Latest Offenders

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Simon Allen, one of three men convicted of murdering grandmother Jackie Rutter—who was shot on her doorstep in Moreton, Wirral, in October 2022—has been revealed as a convicted child sex offender, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Allen, James Byrne, and David Harrison were unanimously found guilty of murder at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, January 28. Barrie Glynn was convicted of manslaughter by a 10-2 majority. All four were also unanimously convicted of possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, plus arson. The jury deliberated for 15 hours and 15 minutes; sentencing is set for Thursday.

Prosecutors alleged the shooting stemmed from a "robbery" or "taxing" after Rutter's sons, Peter and Steven, stole a mobile phone used by Byrne and Preston Connolly for their "JJ Line" drug-dealing operation. In opening statements, Nigel Power KC described it as a "targeted revenge attack in the heat of a dispute over drugs," not mistaken identity.

Allen, 55, of no fixed address, has prior firearm convictions from 2003 and 2020. He told the court he "just found guns extremely nice to look at."

In November 2023, Allen was jailed for 3.5 years for downloading 250 indecent images and videos of children, some of which he sent to four others, as reported by the Wirral Globe. This followed a 2015 conviction that placed him on the sex offenders' register for 10 years—a condition he breached by traveling to the Netherlands with Byrne and Connolly without notifying police. He also has Dutch convictions for extreme pornographic images and drug offenses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A rapist who attacked two women has been jailed for 15 years.

Shaun Rogers, 29, from Blackfell in Washington, was under investigation for raping his first victim when he targeted his second, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Rogers admitted multiple offences, including several counts of rape.

In a statement read to the court, his first victim said:

"He took everything from me, my life, my joy, my happiness.

"He broke me in every way possible and left me an empty shell of a person."

Judge Graham Robinson commended her bravery in reporting Rogers and attending court to see him jailed.

The judge said Rogers "did not care" about raping the first woman, then tried to "gaslight" the second by denying the attack.

Rogers must sign the sex offenders register for life.

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A 31-year-old Aylesbury man, Philip Hackett, has been jailed for 15 years after being convicted of multiple sexual offences against three victims.

He was sentenced in December for six offences: two counts of sexual assault, three counts of assault by penetration, and one count of rape.

Detective Constable Mark Banham, from Aylesbury CID, said:

“This was a serious and complex investigation with three victims reporting that Hackett had committed sexual offences against them while they were vulnerable.

“The type of predatory behaviour displayed by Hackett was abhorrent, and I am pleased that the court recognised the seriousness of his offending with a substantial prison sentence.

“Thames Valley Police is absolutely committed to tackling all forms of violence and women and girls, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the victims and witnesses in this case for their full support.

“Without this, it would have been difficult to achieve this outcome, and I hope that now Hackett has been given a lengthy prison sentence, his victims can look to put this behind them as best as they can and move on with their lives.”

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CCTV operators in Newcastle spotted a man masturbating in the city centre's Manors Car Park, leading to his arrest for outraging public decency.

Dean Chalmers was lying on the ground behind a council vehicle when seen just after 7pm last June. Security staff arrived to find him still exposed.

Prosecutor Neil Pallister said: "They saw the defendant lying in Manors car park masturbating, which was clearly seen on the CCTV.

"While masturbating, the CCTV shows a number of members of the public entering and leaving the car park, who could easily have seen him. After he stopped masturbating, he continued lying on the ground with his penis exposed until security officers arrived in a van and spoke to him."

Chalmers, with 74 prior convictions—including a 102-month jail term in 2015 for sex offences and a suspended sentence last year for failing sex offender registration—pleaded guilty.

Judge Stephen Earl extended the suspended sentence's operational period by six months and imposed an 18-month community order, noting time served on remand.

The judge told him: "Masturbating in a public car park is probably not a good idea. You probably appreciate that now."

Defence lawyer Caroline McGurk said: "The members of the public in the car park before the security officers were called could not easily have seen the defendant because he had taken refuge behind some sort of council vehicle. He believed himself to be completely concealed.

"He went there to feel safe and engaged in an act he believed would not be viewed by anyone. He was genuinely horrified when he realised he had been seen on CCTV and the security officers were called and saw him in the offence was made out.

"The defendant has demonstrated steps to address his offending behaviour. He has been alcohol free since September, which is a result of his incarceration. He has done a lot of thinking while in jail and wants to better himself."

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A man who raped and sexually abused two children over several years has been jailed today for 18 years and has also been handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, concluding a complex four-year investigation led by detectives in our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit.

Paul Tyler, 66-years old of Trinity Road in Bridlington, pleaded guilty to 11 offences including rape of a child under 13, at earlier court hearings, and appeared today (Wednesday, 28 January) at Hull Crown court where he was sentenced.

