Latest Offenders Newcastle

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Colin Christensen, of North Shields, who worked in Tynemouth, admitted two offences of attempted sexual communication with a child A chef who tried to prey on underage girls on Facebook has been spared prison. Colin Christensen befriended what he thought were two girls aged 14 and sent illegal messages to them and a picture of his genitals. A court heard the profiles were being run by a vigilante group called the Child Online Safety Team. Christensen, a grandfather who lives with his mother, made contacted with the profile of a girl in January this year. Despite being told she was 14, the 55-year-old, who lied that he was 36, asked for a photograph of her in her school uniform, which was refused. Kate Barnes, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court : "He asked what she wore to bed and if she thought about sex. She said no, she was too young. "The conversation continued and he went on to ask for pictures and asked what kind of underwear she wore." Christensen sent a picture of his penis then later asked if she was offended or aroused by it. He also asked her to take a camera in the shower with her and made reference to her genitals. Around the same time, Christensen made contact with the Facebook profile of someone purporting to be a 14-year-old. It was a profile being run by the same vigilante group. He again asked for a photograph of her in school uniform, asked what she was wearing then asked her sexual questions. The court heard he said he couldn't have sex with her unless she agreed and told her the first time might hurt. Christensen, of Murton Lane, North Shields, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Judge Robert Adams sentenced him to nine months suspended for two years with sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order for ten years. The court heard he lost his job of 36 years as a chef at a pub in Tynemouth and is pessimistic about finding employment, given his conviction. Mark Harrison, defending, said Christensen had an "appropriate level of shame". He added: "He has had to have a difficult conversation with his mother, -who relies on him for her day-to day care. "His only ambition is to be allowed to carry on with that care."

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A "predatory paedophile" who raped and abused primary school aged children has been jailed for 26 years. Barry Rossiter attacked the five victims, one of whom was just three years old, over a period of three decades, Newcastle Crown Court heard. The 67-year-old, of Evistones Gardens, Walker, Newcastle, was convicted of 23 offences after a trial last year. Judge Sarah Mallett told Rossiter the harm he caused was "profound and permanent" as she sentenced him. She described him as a "predatory paedophile" and told him: "You are going to spend the rest of your life in prison, that is my intention." Rossiter was convicted of historical offences including rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, indecency with a child, sexual assault and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

'Lifelong pain and trauma'

One victim read her impact statement at the sentencing hearing, telling Rossiter: "I didn't deserve what you did to me, absolutely nobody does. "I despise your every living cell." She told the court she had suffered flashbacks and lived in "survival mode" due to Rossiter's abuse of her as a child. "I know the trauma will exist for the rest of my life so it's only fair for him to live the rest of his days in prison. "He has caused so much unnecessary lifelong pain and trauma to myself and others." Other victims spoke of the devastating impact the attacks have had on their lives and relationships. Rossiter was also given a two-year extension to his licence period and told he must sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for life. Paul Cross, defending, said Rossiter was in poor health and the prison sentence is one he will "probably not complete".

