Latest Offenders

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A man has been jailed for six years after attacking and sexually assaulting a woman who had been enjoying a night out socialising with friends in Middleton. The victim will also have an indefinite restraining order against her to protect her, and he will be subject to indefinite sex offender notification requirements.

Dewan Gazi (12/07/1980), of Croxdale Walk, Blackley, had previously been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault and one count of section 47 assault at Manchester Crown Court.

Shortly after midnight on Sunday 28 July 2024, the woman was walking home when she was suddenly confronted by Gazi, who grabbed her by the arms and began to touch her over her clothes.

The woman feared for her safety and began to shout for help, as well as punching the offender who continued his attack, including pulling at her shorts.
He then pushed his victim into nearby bushes with a low metal barrier, which she struck and caused her considerable pain.

Around this time, a man and woman in a nearby address heard the commotion and came out to find the man holding his victim on the pavement. After intervening and questioning Gazi, who claimed to be providing help, he ran off and the woman was assisted by the couple.

The man chased Gazi down the street and away from the area, before returning to help.
She was taken to hospital with pain and bruising – as well soreness to her fist where she had punched her attacker.

Following CCTV checks, Gazi’s vehicle was identified as being in the area around the time of the incident, and was later seized by officers as part of their enquiries.

Further CCTV footage showed Gazi working in a takeaway in Middleton, watching his victim walk past, before he ran out to his vehicle and followed her in his car shortly before launching his attack.

He was later arrested and charged with his offences by officers within Rochdale CID.
The man and woman who assisted the victim have since received a bravery award from GMP for their actions, and the judge commended their ‘neighbourhood spirit’ in coming to the victim’s aid and chasing away the attacker.

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Charles Andrew Chapman, 61, of Sycamore Road, Barlby, Selby, has today (Thursday 27 March 2025) been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for the non-recent sexual abuse of two girls in the Harrogate area.

• He was found guilty of all 19 offences at York Crown Court on 27 February 2025.
• They happened more than a decade ago and include:
• Rape of a girl under 13
• Assault a girl under 13 by penetration
• Cause or incite a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity (both penetration and no penetration)
• Cause or incite a girl aged 13-15 to engage in penetrative sexual activity
• Assault a girl under 13 by penetration
• Assault a girl under 13 by touching
• Engage in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15
• Engage in non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 13-15
• Engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13
• Attempt to engage in sexual activity in the presence of a child aged 13-15

As well as the custodial sentence to which he must serve an additional one-year on licence, Chapman has also been placed on the Register of Sex Offenders for life and been made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

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A 32-year-old Northampton registered sex offender has been handed a 12-month prison term for his blatant disregard for the conditions placed on him.

In 2021, Said Mohamed was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register (SOR) for five years after he was convicted of the sexual assault of a girl under the age of 13, which took place in 2017.

As part of his SOR requirements, Mohamed must notify the police of any changes to either his name or address within three days.

However, after serving a custodial sentence for a breach of a community order, Mohamed failed to inform Northamptonshire Police of his new address.

On Tuesday, January 7, this year, Mohamed was arrested and subsequently charged with one count of failing to comply with SRO notifications and put before Northampton Magistrates’ Court. His case was committed to the county’s crown court, and he was remanded in custody.

On Monday, March 3, Mohamed, of no fixed address, appeared at Northampton Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

At the same hearing, Mohamed was sentenced to a further 20 weeks imprisonment to run concurrently, after pleading guilty to one count of harassment. This was in relation to a breach of a restraining order imposed by Willesden Magistrates’ Court in July 2023.

Lead investigator, Detective Sergeant Will Corlett from the Force’s MOSOVO Team, which closely manage sexual and violent offenders, said: “Said Mohamed is rightly back in prison for his blatant disregard of the conditions imposed on him by the courts.

