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A prison officer who demanded sexual favours from female inmates in return for privileges has been jailed for six years and nine months.

David Whitfield took advantage of 12 women over a five year period at HMP Low Newton, in Durham, BBC reports.

The jail is the North East's only all women prison.

Following a three-week trial at Teesside Crown Court, the 36-year-old, of Colman Avenue in South Shields, was found guilty of misconduct in a public office.

Whitfield was cleared of a charge of sexual assault on a prisoner.

Prosecutor Anne Richardson said Whitfield would enter one prisoner's cell while she was naked and brush up against her, the BBC reports.

The jury was also told the pair regularly engaged in sexual acts - although it did not progress to intercourse - and in return the prisoner would be given advanced warning of cell searches and confiscated items would be given back to her.

The trial heard Whitfield, who no longer works for the prison service, would also watch inmates through their cell hatch and indicate he wanted them to undress.

Many of the inmates were described as vulnerable having previously suffered abuse.

Recorder David Gordon sentenced him to six years and nine months in jail.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “The vast majority of our staff carry out their duties to the highest standard and we will not hesitate to punish any individual that breaks the rules.”

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A predatory taxi driver who sexually assaulted a passenger as she slept in the front seat of his car has been jailed.

Bozlul Hoque, 44, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars after he drove his 21-year-old victim to a secluded street and abused her in April 2019.

Newcastle Crown Court was told how the black cab driver had picked up the female student from outside a city centre bar in the early hours of the morning.

She got into the front seat and asked to be taken to her home address but she fell asleep during the journey.

The terrified victim awoke a short time later to find Hoque had parked in a secluded street and was sexually assaulting her.

She screamed at the driver who then transported her to her to a friend' address where the victim reported what had happened to police.

The married father-of-three was arrested but denied sexually assaulting the woman and claimed she had been intoxicated and unable to provide him with her address.

But forensic examination found his DNA on the victim and he was charged with sexual assault and later pleaded guilty at court.

On Tuesday Hoque, of Croydon Road, Newcastle, was jailed for eight years at Newcastle Crown Court.

Following the case, the investigating officer at Northumbria Police praised the bravery the victim had shown throughout the investigation and subsequent court proceedings.

Detective Constable Joe Birkett said: "This should have been a five minute journey but we were able to use CCTV and mobile phone data to prove the victim was in the car for 30 minutes.

"Hoque tried to claim this was because of her intoxication but forensic analysis showed he had physical contact with her and the mountain of evidence against him resulted in a guilty plea.

"He was a licenced taxi driver who had undergone vulnerability training and was in a position of trust. His sole duty should have been getting his customer home safely.

"Instead he abused that position of trust and I welcome the significant custodial sentence handed to this sexual predator by the judge.

"This result would not have been possible if it were not for the bravery of the victim in this case and I want to take this opportunity to thank her for having the courage to come forward.

"We hope this sentencing can bring her some comfort and shows other victims of sexual assault that we will do everything in our power to put predators behind bars."

In a victim impact statement read during the sentencing hearing, Hoque's victim said her abuser took advantage of her 'in the worst possible way'.

She said: "This assault on me occurred more than two years ago and yet I cannot shake the memory of this event from my mind.

"The nightmares are still happening, the night terrors still wake me up breathless and panicking, the anxiety of traveling in a taxi is still there.

"But for the last two years this man has denied what he did. He has lied continuously to the Police in his interviews and he has sought out every way to avoid being held responsible.

"I don't believe he has one ounce of remorse in his body. He is simply pleading guilty because the evidence against him is overwhelming and he has been backed into a comer.

"I can't help wondering how many other single drunk females have climbed into his taxi like me and suffered similar things. I doubt I was the first but I hope I will be the last."