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Matthew Jack, formerly Huckle, had been jailed twice previously for similar offending and is back behind bars for doing it four more times An online predator caught time and again trying to have sex chats with children complained to a judge when told he wasn't allowed to serve his full prison sentence behind bars. Matthew Jack, formerly known as Huckle, has repeatedly been caught by paedophile hunters posing as young girls online. Jack, jailed twice before for attempted sexual communication with a child, was back in court after being caught four more times by various groups. But when told he will be released at the half way point of his ten month sentence, he complained that he didn't want to be released early because he didn't want to work with probation. When told that is the law, the 26-year-old sat with his head in his hands. Newcastle Crown Court heard all of the new offences happened on an app called Whisper while he was using the name troutyellow. In September 2019 he contacted the profile of a girl purporting to be 13, which was in fact a decoy set up by Geordie Chasers. He asked for a picture and responded that it would be better without the leggings and that he "loved legs and wanted to see it all". When asked for a picture of himself he replied "I would rather meet". The second profile, also purporting to be 13 and on the same app, was contacted by Jack, who said he wanted to "meet and do what girlfriends and boyfriends do - kiss, cuddle, strip, touch each other". He repeatedly asked for naked pictures and photos of her in a bikini, despite being told she didn't think her mother would allow it. The third profile was being run by vigilantes Guardians of the North, posing as a 14-year-old called Hannah Young. Jack said he wanted to meet and wanted her to wear a dress and that he wanted her to be his girlfriend and to have sex with her. He asked for naked photos and said he would have sex with her the following day. Another profile, a 14-year-old called Amy, was being run by Dark Justice, and they recognised him from catching him previously. Jack asked to meet Amy in Elswick Park and said he would strip her. The court heard he has eight previous convictions, including for sexual activity with a child in 2017. He was jailed in November 2019 for two counts of attempting to engage a child in sexual activity and breaching a sexual harm prevention order. Then in August 2020 he was locked up again after being caught again within weeks of his release from prison. Now he has admitted four counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and breaching his sexual harm prevention order. Recorder Nicholas Lumley QC sentenced him to ten months in prison and imposed a new ten year sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration. The judge said Jack, formerly of Gateshead but of no fixed address, is a "troubled individual" with limited mental capacity but added: "You have chosen to ignore the rules and the order to stop you doing this. "The pre-sentence report makes for worrying reading. You pose a risk, not least because you don't have insight. "The public can only be protected in the short term by a prison sentence and that is what I must do." Jack asked "can I do the full amount, I don't want to be released at half way" but was told it is the law that he is likely to be eligible for release after serving five months. He replied: "The full point of me saying in the pre-sentence report I don't want to be under a community order is I don't want to deal with probation." Alec Burns, defending, said the latest offences pre-date the last offences for which he was sentenced due to delays in bringing the case to court.

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Reece Wigglesworth, 16, also robbed a woman of her car at knifepoint Out-of-control teenager Reece Wigglesworth sexually assaulted a 79-year-old Newcastle woman in her home. The 16-year-old, who received a caution as an 11-year-old for sexually assaulting a child, was wearing a hoodie when he tried doors to of homes. His victim thought it was her son so unlocked the chain and the defendant barged in her home and asked if she had any money. She said she did not and she could see him playing with his private parts. He pushed her against a worktop and sexually assaulted her. The pensioner felt sore and screamed. He hit her across the head and told her to, 'shut the f*** up', before running off. The defendant was arrested three days later after an appeal on StokeonTrent Live and in The Sentinel. The incident happened seven months after Wigglesworth and an accomplice robbed a disabled woman of her car at knifepoint outside her Basford home. She was so distressed she moved house. Now Wigglesworth has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years detention at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. StokeonTrentLive and The Sentinel successfully applied for reporting restrictions to be lifted with Judge Paul Glenn saying it was appropriate and in the interests of justice for the case to be reported. Prosecutor Neil Ahuja said the first offence involved the defendant and another committing a car-jacking at 12.50am on February 18. The 48-year-old victim pulled up outside her home in Clare Street, Basford, at 12.50am when the defendant and another approached her Vauxhall Corsa and demanded the keys. Mr Ahuja said: "The second man produced a knife. "The defendant took 50 pence from her purse. "She felt petrified by the knife. The demand to give her keys was very aggressive the second time and she did hand them over. She felt the knife catch her hand. "One got in the driver's seat and one in the passenger seat. It was driven off. "The car was spotted by police in Trentham. Both men were chased and detained. The knife was in the defendant's pocket." The victim has been left frightened and anxious by her ordeal. She is scared to go out at night. She is not eating or sleeping properly and has flashbacks. She has moved house because she did not feel safe. The defendant was released under investigation. He entered the pensioner's home in Newcastle at 7.30pm on October 9. Mr Ahuja said: "He had tried to gain entry to the front door and went to the rear door. "Mistakenly thinking it was her son she opened the door. He pushed his way in. He had his hood pulled tight around his face. He asked, 'Have you got money'? She replied, 'No, do I look like I have got any'? "He pushed her against a kitchen worktop and grabbed her hard. He stopped because of a loud scream. He hit her over the head and shouted, 'Shut the f*** up', before running away." In a victim statement the pensioner said she has suffered flashbacks and no longer feels safe in her own home. She has had extra security fitted. She added she will never forget what happened and it will always stay with her. The defendant was identified by forensic evidence with his DNA found on the victim's clothes and the door handle at a neighbouring property. Wigglesworth, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to robbery, possession of a knife in public, burglary and sexual assault. Paul Cliff, mitigating, said the defendant wanted to offer his apologies to both victims. He said: "Any right minded person would be disgusted by his behaviour." Mr Cliff said the defendant was aged 15 at the time of the robbery and his co-accused was five years older than him. He added Wigglesworth is not driven by deviant sexual fantasies and asked for the judge to give credit for the guilty pleas and to take into account the teenager's age and totality. Judge Glenn said the robbery victim described feeling petrified. He said: "You accept taking money, a small amount, from her purse. The police located the car, the two of you absconded and you were caught nearby. You were the one with the knife at that stage. "It had a significant psychological effect. She was scared to go out at night and she had to move because she did not feel safe any more." The judge described the sexual assault as 'an appalling case'. He said: "You burgled the home of a 79-year-old. You had been released under investigation in relation to the robbery. "I am not sure that you realised it was an old person's home or I would treat that as an aggravating feature. "She thought it was her son and unlocked the door. You pushed your way in. Your face was concealed by the hooded top you were wearing. "She was terrified and thought she was going to be raped. "You meet the criteria for a dangerous offender. The sexual assault and the robbery are so serious only significant custodial sentences are appropriate. "You are a danger when at large in the community. Your offending is escalating in terms of gravity and frequency. You carry knives. You abuse alcohol and drugs. The circumstances of the present offences alone indicate you are out of control." Wigglesworth was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and was barred from a range of activities involving children and vulnerable adults.

