Latest Offenders

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A man raped a vulnerable woman after pushing his way into her house at night, a court has heard. A judge said she believed Adrian Gravell was aware of his victim's vulnerabilities and had subjected her to "uncontrolled sexual violence" once through the front door.

Making the defendant subject to an extended sentence as a dangerous offender a judge said he had carried out a "swift and brutal" attack on the woman. And she said she had no doubt he had been sexually excited by the "dominance" he was exerting over his victim during the incident.

Swansea Crown Court heard the offending took place in March this year at an address in the Swansea area. The 45-year-old defendant exposed his penis to his victim before raping her. When he had finished attacking the woman, who is in her 60s, he told her they should keep the incident "to themselves". In a victim personal statement which was read to the court the woman said she did not know if she would ever fully recover from what happened. She said the rape had "changed me forever", adding: "This man and his attack on me has totally destroyed my life."

Adrian Paul Gravell, of Llys Gwyn Terrace, Pontarddulais, Swansea, had previously been convicted at trial of exposure and rape when he returned to the dock for sentencing. He has previous convictions for three counts of exposure from 2006. Those offences involved him exposing his genitals to women from the cab of a van while working as a delivery driver. Ieuan Rees, for Gravell, said over the last 20 years the defendant had been a "reliable individual holding down a responsible job and behaving in the way responsible citizens do" and he said his client's wife was standing by him.

Judge Catherine Richards said Gravell had been aware of the victim's vulnerabilities and she told the defendant she had no doubt he had been "sexually excited by the dominance you were exerting of her". The judge noted his previous convictions for exposure were in 2006 but she said his "predatory behaviour had lain dominant" for several years before he carried out the "swift and brutal" attack on a lone woman in her own home. She said an extended sentence was necessary to protect the public. Gravell was given a 15-year extended sentence comprising 10 years in custody followed by a five-year licence period. He must serve two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence before he can apply for release but it will be for the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be released. The defendant will be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.

Speaking after the sentencing South Wales Police detective constable Penny Romanello said: "This was a horrific sexual assault on a vulnerable woman, and no one should ever be made to feel unsafe or at risk in their own home. Adrian Gravell denied the offences however the evidence gathered by our team and crucially the account given by the victim meant the jury could see through his lies and found him guilty.

"The victim in this case showed real courage, not only in reporting him to police but throughout the investigation. I also want to commend her bravery and strength as her determination to see this through has ensured we were able to secure the conviction. I hope the sentencing encourages others who may have been the victim of sexual assault - or knows someone who has been a victim - to come forward and speak to our specialist teams. All reports will be treated seriously and with the sensitivity they deserve, and we will ensure you are provided with all available support."

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A registered sex offender who piled a schoolgirl with alcohol and drugs before raping her has been jailed for life.

Lee McPherson repeatedly preyed on the 15-year-old girl who was also bombarded with sleazy text messages, a court heard.

McPherson, 44, was convicted in October last year after a trial in Livingston of two charges of raping the girl between November 2018 and January 2019. The attacks occurred at different addresses in Dundee including in the city's Caird Park.

Sentencing was adjourned a number of times after judge Lady Haldane called for a full risk assessment to be carried out on McPherson, who had previously breached a sexual harm order.

McPherson went on to finally appear in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow where the judge imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR). The rapist was told he must serve a minimum five years behind bars.

Lady Haldane said McPherson had continued to display 'deeply concerning attitudes' towards his young victim.

The judge said: 'You showed no insight in the consequences of your behaviour nor did you apparently see anything wrong in a man of your age behaving as you did towards a child.'

McPherson, also of Dundee, was warned he will not automatically be freed after five years. He will only be released once he is deemed safe to be put back on the streets.

Describing one attack, the young victim told jurors how she felt unwell after drinking and taking cannabis at a flat where McPherson and others were. She passed out, but awoke on one occasion to find McPherson on top of her. 

During the other incident, she described lying 'frozen and staring at the wall' as she was preyed upon.

