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A man who brutally mentally and physically abused a woman he knew over several years has been sentenced to 13 years in prison following his appearance at Hull Crown Court on Friday 11 September.

John Twyman, 28-years-old, of no fixed abode in Hull, pleaded guilty to assault and breaching a Restraining Order but pleaded not guilty to rape.

As such, a trial was set at Hull Crown Court which concluded on Thursday, 27 April 2026 leading to him being found guilty of rape by a unanimous jury.

An investigation began after our Force Control Room received a 999 call in June 2025, where a woman reported she had repeatedly been assaulted, called horrendous names, controlled, and raped, naming Twyman as the one responsible.

Officers were immediately deployed, arresting Twyman on the very same day on suspicion of breaching a Restraining Order, assault, and rape.

During interview and when questioned, he denied all allegations put to him. Saying he was the one being manipulated by the woman, and that she was trying to cause arguments with him.

He was subsequently charged the following day and remanded into custody to await trial.

Detective Constable Jan Baldwin from our Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) Unit led the investigation and said:

“We wouldn’t be here today without the bravery and strength shown by the woman who took that first step to report the brutality she had been experiencing at the hands of Twyman over a prolonged period of time.

“She is a credit to herself, and her courage cannot be underestimated because despite everything she has gone through, she has remained on board and was willing to give evidence throughout what has been a very long and protracted investigation with many complexities to enable us to stack up the evidence against Twyman.

“This result is also testament to the dedication and tenacity shown by all officers within our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit who are merciless in their pursue of vicious men like Twyman.

“Twyman was unrelenting in his behaviour towards the woman and since he was first arrested and throughout the investigation, he has shown no remorse for the long-lasting impact his actions have and continue to have on her. I am reassured that this dangerous man is off our streets and will be for a very long time.”

Description

Harrison Strange jailed for 13 years after raping three teenage girls

Harrison Strange, 21, of Snowdrop Close, Spennymoor, has been jailed for 13 years after raping three vulnerable teenage girls, two of them while he was on bail.

Strange was a teenager when he carried out the offences. Teesside Crown Court heard he targeted the girls when they were heavily intoxicated. He is a father of one.

Prosecutor Annie Richardson said the first victim was attacked in a field in County Durham after drinking heavily with friends. She told a friend what had happened and that recording was played to the jury. Strange was arrested but denied rape, claiming the contact was consensual.

He was interviewed again shortly before committing the next two rapes, weeks apart.

The second victim went to Strange’s home believing there was a party. The court heard he plied her with alcohol and raped her in his bedroom while her friend slept on the floor.

The third attack was at a campsite in North Yorkshire. Strange raped and sexually assaulted a teenage girl who had been drinking while her friend slept in the same tent. He also sent the youngest victim a picture of a penis.

Strange was convicted in separate trials of raping all three girls, and of assault by penetration and engaging in sexual activity with a child against one of them.

Defence barrister Peter Sabiston told the judge Strange was himself a teenager at the time of the offences.

Sentencing him to 13 years for the three rapes, Judge Richard Bennett said:

“The impact on each of these girls has been significant. Your pre-sentence report makes troubling reading.

“The complete denial of offences is not unusual for someone who has been convicted of sexual offences. In your case, you go on to victim blame – suggesting one had made a false complaint and the two others were motivated by financial gain.

“I reject all of that completely, as did the jury.

“I am satisfied there is clear evidence of sexual entitlement and misogyny. Your offending was persistent, not isolated.

“It was exploitative and the presence of others did not act as a deterrent to you.”

Strange must sign the sex offenders’ register for life. He was also given indefinite restraining orders and a 20-year sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A man from Lichfield who used AI to create indecent images of women and girls has been jailed for more than two years.

Lewis Davison, aged 26, posted a series of pornographic and indecent images of women and a girl on closed Telegram groups that had been run through AI.

In some of the captions on the photos, Davison called for the women to be raped and assaulted.

We turned up at his home and arrested him after the images were reported to us. His devices were seized and he was charged with eight counts of publishing an obscene article and one count of permit taking of pseudo-photograph of a child.

Because of the strength of the evidence against him, Davison was left with little choice but to plead guilty in court. He has now been jailed for two-years-and-two-months at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday 27 August.

He was put on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.

PC Matthew Asbury dealt with the investigation. He said:

“I’m pleased we’ve been able to apprehend Davison and stop him from causing further harm to women and girls online.

“This type of crime can have a profound impact on victims and I can assure the local community that we will take every possible step to make sure those responsible are brought before the courts as quickly as possible.”

Description

Dewsbury rapist Daniel Cummins jailed for 18 years after treating victim like a sex toy.

Daniel Cummins, 40, of Rutland Walk, Dewsbury, has been given a 22-year extended sentence after raping a woman in her own home on two separate occasions.

Leeds Crown Court heard on Friday, 11 September that Cummins was convicted in December of ten offences, including seven rapes. Sentencing was delayed for nine months while a pre-sentence report was prepared and he sought new legal representation.

His Honour Judge Pema said the offending followed a clear pattern. On the first set of attacks, Cummins was at the womans home, had taken crack cocaine, and knew it increased his sexual desire and made him indifferent to others.

Having consumed crack cocaine, you demanded [a sex act] from her and she refused and you grabbed her You raped her aggressively despite her protestations and it is clear to me from the evidence she gave that that was a deeply disturbing event.

He raped her again. The victim described callous aggression and degradation. The judge said:

It was more than the degradation and humiliation that accompanies every rape. You treated her like a sex toy, throwing her around and raping her. It was clear from your own evidence to the court and also in the pre-sentence report that you knew that the consequences of your taking of crack cocaine would be to significantly increase your desire for sexual gratification. As you said, This is what people who take drugs do.

Cummins was on licence at the time and was later recalled to prison. After his release, he raped the same woman again at her home over several days.

Judge Pema said those offences followed a disturbingly similar pattern. You were again in her home and had consumed crack cocaine. You proceeded to rape her with the same mix of aggression, sustained violence and degradation.

In a victim personal statement, the woman said she suffered sleepless nights and flashbacks and feared what would happen when Cummins was released.

He has previous convictions for violence and drugs, and for breaching a non-molestation order. The judge said his attitude to women was relevant given that history. The pre-sentence report makes for unfortunate reading. There is no remorse.

Cummins told the report author that the victim had fabricated the rapes and had been paid to make the allegations.

He was sentenced to a 22-year extended sentence: 18 years in custody and a four-year extended licence. An indefinite restraining order was also imposed, banning him from contacting the victim.

Description

A man who thought he could 'get away with' touching and trying to kiss a young woman has been jailed.

Robert Winter, aged 35, approached the victim from behind and tried to engage her in conversation as she walked along Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, at about 11.30am on Friday May 1 this year.

Winter, who was tracked down and arrested about 15 minutes after police were alerted, suggested to officers he thought he could "get away with it" – adding that he was just being "boisterous "and cheeky."

Winter, who was found sat at a computer in Mansfield Library, later pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault.

Appearing at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on Thursday 3 September he was jailed for a total of eight months.

The sentence included the activation of a previous suspended sentence order imposed in August 2025 for possessing a knife, criminal damage and a public order offence.

Winter, of Houfton Road, Mansfield, was also added to the sex offenders' register for seven years.

PC Simon Christian, of the Mansfield town centre policing team, said:

"Winter seemed to believe that he could get away with this kind of behaviour.

"He couldn’t and was soon tracked down and arrested with help from members of the public.

"I hope the victim in this case can draw some comfort from this sentence, and that other men with similar attitudes take note of the consequences of this type of behaviour."

Sergeant Catherine Darby, also of the Mansfield town centre policing team, said:

"This was an excellent response by multiple members of the team – from the PCSO who took the initial account to the officers who made the arrest

"Together – and with support from members of the public – they had the suspect in cuffs about 15 minutes after we first learned of this incident."

Description

Devious sex offender jailed for four years.