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A SERIAL paedophile was caught in an online sting after a decoy tricked him by offering him two young girls for sex. Peter Warry, 46, of Chepstow Road, Newport, was the prey in an entrapment operation, prosecutor Matthew Roberts. Cardiff Crown Court heard the defendant thought he was grooming a 13-year-old girl but Sienna was a fictional character used to lure him in. Warry was also sharing vile child abuse images on social media via the Kik and WhatsApp platforms. He also had previous convictions for sexual crimes against children and was jailed at Derby Crown Court for 12 months in 2012 for distributing indecent images. Warrys latest offending occurred over the past 14 months. He pleaded guilty to the distribution and possession of indecent images of children. The defendant was found with 85 pictures at the most serious level of category A, 25 at category B and 19 at category C. Warry also admitted that he attempted to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempted to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity. He also pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements. Ieuan Bennett, representing Warry, said in mitigation: He knows he needs help. His barrister added how his client said he had ruined his own life. Judge Huw Rees told the defendant: A decoy was offering you, unbelievably, two young girls for sex. He added: Your previous convictions are a serious aggravating factor in this case. You have said that your life has been left in ruins but you have nobody to blame for that but yourself. Warry was jailed for four years and four months and ordered to register as a sex offender for life. He was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order until 2036.

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A MAN has been jailed for five years for raping a woman in a town centre alleyway.

Jurors at Reading Crown Court took just under six hours to unanimously convict Christopher Mark Tooze on Friday, July 16.

The incident was witnessed by nearby residents, one of whom shouted at Tooze: What part of no dont you understand? as he forced himself on his victim, who can not be identified.

Jurors had heard the 36-year-old former pupil of Kennet School, Thatcham, nicknamed Ducky, had followed the woman after she had been drinking with friends in Thatcham town centre.

Tooze insisted the sex was consensual and Jonathan Code, defending, highlighted CCTV footage which showed the pair disappearing hand in hand into an alleyway off The Broadway and out of sight of the camera.

But witnesses Mark and Leanne Jones called 999 after witnessing Tooze forcing himself on his victim while she screamed and pleaded with him to stop.

The woman said she had agreed to go into the alley and kiss him because she was angry with her boyfriend, but had resisted when Tooze tore her leggings down and began to force himself on her.

She told officers: I said no. I deserved better than this.

I was screaming... he wasnt listening... I kicked and kicked and screamed.

Tooze denied the single charge, but chose not to give evidence under oath, upon which he could have been cross examined.

Charles Ward-Jackson, prosecuting, said: The prosecution case is a strong one and you may well think he has questions to answer.

It isnt a long walk from the dock to the witness stand. Yet there he sits.

Mr Ward-Jackson told jurors they could draw their own conclusions from Toozes deafening silence.

He described what happened as a forceful rape and added: He grabbed a sexual opportunity, whether she wanted it or not.

Mr Code, for Tooze, said: The crown say this man in the dock can be branded a rapist for the rest of his life and went on to highlight inconsistencies in the victims evidence.

Despite repeatedly storming out during cross examination, she eventually conceded she had indulged in sexual foreplay with Tooze.

Mr Code suggested the woman had gone on to enjoy consensual intercourse until his client had tried to engage her in an unconventional sex act.

The jury was not convinced.

In addition to being jailed for five years, Tooze was ordered to sign on the sex offenders register for life.

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A NHS computer expert downloaded sick indecent images of children a second time during "extraordinary" delays in his case when police lost evidence.

Ross Morton was arrested as long ago as 2014 for having the illegal material but his case went off into the long grass when "exhibits went missing".

The evidence was later found by Northumbria Police but by that time Morton had gone on to offend again in the same way.

Now, after a further three year delay - and seven years after his initial arrest - he has finally been brought to justice.

However a judge hit out at the "extraordinary amount of time" it had taken the authorities to prosecute him.

Newcastle Crown Court heard it was in December 2014 that police went to his then-home in Sunderland and found hundreds of indecent photographs and movies on his mobile phone, featuring children as young as four.

He had also used search terms indicating he was seeking out such material.