“These very strict notification requirements were put in place to ultimately protect the public, which Mohamed is expected to abide to. However, his continued refusal to engage with either the police or other agencies, clearly demonstrate that he thinks he is above the law.

“It is our duty to protect the most vulnerable people in our society from people like Mohamed, and we take the management of sex offenders extremely seriously and invest significant time and resources into doing everything we can to keep the public safe.

“We closely monitor sex offenders and their movements, adopting an absolute zero-tolerance approach to situations like this. There is no room for manoeuvre. If a breach is identified, there are no second chances and just like Mohamed – offenders will be sent to prison.”

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A 31-year-old man has been given a hospital order after committing a series of sexual offences against women in Bristol.

A trial of facts found Haroon Shahid, from Fishponds, carried out two counts of attempted rape and one sexual assault in the Clifton and Redland areas last year.

Investigating officer Det Con Florence Dickinson praised three victims who she said had each "played an invaluable part in ensuring a dangerous sexual offender is off the streets and unable to commit any further harm".

An additional section 41 restriction means Shahid can only be discharged from hospital if the justice secretary agrees.

Shahid was given a hospital order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act.

His arrest followed work led by Avon and Somerset Police's dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, Operation Bluestone.

Det Con Dickinson said the three victims had shown "incredible strength and bravery in coming forward to report their experiences", support the investigation and attend court.

"We believe there may be more victims out there who've yet to come forward, as we strongly suspect Shahid was targeting young women in Clifton and Redland during early 2024," she added.

The officer urged anyone affected, or who wanted to speak to police, to call 101 or contact officers online, using the reference number: 5224075576.

The jury at Bristol Crown Court came to a unanimous decision on 19 March following the trial of the facts

The process is held when, based on medical evidence, a court decides a person is unfit to stand trial. A trial of the facts is then held to determine whether the accused has committed the offences alleged.

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A man who raped a vulnerable woman in Kettering town centre has been jailed for six years and nine months.

On the evening of October 7 last year, CCTV operators spotted the woman being assaulted in a car park off Commercial Road and alerted Northamptonshire Police.

Officers arrived to find 36-year-old Florin Bogatu standing over the highly distressed victim, and he was arrested on suspicion of rape.

Investigators were able to build a CCTV timeline showing how Bogatu first approached the woman, who he did not know, before following her and then leading her to the car park where he tried to rape her, orally raped her and further sexually assaulted her.

Bogatu, of Trafalgar Road, Kettering, was charged with one count of attempted rape, one count of rape, and one count of assault by penetration.

He went on to enter guilty pleas to all three counts and on Monday, March 24, appeared before Northampton Crown Court for sentencing.

For the oral rape, he was sentenced to six years and nine months’ imprisonment, with a six-year term given for the attempted rape and four years and six months for the assault by penetration, all to be served concurrently.

Bogatu was also placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

Speaking afterwards, investigating officer Detective Constable Victoria Thomas of SOLAR, the Force’s dedicated rape investigation team, said: “Firstly, I want to commend the bravery and resilience of the survivor, who has shown huge courage in reporting her ordeal and seeing the case through to court.

“Every step of the way, she has been determined to support our investigation and has done everything she can to help to secure this conviction.

“Bogatu deliberately and opportunistically targeted this woman, who was alone and vulnerable, subjecting her to an awful assault.

“Thankfully the CCTV footage gave him no option but to admit his guilt, and I’m really pleased to see him receive a substantial prison sentence.

“Our Force is dedicated to tackling and preventing violence against women and girls, including sexual violence, and we will do all we can to support survivors and bring offenders to justice.”

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A 31-year-old man has been sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court today after being convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to arrange / facilitate the commission of child sex offence - rape / assault by penetration of child under 13.

Liam Lewis from Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taff, has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. He is also subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will have to register as a sex offender indefinitely.

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The man pictured is 58-year-old Colin McGregor and he is a sex offender.

During the 1980s he indecently assaulted a 10-year-old girl in Blackburn. It happened on more than one occasion.

