Search results for Northamptonshire

Description

A man who discussed meeting what he thought was a nine-year-old girl for sexual activity was told he was 'very lucky' to be spared from prison.

Struan Taylor, formerly of Victoria Street in Kettering, believed he was speaking to the youngster's mum when he embarked on his sickening chat and thought she would let him abuse her child.

But he had no idea he was communicating with an undercover police officer when he suggested possible locations and sent 'disgusting' pictures.

On Friday at Leicester Crown Court the 24-year-old was handed a suspended sentence and placed on the sex offender register.

Taylor, now of Sutherland Way in Livingston, Scotland, was arrested on January 25, 2022, after sending sexual images of himself and explaining in detail what he wanted to do to the 'child' when they met.

He denied attempting to arrange or facilitate an act which would commission a child sex offence but was found guilty by a jury.

Taylor, who wore a blue suit in the dock, spent about two months in prison on remand before being released on bail ahead of his trial.

The court heard he had claimed he didn't get any sexual gratification - and that his pleasure was that the person he was talking to was able to live out their fantasies.

Sentencing, His Honour Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "The jury said that what you were talking was palpable nonsense.

"What you were doing was living out sexual fantasies and your aim was to meet with a child."

Prosecutor Claire Fraser said there was a significant disparity in age and told the court that sentencing guidelines for the offence said it had a starting point of five years in prison with a range of between four and 10 years.

Defending, Stephen Garbett said no firm meeting was ever arranged and that the chat was always with the 'mother' and not the 'child'.

He said Taylor, who had no previous convictions, was 'horrified' by the messages he had sent.

He said: "He does accept that his behaviour was absolutely inappropriate and the language used was disgusting."

Mr Garbett added that Taylor was a 'very, very changed person' and urged Judge Mooncey to suspend any sentence he passed, acknowledging that it was a 'big ask'.

Mr Garbett said: "He is a person who made a pretty awful mistake."

His Honour Judge Mooncey told Taylor his behaviour was 'worrying' and reduced the sentence from four years in prison to three years because there was no real child.

He then further reduced it to two years because of his mitigation meaning it could be suspended. And he said that, because he had already had a taste of custody and because of the prospect of rehabilitation, that he was willing to suspend the two-year prison term for two years - telling Taylor he was very lucky to have avoided jail by the skin of his teeth.

He told him: "I hope the probation service can work with you and the court will never see you again."

Taylor was ordered to take part in rehabilitation activities and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

He will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for 10 years.

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A Corby paedophile who asked what he thought was a teenage girl to post her knickers to him has appeared before a court again.

Anthony Farrow was jailed for 16 months in 2021 after being caught out in an online sting by paedophile hunters.

As part of his sentence he was also put on the register for sex offenders for 10 years, meaning he must tell police his address, bank account details, whether he lives with a child and passport details, and inform them of any changes of travel plans. Such measures are taken to monitor convicted sex offenders and keep tabs on their whereabouts.

But on November 30 the 34-year-old failed to notify police within seven days of having no fixed address, and weekly thereafter, and he was charged with failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements. Punishments for the offence range between a fine and a maximum of five years in prison.

Last week at Wellingborough Magistrates’ Court he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a fine of £100, as well as being ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £40.

At a previous hearing Northampton Crown Court had heard that Farrow sent sick messages to a Facebook user, who he thought was aged 13, and encouraged them to perform sex acts.

He also tried to video call them and sent a lewd image of himself. But after giving them his address to send their underwear to a paedophile hunter group turned up at his door – because he had been unknowingly talking to them all along.

The pervert had also messaged another paedophile hunter decoy profile of a 13-year-old girl and asked her questions about her underwear. When he was confronted by the paedophile hunter group he admitted contacting 10 children in total.

The court also previously heard that, despite admitting three child sex offences, he was reluctant to accept his offending was sexually motivated.

Farrow is also currently subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years, with restrictions on his contact with children and internet use.

Description

A Wellingborough man has been imprisoned on the Falkland Islands after he admitted sexually abusing children there. Officials obtained an extradition order to return Ryan Martin Elstow to the island to face justice.

However, the former RAF serviceman voluntarily travelled the 8,000 miles to the British overseas territory and pleaded guilty to a number of offences against children. His lawyer said his actions displayed "rank indifference" to his victims' suffering.

Elstow, 35, is believed to have returned to Northamptonshire in recent years to start a new life. However, following an investigation by the Royal Falkland Islands Police, he was charged last year with eight counts of 'sexual activity with a child', contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

In April last year, officials formerly requested the UK extradite Elstow so he could stand trial. But he voluntarily returned to the Falklands and appeared in the islands' only magistrate's court where he pleaded guilty to seven of the offences, denying the eighth related charge.

