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A man given a lengthy prison sentence today (Tuesday July 25) after being convicted of sexual assaults and voyeurism offences against a child remains in denial.

Alan Lee Pearson was arrested after a third-party contacted Cleveland Police with concerns for a teenage victim, in April 2021.

The victim disclosed that Pearson had carried out physical and sexual assaults over a number of years.

Specialist support was offered to the complainant while inquiries were undertaken.

Extensive allegations were made against Pearson, following recovery and examination of various electronic devices, revealing indecent images and videos.

It resulted in 12 charges being brought against Pearson in March last year and he subsequently denied all of them at initial court appearances.

Despite his continued denials, even trying to shift the blame for some of the offences onto his accuser, he was found guilty of all charges, two of rape of a child under 13, seven counts of sexual assault, six in the most serious bracket, plus three of voyeurism, after a trial at Teesside Crown Court, concluding on May 2.

The 42-year-old defendant, of no fixed abode, appeared back before the court at his sentencing hearing, via video link from HMP Durham, where he has been on remand,

Asked by trial judge, Recorder Andrew Smith, if his “position” remains the same regarding his denials, Paul Abrahams, for Pearson, said: “No, he maintains his position as to what he said in evidence.”

Recorder Pearson told Pearson he would sentence him as an offender, “of particular concern.,” meaning he will have to serve at least two-thirds of the sentence before he can be considered eligible for releasee.

Referring to a background report prepared for the sentencing hearing, Recorder Smith said: “The Probation Service takes the view you pose a high risk of causing serious harm to children.

“Inevitable the only sentence that can be passed today is a lengthy sentence of imprisonment”, for what he described as, “behaving in this disgraceful way to a young child.”

Recorder Smith imposed a 16-year custodial element, to be followed by an extended 12-month period of licence supervision.

He told Pearson that unless his current attitude to his offending changes he may have to serve longer than the two-thirds custodial element of the sentence behind bars.

Agreed restrictions under the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order will be confirmed in coming days, but Pearson must also now register as a sex offender, for life.

Speaking after the hearing, the officer who oversaw the case, Detective Sergeant Gemma Leeming, of Cleveland Police’s  CAVA (Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adult) department, said: “This was a horrific case of long-term systematic sexual and physical abuse until the victim bravely told someone what happened.

“As soon as police received the report about his offences, we took all possible steps to preserve evidence and build a strong case against Pearson who consistently denied any wrongdoing. 

“The victim was courageous and determined throughout, and the investigation team shared a determination to bring Pearson to justice.

“I welcome the sentence passed today and hope that the victim and family can now move on with their lives.

“I wish the victim well for the future.”

Safeguarding CAVA Chief Inspector Matt Murphy-King said: “I hope this sentence brings comfort to the victim and their family.

"It should reassure anyone with concerns for the safety of a child or young person that they can report to Cleveland Police in complete confidence. 

“My specially trained officers will investigate all allegations thoroughly and sensitively and support is always available to victims and their family during the investigation and court process.”

He added: “You can report concerns to Cleveland Police at any time via the 101 number, or online via our website.”

Record details

A crack cocaine addict is beginning a 20-year jail sentence for the double rape of a woman which only came to light after a police officer noticed bruising on her forehead.

Lee Murphy, 49, was found guilty of attacking his victim and raping her by a jury after a trial at Teesside Crown Court. He was arrested after an officer was speaking to the victim, who can't be identified for legal reasons, about an unrelated incident.

On Monday, prosecutor Robert Mochrie said that "the officer noticed bruising to the woman's forehead and asked her questions." The victim told police that she had been attacked and forced her to have sex twice. She had been too scared to report what had happened to the police.

Mr Mochrie said that when officers went to arrest Murphy, he initially tried to jump out of a window before hiding in a storage cupboard. Murphy has 39 previous convictions for 85 offences, which include violent offending but he has never committed a sex offence before. The court heard that he has a crack cocaine addiction.

Sentencing Murphy, Judge Jonathan Carroll told him: "You are a man who has an entrenched dysfunctional attitude towards women. This sexual violence was as much driven by your need to have power and control over your victim, as the need to have sexual power."

The judge handed Murphy, from Middlesbrough, a 20-year extended prison term. The sentence is made up of 16-years in prison and an extended licence period of four-years, which Murphy will serve out in the community.

He was made subject to sex offender notification requirements for the rest of his life and and an indefinite restraining order prohibiting him from contacting his victim, ever again.

After the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Simone Bennett, of the Domestic Abuse Unit, said: “No one should have to succumb to such violent and despicable crimes that Murphy committed against his victim. His actions towards the victim in this case were nothing less than inhumane and cruel, which I have no doubt will have a lasting impact on the victim’s life.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the victim in this case for her bravery. She has not only took that unimaginable critical step to come forward to report these incidents to police, she has also lived through this distressing time all over again throughout the trial. Without the victim demonstrating such courage Murphy would not have been convicted of these heinous crimes.”

“I would also like to thank the team for their hard work and tenacity and the jury in this case, which has resulted in Murphy receiving a lengthy sentence in prison where he belongs.”

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A 'friendless' paedophile, who was originally caught by the mother of a young girl he was sexting online, has appeared back in court after failing to comply with strict rules about his internet usage.

Raymond Attwood, 40, was jailed a decade ago after the mother pretended to be her daughter online, uncovered Attwood's identity and reported him to the police. He served a two-year-sentence for sending the 12-year-old explicit sexual messages detailing what he wanted to do.

Previously, the court heard how Attwood lived an isolate life and had "no actual friends and no actual social life".

On Friday, his new barrister Victoria Lamballe, told Teesside Crown Court that every time Attwood tried to make friends, "he's bullied and ridiculed and this causes him to retreat further into himself. The only contact he has is with his elderly mother."

When police made a surprise visit to Attwood's Middlesbrough home on May 25, and told him they were going to check that he had not been using any internet-enabled devices that he hadn't declared to them - Attwood immediately handed them a mobile phone stuffed down the side of his settee.

Under the terms of his sexual harm prevention order - imposed in 2013 - Attwood must keep to strict rules about his online use, which is monitored by police. He must also declare any new devices and bank cards he has.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, told the court that he hadn't declared the mobile phone and checks made on it showed that he had been using it for a year. "He had downloaded Snapchat, which automatically deletes messages, so this is a further breach" Mr Soppitt said, "and his username "Ray38" had nine female names in his contacts."

Attwood, previously of Saltburn but now of Wicklow Street in central Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to the two breaches of his sexual harm prevention order and failing to comply with sex offender notification requirements. He has broken his court order twice before - in 2013 and 2022.

Judge Paul Watson KC said that a report on Attwood from the probation service, "suggests he still presents a risk to young girls." Attwood was jailed for 16-months. He will be eligible for release after he has served half of his sentence.

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A violent rapist who forced his way into a woman's home when she opened the door has been handed a 25-year prison term.

Brute James Walton, 32, dragged his victim into her living room, before attacking her and strangling her.

In an ordeal lasting 14-hours, he raped her three times and later tried to intimidate her into stopping the police case against him. Walton had only been out of prison for a matter of months when he attacked his third female victim.

Teesside Crown Court heard the woman, who broke down in tears as she read out her victim statement on Monday, thought she was going to die in the attack.

After standing trial, Walton was convicted of:

• three rapes,
• assault occasioning actual bodily harm,
• false imprisonment,
• harassment
• witness intimidation.

'Choke hold'

The court heard that after getting into the woman's home, he put her in a "choke hold" which left her limp.

After dragging her into her living room, he slapped her across her face so hard that she "could only see black," as she fell to the floor and blood poured from her busted lip.

The woman thought Walton would kill her before he raped her three times, the court heard. Jurors also heard how he wouldn't let the woman leave her home for over 12 hours during the ordeal.

Giving evidence at the trial, the victim recalled: "I saw black and stars. There was blood all over my floor when I opened my eyes again. I had a pain in my skull like someone was rattling my brain around in my head."

But Walton made her clean up the blood and force-fed her pasta, when he was eating and she didn't want anything. He later tried to pressure her into dropping the case against him.

During the trial, he claimed the woman had wanted to have sex with him, and that she "begged him to stay".

The court heard that Walton has previously been violent towards two other women; and that he was released from a five-and-a-half year sentence last year. He then went onto attack his latest victim.

Walton, who appeared in court on video link from prison, shook his head as the judge told him: "You have a history of violence and dominating behaviour towards women. You put your hands around her neck. You slapped her around her face. You made her clean up the blood saying: 'That's it, I'm going to jail. I might as well just slit your face up.'

"She wasn't allowed to leave her house. You raped her three times.