McPherson was further found guilty of sending the girl and another teenager messages of a sexual nature, which he claimed were 'stupid jokes'.

The sentencing hearing was told McPherson continues to protest his innocence.

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A convicted sex offender proved himself 'unmanageable' by not reporting that he had been disposing of mobile phones.

Raymond Jarrett, 48, was first hit with a sexual harm prevention order in 2019 after having made hundreds of indecent images of children.

But he was brought back to court after he was discovered to have been disposing of mobile phones, including an iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy, without telling his responsible officer.

Megan Horner, prosecuting, said: “He said that the iPhone 7 from January 2021 had been dropped down the toilet and disposed of.”

She added: “He also told officers that the original iPhone had been sent to a recycling company rather than simply disposed of.”

But Ms Horner said that he had not been able to produce emails proving this.

She said that he had also claimed that one of the phones had been stolen but police had apparently not been able to verify this.

Jarrett, of Gloucester Court, Horwich, was first convicted of three counts of making indecent photos of children in November 2019 and was given a two year community order as well as being subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

But he was then further convicted of another three counts of downloading indecent images of children in July 2022 and given a fresh sexual harm prevention order and a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

His order forbade him from getting rid of devices with access to the internet, like mobile phones, without making sure his responsible officer was aware.

Jarrett also failed to them when he registered a fourth mobile phone, after the previous three had been disposed of.

Ms Horner told the court that Jarrett, who has three previous convictions for 12 offences, had also breached his suspended sentence by missing two appointments with probation.

She said this showed a “clear history of disobedience with order courts, particularly this court order.”

Constance Halliwell, defending, accepted that this could be seen as a “persistent breach” but said that Jarrett was deeply sorry for his actions and had earned credit by pleading guilty.

She said that Jarrett now accepted he “should have read the order more carefully.”

Ms Halliwell said that the 48-year-old had been through and “extremely difficult few years” but now intended to stay sober having struggled with alcohol.

But the Honorary Recorder for Bolton Judge Martin Walsh pointed to a report by probation which claimed the risk Jarrett posed was “unmanageable.”

He said: “There’s been a history here not only failure to comply with the suspended sentence and work with probation officers but also in terms of offending again.”

Judge Walsh sentenced Jarrett to a total of two years in prison.

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The woman, who is in her 60s, was subjected to the terrifying attack carried out by pervert Lee Belsham, who has been handed an extended 10-year jail sentence.

The brave woman faced 38-year-old Belsham at Leeds Crown Court where she read out a statement on how the attack had affected her.

She said: “I thought I was going to die, I was so scared. That memory will live with me forever and haunts me to this day.”

Belsham followed the woman along the path on Sowgate Lane at Knottingley at around lunchtime on March 6 this year. He then “rugby tackled” her as she entered one of the small tunnels that run under the M62 and A1(M).

With her face down on the floor, he sat on her back and began to sexually assault her, touching her between her legs and putting his hands under her bra, repeatedly telling her that he would kill her if she screamed.

He dragged her to her feet told her to “drop them”, referring to her underwear. She then told him it was a busy path where people walked, and Belsham “came to his senses” before making off.

He was later arrested after nearby CCTV picked him up leaving the area, still wearing the same clothes. He was picked out by the victim and his DNA was found on her. Despite this, he continued to deny the offences, but changed his pleas to guilty, eventually admitting two counts of sexual assault and making threats to kill.

The court heard that Belsham, formerly of Ferrybridge Road, Knottingley, also admitted indecently exposing himself to two females on separate dates in June 2021, first dropping his trousers and masturbating in front of a female jogger, and then a 14-year-old girl two days later. They both happened on a towpath next to the River Calder at Ferrybridge.

He has more than 20 previous convictions, including many for violence.

Judge Simon Batiste jailed him for seven years, with a three-year extended licence period and put on the sex offender register for life. Referring to the sexual assaults, he said: “It’s clear you followed her for some distance. It’s evident the impact it’s had on her and will have life-long profound effects.”