Senior Magistrate Malcolm Simmons found him guilty of that offence in November. Elstow was sentenced in the same court last Wednesday, January 11, to a total of seven years imprisonment

Speaking at the sentencing, Elstow's lawyer, James Ross, admitted his client's behaviour displayed "rank indifference to the suffering of others", according to Penguin News. However, in mitigation, Mr Ross said said Elstow had pleaded guilty to seven of the counts, had volunteered to appear in court and had "experienced real trauma" while serving with the RAF in Afghanistan.

A spokesperson from the Falkland Islands Prosecution Service told NorthantsLive: "The defendant will serve his sentence in His Majestys Prison Stanley and is likely to be deported to the United Kingdom at the conclusion of the sentence." The islands' prison population is in single figures.

Description

A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years and two months after he was found guilty of sex offences against a child.

In 2012, Matthew Bell, previously of Daventry, then aged 22, met the 14-year-old girl at a youth centre.

On numerous occasions for a period of two years, he sexually assaulted her at a number of locations, including at his home address.

In 2020, the woman came forward to report what had happened to her and an investigation was launched.

Bell was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of sexual activity by penetration with a girl aged 14/15. At Northampton Crown Court on October 15, 2022, he was found guilty of both offences by a jury and was sentenced at the same court today (November 28) to nine years and two months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Cory Wise, said: “The woman in this case has suffered with the memories of this abuse for many years and I am so pleased for her that she has seen justice done and Matthew Bell recognised for the sexual offender he is.

“At only 14-years-old, this girl was unable to consent to a sexual relationship and it is important to make this point very clear. Bell knew exactly how young she was and yet still pursued her, grooming and manipulating her.  

“Bell will now spend a significant period of time in prison and I hope this case demonstrates what happens to adults who think it is acceptable to form “relationships” with children. It is a crime, it will always be a crime, and every single ounce of the blame lies with the offender.

“This woman can be proud that her bravery has seen justice done and I hope she can now move forward with her life following the conclusion of this case.

“Northamptonshire Police takes cases like these extremely seriously – we will believe you and we will do everything we can to bring your offender to justice.”

Description

A Rothwell paedophile was caught asking ‘underage girls’ for naked pictures – two weeks AFTER admitting to police that he had been ‘doing bad things’.

Lloyd Bishop was already under investigation when he sent sexual messages to the Facebook profiles of young girls, including one who said she was aged just 12.

But all along he was speaking to paedophile hunters and on Monday (August 8) he was jailed for 44 weeks.

Northampton Crown Court heard the 29-year-old was initially taken into custody on April 13 over an unrelated matter and was asked to give police his mobile phone.

But he refused, telling officers: “I have been doing bad things.”

He said he talked to underage girls but then gave a prepared statement where he denied sexual communication with children. Bishop, formerly of Bridge Street in Rothwell, was released under investigation while his phone was examined.

But just two weeks later, on April 27, police were informed that he had sent explicit messages to people who he thought were children. They were in fact decoy profiles set up by those trying to snare online child sex offenders.

Prosecutor Wayne Cleaver said that Bishop first contacted a profile for ‘Rosie’, who said she was 12, on Facebook Messenger. At 7.45am on April 25 she told him she was doing school work. Bishop said she was cute and that if she was older he would ‘ask her out’.

When she asked if he wanted to be her boyfriend he said: “Yeah, you can trust me. It stays between us, no-one need know.”

Bishop promised that one day they would meet up before the messages gradually became more sexual in content. He told her he would like to perform a sex act on her, sent her a lewd picture of himself and asked for naked pictures of her in return.

The following day he messaged the profile of ‘Stacy’, who he thought was another underage girl.

Mr Cleaver said that Bishop asked if she would send naked pictures, bragged about having sex with a 14-year-old girl when he was 18 and sent a topless picture of himself in his room.

The court heard he had saved Stacy’s number in his contacts as ‘best mate’.

Bishop, who appeared over videolink from HMP Peterborough, later admitted two charges attempted sexual communication with a child. He had been given a suspended sentence on April 16 for possessing a knife.

Mitigating, Pree Brada said that Bishop had mental health difficulties, a personality disorder, ADHD and lifelong DiGeorge Syndrome. She said he moved to supported living accommodation in Rothwell in 2020 after spending nine years as an inpatient, that there was a ‘breakdown in support’ and that he had been taken advantage of by other residents.