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Gordon Henzell, of Jesmond, sexually assaulted two schoolgirls a decade ago but they only reported it after reading he had been trying to communicate sexually with a girl online Two girls who were sexually assaulted by a pervert a decade ago finally plucked up the courage to report him after reading that he had been caught by paedophile hunters. For years, Gordon Henzell's sex attacks on girls aged 13 and 14 had remained a secret. But after they each read a Facebook post about him being caught in a sting operation, they decided to report what he had done to them. Now Henzell, who tried to get his ex wife to cover for him after his arrest, has been jailed for two sexual assaults and perverting the course of justice. Newcastle Crown Court heard Henzell had grabbed the 13-year-old round the waist, kissed her neck and tried to kiss her lips and told her she was gorgeous. The "horrified" victim managed to get away from him. In a separate attack, he grabbed a 14-year-old's face and tried to kiss her on the lips. After being arrested and quizzed over the offences, Henzell sent a message to his ex wife within half an hour trying to get her to help him cover his back. She was suspicious and reported it to police. Henzell, 54, of Osborne Road, Jesmond, Newcastle, who has the previous conviction from 2020 for attempted sexual communication with a child, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and perverting the course of justice and was jailed for 15 months. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, both for ten years. Peter Byrne, defending, said his risk of re-offending is low, there is a "good chance of rehabilitation", he pleaded guilty and that he will lose his accommodation due to being imprisoned.

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A paedophile is facing jail after he was found with a sick stash of child sex abuse images and videos.

Shamed Sean Courtney amassed his vile collection over a four-year period until police seized his electronic devices in 2019.

A total of 178 disturbing pictures and 105 movies had been downloaded by 32-year-old.

Newcastle Magistrates' Court was told that 28 pictures and 70 videos were category A, the most serious kind involving sexual penetration.

Extreme pornography depicting women with dogs was also found in Courtney's possession.

Now, the pervert, of Losh Terrace, in Walker, Newcastle, will spend Christmas fearing her will be sent to prison after he pleaded guilty to three count of making an indecent image of a child and one of having extreme porn.

