Latest Offenders Sheffield

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A Sheffield child sex offender who bragged about being too clever for the police has now been jailed.

Luke Whitfield was arrested by officers after they received information about him and they went on to analyse his digital devices. The police found they contained more than 100 indecent images of children.

South Yorkshire Police also say the 34-year-old man had shown another man evidence of conversations with underage girls and a number of photos of young children. Chats also showed he had arranged to meet one underage child.

The police say he laughed and asked "how old do you think they are?". He also said he had "downloaded multiple photos and videos".

Whitfield, who was previously of Grimesthorpe Road in Sheffield, showed another man a video, telling him it was "our little secret", before he boasted of being "too clever for the police". During questioning by officers, he claimed he had been "set up" and he denied arranging to meet an underage child despite the evidence on his phone.

He then pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and 13 counts of attempting to incite or engage in sexual communication with a child.

Whitfield was jailed for five years and nine months at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday, March 14. He has also been subjected to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and must sign the Sex Offenders' Register.

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Phillip Grove, aged 70 from Sheffield who lived in Taunton at the time of the incidents, was jailed at Taunton Crown Court on Friday 23 February after being found guilty of 15 charges linked to non-recent sexual offences, including rape.

During a trial at the same court, which is currently residing at North Somerset Courthouse, a jury found Grove guilty of two counts of rape, 10 counts of indecency with a child and three counts of indecent assault.

They heard how, in the 1990s while in the volunteer position of Chief Petty Officer at a Sea Cadet group, he raped one of the victims, sexually assaulted another and was indecent in front of two other victims. The incidents happened over a span of six years.

In September 2020, one of the victims reported what had happened to her and the other children to police and an investigation into Grove was launched.

On Friday, he was jailed for 22 years, one year of which will be spent on extended licence. The judge also granted a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order and instructed Grove to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

He was also barred from working with children.

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A paedophile teacher has been jailed after raping 12-year-old schoolgirl in a hotel and spending 500 on her in a toy shop.

Simon Murch, from Sheffield, met his victim online after she told him she was aged 18, when in fact she was aged 12, a court heard.

The 55-year-old asked her to send explicit photos and they arranged to meet at The Tollgate Hotel in Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent.

Prosecutors say he would have known instantly that the girl was underage when he picked her up in his car a short distance from her home.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard she stayed in the car while he booked the room before they went inside and engaged in sexual activity. He then indulged her with 500 worth of toys at Smyths.

Murch was arrested after the girl reported his actions to another schoolteacher. He has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years with an extended licence period of one year.

Prosecutor Tim Harrington told the court the defendant contacted his victim on WhatsApp last year after their communication began on a website.

He said: 'He asked if she wanted him to be her sugar daddy. She told him she was 18 and doing her A-levels. He asked her to send pictures of her private area. She sent videos of herself performing a sex act.

'They arranged to meet in Stoke-on-Trent. He booked a room at The Tollgate Hotel. At that stage he may not have known her true age.'

Mr Harrington continued: 'He asked if she was on the pill. He picked her up in his car a short distance from her house.

'As soon as they met he would have known she was underage. He went in to book the room on his own. She stayed in the car. He did not want to cause alarm to anybody. It would have been plain to anybody she would have been underage. There is an element of significant planning.

'They went into the hotel. He took off her clothes. They had full intercourse. After they had full sex he took her to Smyths toy shop where he spent 500 on her.'

The court heard the victim told a teacher that she had a sugar daddy. Her parents and the police were then informed.

Murch, of Parkside Road, Hillsborough, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to rape of a child under 13.

Alisdair Williamson KC, mitigating, said Murch's mum had died shortly before his offending and his sister had taken her own life. Mr Williamson said: 'He was in a state of emotional turmoil.'

He said the victim represented herself to be aged 18 at all times. Mr Williamson added: 'She continued to represent herself as 18 after the hotel and he believed her to be 18.

'When he went to the toy shop after with the victim he was told that was to buy presents for the victim's younger sister.

'It is devastating for the victim. It has ruined his life as well. He has learned a salutary lesson and will respond properly to the courses that may be available to him in custody.

'His life is in ashes. He must rebuild himself. He apologises to the victim and her family, through me.'

Judge Graeme Smith said: 'Because of problems in your relationship with your partner you began communicating with adult females over the internet, exchanging photos and images and meeting some for sex. One was this victim.

'You asked if she wanted you to be her sugar daddy. You sent her money and you exchanged pornographic images with her.

