile said Isla was 25, but when Cherry contacted her on July 27, she said she was actually 13.

Cherry, who said he was 64, asked if she had seen boys' "willies" or her dad's penis and what size her breasts were.

Mr Baxter said Cherry also asked whether she did "naughty stuff" with boys and would like to see their "willies", and when she said "no", told her she should.

Cherry also asked her to show him her "private bits" on camera and to see her breasts, before saying he would perform a sex act.

Another member of Shatter the Silence created a second decoy profile, Darcy, who Cherry started talking to on August 1.

She said she was 12 but he asked her about "willies", whether she knew where they went and whether she had seen her mum naked.

Shatter the Silence contacted another paedophile hunters group, Fleetwood Enforcers, who went to see Cherry on August 12.

After streaming his confession on Facebook Live they called the police, who arrested and interviewed Cherry.

Mr Baxter said: "He said he tried to stop but couldn't help himself."

The court heard Cherry's sex offender manager also visited him, when he admitted talking to someone who told him they were 13.

Cherry pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and one count of attempting to breach a SHPO.

Jonathan Keane, defending, said his client had been "open and very honest" with the Probation Service in a pre-sentence report.

He said: "He's a lonely, isolated man and the report does note he hasn't had a partner for over 20 years."

Mr Keane said rather than seeking help for his problems, Cherry had engaged in this behaviour, but he had since told him he was "sorry" and "how disgusted he is by his actions".

Recorder Heather Williams, QC, said she was not going to read out the messages Cherry sent to two people he thought were girls aged 12 and 13.

However, the judge said they were "overtly sexual messages that were wholly inappropriate" and if they had been received by a girl of that age, "it could have been extremely damaging for her".

Recorder Williams told Cherry that when he was confronted by the paedophile hunters "you were frank about your interests in young girls, but regrettably appeared to see no reason to change your behaviour".

She said: "In your police interview again you were at least frank about what you had done, but you said that you couldn't stop if you tried."

The judge quoted the author of the pre-sentence report, who said: "Though he is fully aware of the devastating effect on children who are subject to sexual abuse, he continues to commit offences in order to satisfy his own sexual pleasure."

Recorder Williams jailed Cherry for three years and two months.

She said he would now have to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.

The judge said: "It is because you have essentially said you will continue to behave in this way unless there is some impediment put in your path to stop it."

Description

A paedophile caught with child rape videos and extreme porn involving a dead dog also shared twisted files online.

Jamie Martin collected 129 indecent images of young sex abuse victims, which he amassed over a six-year period.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 34-year-old lost his job as a result of the ECHO reporting his sickening convictions.

Martin had pleaded guilty to three counts of downloading and one count of possessing indecent images of children.

He also admitted one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornography.

According to the latter charge, the extreme porn portrayed a person "performing an act of intercourse with a dead animal, namely a dog", which was "grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character".

Martin, of Eastbank Street, Southport, wasn't charged with distributing indecent images of children.

But at a previous hearing, the court was told Martin was "active" in a "network" of sex offenders and "candidly admits to having shared images".

At his sentencing hearing last week, prosecutors said Martin readily admitted he was a paedophile and that he had exchanged files online.

Nardeen Nemat, prosecuting, said the indecent images of children included 22 Category A images - the most serious category, involving child rape - of which nine were videos.

She said there were 13 Category B images, of which four were videos, and 90 Category C files, of which nine were videos.

Ms Nemat said aggravating features of his case included that the Category A collection included videos and the long period of time over which they were possessed, with Martin having downloaded the files between January 14, 2014 and May 12, 2020.

Martin's case was twice adjourned because he was unrepresented, to give him the opportunity to obtain legal representation, after he told the court he couldn't "afford" a solicitor or barrister.

When he appeared in the dock for sentencing he was represented by Stella Hayden, who highlighted his lack of previous convictions and the prospect of him being rehabilitated in the community.

Judge Brian Cummings, QC, said because of the "extensive" aggravating features in the case, sentencing guidelines indicated a starting point of two and a half years in prison.

Giving him full one third credit for his early guilty pleas, he then reduced the sentence to 20 months in prison.

Judge Cummings said he had considered whether Martin's sentence could be suspended, following guidelines on whether offenders can be spared jail.

However, he concluded that despite the prospect of rehabilitation, because of the risk Martin posed to the public, only an immediate prison sentence was appropriate.

The judge ordered Martin to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely.