Latest Offenders

Description

Alan Cunningham (08/01/1961) pleaded guilty in June 2023 to four counts of sexual activity with a girl under 13 and possessing indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.

Cunningham was also made to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely today (Friday 4 October 2024) at Liverpool Crown Court.

Cunningham was already serving a three year prison sentence for other child sex offences. He will now spend another 15 years in prison and a further four years on extended licence. 

In May 2019, Cunningham began sexually assaulting a nine-year-old child and forced her to send him indecent photographs of herself.

His behaviour continued until March 2023 when the mother of a the child noticed inappropriate text messages from Cunningham to her daughter.

Text messages were sent by Cunningham to the victim with comments such as “Where are my kisses at the end of messages” and “you could have took me to the bath too”.

Following examination, a number of category C images were found on the device seized from Cunningham, with him requesting that the victim send nude pictures in return for money.

His conviction follows an investigation led by the Wigan Complex Safeguarding Team and Detective Sergeant Vicki Flemming.

Description

A SICK pervert thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl in a park, but instead he was detained by a paedophile hunting group run by Widnes residents.

Steven Smith was talking to a number of teenage ‘girls’, telling them he would like to kiss, cuddle, and date them, before he was caught by Widnes Parents Against Predators.

He even encouraged them to perform sex acts on themselves.

The 52-year-old dad appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to a catalogue of child sex offences, including three counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, two counts of attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, arranging the commission of a child sex offence, possessing indecent images of children and making indecent images of children.

Prosecuting, Shannon Stewart said how Smith’s offending came to light in May of last year when officers were notified by members of Widnes Parents Against Predators that they had detained a man who had arranged to meet who he thought was 14-year-old girl at a park in Cronton.

Smith, of Rylands Drive, Orford, was arrested and when officers seized his devices, they discovered he had been talking to a number of young ‘girls’ online.

Ms Stewart said how one of girls was called Imogen but officers have not been able to identify if she was a real child or a decoy.

Liverpool Crown Court was told how Imogen told the defendant that she was 14 and despite this, he turned the nature of the conversation sexual.

He asked for pictures of Imogen and encouraged her to perform sex acts on herself.

Smith told her that he wanted to watch TV, eat curry, and snuggle with her.

He asked her if she would like to kiss him and said that this would be ‘special’ and ‘feel electric’.

The court heard how Smith told Imogen that he may have got her a gift for her 15th birthday because he ‘liked her’.

This communication lasted from April 2022 to December 2022 and only stopped when Imogen stopped responding.

Another 14-year-old ‘girl’ who Smith believed he was talking to was called Molly, but this was actually a decoy account operated by Widnes Parents Against Predators.

Smith first contacted Molly in April 2023. She told him she was 14 and he said that was fine before calling her stunning and asking her to send a picture of herself.

The paedophile asked Molly about meeting up and suggested they should go for a walk and kiss and cuddle.

He said that although she was too young for sex, he would like to caress her and run his hands over her body.

Ms Stewart said how Smith also encouraged Molly to perform sex ats on herself.

In May 2023, Smith told Molly that he was working in St Helens and that he could come and meet her, so the pair arranged to meet at a park in Cronton.

But here, Smith was met by the paedophile hunting group and was detained.

From March 2023 to May 2023, Smith was talking to another decoy account which was posing as a 14-year-old girl called Megan.

Megan told Smith her age and said she was in school.

Smith sexualised the conversation and said he would like to have a curry with Megan and get a kiss from her for his birthday.

He said they could go on a date to McDonald’s and asked if he met her would she wear a skirt.

Smith asked Megan to send a picture of her bed and when she did he said it was big and that there would be room in it for kisses and cuddles.

He also sent voice notes, in one he said they could go for a walk in a park and that he would kiss her and grab her bottom.

Smith has no previous convictions.

Defending, Jim Smith said how his client has a ‘high level of regret’ for the commission of the offences.

He said that since his arrest, Smith has carried out extensive work to rehabilitate himself including self referring himself for psychological therapy and attending sex addicts anonymous – where he has now become a sponsor.

Mr Smith said how the defendant suffers from anxiety and depression and that he has lost his marriage, career, and home since he committed the offences.

Judge David Potter handed Smith three years and four months behind bars.

He also issued him with a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered him to sign the sex offenders register.

Description

A convicted sex offender subjected a child to a campaign of sickening abuse 'enabled' by his partner. Former couple Alan Townley and Patricia Jones have been locked up after the brave victim came forward.

Chester Crown Court heard Townley, 61, and Jones, 58, were in a relationship. She was aware he was a convicted sex offender, Cheshire Police said, but 'facilitated access' to the child, 'enabling the offences to take place'.

A trial heard Townley flirted with the child, touching them inappropriately. Townley went on to rape and sexually assault the child on multiple occasions.

When the victim tried to stop him, Townley hit them. The abuse came to light years later when the victim spoke out about their ordeal. Townley and Jones were then arrested and charged.

Townley, of Elton Road, Sandbach, Cheshire, was sentenced to 17 years, plus eight years on extended licence. He was found guilty of 12 counts - including rape of a child under 13; sexual assault of a child under 13; causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity; and actual bodily harm. Jones, 58, of Glastonbury Drive, Middlewich, was sentenced to three years for facilitating the offences, Cheshire Police said.

Detective Constable Stacey Thompson, who led the investigation, said: "Firstly, I would like to commend the bravery of the victim in this case, who not only came forward to report what had happened to them, but also endured the process of a trial after Townley refused to take accountability for his horrifying actions.

"What Townley subjected them to is truly horrifying, systematically abusing them in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification. What makes this case worse is the fact that Jones knowingly allowed Townley to have access to the victim, despite being well aware that he was a convicted sex offender. Putting her relationship above the safety and welfare of a child.

"The sentences handed to Townley and Jones reflect the severity of their crime and I hope that his conviction will encourage other victims to come forward.

"As this case demonstrates, we treat all reports of historic sexual offences seriously, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated."

Description

A sick sex abuser who offered his young victim money to send him pictures of her wearing just her knickers has been jailed.

When police arrested 31-year-old Liam Bacon they examined his mobile phones and found 49 indecent images of children including one of the girl, which she had been pressured into sending him.

The teenager, who must not be identified for legal reasons, said Bacon’s offending against her had caused her serious anxiety and she still suffered “night terrors” when she tried to sleep.

Bradford Crown Court heard on Thursday that the girl had been forced to give evidence through before Bacon's trial, but on the day of he pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and making indecent images of children.

Prosecutor Gareth Henderson-Moore told the court Bacon had sexually assaulted the girl in 2022, and then went on to ask her if she wanted to make some money by doing some bikini modelling in the woods. The girl refused and thought it was “weird”, but during further exchanges Bacon offered her £15 for “naked bum” photos and £30 for images of her in her knickers.

Again the girl refused, but after Bacon began to threaten her she eventually sent him photos of “sex faces” and he paid £35 into her bank account. After more threats she sent a photograph of herself in her underwear and he later paid £30 into her account after she left him a pair of her knickers.

Bacon, of Micklemoss Drive, Queensbury, had no previous convictions for sexual offending, but he will now have to register as a sex offender with police for the rest of his life. He was jailed for 34 months and told he must also comply with a five-year restraining order which bans him from contacting the complainant and he must also comply with the terms of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

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A registered paedophile has been jailed after he tampered with a monitoring device and hid a hard drive from police.

Rhys Mateer was previously convicted at Maidstone Crown Court in 2020 of engaging in sexual communication with a child.

He received a suspended sentence that came with strict sex offender notification requirements (SONR).

This included telling police within three days if he used an alias online or received new bank cards.

He was also issued with a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). It allowed officers access to any device capable of storing digital images.

Mateer was subject to unannounced visits from police to check he was complying.

On June 15, two constables arrived at his home and found he had tampered with monitoring software installed on his mobile phone.

He had used an application that prevented from keeping his browsing history.

Further checks found he had been using an alias on his gaming console without notifying the police.

He also had a laptop and an external hard drive, both of which hadn't been declared.

Mateer, formerly from Minster, was arrested and further searches located a bank card he had not declared, a tablet and a mobile phone in his car.

He was charged and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to five counts of breaching his SHPO and two counts of breaching his SONR.

Yesterday (October 3), the 27-year-old was sentenced to two years and seven months’ imprisonment.

This included four months for breaching a suspended sentence. On his release from prison, he will be subject to a further SHPO indefinitely.

PC James Harris said: “The conditions that come with these court orders are an opportunity for sex offenders to show they are attempting to reform their ways and can be trusted to not reoffend whilst living in the community.

“Our unannounced visit to this particular individual identified several breaches and he was immediately arrested.

“He is now serving a prison sentence and will be subject to further checks on his conduct when he is eventually released.”

Description

The 48-year-old had previously been handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in 2020.

Bowes pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching his SHPO, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence.

He was then jailed for three years at Sheffield Crown Court last Wednesday (Sept 25).

Investigations officer Fiona Booth, who was the officer in charge of this case, said: "Bowes believed he was speaking to a 14-year-old child, and yet he continued to make inappropriate sexual advances.

"A thorough search of his devices led to his crimes being exposed and in comments made prior to his arrest, he was heard saying 'I was only messing about', which shows how little responsibility he took for his actions.

"Bowes posed a high level of risk and we are pleased he has been given an immediate three-year custodial sentence.

"We will continue investigating the crimes of sex offenders like Bowes to stop them in their tracks and to keep children safe from online sexual predators."

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A former PhD student has been jailed for conspiring to commit female genital mutilation (FGM) against a young girl in the first conviction of its kind in England and Wales.

Emad Kaky, 47, from Swansea, arranged for the child to travel from the UK to Iraq where he had organised for her to be subjected to FGM and forced into marriage.

Before the crimes could be carried out, Kaky’s plans were uncovered by a witness who arranged for the victim to travel back to the UK and reported him to the police.

Kaky was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit FGM and forced marriage, which he denied. He was convicted on 9 September after a ten-day trial at Nottingham Crown Court and was today sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment.

Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said: “Today, Emad Kaky has faced the consequences of his actions in trying to get a young, innocent girl subjected to female genital mutilation and to be forced into a marriage not of her choosing.

“Had he succeeded in his plans, this child would have suffered unimaginable physical and mental harm.

“During the trial we presented evidence that the defendant considered this behaviour to be normal. The law is clear that there is no place for this unacceptable practice in society and the Crown Prosecution Service, police and other law enforcement agencies will work together to bring perpetrators to justice.

“This has been a landmark prosecution, not just because it is the first conviction of its kind, but for the message it sends to people who may be vulnerable to this horrific form of abuse. Where there is evidence that people have plotted to commit these offences, they face prosecution, whether or not they succeed.”

Building the Case

Before the trial, the defence team put forward a legal argument for dismissal, so the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had to show that FGM is a criminal offence in Iraq.

We also had to demonstrate that, as part of the conspiracy to commit FGM, Kaky had committed an act in England and Wales, where they have jurisdiction to prosecute.

Instructing a legal expert in the law of Iraq, our prosecutors were able to point to an area of the Iraqi penal code which outlined it as an offence – resulting in the defence dropping their argument and the case being able to proceed.

Proving that Kaky had committed an act in England and Wales as part of the conspiracy, prosecutors presented evidence that showed he had booked and paid for the trip to Iraq while living in Nottingham.

Messages retrieved from his phone showed Kaky clearly intended for the victim to be subjected to FGM and forced into marriage. He went on to defend his actions when a witness challenged him, calling FGM and forced marriage “normal”.