She said: "The court can give him another chance by passing a non-custodial sentence.”

But Recorder John Benson QC said the offences were so serious that he could not impose a community order.

Bishop will serve half of his 44-week sentence in custody before being released on licence.

A sexual harm prevention order was made for 10 years, restricting his use of the internet and contact with children, and he will be on the register for sex offenders for 10 years.

Description

A SEX offender arrived at Durham Railway Station expecting to meet a 14-year-old girl, with whom he believed he had been in communication, for a planned sexual encounter.

James Loades, 31, travelled from Northamptonshire, on March 2, and on arrival at the station sent a message to the girl saying he would visit her at home for a, kiss and cuddle, asking if she a virgin.

Durham Crown Court heard that in reality the girl did not exist and, unknown to Loades, he had been chatting with a decoy profile set up online by a woman posing as the 14-year-old.

As he sat waiting to meet the girl, police, who had been alerted, attended and he was arrested.

The court heard the planned visit took place less than three weeks after Loades release from a previous 14-month prison sentence for attempted sexual communication with a child.

Following his release, on licence, on February 11, he was visited by a police public protection officer and served with a copy of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) he was subject to, reminding him he was forbidden from having any contact with underage children.

But within days he was chatting to what he thought were two different girls, aged 14 and 13, as well as what was thought to be an actual girl, but who has not been traced.

One supposed 13-year-old, Lola, who accepted a friends request on February 25, was immediately flattered by Loades, who told her she would look good, in heels.

He offered to visit her to stay in a hotel and asked her to perform a sex act on herself, advising her to go into her mothers bedroom and find a sex toy, as well as sending the girl sexual images.

The court heard there was no actual attempt, by the time of his arrest, to meet this girl, while there was also messaging with another decoy, Hannah Smith, at about the same time.

In each case the girl would immediately tell Loades her age, and he responded that he was 31.

Loades told Hannah that girls her age were having sex and asking to see what underwear she was wearing.

The defendant, of Kettering, Northamptonshire, admitted four breaches of a SHPO, three counts each of attempting to cause/incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, plus a single count of attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming.

Lewis Kerr, for Loades, said it had to be remembered the offences were classed as attempts as all but one of the would-be victims did not exist.

But Judge James Adkin said: Its pretty obvious what his intention was being at Durham.

Hes done just about everything he could to commit them, by meeting with this girl, albeit, it wasnt a child.

Judge Adkin said his pre-sentence Probation Service report flagged up pretty serious concerns about his entrenched behaviour.

Addressing Loades, Judge Adkin said: I take the view theres significant risk of you committing further specified sexual offences.

It must be observed, especially as this was so soon after your release, you seem unable to resist the compulsion to offend.

Due to that risk of causing serious harm to children the judge imposed a five-year and four-month prison sentence, with an extended licence period of three years.

His requirement to register as a sex offender and SHPO restrictions both continue for life.

Description

A Wellingborough sex offender who was banned from contacting anyone under 16 has been jailed after chatting to girls at the Swansgate Shopping Centre.

Bradley Coulson, 21, was given a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) on July 7, 2020, after Northamptonshire Police brought a civil case against him because of concerns about his behaviour.

He was forced to abide by a number of conditions, including having no contact with anyone under the age of 16.

Breaching the terms of a SHPO is a criminal offence which is punishable by prison and almost 18 months on he was arrested for doing just that.

On the afternoon of November 7 last year he was spotted speaking to a group of girls aged between 11 and 13 at the towns Swansgate Shopping Centre.

Coulson pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching his SHPO and was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court last week (April 29) to one year and six months in prison.

PC Andy Glover from Northamptonshire Polices MOSOVO team said: We take the management of sex offenders extremely seriously in this force they are very closely monitored and any breaches are dealt with swiftly.

If a breach is identified there are no second chances and just like Bradley Coulson offenders will be sent to prison.

I hope this case demonstrates our commitment to keeping the public of Northamptonshire safe and to bringing sex offenders to justice.

If you have concerns about someones behaviour report it to police by calling 101.

Description

A Great Oakley paedophile who drove to Milton Keynes thinking he would sexually abuse three children has been branded a dangerous predator.

Allan Robins, 69, was jailed for five years and seven months last month, as first reported by the Northants Telegraph.

He bragged about having sex with a young girl during a week-long online chat, telling a woman what he wanted to do to her children, aged as young as two.

Robins drove 40 miles to the Buckinghamshire town with condoms after arranging to meet them but it was a police sting.