'It would have been plain when you met her that she was significantly younger than 18. You simply carried on. As a teacher you should have been alert to the risks. When you met her it was plain she was not an adult.'

Murch must serve two-thirds of the custodial sentence before he can be considered for release by the parole board. He was placed on the sex offenders' register for life and was made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Jordan Kirkland, from Staffordshire Police's Child Protection and Exploitation Team (CPET), said: 'I'd like to commend the survivor in this case and her family for their immense bravery in coming forward and telling us what Murch did.

'We are committed to working with our partners to robustly target those engaged in child sexual abuse and supporting survivors as much as possible.

'I want this case to serve as a reminder to anyone who may be a victim of sexual abuse, no matter how recent, that getting in touch with us is the first step to securing justice. Specialist officers can speak to you in confidence and stop those responsible.'

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A Sheffield man has been jailed for eight and a half years after raping a 12-year-old girl in a local park.

Sheffield Crown Court heard how 21-year-old Lewis Stacey deceived the young girl over Snapchat messages by using a false name and convincing her he was 15-years-old.

The victim initially met Stacey in June 2022, and during the meeting he raped her twice. Stacey then arranged to meet the girl again in a park in July 2022, where he led her into some bushes and raped her again.

Detective Constable Jason Earl, officer in the case, said: The young victim very bravely came forward and reported to the police what Stacey had done to her.

Upon his arrest, Stacey initially denied having ever met the victim and only entered a guilty plea when forensic evidence proved he was responsible for the offences.

This incident has had a profound effect on the victim and I would like to praise her for the tremendous courage and dignity she has shown throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

I am pleased that Stacey is behind bars where he can do no further harm, and I hope this sentencing allows the victim to attempt to move forward with her life.

South Yorkshire Police takes all reports of rape extremely seriously and will work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.

Stacey, of Richmond Hall Road, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on 6 October 2023, where he pleaded guilty to four counts of rape of a child under 13.

On Thursday 8 February he was sentenced to eight and half years in prison, given a fifteen year restraining order restricting him from contacting the victim, and handed and given an eight and half years sexual harm prevention order starting upon his release from prison.

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A 23-year-old man has been jailed after climbing through a bedroom window late at night and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl while she slept.

Bohuslav Horvath used a ladder to climb through the upstairs window of a house in Darnall, in Sheffield, and then crept into the next bedroom, where the young girl was sleeping.

When she woke up and found Horvath assaulting her, he fled to the other room and jumped out of the open window.

It was initially thought the 12-year-old had a bad nightmare, but his fingerprints were later discovered on the bedroom windowsill.

PC Fiona Busfield said: "This case is truly the stuff of nightmares and I would like to commend the young victim and her family for their bravery and dignity during this investigation.

"After Horvath fled, the girl went downstairs at around midnight to tell her mother, who was still up, what had happened. After searching the house and finding no sign of the offender, they concluded it must have been a terrible dream.

"However, when the young victim continued to show signs of distress the next day, a report was made to the police. On arrival, we found a ladder lying on the grass in the back garden and later confirmed this had been used to climb into the first floor of the house.

"Our SOCO (scenes of crime officer) carried out a number of enquiries and discovered two fingerprints, which we quickly matched to Horvath. He was promptly arrested. In interview, he admitted using the ladder to climb into the house but denied touching the young girl. We knew this was untrue and despite it being 'one word against another', the evidence on board ensured this dangerous predator had no choice but to plead guilty."

Horvath of Basford Street, Sheffield, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault by touching and burglary in relation to the attack on 15 May last year.

He has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and has been subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, a restraining order and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

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A Sheffield man has been found guilty of two child sex offences.

Nathan Walker, 35, previously of Sicey Avenue in the Firth Park area of the city, was found guilty of sexual offences against a schoolgirl following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court last week.

The first offence happened when his victim was just 14 years old and she was left to feel "disgusted" by what happened to her.

PC Elisabeth Slack, investigating, said: "Walker's offending was sinister and manipulative. He took advantage of a young girl who was so terrified she felt that she had to suffer in silence and couldn't speak out about what happened. 

"No child should be subjected to the abuse she suffered at such a young age, and I want to commend her bravery and courage in coming forward and telling us about the traumatic events inflicted on her by Walker.

"We are pleased a guilty verdict has been returned and we hope the sentence he receives reflects the severity of the crimes he has committed."

Following a trial, a jury found Walker guilty of two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child at Sheffield Crown Court last Monday (9 October).