To further help the jury understand what FGM involves, the prosecution secured evidence from a cultural expert, who gave evidence about the practices and the physical and psychological harm it can inflict on victims.

It is the first time a person in England and Wales has been convicted of conspiring to commit FGM.

During the sentencing, the prosecution made submissions that, although the plan ultimately failed, the case should be sentenced on the basis of the harm that Kaky intended to do to the victim by arranging for FGM to take place.

Description

A man who raped a child when she was still in infant classes has been jailed for four years and nince months.

Reece McNair, now 28, sexually abused the little girl on numerous occasions when he was 16 years old. The child, who can not be named for leal reasons, kept the abuse secret for around a decade but later disclosed what had happened to her to an NHS worker she was seeing to support her with her mental health.

McNair, of Bulkhead Drive, Fleetwood, was arrested and confessed he had abused the girl. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, attempted rape and four counts of sexual assault.

The girl and her mother set out how the abuse had affected them for many years before the youngster disclosed what had happened to her.

She said: "I don't remember a time when my body felt clean. I have had my childhood stolen from me. I can't remember good things from my childhood, only bad.

"He has truly torn my life apart and I will never be able to live a normal life again. I just want my brain to shut off and stop feeling things."

Her mother said she will never forget the day she was called into CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) and told what had happened to her daughter. She said her daughter had displayed signs of distress and missed out educationally due to her trauma.

"No-one wants to believe they missed something as significant as their child being sexually abused", she said. "That cuts deep. Her struggles did not go unnoticed but unfortunately she felt unable to share what happened to her."

Her daughter has a fear of men as a result of what happened to her and was frightened of Father Christmas, and speaking to male police officers and teachers.

McNair wrote a letter to the court, "to say how sorry I am for the pain and heartbreak I have caused her and her family".

He said: "I deserve to be punished and it will never happen again."

The court heard he was 16 at the time he committed the offences and has since been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. A psychiatric report stated he would be vulnerable in prison and find his sentence traumatic.

Judge Gioserano said: "She was but a child. It was not her fault, it was your fault. You took her childhood and no sentence, however long, can give her that back.

"It goes without saying that I am sentencing you as an adult for offences you committed when you were not yet an adult. I must take into account all that this means by way of reduced culpability."

He also considered the guidelines for sentencing people with mental or developmental disorders but said: "Although you were young yourself and suffering from a disorder which reduces your culpability further, you still knew full well that what you were doing was very wrong."

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A child sex attacker who attempted to rape a 15-year-old girl before she managed to escape his clutches has been handed a lifelong restriction order after being described as a "considerable threat" to women and children.

Andrew Anderson, 40, was previously found guilty of sexually assaulting the teen with intent to rape. And at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, October 3, he was jailed for a minimum of three years as part of the order, after being deemed a risk to the public.

The court heard how he preyed on the girl one evening in Kilmarnock town centre. Prosecutors told how he repeatedly asked to kiss her, told her to lie on the ground, lay beside her, placed his hand inside her lower clothing, pulled her towards him, repeatedly requested that she have sexual intercourse with him, and sexually assaulted her.

When sentencing, Lord Matthews said: "It was only with great presence of mind that she managed to trick you and escape from your clutches before alerting police officers who were patrolling nearby."

It comes after Anderson was convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl, for which he was jailed for six years in 2006. When he was found guilty of raping two other women and indecently assaulting a third at houses in Cumnock and Kilmarnock, he was placed on an Order for Lifelong Restriction at the High Court in Glasgow in 2018.

The thug was jailed for a minimum of five years and he was warned he might never be released. However, the conviction was quashed in 2019 after the Court of Appeal in Edinburgh ruled that a legal rule on corroboration which is used in sex cases, known as the Moorov doctrine, was wrongly applied.

Sources said Anderson, who previously claimed to have children with “nine or 10 different women”, was then trying to sue prosecutors for the harm caused while he was wrongly imprisoned but lawyers reportedly refused to take on his case.