Prosecutor Jonathan Stirland said Courtney downloaded the vile material between August 1 2015 and April 16 2019.

He added: "The Crown would say this isn't suitable for this court and should be committed for sentence."

Gregg Stephens, defending, said Courtney suffered from mental health issues.

The solicitor continued: "The starting point is 12 months custody for category A images, so I anticipate this will go to the crown court.

"Mr Courtney doesn't have any convictions but does have severe mental health issues."

District Judge Paul Currer committed Courtney to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence.

He said: "You have pleaded guilty to these offences. They are so serious, they need to be dealt with in the crown court.

"You will appear there on January 19. Please attend at 10am. If you fail to attend, you commit an offence for which you could be prosecuted. Please make sure you attend."

In the meantime, Courtney was released on conditional bail, where he must reside at his home address.

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An army cadet instructor who raped a "blind drunk" woman then boasted about what he had done has been jailed.

Robert Wilkinson forced himself on the victim when she was so intoxicated she had thrown up.

A court heard she became aware of having had clothing removed and being abused by the 22-year-old.

Wilkinson, of Newcastle, denied rape and sexual assault but was found guilty by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court and has now been jailed for seven years.

Sentencing him, Judge Penny Moreland said: "(She) was extremely drunk, she was vomiting.

"She was blind drunk. That's the state of the girl you sexually assaulted and raped.

"She was particularly vulnerable.

"You then boasted of what you had done to her in a text to your friend on the way home."

When originally questioned by police, Wilkinson denied any sexual activity took place then when presented with scientific proof that it had, he changed his story and claimed it had been consensual, an account jurors rejected.

As well as the prison sentence, Wilkinson will be on the sex offenders register for life and will be barred from working with vulnerable adults or children.

Annelise Haugstad, defending, said he was of previous good character.

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Alan Mennie, of Hebburn, has been jailed for more than four years for attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity Online predator Alan Mennie has been jailed after he was exposed by paedophile hunters engaging in sex chats with what he thought were two underage girls. The loner believed he was communicating with youngsters aged 11 and 13 over the internet but had been duped by Secret Whispers, an organisation behind fake profiles that are set up to snare paedophiles. Now Mennie, 42, has been jailed for four years and one month at Newcastle Crown Court after he admitted two charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. Prosecutor Andrew Espley said: "This defendant engaged in sexual conversations with two separate people online, pretending to be children. "Penetrative sexual activity was discussed and it emerged that those were fake profiles, set up by Secret Whispers." The first conversation took place between October 2018 and April 2019. Mr Espley said Mennie "made it clear he wasn't concerned she was 13" and asked if she had been with an older man. Mennie invited the child to his home and engaged in graphic sexual conversation. The second chat was between March and April 2019 and Mennie believed the girl was just 11. Mr Espley said: "Full sexual intercourse was discussed." The court heard Mennie tried to persuade both child profiles to perform sex acts on themselves. As well as the prison sentence, Mennie, of Tharsis Road, Hebburn, South Tyneside, must abide by a sexual harm prevention order and sign the sex offenders register for life. Judge Spragg said Mennie has never lived with a partner or lived apart from his mother, who is now in her 80s and is "socially isolated". Nick Lane, defending, said: "He very much regrets the way he behaved and recognises the seriousness of his offending." Mr Lane said Mennie became withdrawn after the sudden death of his father when he was younger. The court heard Mennie was employed for a few years after leaving school but was then unable to work due to anxiety and depression, which he received counselling for.

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Depraved Brian Cairns paid to have very young children sexually abused and tortured so he could watch the vile abuse live on camera.

The twisted 60-year-old sent money online to "facilitators " in the Philippines to he could direct the horrific abuse of girls as young as four as he observed it.

Newcastle Crown Court heard he kept screenshots of what he had ordered, "almost off a menu".

During one of the sickening live shows, Cairns asked the for a break to go and get some cigarettes so he could smoke while he watched the "unsafe and degrading" acts.