The victim didn’t raise the alarm at the time. However, after having after becoming ill due to stress in 2022 she told her husband and a psychologist what had happened. The matter was then reported to Lancashire Police in the summer of 2023.

McGregor, now of Windermere Avenue, Fareham, was arrested and interviewed by our colleagues at Hampshire Police.

Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, he was charged with a number of offences of indecent assaults.

He pleaded guilty to the offences when he appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court last year.

He returned to the same court today (27th March) where he was jailed for 30 months. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A man who raped a girl in Kirklees has been jailed following an investigation by specialist safeguarding officers.

James Goy, 39, of Plumpton Close, Bradford, targeted the victim, who was under 13, between 2020 and 2022.

Detectives began an investigation after the girls mother contacted police to report the offending.

Goy was arrested and last month pleaded guilty to nine counts of raping a child under 13 and one count of sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13.

Today, at Leeds Crown Court, he was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison.

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Detective Constable Holly O'Neill from the Kirklees Child Safeguarding Unit, who led the investigation, said:

We welcome the sentence handed down to James Goy today for his reprehensible crimes. This sends a strong and clear message that we will not tolerate the exploitation of children in our community.

I would personally like to commend the victim for her courage throughout the investigation and subsequent trial. Her fortitude and that of her family will ensure the safety of other children for years to come.

West Yorkshire Police are dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable among us and holding perpetrators to account.

I want to encourage any victims of unreported sexual offences, whether recent or non-recent, to please come forward and report them to us.

Our specialist officers will support you through the criminal justice process, and we will thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible to justice.

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Terrence James Waters, 82, (DOB: 17/06/1942) from Driffield in East Yorkshire, who used his position to sexually abuse young boys over more than a decade, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment earlier today (26 March) at Hull Crown Court after pleading guilty to and being convicted of 36 non-recent offences, including indecent assault, indecency with a child and buggery.

The case involved 14 complainants aged between seven and 13 years at the time, who all provided evidence of being abused by Waters in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s.

The majority of the abuse, which involved 12 of his former pupils, took place between 1978 and 1984. Waters also sexually abused two boys at several other locations, including his address in Old Woking, between 1984 and 1988.

Waters had already pleaded guilty to a number of the offences, including 20 counts of indecent assault and seven counts of indecency with a child, prior to the trial at an earlier hearing.

During the trial he pleaded guilty to a further five offences, including gross indecency with a child and four counts of indecent assault.

The jury subsequently found him guilty of a further four offences, including indecent assault, gross indecency with a child and two counts of buggery.

Waters was able to use his position as a teacher to target young boys, with the abuse taking place in the art building, which was located away from the main school building and contained a darkroom for developing photographs, and a specially constructed loft area. He also organised camping trips in the school holidays where further abuse took place.

Waters would take naked photographs of his victims in exchange for favours or payment, or on a false pretence that they were modelling for sculptures or for book covers.

One of the victims described the effect on his life after being abused as a young boy:
“I found following the abuse that I avoided making friends with boys and men. I have struggled since that age with my weight as eating became a comfort and would make me forget about things, I suffered with depression and still have this impacting on my life today which requires me to take medication. As a result of what happened to me, I found I repressed my sexuality and missed out on many years of being who I am.”

Remarking on the abuse he suffered some 40 years ago, another victim said:
“First of all, I would like to thank sincerely Surrey Police in the last five years of this investigation. I would like you to hear the voice of the eleven-year-old child that I was then. Allen House school was a small, seemingly safe prep school, set in beautiful grounds outside Woking. Terry Waters was a popular teacher who used his position of trust to groom and sexually little boys in his care.

“When the investigation began in 2019, wounds that had closed over 35 years started to reopen. The old sense of guilt, the old sense of secrecy, the old sense of dark favouritism had returned. Some may say that we were complicit, however we were eleven-year-old children, and a child cannot legally consent to sexual activity.”

