Latest Offenders Norfolk

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A convicted sex offender posted indecent material on a secret Twitter account he set up, a court heard.

Lee Patterson, 23, was subject to a sexual harm prevention order which meant his internet use was monitored.

It was discovered by a sharp-eyed probation officer that he set up a secret Twitter account.

The officer then realised he was using an email account they were unaware about, Norwich Crown Court was told.

Peter Gair, prosecuting, said police were informed and it was found Patterson had posted two messages on his Twitter account containing indecent material, one of which was a live-stream video.

Mr Gair said it was also found that Patterson had access to a phone which he had not told anyone about.

Patterson claimed he had thrown the phone down a drain when he realised he had been found out and Mr Gair said that meant police were unable to find out what he had been accessing on his phone.

Mr Gair said when interviewed Patterson claimed he had not complied because he loved social media.

The court heard he had now been recalled to prison as he had been jailed 16 months in March 2020 for a previous breach.

Patterson, of no fixed address, admitted two offences of sending grossly offensive indecent matter by electronic communication and breaching his sexual harm prevention order and notification order in December 2020.

The court heard he was already on the sex offenders' register for life.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Maureen Bacon told him: "You are a persistent offender. You are unable to restrain yourself even though court orders have been put in place."

She said he had shown a deviousness and had continued to offend.

She said: "When you knew the heat was on and police were coming you threw the phone away,"

David Stewart, for Patterson, said he was a vulnerable young man who was isolated and unable to cope on his own.

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A judge has described how the sexual assault of a young girl at a house where she had been staying is something no parent should have to endure.

Norwich Crown Court heard the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had been staying at a house where Jeremy Simeons, 50, had been present when she was sexually assaulted.

Lori Tucker, prosecuting, said the victim was to later tell her parents that Simeons had “hurt her”.

Police were contacted and Simeons was arrested at work on October 12 last year.

When interviewed Simeons initally denied the allegations and told officers he had given her a cuddle and had taken her to the toilet.

The court heard that Simeons had been “unwilling or unable to recollect precisely what happened”.

Simeons, of Medeswell Close, Brundall, appeared at court on Wednesday (May 20) having previously admitted sexually assaulting a female victim, under the age of 13, on October 11 last year.

Before he was sentenced, the court heard extracts of a statement from the victim’s mother who revealed she was “devastated” to find out what her daughter told her.

Sentencing Simeons to two years in prison, Judge Anthony Bate said: “This is something no parent should have to endure.”

Juge Bate said Simeons had been a man of “previous exemplary character” but was now a broken man.

He also insisted the defendant’s claims to not recall what happened were likely from a “sense of shame to what you did to that young girl that night”.

Simeons was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years and also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

Andrew Oliver, mitigating, accepted the victim was vulnerable due to her age and said there had been an “abuse of trust”.

Mr Oliver said his guilty plea expressed remorse for something which had ruined his own career and left it in tatters.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Richard Wallis said: “These offences can often leave a mark on their victim for the rest of their lives and it’s only because the girl was brave enough to speak up and tell her parents what had happened that the perpetrator was brought to justice. We hope the court case will help to bring some closure for the victim and her family.”

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A MAN who was stung by waiting police officers after driving 200 miles from Norfolk to Hampshire to meet an 11-year-old child has been jailed for six-and-a-half years. Jeffery Batty, 50, was arrested after travelling four hours from Edingthorpe to the Rownhams Services between J3 and J4 of the M27. He expected to be greeted by an 11-year-old child, whom he had plans to abuse, but was instead met by a swarm of police officers. The officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit had already been investigating him for months. Batty, of Rectory Road, Edingthorpe, was jailed after admitting several child sex offences at Southampton Crown Court on Thursday. He was sentenced with an extended licence period of eight years and pleaded guilty to 17 charges in total. Police said Batty travelled to Hampshire in January, 2019 but continued to commit offences after that, despite knowing he was being investigated. This even continued after he was charged with arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and 11 offences of possession and distribution of indecent images in August last year. That culminated in another arranged meeting with an eight-year-old child after being released on bail. Batty was again greeted at the arranged meeting point by police officers and charged with five more offences. They included arranging to meet another child for the purpose of sex and possessing and distributing indecent images and videos of children. However, he was later remanded. Batty will now be put on the sex offenders register for life and will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Detective Inspector Phil Attwood, from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: Batty is clearly a depraved, dangerous individual who was fully committed to undertaking abhorrent abuse of children. It is only right that he has received a lengthy prison sentence, and Id like to highlight the work of the investigators involved in this case for ensuring that he was unable to carry out his sordid intentions. This investigation forms part of our continued priority to protect children from sexual exploitation from those who seek to do them harm, and I would urge anyone who has information on child abuse or is a victim to report it to your local police force right away via 101. We will always follow up allegations of abuse, no matter when they occurred, and victims can talk in confidence to experienced investigators who will help them get access to a range of support.