He was found not guilty on another count of engaging in sexual activity with a child. Walker has been remanded into custody and is due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on 1 December for sentencing.

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A self-confessed "monster" who raped a woman at knifepoint only admitted his crimes once his victims had already given evidence in a sex abuse trial.

David Gillespie, 71, finally entered guilty pleas on the third day of his trial in September, and on Friday, was jailed for 14 years.

Gillespie, of Convent Walk, Sheffield, was arrested back in 2020 and maintained his denials until the prosecution were allowed to put evidence of his appalling previous convictions before the jury.

Bradford Crown Court heard on Friday that in the mid 1980s he hit a woman with a bottle before subjecting her to a knifepoint rape and Recorder Simon Kealey KC also referred to other assaults on Gillespie’s record which he committed against other women over the subsequent years.

Gillespie eventually pleaded guilty to charges of buggery, assault and three indecent assaults relating to his two victims, who must not be identified for legal reasons.

The court heard that the non-recent offending led to the victims having to leave the area in order to escape Gillespie’s abuse and violence.

In their victim impact statements, read by prosecutor David McGonigal, the women described how they suffered anxiety and nightmares as a result of the abuse and both said they spent years “looking over their shoulders” in case he was there.

One victim said: ”I’m angry he made me go through this (in court) only to plead guilty afterwards.”

Barrister Katy Rafter, for Gillespie, said her client had reflected on the victims’ evidence to the jury and the next morning he told her he accepted that he had been “a monster” when in drink as a younger man and couldn’t dispute what they had described. She said Gillespie had been in the grip of alcohol and gambling addictions at the time and he was now deeply ashamed of himself.

Ms Rafter said due to his age and ill-health it was highly likely that Gillespie would never be released from prison.

Passing sentence Recorder Kealey referred to the violence meted by Gillespie including punching and kicking and even putting a wire round one complainant’s neck. He said: “She was often left bruised, battered and humiliated by you."

The judge said the offending had caused panic attacks and anxiety for both complainants and added: ”What you have done to both of them has been long-lasting and severe. You accept that you were at that time a monster in drink and that at least presents to your victims, who are listening to this, a very small element of remorse.”

Gillespie will have to serve two-thirds of his 14-year sentence before being released and he will have to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life.

He must also comply with a restraining order which bans any contact with the two complainants.

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Fernando Camutari, 41, lured his 21-year-old victim back to his home in Sheffield after a night out in the early hours of June 8, 2019.

She was able to call 999 on the rapist’s phone and she could be heard on the call pleading with Camutari to stop.

Police raced to the home on Mordaunt Road and arrested him as he and the victim were leaving the property.

Camutari denied the allegations throughout. At first he insisted the woman hadn’t been inside the house, despite CCTV showing them going in together.

He then denied any sexual activity had taken place – but forensic evidence proved otherwise.

Camutari was charged in 2020 with one count of rape and two of sexual assault.

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A sex offender has been jailed for a string of crimes relating to children after posing as a Sheffield doctor.

Andrew Dalby was arrested by officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary, following an operation to identify offenders targeting vulnerable children online.

The 42-year-old from Gleadless, Sheffield, was jailed for more than six years after admitting sexual offences relating to children, after an operation looking into offenders in chat rooms and on social media.

Between October 20, 2022, and December 10. 2022, officers from the Child Online Safeguarding Team (COST) monitored Dalby chatting to what he thought was a 14-year-old boy, whilst claiming to be a 30-year-old doctor working in the Sheffield area.

As the conversations progressed, Dalby offered to meet the ‘boy’ offering him a health check. The nature of the chat then became sexual with Dalby booking a hotel room in St Albans so they could spend the night together.

Dalby travelled to St Albans where he was arrested by officers at the hotel he had booked. A search of his car revealed he had brought items including condoms and medical equipment. He was charged and remanded to prison whilst the investigation continued.

Checks on his phone and computer revealed further victims in Hull, Great Yarmouth, Birmingham and South Wales, who were spoken to by specialist COST officers.

Dalby admitted 10 charges. They were attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child; arranging the commission of a child sex offence; three charges of causing a child to engage in sexual activity; four charges of sexual communication with a child; one charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Dalby was remanded to prison and appeared at St Albans Crown Court on May 26, 2023. He was jailed for six years, nine months.

Det Sgt Jim Miller from the COST team said: “This was a very successful operation which has removed a dangerous sexual predator off the streets.