"It's necessary to protect women from serious harm by you. I have concluded that you are a dangerous man, and I shall impose an extended sentence."

The judge handed Walton, of Ashling Way in Middlesbrough, a 19-year prison term, with an extended licence period of six-years. He is eligible for release after serving two-thirds of his jail term, but can be called back to prison to serve the full 25-years, if he breaches the terms of his licence after he is released.

He will be subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.

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A pervert targeted an underage girl for his own "sexual gratification" before plying her with cannabis to facilitate sex abuse, a judge has said.

"Despicable" Sami Brek, who was over 10 years older than his victim, tried to claim in court that the underage teenager was "throwing herself" at him. The 33-year-old is now starting a five year prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a girl age 13 to 15.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the sex act was the "culmination of a pattern of grooming behaviour", with Recorder Dafydd Enoch KC telling Brek he had "no doubt" the pervert targeted the girl for his "own sexual gratification".

He said: "The suggestion that she was in some way throwing herself at you - as said in the pre-sentence report - I'm afraid I'm wholly unimpressed by it.

"Children can behave in an inappropriate way sometimes but more reason for you to treat them as what they are, which is a child. You knew that you were developing a sexual attraction for her."

David Ward, mitigating, says Brek, of Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, has now admitted his guilt. "He did maintain his innocence initially, he has now accepted his offending," he said.

His victim, however, still had to give evidence and go through the ordeal of a trial as his admission comes only after he was found guilty.

Mr Ward says Brek presents as a "pleasant and polite" man but is immature and had a very poor upbringing. Brek appeared at court via video link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for the two sex offences as well as supplying a controlled drug, cannabis.

Recorder Enoch KC added: "However she was behaving towards you whether she was apparently consenting or not what you should have had upmost in your mind at all times was that she was a child.

"This is not a case of fumbling teenagers, you were an adult."

"You facilitated your sexual abuse of her by plying her with cannabis that made her less able to resist you when you decided to make your advances towards her."

Brek was jailed for five years and a sexual harm prevention order was made for a period of 10 years. He will be placed on the sex offender's register indefinitely.

Cleveland Police Detective Constable Pulman said: “Sami Brek preyed on a teenage girl and groomed her, supplied her with drugs and engaged in sexual activity with her. He went on to deny the offences, which then put the victim through the ordeal of a full trial. The jury convicted him of all offences.

“I’d like to thank the victim in this case for her courage in reporting these crimes and being determined in continuing through the judicial process, resulting in today’s outcome.

“Thankfully, Brek can now no longer harm any other children and he will now spend a lengthy period behind bars for the horrendous offences he committed.”

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A sex offender has denied breaching a court order over allegations he struck up a friendship with a woman.

Paul Richards is currently subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) which dates back to 2012. Now it's alleged he breached the order by entering into a friendship with a woman - something he is prohibited from doing.

The 57-year-old has denied the offence during a short hearing at Teesside Magistrates' Court. He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and to enter a plea of not guilty.

Richards, of Lovaine Street, Middlesbrough, was represented by Brett Wildridge during the appearance on Friday, April 14.

He was given conditional bail and will next appear at Teesside Crown Court on May 12.

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A 60-year-old man carried a BB gun and handcuffs with him when he went to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old schoolgirl - but insisted to cops he "only wanted a cuddle". 

The disgusting pervert told her their relationship was a secret, called himself her "daddy", and said he wanted to take a bath with her and wash her, Teesside Crown Court heard. 

He tried to argue that he carried the gun due to a vermin problem in his home, while the handcuffs were in case "there was trouble when he was out".

Groenewood, of Portman Street in central Middlesbrough, had no idea that the person he was talking to - who was called "Scarlett" on the website, was actually a decoy, set up by a pedophile-hunting group. 

He was then intercepted by police when he went to meet her at Middlesbrough train station, on January 13, 2022.

During police questioning, when he was asked if he was sexually attracted to children, Groenewood replied: "A little bit."

The court also heard he had messaged the same online vigilante group in another conversation, in which he thought he was talking to "Holly", whose age on her profile was 13.

He suggested they have sex, and asked the supposed 13-year-old what "they were going to do together under the covers".

Groenewood pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting sexual communication with a child and to attempting to meet a child following grooming. 

He has been jailed for 30 months, made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years, and must comply with sex offender police notifications for the same period of time.

