Search results for Southampton

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A SEX offender once found guilty of offences relating to an international paedophile ring linked to Hampshire has been hauled back before the courts.

Jasmine Melissa Hope, previously known as Melissa Noon, pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by deleting the internet history on her mobile phone.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, the 38-year-old, of Howard Road, Southampton, was sentenced to a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

The order was imposed on Hope by Portsmouth Crown Court in 2011 after she was found guilty for her part in an international paedophile ring based in Hampshire.

As previously reported in the Echo, the group committed "horrific" crimes against two young children in the UK and one in Australia.

Hope was found guilty of 11 charges including causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Following a six week trial, ringleader Robert Hathaway, 37, then of Tyseley Road, Portsmouth, was given an indeterminate sentence of 12 years.

That was later quashed and replaced with a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years.

Hope, who was Hathaway's partner, received four years.

This was later doubled to eight years on appeal through the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

Three other defendants became involved by meeting the couple over the internet to carry out the abuse and were jailed for a total of 15 years.

As previously Hampshire police launched their investigation into the ring after being tipped off by the authorities in Australia, who had uncovered a "mirror image'' ring in Brisbane and Sydney which also abused at least one young child.

Hathaway had been in contact with this ring and shared images with them and one of the charges faced by Noon was for encouraging the Australian child to engage in sexual activity.

A total of 2,000 pages of chat logs were uncovered by police, as well as 14,000 indecent images of children and 300 videos of children being abused.

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A GARDENER claimed his trouser zip was broken or he had been stung by an insect before exposing himself to women he was carrying out work for in Dorset.

Darren Salmon, of Salisbury Green, Southampton, was admitted eight counts of indecent exposure and was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday, November 11.

The 41-year-old, formerly of Bridport, was sentenced to a three-year community order, with a requirement to attend a 35-day accredited programme and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement. Salmon was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years.

The defendant was working as a gardener in the Bridport area when he exposed himself to a number of people he was carrying out work for at various addresses.

The offences occurred between Wednesday, August 1, and Thursday, September 6, 2018, and his victims were women aged between 19 and 92.

After claiming his trouser zip was broken or an insect had stung him, Salmon asked for assistance and at this point the victims realised he was exposing himself.

The incidents were reported to police and Salmon was arrested on Sunday 9 September 2018.

PCKerry Cordier, of Dorset Police's Volume Crime Team, said: "These incidents were distressing for the victims involved and I would like to thank all of them who came forward and assisted our investigation.

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A SOUTHAMPTON couple have been given jail sentences totalling 30 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing young boys.

Richard Townsend (pictured right) even filmed his partner Mark Metcalfe performing a sex act on one of their victims, believed to be in his mid-teens.

The pair also repeatedly abused two boys, under the age of 16, between 1998 and 2005.

A court heard one of their victims took his own life earlier this year – with the stress of the investigation being put forward as a possible factor in his suicide.

Both Townsend and Metcalfe denied any sexual activity with children.

But Townsend, 57, who works as an accountant, was found guilty of 14 counts relating to child sex offences following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.

In the same trial, Metcalfe, 56, was found guilty of three charges, including two counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault.

Yesterday, Townsend was jailed for 18 years, with an extended five-year sentence.

Following the pair's sentencing, the family of the victim who died earlier this year said they were "relieved" that Townsend and Metcalfe had been jailed and that "justice had been done".

The family said: "This is the best thing that could have happened because nothing is going to bring him back.

"After he told us about what had happened he was positive, he wanted to move forward.

"He wanted to go into schools and tell children that if it has happened to you then you need to tell someone because they will believe you."

Earlier this week, Townsend and Metcalfe, both of Copsewood Road, Southampton, were found guilty following a three week trial at Southampton Crown Court.

Townsend was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault of a child, five multiple incident counts of indecent assault of a child, one count of indecency with a child, one multiple incident count of assault by penetration of a child, one count of rape of a child and two counts of sexual assault of a child.

Metcalfe was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on a child and one count of sexual assault.

The investigations were carried out by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

NCA operations manager Graham Ellis said: "This is a deeply harrowing case.