“However, I am mindful that there could still be other victims that we are not aware of, and I am keen to hear from anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Andrew Dalby or who knows of anyone who may have been targeted by him. You will be fully supported by specially trained officers.”

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A 60-year-old man who sexually abused a child over a number of years has been jailed for 20 years this week.

Roger Allen appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday (9 May) where he was sentenced to two decades behind bars, after admitting a litany of child sexual offences including numerous counts of sexual activity with a child, multiple counts of rape, as well as making indecent images of children and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Allen’s victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, came forward to police to report years of horrific sexual offending. Allen was arrested and when his property was searched, a number of devices containing indecent images and videos of children were found.

Detective Constable Jason Earl from Sheffield’s Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team said: “I wish to take this opportunity, at the conclusion of legal proceedings, to commend the bravery of the victim in this case. They have shown immense courage in coming forward to report years of horrific sexual abuse, then demonstrated enormous strength throughout the investigation. It is my belief that had they not come forward when they did, Allen’s serious sexual abuse would likely have continued.

“It cannot be underestimated the significant toll that child sexual abuse has on victims – it irreparably changes a child’s life and in this case, Allen took full advantage for his own disgraceful sexual criminality.

“While he has pleaded guilty to numerous sexual offences and now faces a lengthy period of time in prison, he has shown little-to-no remorse or acknowledgement for the pain and suffering he has caused to his victim. I truly hope now Allen has been sentenced and is behind bars for his awful crimes, the victim feels able to take a step forward in their journey towards recovery and healing.”

Allen, formerly of Abbey Brook Gardens, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to 16 offences: four counts of sexual activity with a child; two counts of rape; three counts of making indecent photographs of a child; one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child; one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity; one count of causing a child to watch a sexual act; one count of attempted rape; one count of assault by penetration; one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent; and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

In addition to the 20-year prison sentence, Allen was handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

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A Sheffield man has been jailed after sexually abusing a child during their sleep.

Edem Sutton assaulted a boy while he fell asleep watching a film, Sheffield Crown Court heard. The 33-year-old South Yorkshire man groomed his victim for months by buying him gifts, taking him on bike rides, and speaking to him on social media.

He manipulated the victim into staying at his home in October 2019 before the sickening assault. The victim, who has anonymity for life, told officers that after the assault, Sutton sent messages warning him not to tell anyone what had happened.

Sutton, of Lupton Road, Sheffield, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court. He appeared before the court again on Tuesday April 25 and was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. He was also placed on the sex offender’s register for 15 years.

Investigating Officer Detective Lindsey Fishwick said: "I would like to thank the victim for the bravery he has shown throughout this investigation. Sutton maintained his innocence throughout the trial and I am pleased that the jury saw through his lies.

"I hope the sentence handed out to Sutton today will help the victim as he moves forward with his life."

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Alan Beecroft first began abusing his victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, while she was aged under 10 years old.

Detective Constable Helen Timms, from Sheffield’s Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team, said: “The victim in this case has demonstrated exceptional courage in sharing with police details of the horrific abuse she suffered as a young child.

“Sexual abuse can have a significant and lasting impact on its victims, indeed the victim in this case was so traumatised by her abuse that she felt she couldn’t tell anyone what was happening.

“It was only in 2021, when Beecroft was jailed for sexual offences committed against other children, that the victim felt able to disclose his awful crimes. She has shown incredible strength throughout our investigation and the legal process and I am pleased that we have been able to secure justice for her.”

Beecroft, already serving a jail term at Marsh Gate prison, Doncaster, for other offences, was convicted of 11 counts of indecent assault at Sheffield Crown Court.

Last month he was sentenced to a further six years and nine months in prison. This will run concurrently to his existing prison term of four years.

DC Timms added: “I hope this case further highlights to the public how committed we are to securing justice for victims of sexual abuse, irrespective of when that abuse took place.”

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One of two courageous victims who were abused by a jailed sex-offender has told how his abuser smashed a child’s trust into pieces.

Following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court, Louis Maidment, formerly of Hinde House Lane, Sheffield, was found guilty of four counts of raping a child aged under 13 and one count of inciting a child aged under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and on April 4 he was sentenced to nine years of custody.

In July 2019, the abuse was reported to the police and 28-year-old Maidment was questioned and despite denying the offences he was later found guilty of all five charges laid against him.

In a victim impact statement read in court, one of the victims said: “As a child I have gravitated towards those who I have needed support from as and when I needed it. What happened to me, made me question this and how I could keep myself safe.