Relentless efforts from Dyfed-Powys Police officers have seen a dangerous sex offender jailed after a six-year investigation.

The investigation started when Thomas Spalding, a 47-year-old from Brecon, exposed himself to an 11-year-old child on Snapchat.

Described by the Judge as ‘having a clear interest in young girls on the cusp of puberty’, Spalding was already a registered sex offender when he exposed himself to the child and performed sexual acts in front of the camera. Spalding denied the offence, but the quick-thinking child screen recorded the horrendous display and reported him to Gloucestershire Police.

Snapchat confirmed Spalding’s link to the involved account. This sparked the investigation that revealed the sex offender’s nature. He consistently lied, hid evidence, and made amateur attempts to disrupt the investigation. His continued offending and constantly changing defences dragged the process out to 6 years.

The ever-changing defences from the self-declared ‘expert witness’ included,

• Blaming the 11-year-old for adding him in to a group chat.
• Admitting to being the person on the screen recording (despite initially denying it) but claiming that it was pre-recorded and being played by someone else.
• Claiming it must be a pre-recorded video because he ‘wasn’t interacting with the child’ when he was exposing himself.
• Using potentially manipulated data to show that he wasn’t at the location at the time of the offence.

His Honour Judge Jeremy Jenkins recognised the investigation team’s achievement in doggedly following the evidence and undermining Spalding’s attempts to mislead them as they meticulously disproved every defence presented.

They identified the location in the screen recording as a flat belonging to Spalding’s elderly relative. They were in hospital whilst the deviant was exposing himself to children in their home. They then seized clothing from Spalding that matched the ones worn in the screen recording.

Dyfed-Powys Police’s Digital Forensic Unit used data from Spalding’s phone to prove he was in the location at the time of the offence. He tried to deny this with false location data but failed to provide the raw data to the team to verify his alibi.

Throughout the process, the twisted offender also targeted officers with a barrage of harassment that resulted in protective measures being implemented. The unrelenting torrent resulted in over 100 abusive emails being sent to several members of the investigation team and the Crown Prosecution Service. He was so persistent that he was convicted of offences under S.127 Communications Act 2003.

Despite these deluded efforts to intimidate the team, officers utilised the resources around them in a relentless investigation to get justice.

The trial commenced in Merthyr Crown Court on 21 July 2026. Spalding’s futile efforts continued in court as he changed his defences in attempts to make a mockery of the justice system. The investigation team rose to dispute each effort and were still producing evidence to refute his testimony as the trail progressed.

A jury found Spalding guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a child and on three counts of breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

He was sentenced to four years in prison, with an extension period of 4 years. He will also be the subject of a 10-year SHPO, a 10-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), and will need to register with the police indefinitely under the Sexual Offences Act. The CBO prevents him from contacting, approaching, or mentioning on social media any Dyfed-Powys Police staff, working or retired.

The leading officer on the case said:

“This is a great result after so much work for so many people. It was a real team effort.

 “I’ve never experienced an investigation like this. The continued offending, merging of cases, constantly changing defences, and the way that Spalding has conducted himself has been a real challenge.”

Description

Two women who were sexually abused by a man when they were children have been praised after their evidence led to him being jailed today (Friday 11 September).

Jordan Gray-Higgs committed his crimes in Leicestershire between 2012 and 2014.

His offending was brought to the attention of police in 2022, when the victims told officers what had happened. They described how Gray-Higgs had incited them to engage in sexual activity and abused them.

In interview Gray-Higgs, of Waver Close in Corby, Northamptonshire, denied the allegations and claimed that the victims must have been seeking an act of vengeance against him.

However, he was charged with nine offences and found guilty of four counts of rape, four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and one count of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity following a trial at Leicester Crown Court in May this year.

Forty-year-old Gray-Higgs was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment with a four-year extended licence period. He was also placed on the sex offender register for life.