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A perverted medical science graduate who raped a very young boy when he was a teenager himself is starting a 12-year prison sentence.

Daniyal Hussain, now aged 22, denied what he had done and tried to claim the allegations were made up.

But a Teesside Crown Court jury found him unanimously guilty of five counts of the rape of a child and three counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, in November, of last year. On Thursday the pervert appeared at the same court for sentencing - where he was placed on the Sex Offender's Register for Life.

The hearing was told that Hussain gave the little boy an iPad to watch as he attacked him, promised him a mobile phone, and told him the abuse was "our little secret". He also slapped his victim across the face a number of times.

During the trial, prosecutor Aisha Wadoodi confronted Hussain about the notes he had made on his mobile phone - which the Crown said admitted his guilt. He had sent texts to his mother claiming he had "demons" and that he would get help.

"I'm so sorry. I've failed everyone", one message read. Another note on his phone, read: "There is nothing that I can say ever that will make everything better. Not in a million years. I have failed my family."

Victim's 'family ruined'

On Thursday, Teesside Crown Court heard that Hussain had just graduated with a medical science degree and that he is an "intelligent young man who comes from a decent hardworking family". But the court was told that the little boy has been left deeply affected by the abuse.

A packed public gallery sat in silence as a statement by the youngster's mother was read out: "My son has suffered a horrible and devastating ordeal. I feel that the bond between us has been damaged. My son does not like to be touched and I cannot kiss him on the cheek.

"He frequently breaks down in tears. My family has been ruined. My son's childhood has been stolen."

The mother went onto say that her son has a number of "triggers" that remind him of the abuse including smells.

'Peculiar character'

Timothy Jacobs, defending Hussain, said his client is a "peculiar character with features of naivety and also features of maturity. He still has a degree of growing up to do.

He said: "He attended college and managed to graduate with a medical science degree whilst the investigation and court proceedings were hanging over him. He is a young man who can do well and has potential in the future."

Mr Jacobs said that Hussain acted as an interpreter for his grandfather at hospital appointments, and that it is likely that he will not see his grandfather again, given the man's ill health.

Hussain turned away from the public gallery as he stood to hear his sentence from Judge Anthony Hawks. The judge told him: "Tragically, you are an intelligent young man who comes from a decent, hard-working family. The offences were accompanied by violence; threats not to disclose and grooming.

"When you were confronted, you admitted what you had done. At your trial, you denied everything. The whole trial must have been very distressing for the boy, his mother and his family.

"Not surprisingly, the boy has been severely affected. He recoils from physical contact. He is emotionally detached from his mother.

"He exhibits mental health issues including angry outbursts. What the long term effect will be, nobody knows."

Hussain, of Thackeray Grove in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, was handed a 12-year prison term. He will serve 11-years in custody and the final year out in the community, on licence.

He will be eligible to apply for parole after he has served eight years. An indefinite restraining order was made, prohibiting Hussain from contacting his victim or the youngster's parents.

'Brazen performance'

After the sentencing, Cleveland Police said that specialist officers from their Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adult Unit (CAVA) had supported the child and his family throughout the investigation and the court process.

Detective Constable Rebecca Lisle said: “This was a very distressing case with a child victim and their family who, in giving their evidence, had to relive the trauma they had already endured. I hope this result will go some way to help them as they try to come to terms with what they have gone through.”

Chief Inspector Deb Fenny added: “Despite knowing full well what he had done, Hussain persisted in lying and twisting evidence to make it seem as if he was innocent.

“I am pleased that the jury saw through his brazen performance in court, and I hope that today’s sentence will go some way to helping the victim and his family come to terms with their ordeal.

“Finally I would urge anyone who has experienced such abuse - or who wants to report on behalf of somebody else - to get in touch with Cleveland Police. We will listen to you, we will believe you and we will support you while working with our partner agencies to bring perpetrators to justice.”

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A 25-year-old paedophile serving a three-year prison term for inciting a girl to send him naked photos, has been handed a second jail sentence for abuse of a boy.

Declan Bailey, faced a judge once again, after it emerged he had seriously sexually abused a primary school aged boy, before he targeted the 13-year-old girl.

Bailey subjected the little boy to a string of sexual assaults.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the former Teesside University student abused his victim, now an adult, over 10 years ago. The victim didn't report what happened to the police until he read about Bailey being jailed for his sexual communications with a young girl, in 2021.