Speaking outside court, Detective Inspector Rachel Darling from Wakefield District Safeguarding Unit said: “I would like to praise the victim for her bravery in coming forward to report the offences to police.

“She was subjected to a frightening and horrendous ordeal, but now I hope the sentence Belsham received will allow her some closure to what has happened.”

“I would also like to praise the tenacity of the investigation team here in Wakefield who worked diligently to ensure Belsham was brought to justice."

Speaking after the sentencing, Belsham’s victim, said: “I cannot fault the support and kindness that I have received from the police from the date this happened. Everything that the officer in the case has done for me is greatly appreciated.

“I have waited for this day for seven months and I feel I can begin again now and move on. I will not allow that man to destroy my life.”

Description

A predatory paedophile sexually abused young girls for his "own depraved sexual urges". He left his victims scared of potential violence and thinking they would not be believed if they were to report the assaults.

Gary Morgan, 59, of Newport, targeted his two victims during the 1980s and 1990s. The abuse involved him touching one victim's naked genitalia as well as her chest and her bottom.

A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard the defendant stopped abusing the girl after she shouted: "No" as he attempted to touch her again. In his sentencing remarks. Recorder Dyfed Thomas said: "You pathetically apologised and said you thought she liked it. She was scared because nobody said no to you but she as a child was brave enough to do so."

Morgan sexually assaulted the second victim on two occasions, the first of which involved him pinning her arms against her side, forcing her legs open, and pressing his body up against her. This happened a second time on a later date when he pushed her down, pinned her, and pressed himself up against her.

Decades after the abuse the victims contacted the police and Morgan faced a trial. He denied the offences and claimed the victims were lying but he was found guilty of six offences of indecent assault. The defendant, of Jackson Court, has no relevant previous convictions.

In a victim personal statement read out to the court by prosecutor Nigel Fryer the first victim said: "As a child I was constantly scared and recall feeling physical pain. This was due to the trauma.... I was worried disclosing what had happened would lead to violence. I have had to live with this since I was a child and I continue to live with this. It became a learnt behaviour.

"I find it difficult to ask anybody for help. I became a destructive teenager and lost trust in authority and adults. The abuse impacted my education and I could have done so much better in school if I didn't have to deal with this.... I suffer with nightmares. I constantly feel guilty and responsible for the way other people feel. I feel guilty for not saying something sooner as I could have prevented other people being abused by this man."

The second victim said: "I struggle to get my head around everything that happened to me with this man. As a child I was scared – scared of what this man was capable of and what it would lead to. When I think about what this man has done to me I automatically get emotional – it has stayed with me throughout my life. I was afraid of him – he made me feel weak and helpless and when the incidents happened I was in shock and so vulnerable."

In mitigation defence barrister Thomas Stanway said his client was "living a chaotic lifestyle" at the time of the offences and had difficulties with alcohol but had "turned his life around" after beginning a relationship with his current partner of 23 years. He said the defendant had been in consistent employment in the construction industry and was a "family man" and "hardworking".

Sentencing, Recorder Thomas said: "You are a sexual offender who has been convicted of being a predatory paedophile whose offences were opportunistic in nature. You used children for your own depraved sexual urges."

Morgan was sentenced to a total of seven years imprisonment. He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a restraining order indefinitely and a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years.

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A man was warned he faces a sentence of "many years" after admitting a string of child sex offences.

Andrew Bonner, 56, pleaded guilty to 15 sexual offences when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court on Thursday.

They included raping a child aged under 13 and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

All the offences were committed in the Lincoln area, against the same victim. Bonner, of Chatteris in Cambridgeshire, will be sentenced on 9 October.

Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told him: "You have pleaded guilty to what I know you know are extremely serious matters.

"I will remand you into custody. It will be a sentence of many years."

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A VILE sex predator who continuously raped and abused an 11-year-old boy from Warrington has been jailed.