He was released under investigation and then interviewed again in 2016 and asked about disturbing chats police found on the Kik platform, including reference to film of a six-year-old engaged in sexual activity.

Andrew Findlay, prosecuting, said Morton told police it was just role-playing and he faces no charges in relation to that activity.

He was released under investigation again and nothing happened until police went to his home in Longbenton, North Tyneside, in July 2018.

His equipment was seized and hundreds more indecent images were found, including some of the most serious kind and featuring children as young as four and five.

Mr Findlay said: "He was interviewed again and admitted accessing indecent images through the dark web as a result of the previous police investigation.

"He said he had not known the dark web existed until that point and said he was searching out of curiosity.

"He said he wanted to be more informed about what he was being investigated for and said it made him physically sick and not aroused."

Morton, 28, of Station Road, Gosforth, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children and possessing an extreme pornographic image and was sentenced to 18 months suspended for two years with 150 hours unpaid work. He must also do a sex offenders treatment course and will be subject to sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.

Recorder Jamie Hill QC told him: "The fact is children who are photographed or filmed are essentially being abused.

"The creation of those images is fuelled by the market of people who want to view them."

The judge added: "I'm struggling to understand how this has taken so long to get to court. You have been waiting for this day of sentence for seven years. That's an extraordinary length of time.

"I'm told the explanation is at some stage the police had lost the exhibits then re-found them.

"That seven year delay is tempered somewhat by the fact that three years ago the police found some more images which does you no credit, of course.

"Again there has been a three year delay since that point which is an extraordinary amount of time."

Recorder Hill said he would suspend the sentence as probation assessed him as a low risk of reoffending and capable of living a constructive life.

Stuart Graham, defending, said: "Through his actions, he has thrown everything away.

"He had a good job. That was suspended and he is in no doubt he will be sacked. He was an IT support expert for the NHS.

"If the police had done things right in 2014 he probably would not have offended again.

"It's seven years he has had this hanging over him. It all went quiet for two years from 2014 to 2016. He contacted the police several times trying to get hold of particular officers with no reply coming back. I don't know if it was embarrassment on the police's behalf for losing the exhibits.

"Then it was not for another two or three years that everything was back before the court again."

Mr Graham said Morton was "appalled" and felt "revulsion" at the images and he had been "exceedingly tearful", especially at the prospect of having to tell his family what he had done.

He added that Morton had been doing charity work and trying to make up for what he had done "including staying in the NHS in these difficult times".

A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “We are committed to bringing cases to court in a timely manner and working with our criminal justice partners to help ensure this happens.

“We recognise that on this occasion there has been a delay. We are, however, pleased that justice has been carried out.

“We will ensure any learning points from this case are taken forward.”

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A paedophile network pervert who took illegal photos of a child was caught with thousands of indecent images of youngsters.

Adam Lumley exchanged thousands of photographs and videos with like-minded sex offenders online.

The 29-year-old, convicted of indecent exposure last year, had amassed his vile collection between 2013 and 2020.

Newcastle Crown Court he also distributed some of the material and was part of a network of paedophiles sharing images online.

Now Lumley, of Stanton Street, Arthurs Hill, Newcastle, has been jailed for more than three years.

Judge Julie Clemitson told him: "A large number of victims were caused great harm in the making of those images.

"People like you who trade in indecent images of children perpetuate the misery those children suffer as they are abused to produce those images for other people's sexual gratification."

Lumley pleaded guilty to distributing indecent images and possessing 2,611 of the most serious, category A, images, including 1,628 movies. He also had 1,674 category B and 3,021 category C.

The ages of the children ranged from babies to 15 year olds.

There were many thousands of other images on his devices and cloud platforms that police did not examine to see if they were illegal.

He admitted he planned to upload some pictures he took of a child doing a private act in exchange for more material from other users.

Lumley also admitted voyeurism, possessing extreme pornography involving an adult and a dog and possessing prohibited images of a child.

When he was interviewed by the police, he admitted he had a sexual interest in children.