Today (April 12) detective sergeant Helena Congreve, from Northamptonshire Police's POLIT Team, said: I welcome the sentence handed out to Allan Robins as he has shown himself to be a dangerous predator who was willing to meet a child as young as two in order to sexually abuse them.

I hope this case shows the proactivity with which we treat child sex offences that we will not wait for cases to come to us but that we will use various tactics to catch people like Allan Robins and bring them to justice.

Northampton Crown Court heard Robins, formerly of Pound Close, was using online chat room Chatiw when he began speaking to Lucy on December 13 last year.

He said he liked young girls and was having sex with one. Lucy told him about her three children a two-year-old girl, a seven-year-old boy and an autistic nine-year-old girl. None of the children were real.

Prosecuting, Micaila Williams said: It's plain Robins is interested in the nine-year-old girl, asking if she has had sex yet."

The paedophile suggested a meeting and asked for Lucys phone number before calling her.

He asked her when she was next in Milton Keynes and offered to drive over to meet them on December 20.

The court heard that, when asked what he wanted to do, he described a lewd act with the children aged two and seven.

Ms Williams added: "[He said he] would like to have full sex with the nine-year-old and offered to bring condoms."

He drove to a pre-arranged location in Milton Keynes and texted Lucy to say he was there and had decamped from his motorhome.

Police, who had been running the sting under the code name Operation Jenson, then swooped in and arrested him.

The court heard he made comments suggesting he had been set up and had been a 'bloody idiot'.

When police searched his home they a Scout scarf, baby rattle, sex toys and viagra in a bedroom cabinet.

When interviewed he admitted he had spoken to Lucy online but claimed he was trying to uncover the actions of a paedophile.

Ms Williams said: "He said he had been horrified by what he had heard online and went to the location to find the people and report them to the police."

The paedophile denied he had a sexual interest in children but later admitted three charges of arranging or facilitating a child sex offence.

Robins will serve half of his sentence behind bars before being released on licence.

He will be on the register for sex offenders and subject to a sexual harm prevention order for life.

Description

A paedophile from Rushden has been sentenced to prison at Northampton Crown Court today (Wednesday, September 16).

Philip Jackson, 32, formerly of Rushden, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for sexually assaulting a young girl in April 2019.

He showed no remorse and forced the case to go to trial, making the child take the stand and give evidence.

Jackson was unanimously found guilty at Northampton Crown Court in August.

Lead Investigator, Detective Constable Paul Lilley, from Northamptonshire Polices Child Protection Team, said: I hope Jacksons punishment brings some closure for this young girl and her family and I am pleased this individual will now serve time behind bars for his actions.

Northamptonshire Police takes reports of sexual assault very seriously and will always treat reports of this nature with the confidentiality and sensitivity they deserve.

At the time of the guilty verdict, DC Lilley described Jackson as a remorseless liar who had repeatedly tried to discredit the account of the young girl.

DC Lilley said: Im very pleased that the jury saw through his lies and as a result, a dangerous paedophile who no doubt poses a risk to children going forward, has been convicted.

What is most incredible about this case is the bravery of the young girl who stood up in court and gave evidence.

I hope Jacksons conviction brings some closure to this young girl and her family who throughout the investigation and trial have shown great courage and dignity.

Jackson was also handed a 10-month Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Description

A Corby paedophile who downloaded 5,000 vile images of children failed in a last-minute bid to keep his identity secret.

Alexander Bailey, 56, made an application before Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (Thursday) to prevent the Northants Telegraph from reporting his name.

His legal representative Caroline Stewart said he was vulnerable and "incredibly concerned about repercussions" - but Judge Crane blocked the request because it did "not amount to good reason", citing the principle of open justice.

The court heard police, acting on intelligence, raided his York Road home at about 10am on November 26, 2016.

They seized two laptops and found thousands of images of child abuse dating from between May 2014, including some depicting babies and toddlers.

In total 5,150 files were recovered - 543 in category A (the most severe), 643 in category B and 3,964 in category C. Of those files more than 350 were videos. Search terms also recovered showed evidence he had been seeking images of young boys.

When he was interviewed Bailey admitted viewing the images and said he had been doing it for years.

Prosecuting, Ben Gow said: "He said he did not get any sexual gratification from them and he said he was not sure why he kept them."

The paedophile said he had been on a Russian website and had been "bombarded" with images.

He also admitted getting rid of a hard drive just weeks before he was arrested. He later pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one charge involving extreme pornography at Northampton Magistrates' Court.