Bailey had targeted his 13-year-old victim on Snapchat, telling her he would rape her if she didn't send him explicit photos of herself. He was also found to have illegal images and videos showing children being sexually abused, on his phone.

Bailey was jailed for three-years for this in April 2021.

Police then began investigating him over the sexual abuse of the young boy. He initially denied everything but pleaded guilty in October, on the day his trial was due to start.

Bailey, of HMP Durham but previously of Park Road South in Middlesbrough, admitted three counts of the sexual assault of a boy under 13; and three counts of inciting the same boy to engage in sexual activity.

His barrister Nigel Soppitt said he was "on the autistic spectrum and he's not got a single friend in the world, as a young man."

Judge Jonathan Carroll told Bailey: "You had reached a stage in life where sexual curiosity had emerged in your mind. You turned these thoughts into physical actions.

"You did so against a young boy, who was in no way wanting, or capable of consenting, to your conduct.

"The risk you represent - the behaviour you demonstrated in your previous crimes and together with these offences - leads me to conclude that you pose a significant risk of causing significant harm. You are a dangerous offender."

Bailey was jailed for three-years-and-five-months. He was made subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order when he was sentenced for paedophile crimes in 2021.

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A paedophile caught viewing child sex abuse images was spared jail because of his own past as a victim.

Anthony Lowe, who has been prosecuted for possessing child sex abuse before, was handed a suspended sentence rather than being sent straight to prison.

The 51-year-old former prison warden had downloaded 85 category A images (penetration, bestiality or sadism), 19 category B and 46 category C images when he was busted on October 28 last year.

Judge Benjamin Nolan told him: ‘The most obvious way of dealing with you would be to send you immediately to prison.

‘However, I’ve read your psychiatric report which indicates that you have your demons as a result of being abused as a child.’

He came to this decision after Lowe’s defence lawyer also told Teesside Crown Court how her client had become ‘isolated and depressed’ during lockdown.

His partner was working in a care home and Lowe was left on his own for long periods of time.

‘This was a momentary relapse,’ the attorney said.

The court also heard how Lowe ‘has chronic PTSD after witnessing a work colleague die and an inmate committing suicide’.

His partner has now rearranged her working hours so she can be at home with him on the weekends.

Lowe, from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, was handed a 12-month prison term, suspended for two-years.

He was ordered to attend an accredited sex offender treatment programme and 60 rehabilitation days.

He will also sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

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A sex offender subjected a woman to a horrific ordeal and used "power, control and humiliation" during an “appalling” incident.

Stephen Miller had been regularly watching pornography before launching his degrading sexual attack on her and he ignored her pleas for him to stop, Grimsby Crown Court heard.

Miller, 43, admitted two offences of sexual assault, committed in the Grimsby area. The matters were originally due to be decided by a jury at a trial but he pleaded guilty on the second day of it.

A sex offender subjected a woman to a horrific ordeal and used "power, control and humiliation" during an “appalling” incident.

Stephen Miller had been regularly watching pornography before launching his degrading sexual attack on her and he ignored her pleas for him to stop, Grimsby Crown Court heard.

Miller, 43, admitted two offences of sexual assault, committed in the Grimsby area. The matters were originally due to be decided by a jury at a trial but he pleaded guilty on the second day of it.

A sex offender subjected a woman to a horrific ordeal and used "power, control and humiliation" during an “appalling” incident.

Stephen Miller had been regularly watching pornography before launching his degrading sexual attack on her and he ignored her pleas for him to stop, Grimsby Crown Court heard.

Miller, 43, admitted two offences of sexual assault, committed in the Grimsby area. The matters were originally due to be decided by a jury at a trial but he pleaded guilty on the second day of it.

"He needs to address his behaviour. There have been no further offences. He has reduced his alcohol intake. Alcohol was a factor in this offending." Miller had his own home improvement and maintenance business. He had a previous conviction for drink-driving.

Judge Michael Fanning told Miller: "This is not about sexual gratification. This is about power, control and humiliation and nothing else. It's more serious for that. She felt degraded, humiliated and embarrassed.

"You were telling her that she deserved it. Although she repeatedly told you to stop doing this, it went on. Power, control and humiliation, that's what you wanted to inflict on your victim.

"You realise that your behaviour was wrong. You have expressed disgust, behaving in the way you did. Your victim challenged you to stop and you carried on."