"It takes immense courage to come forward, and the victims in this case have been incredibly brave in doing so.

"The NCA and our law enforcement partners are relentless in our pursuit of child sex offenders whose actions wreck so many lives.

"We have no greater priority than protecting children from sexual abuse."

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A WOULD-BE rapist who 'strangled' a woman during a violent sex attack after a night out has been jailed.

Sex offender Khaled Meridja, of Brampton Road, Oxford, had denied one count of attempted rape, one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two of sexual assault.

At the end of his trial at Oxford Crown Court in August jurors took four hours and 31 minutes of deliberations to find him unanimously guilty of all counts.

At his sentencing hearing at the same court today his defence barrister revealed that the 29-year-old still 'stands by his instructions' despite his conviction.

During the case, prosecutor Sally Hobson told jurors the attack on the woman – who cannot be named for legal reasons – began with a night out.

The victim was out in Oxford with a friend on the night of October 21 last year before going to Euro Bar and then on to JT’s Cocktail Bar & Club.

It was not long after that in the early hours of the following morning they met Meridja, neither having met him before and neither knowing him.

While at Meridja’s home the assaults on the teenage victim and attempted rape all took place.

Detailing her ordeal the victim said it made her feel like she was 'going to die.'

She said: “[Meridja] was grabbing hold of my breasts and I [said] ‘what the hell are you doing get off me’ and then he pushed me up against the wall.

“Then he was strangling me so much I could not breathe.

"He was just strangling me and I didn’t know what to do.”

She said that she tried to fight him off and during the incident he sexually touched her and tried to pull down her trousers.

Describing how she felt she said: “I just thought I was going to die.”

The court heard at yesterday's sentencing how the attack had 'forever changed' the woman who said she also now suffers sleep difficulties as a result of her ordeal.

In mitigation defence barrister Graeme Logan said his client 'stands by his instructions' given during his trial.

He added, however, that Meridja 'understands he has to be sentenced'.

It was also revealed that Meridja had first come to the UK illegally in a lorry after fleeing Algeria before travelling through France.

Sentencing, Judge Maria Lamb called the offence a 'determined attempt' to rape the teenager.

She added: "This incident only ended because she got away from you and not because you desisted.

"She fled and fell down the stairs during the course of it [...] and was helped by a bus driver who took her to St Aldate's .

"I commend the public spiritedness and responsible [action] taken by the lady bus driver who helped a young woman clearly in distress."

He was jailed for a total of seven and a half years and must sign the sex offenders register for life.