Andrew Findlay, prosecuting, said: "He had spoken to others (on online cloud platforms) about their interest in children, fantasising about sexual activity with children and images were exchanged.

"There's clearly an active involvement in a network that creates and shares images of children."

Lumley was jailed for three years and two months and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offenders registration for ten years.

The court heard he has lost his marriage as a result of his offending and he he has become very isolated, with most of his family distancing themselves from him as they are appalled.

Brian Hegarty, defending, said he had been candid about what he had done from the outset.

He added that Lumley has been viewing pornography since he was 13, soon after his dad died, his mum having died when he was 11.

Mr Hegarty said: "He was very isolated and spent most of his time in his room involved in what was thought to be gaming activities but was him looking at pornography.

"Initially he looked at adult pornography but the searches he conducted caused him to look at indecent images. It's a habit which has developed over a number of years.

"He accepts he had a significant number of images and videos of the very worse sort."

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A "vile" paedophile who subjected two young girls to a campaign of sexual abuse has been jailed.

Edward Brady, 61, from Heaton, indecently assaulted two young girls for more than 10 years where he forced the young girls to carry out sex acts on him and he sexually touched them.

He also placed a camera in a toilet roll holder in a bathroom to obtain footage of his victims for his own sexual gratification.

But the victims bravely came forward and Northumbria Police's Safeguarding unit launched an investigation.

After he was questioned by police, Brady was charged with two counts of indecency with a child, three counts of indecent assault and one count of voyeurism.

Brady of Coast Road, Heaton, pleaded guilty to all six offences and was sentenced to seven years and eight months at Newcastle Crown Court last Friday.

He was also given an indefinite restraining order and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which places strict restrictions on him as well as certain requirements he will have to comply with upon his release from prison.

Detective Constable Karin Mcmorrow led the investigation and hopes the sentencing can help the women move on with their lives.

Det Cons Mcmorrow said: "This has been such an awful case. Brady is a vile man and thankfully behind bars where he belongs. He exploited two innocent girls for his own sickening sexual gratification leaving his victims with a lifetime of emotional suffering.

"They have been so brave to speak out and I hope their strength can help encourage other victims who have suffered abuse - no matter when in their lives - to come forward.

"These victims are living a life sentence for what Brady has done to them but I hope the sentencing today can give them some closure."

Anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse - recent or non-recent - are urged to report it to police via the Northumbria Police website or contact 101.

There is also independent support and advice available through Victims First Northumbria.

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Michael Wort aged 69, of no fixed abode, committed the offences against the three children between 1971 and 2019.

All of these took place at addresses in the New Forest.

At Southampton Crown Court yesterday, he was sentenced to five years behind bars afte a jury found him guilty of one count of sexual assault of a girl under 13 (by touching), and two counts of indecent assault of a girl under 16.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and given an indefinite Restraining Order against contacting his victims.

The court heard that the offences took place over a 48-year period aganist three seperate children. One took place against a child in 1971, three offences that took place against another child between 1985 and 1986 and two offences that took place against a further child between 2018 and 2019. All of these took place at addresses in the New Forest.

Detective Sergeant Oliver Battersby said: "We would like to commend the women who have shown incredible bravery and courage in coming forward.

"These are extremely difficult times for these women and it would not have been easy, both emotionally and physically, to have to re-live their ordeals from when they were younger.

"We know how hard it is to come forward and report these offences, whether they have taken place recently or in the past.

"We are committed to getting justice for victims and have specially trained officers to support them through the process.

"We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse to contact police on 101 where you can speak with our specialist detectives in confidence."

Two of the victims also came forward to say: "We would like to thank all the officers involved in the case and Hampshire Constabulary's witness care team, for all their support through this most difficult time. They made the whole experience of coming forward so comforting, and while it was hard, we now have closure. We would recommend anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward."

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A MAN filmed an underage girl having sex during one of his "idiot moments".

Kyle McGhee filmed a 15-year-old girl having sex, a court heard.

