Search results for Swindon

Description

A registered sex offender has pleaded guilty to breaching a court order put in place to keep the public safe.

Steven Lach, 66, of Bath Road, Swindon, was issued with a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order in 2017 following convictions of more than 30 sexual offences against children.

On Saturday (12/09) Lach was arrested for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order after being found to be using a dating application and Telegram.

He appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court earlier today (14/09) and has been remanded in custody until October 16 when he will be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court.

PC Katie Owers, from the Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) said:

"Lach is a high risk sex offender who continues to show a blatant disregard for the restrictions imposed on him by the courts.

"These measures are in place to protect the public. His persistent offending demonstrates an ongoing risk to others, and we will continue to take action whenever he fails to comply with these conditions.

" I am pleased that the courts have remanded Lach until his sentencing, reflecting the serious nature of the offending."

Description

A registered sex offender has been jailed for three years after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Alex Smith, 33, of Queens Drive, Swindon, was originally convicted of rape of a child under 13 in 2006 and has several further convictions between 2006 and 2026 for breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order/ notification requirements and possession of indecent images of children.

Due to these breaches, Smith is subject to a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification requirements.

On July 7, Smith was arrested for breaching the SHPO after being found using a private web browser.

Following the arrest, Smith was remanded and was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on August 7 and jailed for three years.

PC Katie Owers said:

“Smith has continued to breach the orders imposed by the courts over a prolonged period of time so I am pleased that the courts have on this occasion given a custodial sentence, reflecting the serious nature of the offending.”

Description

A man has been jailed for almost two decades after admitting numerous counts of rape and sexual offences against two female victims.

Wesley Brito, 47, formerly of the Redhouse area of Swindon, appeared at Swindon Crown Court yesterday (29/07) for sentencing after pleading guilty to multiple sexual assaults of a child under 13, five counts of sexual activity with a child, rape and attempted rape of a child, sexual assault by penetration and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

He also pleaded guilty to the rape of a woman now aged in her 40s.

Brito, a Brazilian national, was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.

He is also subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and restraining order and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

The offences took place over a number of years and involved a woman and a child who were both known to Brito.

The incidents were first brought to Wiltshire Police’s attention in February 2025 after the adult victim disclosed the abuse to a third party.

In June 2025, the adult victim reported the offences to officers herself, and in the following months the young victim bravely told officers about Brito’s horrendous offences against her.

Brito was subsequently charged with numerous sexual offences, leading to yesterday’s sentencing.

Investigating officer DC Chloe Smith from our Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) said:

“The offences committed by Wesley Brito have had a devastating impact on those involved.

“The bravery demonstrated by the victims throughout the investigation has been remarkable and I commend their courage and strength for coming forward.

“Reporting sexual offences can be extremely difficult and I recognise the immense bravery they have shown.

“I hope yesterday’s outcome reassures people that reports of sexual offences are taken seriously and victims will be listened to.”

Description

A Swindon sex offender who was purporting to be a 15-year-old girl online has been jailed for a number of child sex offences.

Paul Webb, 28, formerly of Avonmead, Hayden Wick, appeared in Swindon Crown Court last Wednesday (22/07) after pleading guilty to four counts of attempting to cause/incite a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of attempting to cause a child aged 13 to 15 to look at an image of sexual activity.

He was jailed for four years. He must also sign on to the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely and is subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The sentence comes following an investigation by our Paedophile Online Investigation Team (formerly known as our Child Internet Exploitation Team), which found that Webb was pretending to be a teenage girl online and repeatedly attempting to engage teenage boys in sexual conversation.

He was subsequently charged and remanded into custody.

DC Sadie McCoy from POLIT said:

“Webb is undoubtedly a dangerous individual whose behaviour poses a real risk to children.

“I’m pleased the court has recognised the severity of his offending and has put him behind bars.

“He will also be subject to a SHPO, which places a number of conditions and requirements on him for when he is released from prison.

“Our team works to prevent offenders like Webb from exploiting and abusing children and I hope this case sends a strong message to our communities that we are committed to targeting offenders like Webb who have the potential to cause serious and significant harm."

Description

A convicted sex offender has been jailed after breaching his sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).

Earlier this year, Joe Crawley, 23, of Woodford Close, Penhill, was convicted of multiple child sex offences including two counts of arranging/facilitating commission of a child sex offence and making and distributing indecent images of children.

In April, he received a suspended sentence and received a 10-year SHPO which came with a number of conditions.