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Survivors say questions remain as to how youth coach sexually abused 24 players over 25 years Victims of the football coach Bob Higgins, who is beginning a 24-year jail term for abusing schoolboy players, have said there are still many questions to be answered about why he was able to evade justice for three decades. Survivors called on high-profile players and managers who worked with Higgins at Southampton FC to explain what they knew of his offending and claimed that by remaining quiet they continued to protect him. They said Peterborough FC, where Higgins was also employed, and the Football Association also needed to come clean about why he had been able to coach and abuse youth players for seven years after concerns were raised about him. Higgins, 66, from Southampton, showed no emotion as Judge Peter Crabtree jailed him at Winchester crown court for the abuse of 24 schoolboys over a 25-year period from 1971 to 1996. The judge said Higgins was a cunning and manipulative predator who abused his position of trust as a respected coach and caused real, enduring harm to his victims. Higgins had not shown a jot of remorse, he said. 'Jon', pictured with Bob Higgins in the 1990s. Bob Higgins victim: 'I looked him in the eyes and took back the power' Many of his victims, now middle-aged men, sat in the public gallery as Higgins was sentenced. They had testified to suffering decades of mental health problems because of his crimes, and expressed anger, shame and guilt at what had happened to them. Some told the court they had tried to kill themselves, and many said they had struggled over the years with flashbacks, panic attacks, depression, anxiety, lack of trust and problems with personal relationships. A number went on to have good careers in football, but some said they had lost their chance of fulfilling their potential because of Higgins. After the sentencing, Hampshire police said more people had come forward to make allegations against Higgins since his conviction and that the possibility of further prosecutions had not been ruled out. On the steps of the court, survivors made it clear their fight for justice was not over. The former Southampton youth player Dean Radford described how he and other boys came forward in 1989 to reveal that Higgins had abused him but were not believed. "We hope those Southampton club directors, high-profile players and management who spent time with Higgins will stand up and tell the truth," he said. "We believe many people must have known what was going on. By not speaking out these people were and still are protecting a predatory paedophile." Radford paid tribute to the former Southampton junior star and Higgins victim Billy Seymour, who died in a car crash earlier this year. He said: "Billy will be looking down on us smiling knowing Bob Higgins cannot harm any other child ever again. He will never be forgotten. We did it Billy, just like you said we would. You can now rest in peace our dear friend." Police interview Bob Higgins, who has been found guilty of 45 charges of indecent assault against 23 teenage boys. 'The FA didn't stop him': The long road to justice for Bob Higgins' abuse victims Higgins worked with youngsters at Southampton between 1975 and 1990 and at Peterborough between 1994 and 1996. When the Guardian broke the story of abuse within football in 2016, Higgins was still working in the game, though not as a coach of junior players. Dion Raitt, who was abused by Higgins as a junior player at Peterborough, said Higgins used the boys' hunger to succeed to exploit them. He said: "Football was our lives, football was our dreams. We would have done anything to make it as a professional footballer. "There remain many questions that we deserve answers to. How was Bob Higgins able to slip through the net for so long? How was he ever put into a position of power at a professional football club like Peterborough United?" Raitt said it was "especially shocking" that in 1989 the Football League, then the game's governing body, had issued a warning to all clubs about Higgins. "Sadly because of potential failings we were subjected to horrific abuse at the hands of Higgins," he said. During the sentencing hearing, another victim, who cannot be named, criticised the FA and Southampton over their handling of Higgins. He asked the court: "Where were Southampton? Where were the FA? Where was their due diligence and safeguarding policies? They had a duty of care, a responsibility." Two other former Southampton youth players, Anthony Connolly and Lee Smith, waived their right to anonymity. Connolly had told the court he first met Higgins when he was 12 and said the coach groomed his parents as well as him. Addressing Higgins directly, he said: "You took away my childhood." He said the abuse created a "void inside of me" filled with "fear, anxiety and torment". He said he had turned to drink to try to drive the fear away and suffered mental health issues. "I hope Southampton FC and the English FA have learned from their mistakes," he said in court. "I hope the proper safeguarding is in place." Smith described Higgins as a monster who ruined the dreams of his victims for his own "sick perverted satisfaction" and said: "The football community is now a much safer place." Southampton and Peterborough have apologised to the victims. After Higgins's conviction the FA said it recognised their distress. "We continue to signpost victims and survivors to speak to Clive Sheldon QC whose team is conducting the independent inquiry into allegations of non-recent child sexual abuse in football," it said Both football clubs declined to comment on Wednesday on the former players' calls for more answers. An FA spokesperson said: "The FA has commissioned an independent QC to conduct a review into, what, if anything, the FA and clubs knew about the allegations of child sexual abuse at the relevant time, and what action was taken or should have taken place. "It is therefore inappropriate for the FA to comment on these questions whilst that review is ongoing."