He claimed that during the period he spent behind bars, his relationship with his partner suffered, possessions – including a PlayStation and television – vanished and he was unable to attend the funerals of loved ones.

A woman involved in the case previously told how she was "disgusted" that he was pursuing compensation. It's unknown whether he took legal action any further but Anderson has been in custody since November 2022. Due to another prison term during that stint in custody, Anderson's latest sentence runs from November 23, 2023.

Lord Matthews described him as a "persistent offender" as he went through his lengthy record. The judge added: "I ordered a Risk Assessment Report and can safely say that it is the most pessimistic I have ever read. You represent a considerable threat to vulnerable women, female adolescents and female children.

"In the circumstances the only way I can properly protect the public is by imposing on you an Order for Lifelong Restriction. In doing so I have to set a period of time, the punishment part of your sentence, which must pass before you can apply for parole.

"Whether you are successful in any such application will be a matter for others to decide. This is not a sentence of imprisonment for three years and you will only be released when it is considered safe to do so."

Anderson was also made subject to the Sex Offenders' Register for an indefinite period and Scottish Ministers will be informed of his conviction.

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A dangerous offender has been jailed for four years after a string of sexual offences against women in a Warwickshire town. Paul Sanders was convicted of a series of sexual offences against women in Leamington Spa in the space of 24 hours.

Police described Sanders, 36, as a "very dangerous man" after he was sentenced. He was convicted on September 23 at Warwick Crown Court of the offences, which he carried out on April 6.

Warwickshire Police said Sanders in just 24 hours sexually assaulted a woman, attempted to sexually assault a woman and tried to force entry to a house with the intent to commit a sexual offence. The force praised the courage of the victims in the case that helped secure a conviction.

A Warwickshire Police spokesperson said: "A dangerous offender has been jailed after being convicted of a series of sexual offences against women in Leamington. On April 6 2024, Paul Sanders sexually assaulted a woman, attempted to sexually assault a woman and attempted to force entry to a house with the intent to commit a sexual offence.

"The 36-year-old was jailed for four years last week. He will serve another three years on licence following his release. He was also ordered to sign the sex offender’s register for life.

"At Warwick Crown Court last week Sanders, of no fixed abode, was jailed after pleading guilty to sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and knowingly trespassing on premises with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence."

Det Sgt James Stone-Fewings, a sexual offence investigator from Warwickshire Police, said: “The courage shown by all the victims in this case must be commended. Thanks to their continued support we have been able to ensure a very dangerous man is no longer on the streets.”

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A Bewdley man has been jailed after being found guilty of rape. Audey Loveridge, 47, was sentenced to eight years and two months at Worcester Crown Court today, October 3.

West Mercia Police said Loveridge was found guilty of a rape that took place nearly two years ago. He was also handed a restraining order and made to register as a sex offender.

Speaking following sentencing, Det Con Simon Reilly, of West Mercia Police, said the jail term was "welcome in offering closure" for the victim. But he added that trauma would "sadly live on."

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "A 47-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years and two months after he was found guilty of rape. Audey Loveridge, of Woodman Caravan Park, Ribbesford Road, Bewdley was sentenced at Worcester Crown court today (3 October), after he was found guilty of a rape that took place in December 2022.

"Loveridge also received an indefinite restraining order against the victim and has been ordered to register as a sex offender for life."

Mr Reilly said: “The sentencing is certainly welcome in offering closure for the victim, and I hope it assists her in being able to move forward with her life, however, I know the level of trauma inflicted upon the victim is something that sadly lives on.”

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A former Merseyside Lord Mayor who has been an elected councillor for more than three decades has been kicked out of the Labour Party after he pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children.

Councillor Paul Tweed, who represents the Litherland ward on Sefton Council, appeared at Wirral Magistrates' Court last week having been arrested and charged on three counts of making indecent images of children.