On June 10th, less than two months after receiving his suspended sentence and SHPO, he was arrested for two counts of breaching his SHPO.

This related to Crawley’s use of an AI chat application and an anonymous online video chat platform, both which were against his SHPO unless he had informed supervising police officers or staff and received prior approval.

Today (10/07) at Swindon Crown Court, Crawley was jailed for 25 months.

PC Katie Owers from our MOSOVO team said:

“Crawley is a dangerous individual who knowingly and deliberately breached the conditions of his SHPO just months after they were put in place to protect the public.”

“I’m pleased the courts have taken this seriously and he now faces a custodial sentence.”

Description

A Swindon man who poses a significant risk to vulnerable sex workers has been jailed.

Sean Morris, 59, of Massinger Walk, Walcot, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 13 June, where he pleaded guilty to breaching his sexual risk order (SRO).

Morris has been subject to an SRO since 16 February 2023. He was arrested in August last year after breaching the terms of that order. On 12 June this year, he was arrested again for further breaches of his bail conditions. He was charged and remanded in custody ahead of his court appearance the following day.

On Saturday (13/06), he was sentenced to 20 weeks’ imprisonment, placed on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years, and ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge.

PC Katie Owers said: “Morris has repeatedly shown that he is unwilling to comply with the strict conditions put in place to protect vulnerable people. His behaviour poses a clear risk to sex workers in our community, and the court’s decision to impose a custodial sentence reflects the seriousness of his continued offending.

“We will continue to take robust action against anyone who breaches Sexual Risk Orders, and we hope this sentence provides reassurance to those who may be affected by his actions.”

Description

A man from Swindon has been sentenced for making and distributing what officers say are the most sadistic and degrading child abuse images they have ever encountered.

Matthew Ely, 39, of Howse Garden, Rodbourne, was sentenced to 28 months in prison, suspended for 30 months at Swindon Crown Court on May 21 after pleading guilty in April.

He was charged with three counts of making indecent photo/pseudo-photos of a child, one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child, and two counts of distributing an indecent photo/pseudo-photo of a child.

The charges involve more than a thousand images between November 2021 and February 2025 and were located on Ely's mobile phone, including both still photographs and videos.

Ely will also have to participate in a Rehabilitation Activity for a maximum of 35 days, carry out 175 hours of unpaid work and pay £156 in costs.

He is also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and will be on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 Years.

Beccy Scott, an investigator with the Child Internet Exploitation Team, said:  

“This was an extremely challenging case, with the images involving very young children being particularly distressing.

"In my four years in this team, they were the most sadistic and degrading I have encountered.

"I want to take this opportunity to reassure the community that none of the illegal images located, we believe, were physically taken by Ely himself.

“The forensic evidence clearly shows that Ely was actively engaging with others to trade child sexual abuse material. He is a dangerous individual, and his sentence reflects both the seriousness of his offending and the risk he poses.

“Online child abuse material is not a victimless crime. Real children all over the world are being harmed, and by people like Matthew Ely engaging in this behaviour it only serves to create a market for this content. Anyone who engages in this content will face the full force of the law.”

Description

A man has been jailed for more than two decades after being found guilty of multiple historic rape and sexual assault offences against two victims.

Following a trial by jury at Swindon Crown Court, Nicholas Embling, 61, of Herschel Close, Oakhurst, Swindon, was convicted of multiple counts of child sexual abuse.  

Today (14/05), he was jailed for a total of 24 years.

Embling was reported to police in 2021, and an investigation was launched by Swindon CID.

Officers found that Embling had raped and sexually assaulted two female victims known to him on multiple occasions from 2002 onwards.

He was subsequently charged with more than a dozen offences, and following a trial by jury, was found guilty of all counts.

We are including sections of the victims’ personal statements with their permission.

Victim one said:

“I sit in this court today as someone who has survived a lifetime of trauma. Trauma is not something that simply disappears with time, it lasts a lifetime and reveals itself when you least expect it.

“My childhood was difficult; I experienced abuse, manipulation and control by someone who should have protected me.

“I have trust issues and have learnt to rely on myself because independence and strength were things I had to develop in order to survive.

“Speaking openly in this court has had to be one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Reliving painful memories is not easy and finding the courage to tell my truth has taken all I have.

“I want to thank everyone involved from [redacted] those many years ago, to [redacted], Mr Scutt and Natalie. Thank you for believing in me and giving me the inner strength to get through this journey.