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A lodger who raped and murdered a 13-year-old girl to stop her exposing him as an abuser has been jailed for life. Stephen Nicholson, 25, stabbed Lucy McHugh 27 times at Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre last July. He was found guilty of murder and three charges of raping Lucy after a trial at Winchester Crown Court and was ordered to spend at least 33 years in jail. Judge Mrs Justice May said Lucy had "unknown promise, cruelly obliterated" and described Nicholson as "depraved". The judge told Nicholson: "This was a pitiless attack on a child following months of sexual exploitation. "The prosecution has described it as an execution and I am satisfied this is correct. "The combination of [Nicholson's] cold narcissism and hot anger dictated that she had to be put out of the way and he saw to it that this was done." The trial heard Nicholson first raped Lucy, then aged 12, in May 2017 while living at her home, and on two further occasions over the following week. Mrs Justice May said Lucy had been "vulnerable, easy prey to someone satisfying his own appetites". She said Nicholson "encouraged and cynically exploited" Lucy's "crush" on him after he had moved into the family house, and called him "utterly selfish and depraved". Nicholson had later decided Lucy had "become a serious object to his comfortable life and there was a real threat of her outing him as a paedophile". The judge said teachers had "done the right thing" in raising concerns to social services but no action was taken. She added: "The [social services] team had investigated and had found nothing to concern them. The obvious question is, 'how could social services have arrived at that conclusion, not once but twice?'". Southampton City Council declined to comment due to an ongoing serious case review into the reports made to its social services department. The review is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Nicholson was also found guilty of sexual activity with another girl, aged 14, in 2012. Children's home hostage Victim impact statements from Lucy's mother and father were submitted to the court. The court heard Nicholson had previously been detained in 2009 for taking staff and residents of a Southampton children's home hostage, when he was aged 14. Prosecutor William Mousley QC told the court that while he was a resident of the home - under the influence of amphetamines - Nicholson threatened staff with a knife. He then locked them and other children in a room, before stealing £1,000 in cash and making off in a staff member's car. He was also later convicted of affray and damaging property after he barricaded himself in a room and threatened staff at a young offenders centre. Nicholson recorded a music video in 2012 as part of a music rehabilitation project after being released from prison that year, in which he rapped about turning his life around, having previously not cared about who he hurt. Defence barrister James Newton-Price QC said Nicholson had a "difficult" upbringing, having been placed in a children's home from the age of 13. Jurors heard Nicholson moved into the family home after being invited by long-time friend Richard Elmes, the partner of Lucy's mother Stacey White. The trial heard Lucy would later describe Nicholson to friends as her "boyfriend". Nicholson told police Lucy sent him a message the night before her murder, saying she was pregnant. After luring her to woodland nearby, he stabbed her 27 times, including 11 in the neck, in what prosecutors described as an "'execution-style" murder. It was later found Lucy was not pregnant. Nicholson was linked to the murder via DNA evidence found on clothing discarded in woodland about a mile from the murder scene. He was also convicted of sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in 2012, who he had taken to the same woodland where Lucy was found dead years later. Nicholson was cleared of one count of sexual activity with a child which related to Lucy after she had turned 13.

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Update 2022-07-08 A SOUTHAMPTON sex offender is back behind bars after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Jordan Larcombe, of Summit Way, was handed the SHPO on April 5 2017 after he was convicted of sexually abusing two teenage girls on the Isle of Wight. Under the conditions of the SHPO, 26-year-old Larcombe is prohibited from using any phone or device capable of accessing the internet unless it can retain the internet history. He must also make the device available for inspection on request by police, and he must not delete any internet history or mobile phone use. During a home visit on June 14 this year, officers examined his phone and saw he had been messaging a woman over WhatsApp. He had also configured the disappearing messages facility, meaning any new messages in the chat would disappear after 24 hours a breach of his SHPO. In one message, he told the woman that she could begin flirting with him now because he had just put disappearing messages on. Appearing at Southampton Crown Court he was jailed for two years for breaching the order. PC Rob Thomas, from the Western Offender Management team, said: We take the management of sex offenders incredibly seriously, and invest significant resources into doing so in order to keep the public safe. Officers will often make unannounced visits to offenders where they may be subject to an intrusive investigative interview process. This helps us understand an offenders routine, interests and behaviours so we can closely monitor them. On this occasion, we visited Larcombes home and quickly established that he had deliberately and knowingly breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. These orders are put in place to protect the public, and ensure that individuals do not re-offend. Where they choose to disregard them, they are rightly punished and I am pleased that Larcombe is now back behind bars. 2019-07-05 A SEX offender convicted of sexual activity with a child was given additional prison time after breaching the terms of an order by posting pictures of himself online. Jordan Larcombe, 23, of Chale Green, was caught out when police officers found an Instagram account he had started, including communications with a young female, and references to a Snapchat account, Rose Burns, prosecuting, told the IW Crown Court. A court order prohibits Larcombe from having an internet enabled device without notifying police, which he did not do. Ms Burns told the court that Larcombe had breached his sexual harm prevention order on a previous occasion and had been sent back to prison. He then breached the order again, having acquired a mobile phone and posted on social media. He was released in April and went to live with his mother. It wasn't until May 29 that police found the account. Larcombe admitted the breach and said that he had felt lonely in prison and his friends had ditched him. Ms Burns said: "He is a persistent breacher of this order. It presents a serious risk. "He is messaging young girls with the intention of meeting up with them." For Larcombe, Oscar Vincent said his client had been living an isolated existence since his release from prison, with no prospect of employment and no social interaction. Mr Vincent said that Larcombe's communications from the phone were mostly one-way, with only one person responding, who was a 20-year-old ex-girlfriend of his. Mr Vincent said the breach did not represent sophisticated activity and was very easily detected, with no attempt made to hide his identity. "Mr Larcombe is 23 years of age, but does have have a low IQ. He has learning difficulties and if he were school age, he would be classed as special needs," Mr Vincent said. Sentencing, Judge Timothy Mousley said: "This was a deliberate breach and constituted a very high risk of causing harm. "This is not the first time you have breached the order and you have a history of failing to comply with other court orders." Larcombe was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