“The whole thing has made me question my self-worth right to adulthood. I just hope I can gain some closure now from this and move forward.”

The second victim added: “Due to the events that transpired with Maidment I have suffered immensely for years. I find it’s very difficult for me to form meaningful connections with people. I can’t trust anybody anymore and see them as potential threats.

“He controlled, humiliated, and harmed me physically and mentally. I hope he learns that his actions have consequences and that no one should ever have to be subjected to that abuse.”

South Yorkshire Police also stated that one of the two victims who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Louis Maidment also stated: “He took a child’s trust and smashed it into pieces.”

Detective Sergeant Susannah Taylor, who led the investigation, said: “These victims had their childhood stripped away from them due to Maidment’s actions and on top of the sexual abuse he put them through, he also used physical violence to further scare them.

“I am pleased to see Maidment has been jailed for his appalling actions, and I hope his victims can begin to move forward now he is behind bars.”

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A paedophile who arranged to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old boy for sex has been jailed.

William Grassby was handed the two year term at Sheffield Crown Court today (Thursday 9 March) after admitting to multiple offences relating to sexual communications with children.

Grassby was identified through two sting operations one led by the police, and the other by members of the public.

The then 47-year-old had been messaging the first decoy, who he believed to be 14, over the course of a week before arranging to meet him for sex at Meadowhall, Sheffield.

Grassby also befriended an undercover police officer, posing as a 12-year-old boy, on social media. He began to send multiple sexual messages to the boy, asking about his sexual interests and arranging to meet up and have sex.

Following his arrest, Grassbys electronic devices were seized which divulged his engagement in multiple sexual communications with suspected children.

He was charged with two counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and one count of attempting to meet a boy under the age of 16 following grooming. He entered a guilty plea on 16 February before being jailed today.

Investigating officer Sarah Anderson said: Grassby is an incredibly depraved individual with abhorrent intentions towards children.

Grassby knew of both the childrens ages, and we have screenshots of messages where hes arranging to meet with them out of the view of CCTV.

This is obviously incredibly concerning for parents and carers of young children, particularly those who are on social media. If you have suspicions about who your child is speaking to online, I would urge you to contact us.

Grassby, formerly of Spring Close View, has also been issued a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will also remain on the sex offenders' register for a decade.

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A serial sex-offender who was trapped online by paedophile hunters told police that he was glad he had been caught because he needed help.

Mark Best, aged 57, of Baslow Road, at Totley, Sheffield, who has convictions for sex offences, had sexual conversations with two online decoy profiles which had been set up by paedophile hunters and he tried to arrange to meet one of them before he was caught by police, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing.

Prosecuting barrister David Webster told the hearing on January 25: “The defendant’s activities came to light as a group of volunteers were setting-up online decoys to attract the attention of those with certain proclivities. He made contact with two decoys believing them to be children.”

Mr Webster added that Best engaged in sexual conversations with the first decoy who claimed to be a 13-year-old girl and he discussed his genitals, spanking, cuddling, unzipping his trousers, oral sex, sexual intercourse and that he could go to prison for being involved in this kind of communication.

Best also discussed masturbating and he tried to arrange to meet this decoy at a McDonald’s restaurant at a retail park in Chesterfield but he changed his mind, according to Mr Webster, and he told the decoy she should be with people her own age.

However, Mr Webster added that the defendant contacted the decoy again and said he had felt bad about not meeting her and asked if they could still meet up.

Mr Webster also said that another paedophile hunter group volunteer set-up another decoy as a 12-year-old girl from Derby and Best contacted them and became involved in further sexual conversations.

The paedophile group also set-up an adult, mature decoy and when the defendant turned up for a meeting he was arrested by police and said he was glad to have been caught and could not understand what he had been doing and that he needed help.

Best pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence with a decoy between April and October 2022, and to one count of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order from between April, 2022, and October, 2022, by using the internet to attempt to communicate with a child.

The court heard Best already has convictions including offences of non-penetrative touching of a female, breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Defence barrister Joy Merriam said: “He admits he has a problem and he is attracted to young girls. He said he wants help in prison and the probation officer has said that his sentencing plan should involve that kind of work.”

The judge – Recorder Abdul Iqbal KC – sentenced Best to 48 months of custody and because he was deemed to be dangerous he must serve two-thirds of that term before he can be released and he will also have to serve an extended three years on licence at the end of the four year-term. Best has also been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to last until 2031.