An investigation was launched into Tyler in August 2022, after a man presented at Bridlington police station reporting that when he was a child he was subjected to multiple rapes over two years, naming Tyler as the one responsible. 

Detectives carried out extensive enquiries into what were quickly established to be complex, non-recent sexual offences, including liaising with colleagues from neighbouring forces, gathering witness and victim impact statements, and collating third-party material to stack up the evidence against him to present to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), leading to Tyler being charged in August 2024. 

In December 2024, he pleaded guilty at a Hull Crown Court hearing to five counts of rape of a boy under 13, and sexual assault of a boy under 13, however sentencing was postponed due to a third-party report we received the month before, claiming that a woman had disclosed non-recent sexual abuse when she was a child, again naming Tyler as the offender. 

Tyler was already in prison serving a 16-sentence that began in 2012 for sexual offences against children in the West Yorkshire area. He remained in prison following his guilty plea and whilst a second investigation was launched. 

Tyler was later charged as part of the second investigation in September 2025, appearing back at Hull Crown Court in November where he entered guilty pleas to two counts of causing a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, rape of a girl under 13, sexual assault of a girl under 13, and assault by penetration of a girl under 13. 

Following this result, the three years left of his existing 16-year sentence will run concurrently, and the 18-year sentence received today will run consecutively. 

Following his appearance at Hull Crown Court today, investigating officer Detective Constable Clare Gascoigne said:

“I want to first commend the extraordinary bravery shown by the man and woman who came forward and reported Tyler’s offending against them when they were just children. 

“These offences took place many years ago, and coming forward to report abuse suffered as a child requires immense courage. 

“Their strength in speaking out has been vital in bringing this offender to justice, and by doing this, they have not only sought accountability for what was done to them but also helped protect other children. 

“I’d also like to recognise the invaluable support provided by colleagues from one of our neighbouring forces, West Yorkshire Police, and the unwavering dedication from all officers involved in both investigations, along with the support from the CPS throughout the entirety of this protracted investigation into Tyler’s grotesque offending.

“Acknowledging The Blue Door service too, whose advocacy and specialist support gave both the man and woman confidence to engage in the criminal justice process. The role of independent support services such as The Blue Door is crucial in helping victims feel believed, supported and empowered. 

“Non-recent child sexual abuse often goes unreported for decades because of feelings of fear, shame, or worries about not being believed. This case demonstrates that we will always take such allegations seriously, regardless of how much time has passed, and we will investigate them thoroughly and sensitively. 

“Whilst today’s outcome does not take away the pain and suffering the man and woman have endured, I hope it provides them with some reassurance that Tyler will remain in prison for the rest of his life, unable to cause any more harm to children in our communities. 

“We would encourage anyone who has experienced abuse, whether it was six days or six years ago, to come forward and tell someone when you are ready. You will be listened to, supported and taken seriously.” 

Description

A serial sex offender with a "chronic and deep-seated sexual interest in children" has been jailed again after failing to learn from three prior prison sentences.

Robert Johnson, 38, of Louis Street, off Spring Bank, Hull, but recently in custody, was found with indecent images of children as young as five and breached court orders aimed at curbing his "engrained" behavior, Hull Crown Court heard.

Johnson admitted three breaches of sex offender requirements, one breach of a sexual harm prevention order, three counts of making indecent images of children, and possessing prohibited images of children.

Prosecutor Maya Hanson said a sexual harm prevention order was imposed on January 19, 2018, with a probation officer managing Johnson. On August 27, his phone check revealed two unregistered email addresses and deleted browsing history, including 937 searches. "The defendant had deleted some of his internet search history," said Miss Hanson.

An indecent image of a 13-year-old girl was found, leading to police involvement. Seized devices contained images of girls aged five, seven, and nine: 16 in Category A, 11 in Category B, 36 in Category C, and 39 prohibited "cartoons." He also failed to register his address within three days of release.

Johnson had prior sexual offense convictions in 2014, 2017, and 2021, with sentences of three years and 18 months. On February 16, 2024, he was jailed for 20 months for breaching registration on June 5, 2023, plus possessing and making indecent child images and extreme animal images on October 22, 2022.

Mitigating, Hannah Turner said Johnson pleaded guilty with no attempts to contact real children. "There is very little that can be said by way of mitigation," said Miss Turner. "He fully accepts the offences and he has throughout the court procedures. He has – and, I imagine, he will continue to – held his hands up to this offending." He was an "avid gamer" hoping to retain his Xbox and consoles.

Judge Mark Bury told Johnson: "It's clear to me that you have a chronic and deep-seated sexual interest in children, albeit that you have not committed contact offences and there is no evidence that you are likely to in the future." This was his fifth sentencing for child image offenses.