Detective Constable Kam Kalia was the investigating officer. He said:

“I’m immensely proud of the courage shown by both victims throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

“The details they were able to recall about the horrific abuse they suffered served as key evidence that led to Gray-Higgs being brought to justice for his crimes.

“I hope the sentence he’s been given today provides them both with a sense of closure and allows them to move on with their lives as best they can.”

Description

A man from Enfield has pleaded guilty to being involved in an online forum where videos of sexual offending and domestic abuse were shared between offenders across the country.

Darren Conway, 52 (17.06.74), of Lonsdale Drive, Enfield was charged on Friday, 26 June with two counts of assisting or encouraging an offence, namely sharing an intimate photograph or film and sexual assault.

He was later further charged with an additional seven counts of encouraging an offence, namely sexual assault, as well as voyeurism and possessing an extreme pornographic image.

He appeared at Wood Green Crown Court today – Friday, 11 September – where he pleaded guilty to all counts.

The online forum was uncovered in October 2025, leading to the establishment of a national coordination group, led by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Intelligence was then passed to individual police forces to conduct investigations. While conducting their investigation, Greater Manchester Police shared further intelligence with the Met.

Officers began urgent enquiries and identified Conway as one of the group chat members. He was arrested on Thursday, 30 July following the execution of a warrant at his home where digital devices were seized.

Messages found on his devices showed Conway encouraging other group chat members to engage in drug-facilitated sexual offending, alongside images and videos of a sexual nature.

He was found to have urged another member to remove a sleeping woman’s clothing and underwear and to commit sexual offences against her. He later requested that the other member share images while they sexually assaulted her.

Evidence shows that Conway observed sleeping women through the online network more than ten times. The women were unaware that he was viewing them and unable to provide consent.

Commander Andy Day of the Met Police said:

"Drug facilitated sexual offending can have lasting and devastating impacts on its victims.

“Conway’s actions were shocking. By encouraging others to engage in sexual offending against victims who were unconscious, asleep, or otherwise stupefied, he has put women at a serious risk of harm in their own homes - all for his own sexual gratification.

"Anyone who has reason to believe that they may have been a victim of sexual offending should report to police. All victims will be supported by specialist officers and safeguarding can be put into place for their protection.

“We also encourage anyone who has reason to believe somebody they know is involved in this offending to come forward.”

Tracy Easton, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London South said:

“Darren Conway committed vile acts against women in their own homes, a place where they should have been safe.

"Organised drug-facilitated sexual assault is abhorrent and we are determined to work with policing to bring offenders to justice.

"I hope this guilty plea gives confidence to anyone who believes they may have been subjected to similar abuse to come forward.”

Conway will be sentenced at the same court on Friday, 30 October.

Officers continue to work to identify as many of the victims in the footage on Conway’s devices as they can. While much of the offending is believed to have taken place in the UK, it is also possible that some victims are based overseas.

Anyone concerned about drug facilitated sexual offending or online offending can report information to police by calling 101.

Description

A paedophile from Droitwich was sentenced to a total of 19 years when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court last Friday (4 September) for non-recent sexual offences.

Nigel Moor, 75, of Droitwich, admitted to the following when he appeared before Worcester Crown Court on Monday 6 July:

• Seven counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration.
• Five counts of sexual assault on a female.
• Four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.
• Three counts of assault on a female 13 and over by penetration.

Moor was sentenced to 14 years in prison with an additional five years on extended licence when he is released; a 15-year sexual harm prevention order, which prevents him from coming into contact with children under 16 except for specific exceptions, and restraining orders preventing him from contacting any of his victims for the next two decades.

His offences first came to light when a victim reported him to police in December 2024. They disclosed he had abused them over an 11-year period.

In June 2025, a second complainant also came forward and reported similar offences, this time over an eight-year period.

Officers from our Protecting People Unit (PPU) launched an investigation which resulted in the charges and convictions against Moor.

Detective Inspector Marie Green from PPU said:

“This sentencing puts Moor behind bars where he belongs for his vile sexual abuse of children.

“We hope this outcome will encourage other survivors of sexual abuse to come forward and report it to police, no matter how long ago it happened.