“Attending court has been the hardest thing I’ve done but now I stand tall knowing I have nothing to be ashamed of.

“For this is not the end of the story, it is only the beginning.”

Victim two said:

“It has taken five years to reach this day, a day I once thought would never come. The day my voice is heard, and the truth of my experience has finally been recognised.

“Finally facing the individual who stole my childhood and caused profound harm to my life has required courage, which I did not know I possessed.

"The damage caused can never be fully undone. The years that were taken from me cannot be returned. Yet through this painful journey, I have discovered a strength within myself that I did not expect.

“Enduring abuse instead of love and safety I should have known has a lasting wound, one that may never truly heal.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Natalie, the Court, Mr Scutt and the jury for listening to my words and believing my accounts. You may never fully comprehend how difficult it has been to speak out, but please know that I am forever thankful for your time and belief.”

Detective Inspector Natalie Stride said:

“Nicholas Embling perpetrated the most abhorrent offences over a prolonged period against two victims known to him and trusted by him. It cannot be underestimated the harm he has caused.

“He took advantage of their age and vulnerability, beginning his abuse of them at a young age and then escalating his behaviour over the years, leading to him committing some of the most harrowing crimes a person could commit against a child.

“When then faced with what he had done, Nicholas Embling denied all offences, forcing the victims to relive their traumatic experiences through a trial.

“I want to pay tribute to them for their patience, bravery and courage firstly by coming forwards to the police and finally facing Nicholas Embling in court and giving evidence against him.

“Their strength has resulted in this guilty verdict and Nicholas Embling receiving a significant custodial sentence. Although this may offer some comfort to the victims involved, nothing will ever change the harm in which they have gone through.

“I want to reassure any victims of non-recent abuse that you will be listened to and that there is support available to you, when you feel empowered and ready to speak about it.”

Description

A Swindon man has avoided prison after downloading child abuse material.

Liam Culley, 38, of Kingswood Avenue, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of distributing an indecent image. He appeared at Swindon Crown Court on 9 January.

The court heard he had stored at least 1,319 images on his iPhone 15 and shared one online. He also admitted possessing an extreme pornographic image involving intercourse with a live dog.

The offences occurred between May 2017 and July 2024.

Culley received a two-year suspended prison sentence. He must complete 225 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, a 26-day sex offender programme, and 15 rehabilitation activity days with probation.

He must register as a sex offender for 10 years and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for the same period, including prohibitions on internet-enabled devices and a ban on deleting activity history.

Description

A woman who was given a sexual harm prevention order after pleading guilty to making hundreds of child sex abuse images has been jailed after she breached the order.

Samantha Franklin, 35, of Cove House Gardens, Ashton Keynes, was given a suspended prison sentence on December 8 as well as a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

However, on January 13, she was arrested once again after she was found to have breached the order on five separate occasions, just days after it was issued.

She appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on January 14 and pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

She was sentenced to 50 weeks imprisonment and ordered to pay a £187 surcharge.  

Detective Constable Jason Walsh, from the Child Internet Exploitation Team, said:

“I am really pleased that Franklin has been given a prison sentence – she has continued to offend since she was sentenced in December by breaching the terms of her sexual harm prevention order.
"She has shown a total disregard for the court system and seems to have totally underestimated the seriousness of her own offending and the SHPO she was issued with.

"I hope she spends her prison sentence reflecting on the crimes she has committed – there is no place in society for people who behave in this way.”

Description

Nurse Struck Off for Unnecessary Intimate Examinations on Children for Sexual Gratification

Ashley Boyd has been struck off the nursing register after performing intimate examinations on children that were not clinically indicated and were done for his own sexual gratification, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) fitness to practise panel has found.

Boyd worked as a band five adult nurse at Swindon’s Great Western Hospital from 2019 to 2024. He was not a qualified children’s nurse but requested to work in the paediatric area of the emergency department and was rostered as a triage nurse in the paediatric assessment unit. His role was limited to gathering basic medical information and observing vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. Despite this, and after being warned—including by his line manager—not to do so, he carried out testicular examinations that fell outside his job description.

The hospital said Boyd was suspended as soon as the incidents came to light in January 2024. Wiltshire Police carried out an initial investigation and was advised by the Crown Prosecution Service to refer the case back to the hospital for internal investigation. A police spokesperson said the force would liaise with Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to determine whether any further criminal investigation is required. Boyd was interviewed by police in August 2023 following a hospital investigation and was subsequently referred to the NMC.

