Latest Offenders Norwich

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A man snared by online paedophile hunters posing as 13 and 14-year-old girls has been jailed.

Jamie Overson, 37, groomed what he believed were young girls but were in fact members of a group known as Phoenix Guardians of the Innocent.

Norwich Crown Court heard he communicated with three profiles on Whatsapp, encouraging them to carry out sex acts on themselves and send him pictures.

During online chats during April and May 2021 he shared naked and indecent images of himself with a profile purporting to be a 13-year-old called Charlotte telling her “do not let anyone else see it”.

And another occasion he asked a 13-year-old called Darcey whether she would like to meet up with him in Blackpool. 

The former binman, who now works as a forklift driver, also indulged in obscene chats with what he believed was a 14-year-old called Jade.

He was eventually confronted by members of the paedophile hunter group at his home at Northumberland Street in Norwich. 

 The encounter was streamed live on Facebook and posted on the group’s website. He was arrested by police on June 12 after information was passed to police.  

He pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act.

He also admitted making indecent photographs of a child.

Prosecutors told the court investigations had unearthed evidence of further online chats with profiles of young girls called Abby and Kim, which may have been real teenage girls.

He also attempted to lure one of these to meet him in person in Blackpool.

Jailing him for three years and three months, Judge Alice Robinson imposed a 10 year sexual harm prevent order.

She told Overson he posed a danger to children because of the “rapid escalation in your online conversations including attempts to meet up”.

Matthew McNiff, mitigating, said Overson was a “simple and rather inadequate man” who had an inability to communicate.

“He doesn’t have any friends and leads a rather insular life, living with his mother,” he added. 

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A "dangerous" convicted sex offender who thought he was communicating with teenage girls had been exchanging messages with "decoys" from a paedophile hunter group, a court has heard.

Paul Stone, 50, sent sexual messages online and via WhatsApp to what he thought were two girls under 16.

In fact, they were members of a group of paedophile hunters, who passed the messages on to police, who arrested him.

Norwich Crown Court heard Stone, of Jewson Road, off Palmer Road in the city had been communicating with the decoys between September 1 and September 12, 2022.

Jamie Sawyer, prosecuting, said Stone, a registered sex offender who was being managed by Norfolk Constabulary's public protection unit, had encouraged the decoys to engage in sexual activity and sent pictures and videos of himself to them as well.

He said the "most troubling" aspect of the case involved his previous convictions, which included indecent images offences in 2012 and attempted sexual communication with a child from March this year.

Stone appeared for sentence on Wednesday (November 9) having previously admitted two counts of attempting to cause or incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, against one victim between September 1 and September 12.

He had also pleaded guilty to another offence of attempting to cause or incite a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, against another girl between the same dates.

In addition, Stone had pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements between March 31, 2022, and September 12, 2022, as well as three counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) between the same dates.

Passing an extended sentence of eight years and eight months made up of five years and eight months custody and three years on licence, Judge Alice Robinson said it had been "serious" offending.

Judge Robinson said it was a "particular concern" that he "fell into old habits" and as a result of his "continued and persistent sexual offending" regarded him as a "dangerous" offender who was a significant risk of serious harm to children as a result of sexual offending by him.

Michael Clare, mitigating, said the defendant admitted his offending from the outset and should be given "full credit" for his pleas.

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A sports massage therapist from Wymondham who admitted sexually assaulting two women has been jailed.

Leon Tomasso, age 35, of Papillion Road, Wymondham, appeared at Kings Lynn Crown Court today (Tuesday 30 August 2022) and was jailed for four years.

Tomasso admitted two counts of assault by penetration on two women in November 2019 at an earlier court hearing.

The court heard how Tomasso assaulted the first victim on 19 November 2019 during one of her regular sports massages at a clinic in Acle.

The victim told officers how Tomasso had said he had misread the signs when she challenged him immediately following the assault. Then, when she questioned him over which signs had made him think that was ok, he told her: Im sorry, it was my male urges that took over. It wont happen again.

The following day Tomasso assaulted a second woman during a sports massage at a gym in Norwich. The second victim told officers how Tomasso had said the assault was part of the wind-down and how he thought she would enjoy it, when she challenged him. He later told her he knew hed crossed the line and that hed "let his emotions get away from him.

Both victims reported the assaults to Norfolk Police and Tomasso was arrested at his home on 21 November 2019 and taken to Wymondham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. He was released on police bail and subsequently charged.

In their Victim Personal Statements (VPS), both women described how they are still suffering the effects of the assaults nearly three years later.

The first victim said: I cant even begin to articulate the look on my husbands face when I broke down sobbing and attempted to tell him what had happened.

I have always looked for the good in people, focused on their positivesbut Tomasso has changed me. I now find myself filled with mistrust, wary of mens intentions and fearful of being nice in case its misconstruedand hope that eventually I will come to terms with what has happened, but the impact on me and my life cannot be underestimated.

In her VPS, the second victim said I felt completely violated and distraught. I thought I was supposed to be in a place of safety and respect, but this was not the case.

The last two and half years has caused a lot of stress and heartache, not only for myself but also my family and my fianc. Even though they do not mention it, I still see the sleepless nights and anxiety on their faces. I have become jaded and suspicious of people and that trust in people can be so easily broken.

Detective Constable Hollie Blaker, who led the investigation, said: The victims will never forget what happened, but I hope todays sentence brings some closure to their ordeal. I thank them for their courage in coming forward and for their resilience, strength, and support over the past two-and-a-half years in getting this case to court. They have never wavered, even in spite of the amount of time that has passed since the assaults, and have been supremely brave throughout. I know this has been distressing for them and their loved ones.