Tweed, of York Close in Netherton, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of children at his home between 9 September 2020 and 13 May 2024.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of indecent photographs/pseudo-photographs of children.
Merseyside Police on Wednesday 2 October confirmed that Tweed, 61, was arrested on 24 September, as part of an ongoing investigation into sexual offences. He appeared in court the following day. He will be sentenced next month.

Tweed was first elected to Sefton Council in 1992 and has held a number of high ranking positions on the local authority, including holding the cabinet portfolio for corporate services and performance between 2012 and 2015.

He became Sefton's Lord Mayor for the year 2008/09, attending numerous events as the borough's first citizen.
The Sefton Labour group said it took "immediate action" to remove Tweed as a member after it became aware of the offences, but despite Sefton Council asking him to resign following his guilty pleas last week, he currently remains an elected member of the council, sitting as an independent.

A spokesperson for Sefton Council said: We were extremely shocked to hear of these charges and subsequent guilty plea and we have written to Councillor Paul Tweed asking him to resign with immediate effect.
As a council this is completely at odds with our values and high standards the public expect and deserve. We will assist the police investigation in any way we can.

A statement from Sefton Labour Group said: "We are deeply troubled to hear of these disturbing charges. Immediate action has been taken in response and we can confirm that Councillor Tweed is no longer a member of Sefton Labour Group or the Labour Party."
Tweed will appear for sentencing at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on 6 November to allow time for a for pre-sentence report to be obtained.

Description

A pervert head teacher who secretly filmed boys getting changed in PE is facing jail again after being found with sickening child abuse images.

Timothy Moule, 53, who was also the safeguarding lead at his school, was jailed for 52 months back in 2018 for voyeurism and making indecent images of children.

He covertly recorded videos using secret cameras and more than 3,500 vile images were found on his devices. A concerned parent had contacted police after finding social media messages from Moule to her son.

This week, he was back in court after being found to have a fresh collection of 1,100 indecent images of children which he accumulated over four years.

As part of his original sentence, Moule was made subject of a sexual harm prevention order to try and prevent him from carrying out further sex offences. The court heard officers would check his electronic devices to make sure he was not searching for or collecting indecent material.

But it was discovered he accumulated more child sex abuse pictures between June 2020 and September this year. Police officers seized two tablet devices and four laptops, and discovered a stash of images which included 142 category A - depicting the most serious and depraved examples of child sex abuse.

Moule, who worked at schools in Wolverhampton and Shropshire, also had 149 category B pictures, 789 category C and 21 of an unspecified category. He pleaded guilty at Kidderminster Magistrates Court to four counts of making indecent images of children and one of breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Magistrates committed the case to Shrewsbury Crown Court for sentencing on November 1 and granted Moule, of Telford, Shrops., bail. In the meantime, he must sign onto the sex offender's register at his local police station and live and sleep at his bail address.

Speaking previously, Superintendent Tom Harding, of West Mercia Police, said: "We're committed to bringing sex offenders to justice and put a stop to any form of child sexual abuse and our efforts to tackle this will continue.

"I'm keen to stress offending can take place across all sections of society and whenever we receive a report of a sex offence it will be thoroughly investigated regardless of those involved or their background."

Description

A sex offender left a fellow inmate with a broken cheekbone and in need of surgery after attacking him behind bars. John Reynolds subjected his victim to a series of "sucker punches" without warning while the two men were serving time at Walton prison.

The serial flasher was then freed from jail, but began drinking two bottles of vodka a day "with a side of cocaine". A judge today compared him to a "runaway mine train".

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Tuesday, that Reynolds was handed an eight-week sentence for a public order offence in March this year and sent to HMP Liverpool. CCTV footage then captured the moment he approached fellow prisoner James Butterworth from behind at around 5.30pm on April and punched him three to four times to the right hand side of the head in an "unprovoked attack".

Rachel Oakdene, prosecuting, described how the 38-year-old, of no fixed address, was then "dragged away" following the "very short lived" assault. The complainant attended Aintree Hospital in the aftermath and was found to have suffered multiple fractures to his cheekbone which required surgery.