Speaking about the abuse he suffered, another victim said:
“I cannot explain why it is that I don’t feel angry when I think about what he did to me. I feel empty. When you are abused as a child, abuse seems normal. In later life, you expect abuse, or even subconsciously seek it out.

“Abuse twists your relationship with the world. It takes a beautiful and innocent time, and it scars it. It changes the way you look at physical relationships. I tried to lock those feelings away. Of course, they come to the surface in other ways.”

Detective Inspector Ross Linaker, who led the investigation, said: “Waters was a sexual predator who used his position as a trusted member of staff at a well-respected school to abuse and violate innocent young boys.

“The outcome in the court today is the result of a lengthy and complex investigation and shows that no matter how long ago the abuse took place, we will always carry out a thorough investigation to seek justice and ensure perpetrators are punished for their actions.

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An online pervert who was caught with sickening indecent images of children realised that he could be in big trouble and made an internet search: "What do HM Prison cells look like?"

Shane Silby found himself in hot water after police discovered that he had been been downloading images of children as young as three years old, Hull Crown Court heard.

Silby, 51, of Bransholme, Hull, admitted three offences of making indecent images of children on March 30, 2023.

Ben Hammersley, prosecuting, said that police were given information that indecent images of children had been downloaded from the internet from an identified IP address and postal address. A search warrant was issued.

Police found that the regular occupant of that property was on holiday and that Silby was looking after it. He was arrested from his home on March 30, 2023.

A laptop was found to have indecent images of children, including 30 in the most serious Category A, 26 in Category B and two in Category C. They featured children as young as three years old.

Silby had made an internet search for "What do HM Prison cells look like?" During police interview, he made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 11 previous offences, most recently in 1996 but none of a similar type.

Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that Silby had worked for most of his life but he had recently not been able to work because of illness. He pleaded guilty to the offences.

Judge Tahir Khan KC told Silby: "You downloaded indecent images of children and you pleaded guilty at the first opportunity."

Silby was given a 16-month suspended prison sentence and 25 days' rehabilitation. He was given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and he must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

"If you don't do what's required of you by the probation service, that will bring you back before the court and you may have to serve out the 16 months," said Judge Khan.

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A taxi driver who sexually assaulted a young woman on her way home from a night out has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Jaswinder Singh, 51, attacked the 18-year-old in the Falkirk area on Sunday 4 February 2024.

Sheriff Maryam Labaki branded his behaviour a "grave breach of trust".

She added: "People order taxis to get home safely. Your victim expected to be delivered home without incident.

"Given the seriousness of the offence, I am satisfied that there is no alternative than that of a custodial sentence."

Singh was jailed for 30 months at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

He was additionally placed on the sex offenders' register and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for a period of 10 years.

Detective Sergeant Stewart Walton said the teenager trusted Singh to get her home safe.

He added: "He abused that trust and his actions are sickening.

"I would like to commend his victim for her strength in coming forward. Her information was essential in helping us build the case against Singh and our thoughts remain with her.

"I hope this outcome provides some sense of closure."

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Connor Pennell (05/10/1997) of Vines Cross Way, Skelmersdale was yesterday (Tuesday 25 March 2025) sentenced to 9-and-a-half years at Bolton Crown Court after being found guilty of breaching his restraining order, rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, non-fatal strangulation and three counts of voyeurism.

He will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register and has an indefinite restraining order on the victim.

He was found guilty after our detectives uncovered footage through a baby camera monitor that was saved to his phone showing the horrific rape of a woman who was trapped in a controlling relationship with him.

Concerns were raised back in July 2024 in Wigan, when officers spoke to the victim who bravely came forward. He was previously charged for battery and strangulation when a protection from harassment order was also put into place. This didn’t stop his offending days, weeks and months later and following the retrieval of further evidence he was later charged with the above offences in July 2024.