He went on to show the video to four people and was said to be proud of what he had done.

Prosecution barrister, Michael Forster told how the girl later asked for him to delete the footage.

During a police interview, McGhee of Bull Lane in Minstead admitted filming the video.

Mr Forster said that he even claimed: "She was loving it and it was just a laugh. It was one of my idiot moments."

Aged 17 at the time of the incident, the hospitality worker was initially arrested on suspicion of rape but not charged.

Instead McGhee, now 20, was charged with taking an indecent photograph of a child - to which he pleaded guilty.

Defending, John Dyer cited his client's background mentioning he born with foetal drug syndrome - impacting his cognitive abilities - and was adopted.

He emphasised McGhee's immaturity at the time and how long the offence - which happened in Romsey on July 1, 2018 - took to reach the courts.

His previous convictions include three counts of assault by beating and one count of using threatening and abusive language.

He also has drug and driving convictions.

At Southampton Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Rowland jailed him for 15-months, suspended for 18-months.

He will have to complete 40 days of rehabilitation activities and 150 hours of unpaid work.

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A young girl was repeatedly raped after her family pressured her to drop earlier allegations against her abuser.

When the vulnerable child finally plucked up the courage to report that she had been abused by Craig Wight, it seemed her nightmare would be over.

But in an "appalling" development, members of her family persuaded her it would be best if she withdrew the complaint.

The youngster did as she was asked but months later Wight subjected her to a series of even more serious sex attacks, including multiple painful rapes.

Now the 43-year-old paedophile, who groomed the victim by telling her he loved her, has been jailed for 15 years at Newcastle Crown Court.

Sentencing Wight, Judge Stephen Earl said it was "appalling" that the victim had been pressured into dropping the earlier allegations, which were of a less serious type than what went on to happen.

The judge outlined a series of despicable acts which he labelled "abhorrent abuse".

Judge Earl said: "He repeatedly told her he loved her and he spoke about how the relationship could develop more when she got to 16.

"He took advantage of her vulnerability.

"This is not love, this is a form of control.

"You don't love someone when you are 40-odd and they are (a child) and you are ... raping them."

The judge paid tribute to the victim for reporting what had happened to her.

He said: "It's an amazing testament that she's got the courage to report these matters.

"She has been failed by the adults in her life.

"She has felt isolated, out of place, vulnerable, emotional, a child unable to cope.

"These are phrases that burn themselves into your consciousness when you read them."

Wight, of Hadrian Court, Killingworth, North Tyneside, admitted 18 sex offences including three of rape, although he raped her "at least four or five times", the court heard.

Judge Earl told Wight he would have to serve two-thirds of the 15 year sentence and will be on the sex offenders register for life and subject to a sexual harm prevention order

The judge told him: "You had a clear warning when she made and retracted, through pressure, her first complaint.

"I can only express horror for the way you have callously acted towards her."

Judge Earl said there was "very little mitigation" in Wight's favour.

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A PEADOPHILE was caught with images of young children as young as two being tied up and abused.

Andrew Burtt claimed he was not sexually aroused by children, a court heard.

The 51-year-old had a stash of 4,778 images involving children between the two and seven-years-old being abused.

Prosecution barrister, Lucie Taylor, said how Burtt sent images and forwarded them on to other users via a social media app called Kik.

However, police eventually arrested the master mariner at a property in Fern Road, Hythe on September 10, 2018.

They searched the address and seized his electronic devices including a Samsung phone and memory card he had been using to store the photos and films.

Miss Taylor told how in a police interview on January 24 this year Burtt accepted responsibility for downloading the images.

However, he said he was not sexually aroused by children.

Furthermore, he could not offer any excuses for his behaviour.

With no criminal record, Burtt of Marram Close, Lymington appeared before Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday charged with three counts of making indecent images of children.

He had previously pleaded guilty to the offences which took place between January 2011and September 2018.

Defending, Chris Gaiger argued his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had made admissions in a police interview.