Daniel Sneddon began sexually assaulting his victim just days before his tenth birthday in 2021.

He would reward and groom his victim with presents, even purchasing him a bond touch bracelet to communicate with him when he was not there in person.

Sneddon, of Galston Road, Kilmarnock, appeared at Chester Crown court today, Monday, facing charges of four counts of sexual assault on a child, two counts of rape of a child and two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child present.

Prosecuting, Anna Pope said the defendant pleaded guilty to nine counts to sexual offences of a child under 18.

She told the courts that Sneddon’s victim is under 12.

“The sexual abuse started shortly before the victim’s tenth birthday” Ms Pope said.

“Daniel started to test the waters with the victim to see what he could do to him.

“The defendant exposed his penis to him and asked him to perform a sexual act, after he bought him a present from Asda and a McDonalds.”

The abuse continued over a period of two years with one occasion where the defendant stayed in a Premier Inn with his victim and exposed himself to him again before asking him to perform sexual acts ‘in return for a gift’.

Sneddon raped his victim and isolated him. He would frequently communicate with him through a ‘bond touch bracelet’ he purchased for both of them.

The victim began not wearing the bracelet due to the amount of times Sneddon would try to contact him throughout the days.

“On one occasion, the defendant asked the victim to take part in sexual activities.

“The defendant told the victim that if he did it he would buy him more presents,” Ms Pope said.

“If the victim did not do what he was told by the defendant, the defendant would become angry and begin slapping him in the face and choking him.

“On one occasion he threatened to drown the victim in a river.”

As part of the extensive grooming that took place over the two years, Sneddon paid for his victim to attend a Lewid Capaldi concert.

He even shared a TikTok account with the child, where they would create videos. Unbeknown to him, his victim would edit the videos with the message ‘help’.

“It was a cry for help,” Ms Pope added.

Matters eventually came to light after the victim’s mother saw a screenshot on the victim’s phone of a message from the defendant, saying ‘I really liked it when you touched me in the living room’.

On March 6 this year Sneddon was arrested and gave a statement denying the allegations.

Police officers photographed a large tattoo on Sneddon’s arm of a name, this was in fact the victim’s name.

The victim provided a personal statement which was read out in court and detailed to what extent the sexual abuse he was subjected to by Sneddon has affected his life and mental health.

“Daniel groomed and sexually abused me. Whilst it was happening, I was confused and scared. I felt depressed and anxious.

“When my mum found the conversation on my phone, I was frightened I would get in trouble and that they would not believe me.

“When I told the police the truth, the weight on my shoulders started to lift.

“There was a time when I could not sleep for days. I struggled with the pressure of the ongoing investigation. I could not believe he had done that to me.

“All I wanted was for people to believe me and for Daniel to admit what he did was wrong.”

Another victim statement was provided by the victim’s mother which was also read out to the court.

“From the first moment I realised Daniel had abused my son I blamed myself. I asked myself what I could have done differently to protect him.”

Ms Pope explained how the mother is ‘plagued with constant fear’ about how the events have affected her son.

A Final statement was provided by Ellie Weaver a mental health worker who was contacted by the police in September 2023 to review the victim at Warrington Hospital.

Main concerns reported to Ms Weaver were of hallucinations and suicidal thoughts that the young boy had experienced since the sexual abuse.

Defending, Max Saffman said: “Prior to this offending he was a man of good character.

“Social services were involved with him and his family from the age of one.

“What is overwhelming from the psychological report, is that he suffers considerably from Autism.”

Concluding, Judge Thompson addressed Sneddon in reference to the sexual abuse he put his victim through.

“You used him affectively as your sexual plaything.

“What in fact you were doing is regularly and systematically abusing him.

“It has caused in my judgement, psychological harm to a child. It has understandably caused dreadful harm to his family and his mother.

“The only person who’s fault it was is you. Unfortunately, whether it is because of your autism spectrum disorder, you do not accept this.

“Taking into account everything I have read about you, in my judgement there is no way it can excuse the way you have behaved.