“We are here to support and protect you from predators like Moor and will always listen to you, take your reports seriously and seek justice where appropriate.”

Description

A man who raped and sexually assaulted a child on multiple occasions has been jailed for 18 years and six months.

Alex Walster of Gainsborough* had pleaded guilty to 13 charges at an earlier hearing before he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court for sentencing today, Friday, 11 September.

The 38-year-old, who committed the offences across 2023 and 2024 in a village near Lincoln, had tried to avoid sentencing by leaving the country before he was found and arrested in Ireland.

In a personal statement, the victim told Lincolnshire Police the crimes against her had a significant impact on her life and it is something that will affect for years to come.

However, she said she is determined to rebuild her life, be a strong person and not look back at what Walster did to her.

Walster was handed a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order which prevents any contact with the victim and her family.

DC Victoria Robbie, who led the investigation, said today’s result is a testament to the hard work of those within the force and the strength and composure of the child involved in the case.

“Today’s outcome marks the end of our investigation into Walster’s repulsive offending,” she said.

“We are grateful to, and inspired by, the victim and her family who have so patiently waited and worked alongside us to bring Walster to justice.

“The victim of this case is remarkable, and I believe will go on to live a full and fantastic life with the support of her family, in spite of the abhorrent crimes Walster committed against her.

“Every day we come to work to reclaim the childhoods and lives of victims of these terrible crimes and today we are pleased that Walster’s sentence reflects this.”

Description

The incident happened in October 2024 on Kings Road, Swansea.

30-year-old Mohangopi Tadiboyina from Brynmill was sentenced to eight years in prison following his conviction.

Tadiboyina appeared before Swansea Crown Court on Friday September 4 where he was sentenced for one count of attempt to rape a woman and one count of sexual assault. This followed a three-day trial in July which found him guilty of both counts.

Tadiboyina targeted the lone victim whilst she was walking the street at night. Following the attack the woman was able to flee and alert a passer-by who assisted her in reporting the incident.

Detective Sergeant Samuel Lewis said

“PC Bendrey led a thorough and professional investigation, ensuring that all available lines of enquiry were pursued. As a result of her diligence and commitment, Tadiboyina will now serve a significant time in prison

This outcome represents an excellent result and demonstrates the significant impact of PC Bendrey's work. Not only has justice been secured for the victim, but a dangerous offender has been removed from the community, providing reassurance to both the victim and the wider public.

The victim has expressed how pleased she is with the sentence imposed and has conveyed her gratitude for the efforts of everyone involved in the investigation.”

Description

Craig Dixon, 35, Jailed for Sexual Assault on Teenage Girl

A former Maryport man has been jailed for two years after sexually assaulting a schoolgirl in her early teens.

Craig Dixon, recently living in Stafford and formerly of Fleming Square, Maryport, committed three counts of non-penetrative sexual activity with the victim on a single occasion. He initially denied the offences and lied to police, Carlisle Crown Court heard. He later requested a second interview and admitted what he had done.

Dixon was arrested after the girl told her mother. She later told police she froze in shock as he groped her.

Defence barrister Niamh Leong said Dixon had expressed remorse and recognised the emotional harm caused. “He made full admissions in his second interview,” she told the court. She said he had sought talking therapy, hoped to return to warehouse work, and had no relevant previous convictions. “Immediate custody would disrupt the progress he has made,” she added, arguing he could be rehabilitated.

Judge Michael Fanning noted Dixon had previously been investigated for other alleged sexual offences, though none led to prosecution. He accepted that Dixon had taken responsibility by requesting the second interview, but said the defendant clearly gained sexual gratification from the assault. “You must have done; why else would you do it?” the judge said.

Referring to the “whiff” of suspicion from the earlier allegations, Judge Fanning said he could not understand how a grown man could be sexually attracted to a child. “You represent a real risk and I am of the view that the only punishment is immediate custody.”