Mr Gaiger said, Burtt will be dismissed from his position as master mariner operating ferries between Lymington and Yarmouth.

Despite his "addiction", he has a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, Mr Gaiger added.

Judge Gary Burrell QC said: "How on earth you ended up in this situation I do not understand and I think a lot of people have failed to understand it as well.

He slammed his offences as abhorrent and perverted.

"It looks like your life is ruined all because you wanted gratification", Judge Burrell added.

During sentencing he said how Burtt had taken steps to address his problem and that there was a prospect of rehabilitation.

He have him a 30 month community order.

Burtt must register as a sex offender and complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay £450 in costs.

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A MAN has been jailed after raping and assaulting a woman in the perimeter of West Quay shopping centre.

Krystian Kwarta, aged 20 of Keyhaven Road, Milford-on-Sea, has been jailed for eight years with an additional four years on licence following the assault on the 21-year-old victim as she walked to work in Southampton city centre on Saturday, February 15.

Police launched an investigation after a woman reported that a man unknown to her grabbed her from behind and raped her in the perimeter of West Quay shopping centre.

Officers from Southampton's Operation Amberstone team immediately analysed extensive CCTV that covered the area of West Quay retail park and identified a man in the area where the rape happened.

CCTV showed that shortly before 8am, the man, now known as Kwarta, started following the woman towards the shopping centre. Moments later she was violently attacked and raped by him.

Having identified the potential suspect, extensive CCTV analysis was carried out which led officers to a home in Milford-on-Sea. Kwarta was arrested and taken to Southampton Central police station for questioning and it was confirmed that his DNA matched the DNA left at the scene.

Officers charged Kwarta on 18 February with two counts of rape and one count of assault. He pleaded guilty to the charges at Southampton Crown Court on March 20 and today he was setenced to eight years in prison with an additional four years on licence.

Deputy Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Sergeant Claire Ratcliffe said: "This was a premeditated, violent attack on a young woman who was on her way to work.

"It was clear that Kwarta had been waiting in the area before seeing his victim and following her to carry out his brutal attack. Following a fast paced investigation by Southampton's Operation Amberstone team, which shows our determination to find a dangerous offender in the community and ensure justice for the victim, Kwarta was arrested and charged within days of him carrying out his brutal crime.

"The forensic evidence along with the CCTV footage gave Kwarta little option but to enter guilty pleas and I am pleased that we have been able to bring him to justice and avoid this woman having to relive her ordeal in court.

"This has understandably been a traumatic time for the victim and I would like to commend her for her bravery and courage in coming forward and reporting what happened. I hope that today's sentence will give her some closure and help her to begin moving forward in her life.

"In cases such as these, we work in partnership with the Independent Sexual Violence Advocate Service, Yellow Door to ensure adequate support is available victims throughout investigations. We hope that the strength of this partnership working alongside convictions like this, encourage victims to come forward and report their experiences to us."

Description

A PAEDOPHILE who searched the internet for "pre-teen boys" and "very, very young porn" has been given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

Christopher Wagstaff appeared before Southampton Crown Court facing charges of creating indecent images of children.

He initially pleaded not guilty at Southampton Magistrate's Court however changed this to guilty at a Crown Court plea and trial preparation hearing.

The court heard how police raided the 50-year-old's home in Foldsgate Close, Lyndhurst based on "intelligence".

They seized a tower computer and a Toshiba laptop on October 17, 2017.

During his first police interview Wagstaff did not comment.

But when officers went on to scan his PC they found three Category B indecent images of children.

Meanwhile, his laptop had four category C images.

Further police investigations found how Wagstaff had searched the internet for terms including "pre-teen boys" and "very, very young porn".

He was interviewed again and did not comment.

Defence barrister, Jonathan Underhill told the court how no moving images were found on Wagstaff's computers. He argued there were a small amount images on the devices when compared to other cases.

And, that Wagstaff was the subject of some degree of abuse as a child.

The court heard that Wagstaff has mild learning difficulties.