“You have an unhealthy interest in children and in this child.”

Judge Thompson determined the offender to be a risk to the safety of children.

Sneddon was handed an extended sentence of 17.5 years of which he will serve two thirds of before it is decided if it is safe for him to be released and serve the rest on licence.

A restraining order has also been put in place against the victim and his family as well as a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

The married woodcutter, of Skeete Road, Lyminge, near Folkestone, was in his late 50s when he subjected her to a variety of sexual acts in several locations, including his workshop, local woods and truck.

The victim later reported him to police, saying she wanted to protect other women and children, and bravely gave evidence at Jones's trial earlier this year.

He denied six offences of sexual activity with a child and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity but was unanimously convicted by a jury.

He has since returned to Canterbury Crown Court for sentencing – and heard the devastating impact his deviant behaviour had on her life.

Referring to her two victim impact statements, prosecutor Jose Olivares-Chandler told the court: "Because of Ivor Jones, she grew up into a nervous, anxious and vulnerable adult who never felt good enough for anyone.

"She said she saw herself as a woman with no self-worth and had an excruciating feeling of shame about her body.

"She felt that he took years of her life away from her and she needed to escape from reality, using unhealthy coping mechanisms as a result.

"But she wanted to protect other women and children which is why she came forward and put herself through a trial, which she found extremely emotional, difficult and stressful."

The victim also spoke of how Jones had gained her trust to take advantage.

"She felt the defendant manipulated her to get what he wanted, knowing her age, and she wished she had never met him," continued the prosecutor.

"She said the defendant took the best years of her life away....She felt she was the problem and wasn't good enough.

“You took the opportunity to groom - and that is the right word here - for her to accede to your sexual advances...”

"As she says 'These monsters are able to hide behind the friend mask. Who can we trust?'"

Jailing Jones for six years last month, Judge Douglas Marks Moore said although he could take the pensioner's previous good character and his 82-year-old, bed-bound wife's poor health into consideration, he had to be punished for what was "an extremely serious series of offences".

He told Jones: "Children are by definition vulnerable. They are members of our society that need protection.

“They are members of our society that often can be targeted because of their vulnerability.

"I have absolutely no doubt at all that you were able to see and were aware of her particular vulnerability. You knew her age.

"You took the opportunity to groom - and that is the right word here - for her to accede to your sexual advances.

"You had the opportunity to stop, you had the opportunity to reflect, but you carried on for your own sexual gratification."

On his release from prison, Jones will be subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and an indefinite requirement to sign on the sex offender register.

Description

Devon Drive, Kettering. Age 27.
On 08/10/23 at Kettering, intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that touching was sexual when she did not consent.

Plea: Guilty. Community order including 120 days of alcohol abstinence monitoring, 35 rehabilitation activity days and 175 hours of unpaid work. Ordered to pay £750 in compensation, £700 in costs and a surcharge of £114.

Five year sexual harm prevention order imposed.

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Clive Nightingale, 80, a former chairman of Little Tew’s parish council, was said to have looked at the sick material out of ‘curiosity’.

On Thursday (October 5), Oxford Crown Court heard that some of the children in the indecent images found on the West Oxfordshire man’s computer were estimated to be under one year old.

But the former schoolmaster was spared an immediate jail term by Judge Michael Gledhill KC, who cited Nightingale’s age and previous good character.

“My heart goes out to your wife in particular and, indeed, to the rest of your family. How thjey must have felt when the police arrived at your home and found these filthy images on your computer I can’t begin to imagine,” he said.

Judge Gledhill added: “What a way to end your career; in a dock of a crown court, having pleaded guilty to these appalling offences.

“I’m not going to lecture you anymore. I’m not going to send you immediately to prison, because of your age, you pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, your good character [and] the reference I have read.

“The message has got to go out that those who indulge themselves in this so-called addiction will be punished severely.”