"It's clear that you had browsed sites that you should not have been browsing," said Judge Bury. Viewing such images for a "sexual thrill" furthers child abuse. "You have a deeply engrained sexual interest in children. The time has come where a longer sentence of imprisonment is appropriate."

Johnson was jailed for three years and eight months, with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and indefinite sex offender registration.

In the February 2024 hearing, police found indecent child images on his phone at a bail hostel. He reported homelessness but missed a registration meeting, became argumentative on a call, ignored a text, and was arrested. A second phone had 512 images, some Category A involving children as young as three, including videos.

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A former headteacher who told a fellow paedophile he loved “young girls” has received an eight-month suspended sentence, with a judge citing a "near certainty" of rehabilitation.

Dean Juric, 54, was head of St Robert of Newminster School in Washington, Tyne and Wear, when arrested at home in January after being caught by a police decoy posing as a paedophile on social media.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Juric shared a photo of two schoolgirls in uniform, aged about 15, and an indecent image of a girl around 14 “posing in a sexual manner with her breasts partially exposed.”

In November 2024, he messaged the decoy asking if they were "horny" and "what were they into," then sent a video of a “young girl” in tight-fitting clothing.

Police raided his home, finding on his iPhone 54 category A images (including 23 videos), 36 category B images, and 290 category C stills and videos.

Conversations with other paedophiles revealed Juric replying “Schoolgirl” when asked what turned him on, calling a 14-year-old's image “perfect age,” and stating he was “into” “Love young girls.”

Juric admitted three counts of making indecent images and one of distributing an indecent image.

Judge Graham Robinson suspended the sentence for 18 months, ordering 150 hours of unpaid work and 40 days of rehabilitation.

He told Juric:

“You have fallen a long way from grace – many years of dedicated service to the community, now all thrown away.”

Noting Juric's "exemplary" side and steps to address his behavior, the judge praised rehabilitation courses, adding: “I am entirely satisfied that there’s not only a realistic possibility of rehabilitation, but it is a near certainty.”

Juric, of Tynemouth, North Tyneside, must sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

A spokesman for Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, which runs the school, said:

“We unequivocally condemn the actions of Dean Juric.

“We are satisfied that every aspect of due process has been rigorously upheld, culminating in today’s sentencing.

“Throughout the investigation, our Trust fully cooperated with Northumbria Police, demonstrating absolute transparency.

“Legal constraints prevented us from sharing details with the school community, but our priority was always to protect the integrity of the process and the safety of our pupils.

“There were never any warning signs or concerns about Dean Juric’s behaviour.

“His arrest in January was a profound shock and betrayal of the trust placed in him by our entire community.

“Our Trust acted immediately and decisively, suspending Dean Juric upon learning of the arrest.

“He no longer has any association with our Trust.

“We extend our gratitude to Northumbria Police for their relentless pursuit of justice, their vigilance, and their unwavering resolve in bringing Dean Juric to account.”

The trust has referred Juric to teaching authorities for potential barring and added:

“We have taken decisive action to support the school and are fully committed to rebuilding and strengthening our community after this deeply unsettling period.

“We want to thank our staff and parents at St Robert’s who have worked together to support one another and maintain stability for our pupils, at this time.

“To all parents and carers: safeguarding is, and will always remain, our highest priority.

“We will not tolerate any breach of trust, and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect every child in our care.”

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A convicted sex offender who flouted a strict court order by using an internet phone has been jailed.

Saffian Liaqat, 31, was being managed in the community by specialist officers when they visited him at his home in Peterborough in August last year.

Liaqat was forbidden from using or owning any device capable of accessing the internet or storing digital images without informing police under the terms of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO). The order also stated he must surrender any such device to police when asked to do so.

When officers arrived at his home last year, Liaqat claimed he’d lost his basic, non-internet device permitted under his conditions, but officers later found an internet phone belonging to him hidden on top of a wardrobe.  

A further search of this device revealed Liaqat had been using it to access various social media platforms. 

Liaqat, of Longthorpe, Peterborough, later pleaded guilty to breaching a SHPO and was sentenced to one year in prison at Huntingdon Law Courts on Friday (23 January).

Detective Constable Claire Cummings, from the specialist management of sexual or violent offenders unit (MOSOVO), said:

“Liaqat showed a complete disregard for his sexual harm prevention order and notification requirements, which are in place to safeguard the public. These new convictions reflect the serious sexual risk of harm he poses.

 “Our specialist officers work tirelessly to monitor and manage all registered sex offenders in the community and won’t hesitate to put them back before the courts if they discover any breaches.”

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A barber who raped two women and shared footage of his victims on social media and with another man has been jailed for 10 years.