Based on a doctors report, 99 per cent of people the same age as him have a higher IQ.

Judge Henry gave Wagstaff a ten-year sexual harm prevention order and a 30-month community order.

He will have to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, rehab of up to 15 days and a 90 day scheme for men convicted of sexual offences.

Description

A pervert calling himself a “sugar daddy of alcohol” during sleazy communications with what he thought was a child was snared in a police sting.

Nathan Glover began chatting to a profile on dating app Badoo, with the other person initially advertising themselves as being 18.

However, when he was told they were 14, that didn’t put him off as it should have done.

The chat moved onto chat app Kik and became sexual, with Glover sending images of his genitals to the decoy profile, which was being run by police.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 27-year-old made sexual suggestions and asked for swimwear pictures of her.

He also offered to buy the “child” alcohol and asked what he would get in return.

Glover, of Talbot Road, South Shields, admitted attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to have sexual communication with a child.

Prosecutor Nicholas Lane said a police employee had set up a profile on adult site Badoo in July last year and Glover made contact the same day.

Mr Lane said: "There was some general chatting and the undercover operator made it known they were a 14-year-old child, though had signed up to the account as an 18-year-old.

"The defendant replied 'thought you looked very young to be 18'.

"The conversation continued, during which the defendant offered to buy alcohol for the person he believed was 14.

"He referred to himself as a sugar daddy of alcohol."

The court heard Glover asked what he would get in return for alcohol and the conversation was then transferred onto the Kik app and "quickly turned sexual".

Mr Lane said: "He asked for pictures of her wearing a swimsuit. The officer disclosed that the person was a virgin and he replied he thought it was sexy he could teach them."

Mr Lane said Glover sent a graphic picture with sexual suggestions before he was confronted by the police.

He told officers the conversation had "turned flirty and sexual" and confessed he knew it was wrong.

Glenn Gatland, defending, said Glover was a "socially isolated man" with a depressive illness who was mostly on his own except for the company of his cat.

Mr Gatland said: "He didn't go in there to look for an underage person."

Mr Gatland said Glover had talked about "cats and dogs" with the teen before the conversation turned sexual.

Judge Amanda Rippon sentenced Glover to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with rehabilitation and programme requirements.

Glover must sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for seven years.

The judge told him: "You were told the officer was 14 and you continued in conversation with that person, no doubt you believed that person was 14."

She added: "You did think you were inviting a 14-year-old girl to have sex with you."

Judge Rippon said Glover has never been in trouble before, has been assessed as a "low risk" of committing contact offences, is genuinely remorseful and that his significant depression was linked to the commission of the offences.

Description

A CHILD abductor who bombarded an under-age girl with more than 800 phone calls in under a month while he was in prison and in breach of a sexual harm prevention order, has been handed more jail time.

Kyron Burgess, aged 22, formerly of Hart Gardens, Newport, persistently contacted the teenager while he was an inmate at Parc Prison in Bridgend.

He was serving an 18-month custodial sentence imposed last June after pleading guilty to child abduction.

Prosecutor Christopher Evans said the latest offences were committed two months later, between August 1-24 2019.

Judge Daniel Williams, who sentenced Burgess last year, was told the defendant made 851 calls during that period, an average of 35 a day.

Newport Crown Court was told that no one at Parc Prison noticed he was contacting the girl, who was under the age of 16, and who he was prohibited from communicating.

Burgess admitted being in breach of a sexual harm prevention order.

Mr Evans said the defendant had 15 previous convictions for 31 offences, which also included harassment.

Gareth Williams, mitigating, said: “He received her mobile phone number whilst in custody. He is aged 22 and not mature enough to heed an order of the court.”

Judge Williams told Burgess: “This was a brazen breach of a court order. It is so serious that only an immediate term of custody can be justified.”

The defendant was jailed for eight months to run consecutively to his 18-month prison sentence for child abduction.

Burgess must also pay a victim surcharge upon his release from custody.