He imposed 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years, with Nightingale ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work and up to 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Earlier, prosecutor Julian Lynch said police officers visited the defendant’s home with a warrant and seized his laptop.

Although he answered no comment when he was interviewed by the officers, analysis of the computer showed he had been looking at indecent images of children from 2015 until 2022.

There was evidence of 176 images and two videos in the worst category, including one involving a child estimated to be less than 12 months old. He had 270 files in category B and more than 560 in category C, the court heard.

Nightingale, of Little Tew, near Chipping Norton, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to possession of indecent images of children. He had no previous convictions.

Mitigating, Richard Davies said his client felt a deep sense of shame and was remorseful for what he had done.

He realised that if it was not for ‘people like him’ the children would not be abused in order to create the images at which he was looking.

A former English teacher and head of department, Nightingale had volunteered for the National Trust and acted as chairman of Little Tew Parish Council.

“It’s shocking to see a man of that background in this particular position,” Mr Davies said.

Nightingale will be on the sex offender register for a decade and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

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A predatory paedophile sexually abused a child he was supposed to be babysitting. Detectives described Kevin Griffiths' crimes as 'every parents' worst nightmare', as he was jailed.

Griffiths, 66, from Frodsham, Cheshire, repeatedly abused the child over a two-year period in the 1990s. He struck when he claimed to be taking the child to bed to read a story, Cheshire Police said.

Griffiths, of Ship Street, Frodsham, was found guilty following a trial at Chester Crown Court, and ordered to sign the sex offender's register for life. After the hearing, Detective Constable Beth Colbourne, who led the investigation, said: "What Griffiths did was every parents’ worst nightmare.

"He was trusted to look after the victim, but instead of caring for them he preyed on their vulnerability. He would take the victim to bed, under the pretext that he was going to read a story, but once they we’re in the bedroom he sexually abused them, causing untold harm and distress.

"It is a testament to the strength, bravery and determination of the victim in this case that we have been able bring Griffiths to justice, more than 30 years since the offences occurred. I hope that the conclusion of this case will provide them with some closure and help them with their recovery.

"Sexual assault of children causes terrible distress to all involved, not least the victim themselves, and I urge anyone who has been the victim of a sexual assault – no matter how long ago the incident took place – to come forward and report it. We treat all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated."

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A sex offender jailed in 2019 for attacking and trying to rape a stranger in Aberdeen has found himself back in the dock after trying to sign up for a dating site.

Dangerous predator Andrew Conway found himself in trouble again after joining the dating site Fancy A Fling but failing to properly inform police – a breach of the notification requirement of the sex offenders register.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A postgraduate theology student carried out sexual assaults on fellow students at St Andrews University after claiming he was conducting radiation testing for the Ministry of Defence following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

John Beaumont subjected two male students and a female student to fake medical examinations and got one victim to sign the “Official Secrets Act” before inserting a needle into his genital area.

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A well-known Wiltshire auction house has issued an update on its future after a former director was jailed for sex crimes.

Richard Edmonds, who previously ran Richard Edmonds Auctions Limited and Chippenham Auctions, was sentenced to eight years in prison after he was found guilty of five counts of sexual activity with a female child, whose identity is protected by law.

Following sentencing, the 47-year-old’s family business updated on the future of the auction house at Showell Farm, and Edmonds’ wife Tora confirmed he had left the company.

In a statement on Facebook, she wrote: “Day-to-day management has been by my husband Richard Edmonds Jnr with responsibility for valuations, cataloguing and auctioneering.

“I have been responsible for the customer accounts, marketing, and involved with the preparation of the catalogues. Richard Jnr is no longer involved with the business nor a director.

“I now assume responsibility for the general management of the business in addition to my previous roles. Richard Snr, his wife Margaret and daughter Sarah will continue to be part of the business.”

She added: “We believe this will provide a continuing sound business structure.”

The firm changed its name on Companies House to Showell Business Park Ltd in September, after Edmonds resigned as a director, but has retained the name Richard Edmonds Auctions Limited on Facebook.