He faced six misconduct charges relating to incidents between January and August 2023. He admitted four of them: performing intimate examinations on child patients when not authorised and when not clinically indicated; performing such examinations after being told not to; keeping inadequate records of the examinations; and failing to give a child patient their prescribed nebuliser without discussing it with the colleague who had prescribed it. He denied that some or all of his conduct was sexually motivated and that he had acted dishonestly, but the panel found both charges proven.

The panel concluded that Boyd’s actions amounted to serious misconduct. Simran Ghotra, representing the NMC at the hearing (held 5–15 January), said Boyd “performed intimate examinations without clinical justification and for his own desires in pursuit of sexual gratification.” She added that he was “well aware of the extreme vulnerability” of the children and had taken advantage of his position of trust. The panel noted that while Boyd (who did not attend) had provided some evidence of reflection and remediation, he continued to attempt to justify his actions. A striking-off order was imposed to maintain professional standards and protect the public.

Boyd was chair of Swindon and Wiltshire Pride from September 2022 to March 2023. The organisation said he had no direct contact with children in that role and left in 2023. “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this news. Our thoughts are with those affected and their families,” it said. He was also chair of the trust’s LGBTQ+ network in 2022.

The hospital stated that chaperone training has been strengthened and a registered professional chaperone is now present for all paediatric patient examinations. “As soon as we were made aware of allegations involving Ashley Boyd, he was immediately suspended from duty and did not work for the trust again,” a spokesperson said. “We also continue to promote a culture of speaking up, so staff feel confident to raise concerns and know they will be addressed.”

Description

A detective has reiterated the Force’s commitment to protecting women and girls from violence after a man was jailed for the attempted kidnap of a teenage girl.

Abdulmawal Ibrahim Adam, 28, of Stanier Street, Swindon, appeared at Swindon Crown Court today (12/12) after admitting attempting to kidnap a 17-year-old girl in Swindon town centre as she was walking home from work.

He was jailed for four years and one month. He will then serve a further two years and eleven months on licence.

In a moving Victim Personal Statement, the victim said:

“I remember how I was before this happened. It was like I wasn't even aware that bad things could happen in the world, and I felt confident in myself to walk out the house every day at any time of day or night.

“I remember not being afraid to be outside or to constantly think about people's intentions around me while in public.

“I never would have believed this had happened to me and I never fully connected myself to when women say they don’t feel safe to walk at night, but I understand now.”

She continued:

“I hope you learn how to be a good person.

“Most of all I hope you get locked up because I know if you were out in the world, I wouldn’t feel safe and I’d worry you’d do this again to another young girl.

“Worry that if you do this to another girl who isn’t able to get away, like I was, then she'd have a worse fate.

“The world has too many people like you. Although you are one of many, the world gets a little safer with every person locked away.

“You’d be doing the world a favour by being locked up from all the good, genuine, innocent people of the world. Young girls, women, sisters, best friends, girlfriends, daughters, will be just that little bit safer with you away.”

The incident took place on March 6, when Adam, a Sudanese national, attempted to engage with the victim multiple times in Princes Street, even as she tried to flag down passing vehicles.

As the victim crossed the road at the traffic lights at the junction with Fleming Way, Adam ran towards her, grabbed her and dragged her back across the road.

Fortunately, members of the public riding a bus which had just arrived at the lights intervened. The suspect then ran off down Princes Street, where he tried engaging with another woman and attempted to follow her before she got away from him.

Adam then followed a female witness to the attempted kidnap, before members of the public again intervened. The incident was reported to police and Adam was arrested and charged. After repeatedly refusing to engage with the courts process, Adam eventually pleaded guilty in October and was remanded into custody.

Investigating officer DC Anna McCormack from Swindon CID said:

“I’d like to again pay tribute to the victim for the immense bravery and strength she has shown throughout this process, and to thank the members of the public who intervened to stop this incident potentially being far worse than it was.

“Adam displayed predatory behaviour towards a number of women, firstly the victim in this case, then another woman passing by, and finally towards a witness to his attempted kidnap.

“This is completely unacceptable, and it is cases like this that have led to our focus on initiatives like Project Vigilant.

“Project Vigilant is about tackling violence against women and girls and involves intelligence-led patrols of hotspot locations to identify potential sexual predators and prevent violence before it occurs.