Miller, of Kel Dennis Close, Eston, Middlesbrough, was jailed for two years and five months. He was given an indefinite restraining order and must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

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A 'predatory' child rapist has been jailed for more than a decade after targeting a vulnerable young girl two decades ago.

Michael Scott, who has a number of convictions for sexual offences, was found guilty of raping the young girl following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The 45-year-old’s depraved attack left his young victim traumatised and she is still struggling to come to terms with the impact of his rape.

In a victim impact statement, she told the court how throughout her childhood and into adulthood she had suffered from anxiety and struggled with trusting people.

She said: “It is still affecting me now; I have anxiety and depression; I have relentless nightmares and it have affected the way that I parent.

“It has affected my relationships and day-today life.”

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she suffered a mental breakdown in the lead up to Scott’s trial and is still receiving therapy to deal with her trauma.

She added: “I would like Michael Scott to go to prison for as long as possible as it will help me move on knowing he is not out there somewhere. He will do this to someone else, he has done it before, he has done it to me and he will do it again.

“He doesn’t deserve to be free to sexually abuse any more children.”

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said the defendant was jailed for five years and eight months in 2018 for sexual offences and had also been jailed in April 2006 for six years for sexual assault.

Scott, of Dufton Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, was found guilty of a single count of rape, which occurred in the late 90s, despite refusing to take part in the trial.

Lee Fish, in mitigation, said his client continues to deny the offence, which predates all the offences that he has already been convicted for, and accepts that he does pose a risk of re-offending.

Judge Paul Watson KC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, branded Scott a ‘predatory sexual offender’ as he locked him up for 12 years and issued him with a one-year extended licence.

He said: “It’s plain from her victim impact statement the offence of rape you committed towards her has had a lasting and damaging effect on her.”

Scott was issued with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life, and an indefinite restraining order.

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A pervert was caught with a digital paedophile manual advising readers on how to abuse children of different ages; and how to avoid detection by their mothers.

Daryl Stokes, 41, was paid a visit at his Middlesbrough home by police after they'd received intelligence about his online use. When they told Stokes that they were going to carry out a thorough search, he admitted he had an undeclared mobile phone in his loft.

Stokes had been released from prison in August 2021 after being jailed for earlier offences of making indecent images of children. He was given a 17-month sentence in December 2020, and was released under supervision and under a sexual harm prevention order - meaning he had to declare all of his online devices to his offender manager and had restrictions on his internet use.

But on Friday August 27, 2021, police uncovered hours of graphic video footage showing young children being sexually abused on Stokes' online devices. Judge Anthony James Brown said they showed distressing clips of babies and children as young as six.

Prosecutor Christopher Baker told Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday that the online paedophile manual that was found contained a four-minute slide show with graphic content on how to abuse children of different age groups, and also contained details of how to avoid mothers detecting such horrific abuse.

Stokes was also caught with:

- 574 of the most serious category A images, which included 211 videos showing 42 hours of footage.

- 1,500 category B images, which included 51 videos showing seven hours of footage.

- 1,843 category C images, which included 62 videos showing nine hours of footage.

Stokes' phone also showed that he had opened accounts on Twitter and Discord under the name "Ben P"; he had a Google Cloud account and was using private browser software - all of which broke the terms of his sexual harm prevention order.

Stokes, of Springfield Road, Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough, who has one previous conviction for making indecent images of children, pleaded guilty to:

- three counts of making indecent images of children,

- six counts of the breach of a sexual harm prevention order,

- possession of the paedophile manual.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said his client "had been candid to this extent - that he has a sexual interest in children. He found himself trawling the internet and delving into dark corners of it where he ought not to go.

"It's clear that the defendant needs help - hopefully he will get that, all be it in a custodial setting."

Mr Mochrie said that Stokes' cited his failed marriage as an explanation for his behaviour.

Judge Anthony James Brown told Stokes: "The sexual harm prevention order was put in place when you committed similar offences in 2020. It is clear to me that you were fully aware of the terms of your sexual harm prevention order when you were released from prison.

"You have breached the order in an utterly calculated way. The category A images depicted children as young as six...with the most appalling degradation inflicted upon them and abuse that was physically painful to them.

"To cap it all - the digital paedophile manual. It's hard to fathom the level of depravity required to create such a publication. I regard you, I'm afraid, as a committed paedophile."

The judge jailed Stokes for five-years-and three-months and made him subject to notification requirements and an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

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