Mitigating, Ms Stewart said Bailey had since stopped using the internet as much as possible.

She added: "This is one of those cases where there is a sufficient prospect of rehabilitation."

Sentencing, Judge Crane told the disgraced paedophile: "You have denied a sexual interest in children...it seems to me that you are not being honest with yourself."

Bailey was sentenced to a three-year community order with rehabilitation requirements.

He must take part in the Horizon programme, a scheme designed for sex offenders, and has been barred from working with children.

He will also be on the register for sex offenders for five years and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years.

Description

A sex pest who has "repeatedly proven he is a danger to women" has been jailed again.

Richard Enderby Hall-Trafford, 24, was jailed for 34 weeks last year after he admitted sexually assaulting two women, flashing at a jogger and performing a sex act in public in Corby.

He was deemed so dangerous magistrates banned him from approaching, touching or attempting to engage with any unknown female for five years through a sexual harm prevention order.

But on May 23, just months after he was released from prison, he sexually assaulted another woman in Spencer Street, Burton Latimer.

He admitted sexual assault and breaching the order by touching his victim and he has now been jailed for 18 weeks.

A further two weeks in prison was added to his sentence because he failed to meet supervision requirements after he was released earlier this year, meaning his risk was "unmanageable", making his total sentence 20 weeks behind bars.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: We are pleased to see Richard Hall-Trafford given time behind bars as he has repeatedly proven that he is a danger to women.

Everyone in this world deserves the right to go about their business without fear of being approached inappropriately and Hall-Trafford has continuously threatened that right.

Northamptonshire Police is committed to taking action against sex offenders and we hope that Hall Traffords conviction demonstrates that commitment.

As part of his sentence Hall-Trafford, of Dumble Close in Corby, will also be on the register for sex offenders for seven and must not contact his most recent victim because of a restraining order.

The pervert must also pay his victim 200 in compensation, court costs of 145 and a surcharge to fund victim services of 128.

Description

A vile sex offender who forced his way into a woman's house in Kettering and assaulted her has been sent to jail for six years.

Luke Easton, aged 28, of Westfields Road, Corby, pleaded guilty to the sexual assault and was sentenced today (Friday, November 16) at Leicester Crown Court.

Easton forced his way into the home of a woman in Kettering on July 8, 2018, and sexually assaulted her.

He will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

Description

Philip Allen, who has since been fired from his job at Shenley Brook End School, is a prominent figure in religious education nationally and has written frequently for the Times Educational Supplement.

48-year-old married man from Potterspury, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to six charges of making indecent images of children and a charge of possessing prohibited images.

He admitted possessing 172 ‘category A’ indecent images of children, the most extreme kind. He also admitted having 46 category B images and 37 of category C.

Prosecuting, Jerena Tomaszewska said Allen’s crimes were uncovered after police seized his electronic devices in June during a raid on his house.

She said: “Images were found on a laptop and individual images found on an external hard drive.

“The report shows that some of the images were also backed up from the defendant’s iPad.”

Allen had been a member of the TES teacher panel and a national TES advisor for key stage 4 religious studies.

He was bailed under a condition he could not come into unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 18.

Presiding magistrate Diana Whittaker told Allen: “Our powers of sentencing are insufficient for you, these charges are too serious.”

She referred Allen to Crown Court and he faces up to a year in prison.

Description

A former policeman who committed a string of sex offences against children, including one in Warwickshire, has been jailed for life after a judge described him as "every parent's worst nightmare".

A former policeman who committed a string of sex offences against children, including one in Warwickshire, has been jailed for life after a judge described him as "every parent's worst nightmare".

Daniel Lishman used jobs as a mobile dog-groomer and a TV licensing officer to help him carry out at least eight offences and also posed as a policeman to indecently assault two young girls, Coventry Crown Court heard.

The serial paedophile was arrested in April last year after attacking a 12-year-old girl while pretending to check on a boiler at an address in Southam, Warwickshire.

Judge Peter Carr ordered the 37-year-old, of Raunds, Northamptonshire, to serve at least 11 years before he can be considered for parole.

Lishman was convicted at previous hearings of a total of 26 counts and asked for four others to be considered.

The charges, including one of rape and 12 of sexual assault, related to a total of 13 victims, including three with disabilities or learning difficulties, as well as hundreds of indecent images of children.

Judge Carr was told that Lishman, who served with Northamptonshire Police between 1995 and 2002, was linked to a string of offences in Northamptonshire, separate from the Warwickshire case, after detectives who arrested him found a camera memory card hidden in one of his socks.