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A PAEDOPHILE pensioner who sexually abused a six-year-old girl has been told he is likely to die in prison.

Thomas Cattermole also attempted to sexually assault another vulnerable child while in his 80s.

The 84-year-old was jailed for seven years by Judge Christopher Parker QC, who described his behaviour as monstrous.

In sentencing, Judge Parker said Cattermole, who has a number of illnesses and conditions, was likely to spend the remainder of his life behind bars.

Southampton Crown Court was told how Cattermole had targeted two girls, one in the 1960s and another in 2017.

The court heard how Cattermoles first campaign of abuse began in the early 1960s, when his victim was six.

Prosecutor Rose Burns said Cattermole had forced the girl into performing various sex acts on him.

He also sexually touched her, when she was 15.

His victim said the abuse had left her with urges to take her own life.

She said: I wanted to escape the abuse that haunted me.

Childhood should hold the happiest memories, but that isnt the case for me.

The victim said she did disclose the abuse as she was scared of Cattermole.

His crimes finally came to light in 2017, when he attempted to abuse another child, aged six.

The court was told he invited the girl, described as especially vulnerable, to sexually touch him on a number of occasions.

Cattermole was caught when the girl disclosed the abuse. His other victim then came forward.

The former delivery driver denied the allegations.

A jury found him guilty of three counts of indecency with a child, one count of indecent assault and another of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Mitigating, Sarah Jones said Cattermole suffered from a number of illnesses and conditions, including hypertension and diabetes, and was likely to die in prison.

She said: For him, it is a bitter end to a life which other than this has been lived working and getting on with things in a relatively unobtrusive and unremarkable way.

His offending has caused desperate pain, not only to his victims, but to his wife.

Judge Parker said Cattermole legally had to be sentenced for his historic offences in line with legislation at the time when they carried significantly lower sentences.

He later described Cattermoles behaviour as outrageous.

Judge Parker said: Your victim grew up bearing the scars of your abuse and kept it from others for years. She was wrongly, but understandably, feeling ashamed.

She had nothing to be ashamed about, you had much to be ashamed about.

(Your second victim) you must have understood she was especially vulnerable.

Judge Parker said Cattermole, of Victoria Road, Netley Abbey, would serve three and a half years of his seven year sentence behind bars.

Cattermole was also made subject of an added one year extended licence period.

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A SHOP worker attempted to groom 'girls' as young as 13 on a controversial teen dating website, once dubbed a "playground for paedophiles".

Simon Barker used MyLOL.com, said to be the number one teen dating site in the UK, to send explicit messages and pictures to what he thought were underage girls.

The 18-year-old was actually speaking to police officers, who had set up fake profiles in order to snare lurking sex offenders.

Barker was eventually arrested by police after engaging in sexual conversations with three fake profiles, all of which depicted 13-year-old girls.

But Barker continued his sordid actions once released under investigation by officers.

Last week, Baker was sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders institute, following an appearance at Southampton Crown Court.