Prosecutor Paul Cleasby told the court officers from Northumbria Police Paedophile Investigation Team had seized Cairns' computer devices after they received information he had been sending "large sums of money" overseas in exchange for child abuse images.

Mr Cleasby said an analysis of Cairns' computer revealed a series of chats and added: "It was clear from the conversations money had been paid by the defendant in order for sexual abuse of children to take place live on
camera while he watched."

The court heard Cairns ordered that the abused girls should be under eight years old and made specific requests involving "degrading violence" that he wanted done to them.

One of the victims was four and the other between six and eight.

Cairns, of Pendle Close, Washington, admitted two charges of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child and two of making indecent photographs of a child.

Judge Amanda Rippon jailed Cairns for 13 years with an extended one year licence period.

The judge said the offences were "some of the most depraved I have had the displeasure to come across in my work in the criminal justice system in the context of child abuse".

Judge Rippon said: "Suffice to say, these offences are of the most grave kind.

"You ordered, almost off a menu, for children who you did not want to be older than eight, to me not just abused but tortured - and they were.

"They were tortured for your sexual gratification in the most abhorrent way.

"You even told them to wait at one point so you could go and get some cigarettes so you could smoke while you watched.

"You directed the abuse.

"These children are very young, desperately so in the context of what you were requesting was done to them."

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A vile paedophile who "ruined the life" of his schoolgirl victim has finally been brought to justice more than 40 years later.

John Storey subjected the young girl to years of abuse in the late 1970s when he was aged between 33 and 35.

This included touching her vagina, making her touch his penis and perform a sex acts on him, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Tom Storey, prosecuting, said the victim remembered waking up to find the pervert in the room next to her before the abuse began.

He said: "She described herself as being powerless to do anything about it.

"On days following occasions when he abused her he would sometimes tell her to say nothing about it.

"He would tell her people would not believe her, and if they did she would be responsible for his sons losing their father."

The victim was initially too terrified to tell anyone about what had been going on and said the abuse had ruined her life.

The 77-year-old's sickening crimes drove her to abusing alcohol and drugs and she ended up seeking the help of a counsellor.

It was during a counselling session that the brave victim spoke of the abuse she had endured and eventually reported it to the police in February last year.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said: "The abuse has had a devastating impact on my life. I found it difficult to make friends at that time and always felt like an outsider.

"I believed it was my fault and I should have done more to stop the abuse from happening.

"Living with this secret has had a massive effect on my mental health. I was so ashamed of it I started abusing alcohol and drugs to block out the memories and the pain.

"I truly believe that John saw vulnerability in me and preyed on me.

"I will always live with the guilt that other children may have been abused by John after me because I did not speak out at the time.

"That is something I have to come to terms with."

Storey, of Kingston Green, Newcastle, was arrested and interviewed on March 4, 2020, and initially denied any allegations of sexual abuse against the complainant.

He later admitted four counts of sexual assault and two counts of indecency with a child at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court heard how Storey had a history of offences against young girls. He spent more than a decade behind bars from 2008 for a string of sex offences including three counts of rape and two counts of attempted rape.

Storey was subject to a conditional discharge in July 1977 after having intercourse with a girl under the age of 16 and would have breached this by abusing his latest victim to speak out.

Paul Caulfield, defending, said his client suffered from a serious lung disease which limited his life expectancy. He added that this meant he was particularly vulnerable to catching Covid-19.

Judge Penny Moreland sentenced Storey to six years in prison, of which he will serve half behind bars if he is no longer deemed a risk before being released on licence.

"You ensured her silence by telling her she would not be believed," Judge Moreland told him.

"You told a probation officer you were unable to remember the fact you repeatedly abused a child in that way.

"What you did to her was devastating. You ruined her life.

"You are an inveterate abuser of girls."

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life and will pay a victim surcharge.

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Iain Gosling, of Wallsend, engaged in sickening sex chats online with what he thought were children but were in fact decoy profiles set up by police.

An online predator who targeted children for sex has walked free from court.