“It is about focusing on offenders’ behaviours, and challenging ‘red flag’ behaviour so women and girls can go about their daily tasks – like walking home from work – without fear or the need to change their behaviour.

“I hope the conviction and today’s sentencing of Adam shows how seriously we take these offences and that there is no place for it in Wiltshire.”

Description

The bravery of a rape survivor has been praised after a man was found guilty of rape, sexual assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.

Kane Walker, 21, previously of County Road, Swindon, denied the offences but was found guilty today (08/10) following a trial by jury at Bristol Crown Court.

He has been remanded into custody ahead of sentencing on November 19.

On March 6 last year, the victim, a woman in her 20s who was known to Walker, reported to police that she had been raped by Walker and had been subjected to a prolonged period of controlling and coercive behaviour by him.

This included putting an Airtag in her bag and repeatedly turning on her live location without her knowledge, and controlling what she could wear and who she could see.

Walker was arrested and interviewed the following day.

Two days later, while on bail, Walker attempted to intimidate the victim into dropping the case and continued to assert his control over her by setting a BMW belonging to a family member of the victim on fire.

He was charged with arson and witness intimidation and was jailed for these offences in November last year.

Following an investigation by Wiltshire Police’s CID, Walker was charged with multiple sexual offences against the victim and remanded into custody ahead of a trial.

Today, he was found guilty of one count of rape, sexual assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.

Major Crime Investigator Catherine Baird said:

“Firstly, I’d like to say how proud I am of the victim and how much I admire her bravery throughout this process.

“Walker attempted to scare her into dropping the case, but she showed great courage and his awful actions were then used as evidence in this trial.

“I hope today’s verdict mean she can now start to heal and move forward with her life.

“She is a survivor and took a stand against this dangerous bully, and her bravery and strength will help to protect other women.

“No woman should have to endure what Walker subjected her to.

“I am glad justice has been served and I thank the victim, the witnesses in the case and the members of the jury for helping to achieve this.”

Description

A man has been jailed after pleading guilty to numerous sexual offences against a teenage girl.

Cody Tierney, 21, of Dulverton Avenue, Swindon admitted three counts of sexual touching of a child, when the victim was aged between 13 and 15, and sexual activity with a 14-year-old child in July 2024.

In a hearing at Swindon Crown Court today (01/10), he was sentenced to two years and three months imprisonment.

He will also be on the Sex Offender’s Register for 10 years, and be subject to a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and an indefinite restraining order. 

From April 2023, Tierney – who was known to the victim – gradually escalated his grooming behaviour of the victim, who had just turned 13.

He began by sexually messaging the victim, after which he would tell her to delete the messages, before escalating to sexually touching the victim.

In one incident in May 2023, Tierney sexually assaulted the victim on a train, and in July 2024, Tierney coerced the victim to engage in sexual activity with him. He then ordered her not to tell anyone and they needed to keep their distance.

In September 2024, the offences were reported to police by the victim’s mother on behalf of her daughter.

Tierney was arrested and subsequently charged. He refused to provide a comment during interview and initially pleaded not guilty, before changing his plea in July this year.

Investigating officer DC Melanie Reeves of the Child Abuse Investigation Team said:

“This was a traumatic experience for the victim where she was sexually assaulted by someone she trusted.

“Tierney abused that trust in a horrible way with gradually escalating behaviour despite being in close proximity to her family.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victim for her bravery in getting to this point and I hope that today’s sentencing can start to bring some closure for her.”

Description

A man from Royal Wootton Bassett has been sentenced to four years imprisonment after pleading guilty to several child sex offences.

Scott Terry, 34, of Springfield Crescent, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on September 26. He will also be subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. 

In February 2024, Terry was arrested after being found to be in possession of indecent images of a child. Some of these images were identified as a child known to Terry.

Following the examination of his devices, he was further arrested and then charged with making indecent images of children, including categories A, B and C, two counts of sexual assault of a child and two counts of taking indecent images of children.

He was remanded into custody and subsequently pleaded guilty to the offences. 

Detective Constable Jason Walsh of the Child Internet Exploitation Team said:

"This is an abhorrent crime that will have a long-lasting effect on the victim. No one should have to go through what they have been through.

"Protecting the most vulnerable in our communities will always remain our highest priority and safeguarding those from people like Scott Terry.

"When you report these crimes, you will be listened to, you will be believed, and we will do all we can to hold these dangerous individuals accountable for their actions.”