Reynolds was subsequently released from prison shortly after the incident and began residing in a hostel. However, he was then evicted from these premises on August 22.

His criminal record shows previous entries for wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault, harassment and breaching court orders. Reynolds was also locked up for 16 months for sexual assault and exposure in 2011, handed a four-month imprisonment suspended for two years for exposure in 2013 and sentenced to a further six months in December 2022, 17 weeks in November 2023 and 12 weeks in December 2023 - with all three of these convictions being for exposure.

This means that he remains subject to notification requirements obliging him to keep the police informed of his current address. But the "high risk sex offender" failed to disclose the fact that he had been made homeless to the force, placing him in breach of the terms of the register.

Emily Land, defending, told the court: "It appears that he is genuinely remorseful. He knows what the outcome is. Your honour has seen the explanation provided by the defendant.

"It is not a reasonable explanation, regardless of what had happened. It was a short lived attack. There were multiple blows, but in a very short period of time. He is immediately dragged away.

"He has been plagued by alcohol addiction, drinking two bottles of vodka a day with a side of cocaine. That was only made worse by the fact that his mother passed away in 2021.

"It was close to her birthday, which has caused a significant spiral at the point where he had been evicted from his accommodation. He found himself homeless and consuming alcohol, to the point where he failed to remember his requirement to go to the police station to let them know.

"As a consequence, he has now found himself back in prison when he had stable accommodation. He knows he has squandered that opportunity.

"He can use this opportunity now he is back in custody to get himself off the current track that his life appears to be on. He knows that he is the only one who can make that change in his life. If he does not do that, he is going to continue to be in front of these courts."

Reynolds admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and failing to comply with notification requirements. Appearing via video link to HMP Altcourse, he was jailed for two years.

Sentencing, Recorder Mark Shepherd said: "It is quite clear that there were issues between you and the other prisoner. Whatever those issues were, and they might have been things which were causing you distress, what you could not do without consequence was resort to violence to try to deal with the situation.

"You are somebody not unknown to the court by any means. You knew what you were doing that day and you did deliver a sucker punch, more than one.

"Offences in custody are more serious because they undermine the fundamental need for control and order to maintain the safety of prisoners and staff that work in that environment. You put all of that at risk by your actions."

Recorder Shepherd added of Reynolds' notification requirements: "These requirements have been in place for a long time. You will have been aware of your responsibilities.

"While it is extremely unfortunate, you are somebody who, at times of adversity, will self destruct and end up drinking vast quantities of alcohol on a daily basis and consuming drugs. You ended up losing your accommodation as a result of that. That placed the public at risk because when you are drinking to excess, when you are on drugs and when you are homeless, you are like a runaway mine train."

Description

A Kettering man has been sentenced to a total of 36 months in prison for three sexual assaults in Rushden and Kettering.

Binu Paul, 47, was convicted of the sexual assault of a woman at an address in Rushden which occurred on March 5, 2019.

He was also convicted of two counts of sexual assault against different women which happened in Kettering on October 13, 2021.

It was thanks to members of the public who stepped in to help one victim in Kettering that saw him captured.

The first assault happened in Silver Street when CCTV captured Paul strike a woman on the bottom before walking away when she challenged him.

He then entered Horse Market where he sexually assaulted another woman before being restrained by members of the public until police arrived.

Paul, of Bellway Close, Kettering, first appeared before Northampton Magistrates’ Court on October 15, 2021, charged with sexual assault, as well as one count of harassment and a further charge of assault relating to incidents in Rushden, and failure to provide a specimen of breath as a driver, all also on October 13.

That court hearing saw him dealt with for the failure to provide the breath test, resulting in him being disqualified from driving for 36 months and ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and £35 victim surcharge.

The sexual assault charges were sent to Northampton Crown Court, and on July 24, 2024, Paul was sentenced to a total of 36 months’ imprisonment for the three offences.

He was also given a five-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim in the Rushden case by any means, and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.