Dixon was sentenced to two years in prison. He must remain on the Sex Offender Register for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same period. The order is designed to prevent him having unsupervised access to any female child except where it is inadvertent or unavoidable in daily life.

Description

A man has been jailed for more than six years after sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Widnes.

James Eves, of Waltham Road, Boreham, Chelmsford, was sentenced to six years and eight months after appearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 10 September.

The 51-year-old had pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child, sexually assaulting a child by penetration, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

In February 2025, Eves attended Widnes Police Station to report that he had recently sexually assaulted a teenage girl.

He was subsequently arrested and the victim was contacted and spoken to. She disclosed she had been sexually assaulted by Eves.

Despite his original admissions, Eves refused to answer further questions put to him in interview. Following a thorough investigation into the allegations, he was charged with multiple offences.

On top of his custodial sentence, Eves must sign the Sex Offender Register indefinitely, is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and must comply with a restraining order.

Detective Sergeant Dan Argent said:

“I am thankful to the courts for the lengthy custodial sentence handed to Eves and while I hope this brings the victim some closure, no sentence is ever going to undo what Eves did.

“Eves took advantage of a young girl for his own twisted sexual gratification. He knew what he was doing was wrong, evidenced by his guilty pleas thanks to the evidence secured against him.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the officers involved in this case, as their dedication has ensured that this man has been brought to justice.”

Sergeant Michaela Flynn added:

“I would like to commend the victim for her bravery throughout this investigation and the subsequent court process.

“No-one should ever have to endure what she went through, and I hope this may serve as some reassurance to anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence that you will be listened to and offences will be investigated thoroughly and sensitively.

“Anyone wishing to report a sexual offence can report it to Cheshire Police through our website or by calling 101.”

Description

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been sentenced for sexual offences and assault in Wolverton. 

Asim Akhtar (pictured below), aged 22, of no fixed abode, was found guilty after a three-day trial on 8 June 2026 by a unanimous jury at Aylesbury Crown Court of: 

• Three counts of sexual assault 
• One count of attempted rape 
• One count of intentional strangulation 
• One count of assault occasioning to actual bodily harm

At the same court on Monday (7/9), Akhtar was sentenced to eight years imprisonment with a four-year extended license. 

At around 7.30pm on 13 December last year, Akhtar attended a massage therapist in Wolverton where he sexually assaulted the victim before becoming physically aggressive and then attempting to rape them.

The victim sustained minor injuries and required hospital treatment. 

Akhar was arrested the same day and charged the following (14/12). 

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jessica Dolphin of the Criminal Investigation Department said:

“This was a horrific incident in which the victim was subjected to both sexual and physical violence while carrying out the job she loved.  

“Understandably, the defendant's actions have had a profound and life-changing impact on her.  

“I would like to commend the victim for her remarkable courage and resilience throughout this investigation and court process.  

“Without her bravery in coming forward and supporting the case, this outcome would not have been possible. 

“I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual abuse to come forward and report it to police.  

"You will be listened to and supported by experienced officers and staff." 

Description

A man has been jailed for three breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and two breaches of sex offender notification requirements.

Sean Worley, 33, of no fixed abode was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on 4 September to two years and four months in prison.

Worley was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and Sex Offender Notification Requirements following convictions for serious child sex offences between 2016 and 2024.

Management of Sexual and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) officers visited Worley on 5 July 2026 as part of a routine compliance check, during which his mobile phone was examined.

As part of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order, Worley is required to retain the search history on his devices. Officers found that this had been deleted, prior to their visit, at 6.30am on 5 July.

Officers also discovered that Worley had recently deleted a number of social media and dating applications, which he had been using to make contact with hundreds of women.

He did not have permission from his offender manager to create or use these accounts, placing him in breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
 

Detective Constable, Anna Ritson, of the MOSOVO team said:

"Sex offender notification requirements and Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are designed to help protect the public and manage offenders in the community. We take any breaches of these measures extremely seriously.

“MOSOVO officers carry out regular checks to ensure offenders are complying with court-imposed conditions, and we will continue to take robust action against those who fail to do so."