Iain Gosling spoke of taking 12 and 13-year-old girls to a hotel and sent a picture of his penis in sickening exchanges.

Fortunately the profiles he preyed upon were decoys being run by police so no children were harmed.

Go here for the latest reports and live updates from North East courts

Newcastle Crown Court heard he first communicated with what he thought was a 13-year-old called Hannah, on Fast Flirting, last September.

Having already asked a graphic sexual question, Gosling, who said he was 61 but who is in fact 43, was not deterred by her revelation of how young she was.

Vince Ward, prosecuting, said: "He discussed visiting her in his car and taking her shopping and to the cinema.

"He offered to buy her clothes that she could model for him.

"He said girls liked doing stuff with older people because older guys take their time."

He made a series of lewd remarks, suggested she should "go do stuff in my car somewhere quiet" and again said they should go to the cinema and shopping.

Mr Ward said: "He suggested booking a hotel somewhere where no-one would recognise them and suggested Southampton and Reading.

"He said he had booked a hotel in Reading for 150 to spend the day there but that he knew she would not be able to spend the night."

Gosling also said he would spend over 100 on one outfit for her and offered to take her to KFC and McDonald's.

Mr Ward added: "He asked if she would go all the way and reassured her it would not hurt as he would not be rough with her.

"He said she would not get pregnant because of his age."

Gosling went on to communicate with what he thought was a 12-year-old called Holly, who he sent a picture of his genitals and suggested they watch a movie in the cab of his lorry while lying down in the dark. He said he had "very naughty movies".

Around a week later he communicated with the same profile and suggested booking a hotel, shopping and watching a movie and made sexual remarks.

Gosling, of Percy Street, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted sexual communication with a child and was sentenced to 15 months suspended for two years with a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration for 10 years.

Judge Edward Legard said Gosling couldn't complain if he sent him immediately to prison and said people would expect a deterrent sentence given the abhorrence with which such crimes are viewed . But he said he decided "by the narrowest margin" the public would be best served by a suspended sentence.

Shaun Routledge, defending, said: "His best point is his early guilty plea.

"He is in his 40s and of good character and has worked throughout his life and supports his daughter and ex partner.

"He turned to alcohol and his relationship broke down."

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Police have welcomed the prison sentence handed to a former prison officer who sexually abused two schoolgirls after he was finally brought to justice.

Pervert John Saunders indecently assaulted his first victim in the mid-1990s but was not prosecuted despite the young victim reporting his abuse.

However, he then preyed on another schoolgirl in 2018 and when she reported the abuse the following year the previous matter was re-opened.

Saunders, of Liverpool Road, Cross Heath, Newcastle, had denied two charges of indecent assault and one charge of assaulting a child under 13 by penetration but was convicted of all three offences by a jury in October.

The 68-year-old was locked up for 13 years with an extended two years licence at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court last week.

Welcoming the sentence, DC Gary Cliffe, of Staffordshire Police, said: I am delighted with the sentence handed to Saunders and we hope this sentence is a reminder that we will continue to do whatever it takes to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice no matter how long ago these attacks took place."

Saunders must serve half of the custodial term - six-and-a-half years - before he can be considered for release by the parole board. After his release he will serve the rest of the total 15 year sentence on licence. He was placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

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Alan Hawkins, of North Shields, has previous convictions for indecent assault and possessing and distributing indecent images A serial pervert is back behind bars after police found an indecent image of boys on his phone. Alan Hawkins has been jailed previously for indecent assault and possessing and distributing indecent images. When police went to the registered sex offender's home in September this year, they examined his phone and the first picture they found in his photo gallery was the indecent image. The court heard it was of the most serious type, category A. Now the 57-year-old, of Saville Street West, North Shields, who has 23 previous convictions, has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court. The court heard he was jailed for 18 months for indecent assault in 1997, got five years for possessing and distributing indecent images in 2008, three years for possessing indecent images in 2018 and a suspended sentence last June for breaching his sexual harm prevention order. On September 30, police attended his home and the latest offence was discovered.

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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."