The court heard how police came across Barker on MyLOL.com, a dating website aimed at youngsters between 13 and 18.

The website is is said to be visited by more than 300,000 users a month.

It has faced criticism in the past, including by children's charity the NSPCC, which has previously dubbed it a "playground for paedophiles".

Prosecutor Dawn Hyland said police used their fake profiles to connect with Barker.

In each of the conversations, he turned the conversation to sex, sent one profile an explicit image of himself and attempted to make arrangements to meet all three.

Speaking about one of the conversations, Ms Hyland said: "He asked her to come round to his flat.

"He said that when she came to pretend that she was his cousin to his flat mates, because he said it was 'illegal and weird'."

Police later arrested Barker and searched his computer, but found no indecent images.

After he was released under investigation, Barker began messaging a real 15-year-old, who he first contacted through Facebook.

Barker later began bombarding the girl with a mixture of friendly and explicit messages.

The pair then met at Barker's flat after he agreed to lend her £20.

Ms Hyland said at the end of the hour-long exchange, Barker unexpectedly lunged at her and kissed her.

In mitigation, John Dyer said Barker had trouble communicating with people in a social situation and had been assessed by doctors as likely to have an autistic spectrum condition.

He said Barker, a former Eastleigh College student who previously worked in a retail job at Westquay, had trouble empathising with people.

Mr Dyer said: "His use of vulgar language in the messages at times was child-like.

He added: "He didn't understand the seriousness of what he was doing.

"He wants to apologise to his victim for what he did."

Barker, of Millbrook Road West, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to engage in sexual conversation with a child, one of engaging in sexual communication with a child and one of meeting a child after grooming.

Sentencing Barker to 20 months in a young offenders institute, Judge Peter Henry said: "I hope while you are in custody you take advantage of the courses there and you come out understanding the affect these sort of offences can have."

Barker was also made the subject of a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

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A "FOOLISH" Southampton sex offender lied to police about his real address, because he was afraid of losing his home and job.

Andrew Portelli was given a suspended sentence just last month after attempting to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl at a supermarket car-park in Southampton.

The 49-year-old was told to register his address with police, as part of the requirements of his sexual harm prevention order.

But he gave police the wrong address, because he was living and working as a night porter at The Elizabeth House Hotel, on The Avenue, in Southampton.

Portelli believed he would lose both if his job and accommodation if his employers found out.

But police later informed them of Portelli's sentencing, which was reported in the Daily Echo, and he was sacked.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Portelli was given a six week prison sentence by Judge Gary Burrell QC, who described his actions as "astonishingly stupid".

The court heard how Portelli had breached the order just days after his sentencing, on February 8 this year.

During that sentencing, it was revealed how Portelli had sent inappropriate messages to a member of a paedophile hunter group, posing online as a 14-year-old girl.

He sent messages inviting the girl to shower with him before arranging a meeting at an Aldi car park in Portswood, where he was confronted by the paedophile hunters.

He was given a six-month suspended sentence after admitting to engaging in sexual communications with a child.

Just days later, he was found to have lied about his address.

In mitigation, Gemma White said Portelli had been "foolish".

She said: "He was concerned for his employment at the hotel if he made them aware of these matters and he would lose that accommodation, which was source of stability for him."

Judge Gary Burrell QC also described Portelli's actions as "astonishingly stupid".

He said: "You must have realised that not giving police the right information would have caused a breach of your order."

Portelli, who had been in custody for a month since his arrest, was jailed for six weeks as punishment, meaning he was eligible for immediate release.

He was also ordered to complete an extra 50 hours of unpaid work, which will be added to his previous punishment of 100 hours.

His six month suspended sentence remains in place.

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Cleaning company manager Micheal Harris from Bitterne Park in Southampton has escaped an immediate prison sentence after sexually communication with a child.

The court heard that the communications took place between the 16th June 2018 until the 4th August 2018

At the hearing at Southampton Crown Court.

Harris was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment suspended for a period of 24 months.

He must also comply with the following requirements to register under S.92 Sexual Offences Act 2003 for a period of 7 years.

Must participate in the HORIZON programme.