He used controlling and coercive behaviour as well as threatening behaviour to release intimate images if it was shared that he had breached his order. This was over a long period of time where his attitude towards the victim, despite her not wanting to be in a relationship with him anymore and no consent being given, became violent and abusive in person and over text.

Once arrested and interviewed Pennell pleaded his innocence and told another version of events, stating to officers that his phone would back up what he was saying. This couldn’t have been further from the truth as when they began to retrieve the data the opposite came to light of the deliberate attempts to record footage on the baby monitor of the offences which the victim was unaware of.

On one occasion, the victim thought she was going to die after Pennell strangled her. Prompting her to report it due to the fear she had on her life.

After bravely disclosing the incidents in confidence to our officers, at court the victim in her impact statement highlighted the struggles she has been through: "Before I met Connor, I was a funny, bubbly, confident, loyal, young girl, and I had many friends who I loved, and a whole family who I loved with all my heart and who loved me, I had a life and a future to look forward to. He stripped pretty much every aspect of my life away and has changed the course of my future. I’m not the same person I was.

"Connor made me re-live it all, sitting in this court, surrounded by strangers watching videos of myself in an extremely personal state that haunts me. I have flashbacks of everything he has done to me and flashbacks of the trial.

"I hope that sentencing will help other Victims of Domestic violence and sexual crimes come forward and show them that their voices will be heard, and that justice will be served.

"It’s a long road to recovery because once the abuse stops it doesn’t mean it’s over, survivors always say the bruises disappear but the mental aspect of it takes much longer and they are right, so I am relearning to love myself. I will not let him take any more of me. Connor is a danger to women and children, and I pray that today’s sentencing reflects how powerful it is what one man’s damage can cause."

On Pennell being put behind bars, Detective Constable Amy Stewart from our Wigan district said; “Pennell had a complete disregard for women and is an extremely dangerous individual.

“The bravery of the victim in coming forward and then having the confidence and belief in us to be able to support a prosecution will hopefully help her as she tries to rebuild her life after what was a horrific time for her, with Pennell now facing the consequences.

“His misogynistic attitude towards women was clear for all to see in the end once we uncovered the shocking and disturbing evidence.

“I want to stress the importance to anyone out there who may be a controlling relationship to please, when possible, to reach out and speak to us as we can help and ensure you receive the necessary support. No life should be overshadowed by those who are intent on causing unnecessary and traumatic abuse.”

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A man has been jailed for sexually abusing children in Congleton.

Philip Rigby, previously known as Philip Benson, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday 24 March where he was sentenced to 13 years and 3 months in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

The 55-year-old of River Street, Congleton, had earlier pleaded guilty to indecent assault on a girl under 14, and five counts of buggery.

The court heard how Rigby sexually abused three children between November 1982 and November 1988.

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A 54-year-old man has been jailed after admitting to having sexual relations with a minor.

Paul Collins, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 21 March for seven counts of sexual activity with a child.

He was jailed for five years and seven months by the judge. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Collins approached a vulnerable teenager in the street and gained her trust. He took advantage of her, plied her with drugs and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions over several days in 2022.

Officers attended Collins’ bedsit to arrest him for an unrelated matter, when they found the teenage girl with him.

The victim came to a police station a few days after Collins was convicted of the unrelated matter and told officers she had been raped and assaulted by Collins.

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Andrew Shore (05/09/1987) of Croome Gardens, Bourton On The Water, Gloucestershire, was sentenced to seven years and three months at Manchester Crown Square Court today (Wednesday 26 March 2025).

On Thursday 27 February 2025, Shore was found guilty by a unanimous verdict of raping a female aged under 13 and indecent assault at the same court.

The offences took place in Rochdale in the early 2000s when the victim was only 11 years old and Shore was in a position of trust. Shore was 16 years old at the time of his offending.

He was also given a restraining order against the victim and lifelong sex offender requirements.