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A man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for nine counts of sexual assault.

Paul John Britton, 56, of Walnut Close in Foulden near Swaffham, was charged with nine counts of sexual assault in 2007-2010 against a teenage girl which took place in Wirral and North Wales.

Britton was sentenced to nine years in prison today (Thursday February, 6) at Liverpool Crown Court after being convicted and was ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The offences were reported to police in January 2018, following which an investigation was launched.

Speaking after the case, detective constable Kevin Thomas said:

"We are pleased that Britton has been robustly sentenced, following this detailed investigation. The victim in this case has shown immense courage in coming forward, and we hope that this case encourages other victims of sexual offences to speak to police or via dedicated partner agencies.

"We treat all allegations of sexual offences sensitively and with compassion, and our specially trained officers will ensure that victims are listened to, safeguarded and supported every step of what can be a difficult and lengthy process.

"Time is not a barrier to justice, so if anybody else is suffering in silence I want you to know that there is help and support available, both from Merseyside Police, and from reliable and trusted support groups who will stand with you from the initial report and for as long as you need."

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A convicted sex offender who admitted possessing more than 3000 indecent images of children was warned by a judge that custody was on the cards for him.

Peter Hollamby, 32, of Louise Close, Great Yarmouth, admitted breaching his sexual harm prevention order and three charges of downloading indecent images of children when he appeared before Norwich Crown Court.

The court heard that the case involved more than 3000 images which had been downloaded on various devices including a mobile phone and computer tablet.

His case was adjourned for reports and Judge Stephen Holt warned him: 'Custody must be very much on the cards but it will be up to the sentencing judge.'

Chris Youell appeared for the prosecution and Danielle O'Donovan appeared for Hollamby.

Hollamby was given conditional bail and is due to be sentenced on February 4.

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A man, who groomed and sexually assaulted two young girls, has been jailed for 12 years, and given a four year extended licence for the protection of the public.

Benjamin Fish, 38, formerly from North Norfolk, was also placed on the sex offender's register for life and banned from ever working with children.

Fish, of no fixed address, admitted rape and sex assaults on one victim, which began when she was seven years old. He also admitted sex assaults on a second girl.

Andrew Shaw, prosecuting at Norwich Crown Court, said Fish told one of the victims he would kill her if she told anyone about the sex assaults. He said Fish groomed the victim by buying her a number of expensive items.

Mr Shaw said it was only when she was older that she found the courage to come forward and make a complaint about Fish.

In an impact statement, one of the victim's said she still has nightmares about what happened.

Judge Stephen Holt imposed a 16 year extended sentence on Fish jailing him for 12 years and ordering that he be on extended licence for four years on his release for the protection of the public.

He said that Fish had committed a number of serious sex assaults on the two girls and said: 'You groomed them by buying expensive presents such as bags and phones.'

Judge Holt said that one of the victim's, who suffered the most serious assaults, had turned the corner after she came forward to make a complaint: 'Once she had the courage to tell people about what had happened that seemed to help her turn the corner.'

Judge Holt gave Fish credit for his guilty pleas for sparing the victims coming to court.

Michael Clare, for Fish, said he never used any violence and deserved credit for his pleas.

'He has an insight into what he has done and the harm he has caused and is showing genuine remorse.'

He said Fish was showing a willingness to address his problems.