He will also have to undertake all rehabilitation activity requirements as described by an authorised provided of probation for 10 days.

Harris was also placed on the Sex offenders register for a period of seven years.

The court ordered Harris to pay a surcharge of 115 to fund the victim services along with 500 prosecution costs .

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A taxi driver who raped a female passenger who he believed had fallen asleep has been jailed. Ferham Khan, aged 29, from Derby Road, Southampton was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Southampton Crown Court after being found guilty of raping a woman in September 2017. Khans victim had been enjoying a night out with her friends and at the end of the evening called for a taxi so she could get home. The court heard how Khan had picked up the woman from Broadway in Winchester at around 1am on Saturday, September 30 2017. On the journey home, Khan preyed on the woman, believing she had fallen asleep he pulled over in an unknown location and proceeded to sexually assault her and orally rape her. The woman was so scared that she froze, and when Khan thought she had passed out through having too much to drink, he had the audacity to call the police and complain that he had an unconscious woman in his car and that he wanted her removed. As soon as police and paramedics turned up, the woman was able to disclose her ordeal. Khan was immediately arrested and his taxi seized for forensic examination. When questioned by officers, Khan said it was an accident, saying that the woman had fallen on him whilst he had his trousers unbuttoned. Later he admitted that was a lie, saying he was concerned his wife would find out he had had a sexual encounter with another woman. He went on to say the whole situation was consensual, claiming the victim had started touching him first and even suggesting that she did it for a cheaper fayre. The jury found Khan guilty by unanimous verdict. The judge sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment. In a quote, the victim explained the impact the events of that night has had on her life: On that night, I did as any young woman would. I went out with friends and I took a taxi home. What happened in the taxi destroyed me. That man shattered my world into tiny pieces. The pain and suffering I have endured because of what he did to me has left me broken. I dont know who I am anymore. This man had stripped me of my identity. At the moment I am simply surviving, I take each day as it comes and pray that one day I will feel like me again and be able to start living. Police Staff Investigator Joanne Parr-Daniels said: The bravery and strength we have seen in this woman is commendable. Khan turned her life upside down that night 17 months ago. We are so impressed with her courage. No matter how traumatic this has been for her and continues to be, she has supported this protracted and a complex investigation of rape. Without her would not have been able to get Khan to face justice for what he did. I hope now this sentence means she will be able to move forward with her life.

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A MAN groomed a vulnerable teenage boy after first making contact through social media.

Lewis Westbrook used his Instagram page 'Littlebooboo15' to make contact with his 15-year-old victim.

The 20-year-old later talked his victim into sending an indecent picture of himself, after promising him a threesome with an older woman.

He was caught after carers inspected the boy's phone and found the messages.

At Southampton Crown Court Westbrook admitted one count of sexual communication with a child and another count of inciting a child into sexual activity. He was given a two-year detention in young offenders institute.

He was also given an extended two-year licence period by a judge, who deemed him a danger to children.

Southampton Crown Court heard how initial contact was made through Westbrook's Instagram page, which had around 1,000 followers.

The pair began messaging about parties, vaping and drugs, before Westbrook turned the conversation to sex.

Prosecutor Dan Sawyer said Westbrook then requested an indecent picture of the victim, before sending one back, as well as a video showing adult pornography.

Westbrook continued to groom his victim during the day-long conversation, which included an offer of a threesome with an older woman.

Mitigating, Mary Aspinall-Miles described the conversation as "fantasy" on behalf of Westbrook.

She said: "This is clearly fantasy.

"For example, he he says to the young man at one point 'be right back, I've got to go to the shop to get some petrol and munch'.

"He hasn't even got a car."

Ms Aspinall-Miles described her client as having a number of learning conditions, which caused him to be "immature".

She said that Westbrook was homeless at the time of the offence, in September last year, and was living a "chaotic existence" by sleeping rough in a multi-storey car park in Southampton.

Judge Robert Pawson sentenced Westbrook, listed by the courts as of Lionheart Way, Bursledon, to two years' detention in a young offenders institute.

He also handed down an extended two year sentence, which he will serve on licence.

Judge Pawson said: "I have to decide if you pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to child.