Tomasso exploited and abused their trust when they turned to him for help and were at their most vulnerable. Today it is because of the bravery and determination of these women that we have been able to put Tomasso behind bars."

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The bravery of vulnerable women who were sexually assaulted by a Norwich man has been praised by prosecutors.

Stephen Hammond, 59, was branded a high risk dangerous offender as he was jailed for 12 years with an extended period on licence of three years and ordered to serve a minimum of two-thirds of that sentence.

Welcoming the sentence the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said he had sought to ruthlessly exploit women for his own sexual gratification.

Jane Foster, from CPS East of England, said: This was a highly complex and challenging case but working alongside the police I was determined to seek justice and ensure the victims' voices were heard.

I have immense respect for the women who have displayed both courage and resilience to come forward and report what happened to them. I hope that this sentence has brought those affected by this mans actions a sense of justice.

Hammond selectively groomed particularly vulnerable women to follow him to his Dereham Road home, before actively encouraging them to take drugs and alcohol.

Two of the women had been unconscious when he sexually assaulted them while he video recorded one of the attacks.

Three women, two aged 40 and one 51, had been living in sheltered housing with long histories of alcohol or drug abuse and mental health issues.

Additional sex offences relating to a fourth woman were dropped after she was unable to give evidence in court.

The CPS said specialist prosecutors had worked in partnership with the police to build a strong case and the conviction demonstrated that a series of heinous crimes had been committed against the women.

Rape and serious sexual offences are some of the most complex crimes to prosecute but whenever there is sufficient evidence for us to prosecute, we will always seek to do so, they added.

Hammond was found guilty following a retrial of three offences of sexual assault by penetration, one charge of sexual assault and one of voyeurism.

Sentencing Hammond at Norwich Crown Court, Judge Antony Bate also praised the bravery of the women and the dedication of police for their careful investigation in this very sensitive and challenging case.

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Gary Ewing has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of abuse dating back almost 30 years against two victims, who were then both under 13, in the Norwich area. - Credit: Norfolk Constabulary A victim of historic sexual abuse has bravely spoken out to urge others who have been abused in the past to "never give up". Gary Ewing, 57, has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of abuse dating back almost 30 years against two victims, who were both under 13, in the Norwich area. One of the victims, who is now an adult, has spoken out about the abuse she suffered after Ewing was jailed last month to try and help other potential victims find the courage to come forward. She said: "To anybody that this has happened to please never give up. "It has taken me years to come to terms with what happened to me as a child and in the end I just couldnt take the pain anymore. "For years nobody listened to what I had to say but in the end somebody listened and did believe in me and what I said was the truth and did happen. "Please don't be scared to speak up. Whoever hurt you took away things from you that will never be replaced. Please dont let them take away anything else from you." Both victims have been praised by detective constable Holly Beevis for the bravery they showed in standing up in court and describing what they suffered to help secure Ewing's conviction. She said: "It does show that justice can prevail despite several years passing and should assure victims that they will be listened to if they come forward and the police will take their allegations seriously and investigate them fully." Ewing, formerly of Hercules Road, Hellesdon, was jailed after being convicted following a trial at Norwich Crown Court. He was found guilty of multiple offences against the two victims dating back to between 1992 and 1997, including one count of rape, two counts of sex with a girl under 13 and six counts of indecency with a child. Sentencing Ewing, Judge Stephen Holt said his actions were calculated and planned adding that what he did to the victims "stayed with them into their adult life and affected them greatly. Andrew Oliver, for Ewing, said he had not offended prior to these matters or since but knew he was going to serve a substantial custodial sentence.

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A teaching assistant has been jailed for two years and four months after admitting a string of sex offences against children.

The youth worker, originally from Jewson Road, Norwich, was jailed for grooming a boy over the internet, child abduction and sexual assault.

The offences involved four boys in Swaffham and Norwich.

Following the case, Norfolk police urged parents to become more aware of the 'dangers of the online world' and to not be afraid to check their children's social network use.

Reuben Poll used the alias Jordan Green on social network site Facebook to chat to one 11-year-old.

The court heard how he groomed the boy by making sexual comments in private messages.

He encouraged the child to send explicit photos of himself and sent the child pornographic images.

Reuben, who volunteered at a youth club in Swaffham and worked as a teaching assistant at primary schools around Norfolk, then met up with the boy at a park in January this year.

But he was caught after the child's mother became suspicious.

William Carter, prosecuting, told Norwich Crown Court that the 11-year-old's mother noticed a change in his behaviour and discovered the messages from 'Jordan Green' when she checked her child's Facebook account dating back to early December 2012.

She took the laptop to police and Poll was arrested on January 12.

Her son told officers how Poll had 'drawn me in' through the messages in which he claimed he was 16 years old rather than 20.

He told the child: 'I want to be like your big bro and look after you.'

When Poll was arrested by police two boys, aged 12 and 15, were in his white Renault Clio without their parents' consent.

They said they were going to Poll's flat to do some decorating, but the children's parents said they were 'horrified' when told by officers, and Poll admitted two counts of abduction.

He also admitted sexual assault by touching a child at a Swaffham youth club where he volunteered. The case was dismissed by the club when reported by the boy last year as they believed Poll's denial.

Poll will now be placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

Andrew Shaw, mitigating, said Poll had a very troubled upbringing and was 'damaged' and 'confused'.

He is the son of a woman described in court as 'probably Norwich's most notorious prostitute' Carmen Dye. He was taken into foster care aged eight and grew up in Dereham.

But Mr Shaw said that his attempts to get his life on track by becoming a teaching assistant were scuppered when his sister Natasha Dye died from a drugs overdose supplied to her by her mother's partner. He fell into depression and lost his primary school job.