"It is in my view that an extended sentence is necessary in this case to protect the public and protect children."

Two further counts, one of possession of an indecent image and another of inciting a child to view pornography, will lie on Westbrook's file.

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A HAMPSHIRE police worker was snared by paedophile-hunters after sending "abhorrent" images to people he thought were 13-year-old girls.

Police resources co-ordinator Andrew Grimsted was cornered outside his Southampton flat by members of Justice for the Innocent after posting footage of himself performing a sexual act.

He appeared at Southampton Crown Court yesterday and was handed a three-year community order.

Last night Justice for the Innocent described the sentence as "diabolical", saying Grimsted was in a position of trust and should have been jailed.

A spokesman said: "The sentence fails to reflect the seriousness of his crimes and what could have happened had there been no intervention by a decoy."

Christopher Wing, prosecuting, told the court: "The offences came to light after Grimsted went on the internet and thought he was communicating with young girls aged 13 or so.

"In fact he was communicating with members of a vigilante paedophile-hunters.

"They attended his address and detained him in the car park outside his home. Police were called and he was arrested on suspicion of grooming a child."

Justice for the Innocent filmed their confrontation with the defendant and posted the footage online.

Grimsted, 50, of Millbrook Road East, Southampton, admitted three offences of attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act and three of attempting to have sexual communication with a child.

Richard Onslow, mitigating, said: "These offences were committed by a man of previous good character with a sensible job who ought to have known better.

"Fortunately there was no actual child, so the harm is lower than it would have been had the full offence been carried out."

Judge Gary Burrell QC described Grimsted's actions as "abhorrent" and told him: "Sending moving images to people you believed to be young girls indicated something seriously wrong with your thinking."

But he added: "You're of previous good character and I'm required by law to take into account."

Grimsted was handed a 36-month community order, which includes a requirement to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The defendant was a civilian employee based at Southampton Central Police Station.

Speaking after the case a Hampshire police spokesman said: "His role involved planning resources and did not involve any interaction with the general public.

"He remains suspended from the role and subject to ongoing gross misconduct procedures."

Detective Superintendent Nigel Lecointe, from Hampshire Constabulary's Professional Standards Department, added: "The investigation into Andrew Grimsted uncovered his attempts to exploit what he believed to be vulnerable children whilst he was off-duty.

"Hampshire Constabulary expects the highest standards from its officers and staff and will take action against those who commit criminal offences or breach the standards of professional behaviour."

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A MAN who attempted to hide hundreds of images of children in a secret folder on his mobile phone has been jailed.

Christopher Roberts set up a password-protected area of his mobile in a bid to hide the images from police.

The 32-year-old told police he had forgotten the password when officers visited his home as part of a routine check made due to his previous sexual offences.

When the folder was unlocked, police found more than 500 images of children being sexually abused – with some believed to be as young as six.

On Friday, Roberts was jailed for more than two years at Southampton Crown Court.

Prosecutor Dan Sawyer told the court how Roberts was subject of a sexual harm prevention order after previously being caught in possession of indecent images of children.

Roberts was also convicted of attempting to contact a young teenage girl via social media in 2013.

Police visited Roberts at his home in March last year and asked him to submit his phone.

When officers could not access the password-protected folder, Roberts was arrested for not giving full access to his phone.

When officers inspected the device, they found five category A still images, four category B still images and 544 category category C images.

In an interview with probation, Roberts questioned the harm caused by him viewing the images, and claimed the victims were "often smiling".

Mitigating, Jamie Gammon, said Roberts had been open with probation about his interests.

He said: "There doesn't appear to be any attempt by him to hide his interests.

"He has had a rather frank conversation with probation officers and told them exactly how he feels."

In sentencing, Judge Robert Pawson was critical of Roberts and his views.

He said: "You say that they are not real victims and they are often smiling and it's not like they have been forced into it.

"That shows a complete lack of empathy on your part.

"Every time you download one of these images of a child being sexually abused you contribute to that person's misery."

Roberts, who is currently serving a sentence at HMP Dartmoor for the original breach of his order, pleaded guilty three counts of making indecent images of children.

He was jailed for two years and eight months.