Anas Almarjeh, 27, was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow after Judge Lady Hood told him he had taken no responsibility for the crimes or shown "any insight" into the harm caused.

He denied the accusations at trial in October last year but was convicted of two rape charges and one of abusive behavior.

Almarjeh attacked his first victim while she was asleep at a house in Barrhead, Renfrewshire, in late 2019. He also took or recorded a "sexual image" of her, which he showed to a man.

He repeatedly raped and abused his second victim between 2019 and 2022, including being aggressive, name-calling, making threats, locking her out of her home, controlling her movements, contacts, diet, and finances, and taking her money and bank cards.

The woman ended up in tears; Almarjeh filmed her distress and posted it online. The crimes occurred in Glasgow's southside and Barrhead.

Lady Hood said Almarjeh claimed to be the victim of "false allegations" by the women and witnesses.

She added: "The impact statement [for the first woman] has spoken of how your actions affected her health and her ability to work and enjoy life as she did before.

"The second woman described your behaviour in detail. It included you posting footage of her in a distressed state on social media - something which had a destructive impact on her.

"Her mother also spoke of the dramatic change that she saw in her daughter."

Almarjeh was placed on the sex offenders register and given indefinite non-harassment orders banning contact with the victims.

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A ‘sexual predator' who groomed two young girls into engaging in sexual activity and sending explicit images before pressuring them to retract their account has been sentenced to nine years and nine months behind bars, he will be placed on the sex offenders register for life and handed an fifteen year Sexual Harm Prevention order following an appearance at Leeds Crown Court today (Monday, 26 January 2026).

In December 2025, Suleman Baig, 40-years-old, of Grimsby pleaded guilty on day two of his trial at Leeds Crown Court to the following offences:

• Three counts of sexual activity with a child
• Two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
• Two counts of paying for sexual services of a child
• Two counts of sexual communications with a child
• Two counts of doing an act intending to pervert the course of justice
• Attempting to pay for the sexual services of a child
• Sexual assault
• Making indecent photographs of children
• Possession of prohibited images of children

Baig was first brought to the attention of officers in November 2021 through a third-party report of a concern for the welfare of a young girl. An investigation was launched, and detectives attended the school to speak to the girl where she disclosed a man had been requesting indecent images in return for money and taking part in sexual activity with her. Throughout this discussion the girl had shown officers she had been actively receiving multiple messages at that time from Baig via social media which further highlighted the extent of his fixation. 

Officers attended the home address of Baig the next day and, whilst at first he attempted to hide in his house, officers eventually gained entry, and he was arrested on suspicion of causing a female to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity. 

Whilst detectives were investigating these reports, concerns were raised of a second girl who has reportedly been subjected to sexual abuse from Baig. This resulted in the investigation developing with officers exploring new lines of enquiries which resulted in the second girl being interviewed and providing officers a statement of her account in relation to Baig’s offending.

Baig was originally released on conditional bail whilst evidence was being gathered and within this time, he breached his conditions on two different occasions (22 November 2021 and 26 November 2021) when he visited the home address of one of the girls whilst on bail, eventually sneaking into their home to ask her to pressure her friend to retract her statement. 

Electronics, including a mobile phone, were seized when Baig was first arrested and subsequently examined by our Digital Forensics Unit. The analysis uncovered thousands of text messages, along with explicit images and videos involving the young girls.

Baig was questioned regarding these findings and allegations and further arrested on suspicion of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity during the interview. 

Following Baig’s guilty plea he was released on conditional bail, with one of his conditions being to hand in all travel documents. He attended Grimsby Victoria Police Station on Wednesday, 10 December where he handed in a passport. This was later found to be expired, and it was established that he still had possession of his current travel documents. Baig was rearrested on suspicion of breach of bail conditions, and he was remanded to appear the next day (Thursday, 12 December). Following his appearance, he was remanded into custody until sentencing.

Leading the investigation Philip Shrimpton from our Protecting Vulnerable People unit said:

“I would like to start by commending the bravery of both young girls for reporting the abuse Baig had subjected them to.

“I would also like to thank the many witnesses and friends of the victims who came forward and were willing to stand in court to give statements. 

“Baig was a practising criminal solicitor and yet still committed such abhorrent crimes against these girls.

“It has been a lengthy, and complex investigation, but it is thanks to their courage that he is being held accountable for his despicable sexual deviancy.

“Baig is a manipulative sexual predator who groomed two girls for his own sexual gratification and attempted to pressure them to deny this to the police. 

“Whilst he continued to deny all these allegations up until day two of the trial, making the girls and their families go through all the court proceedings, I am glad he is now behind bars and prevented from causing further harm to others.

“We always treat cases of this nature with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity and would encourage anyone who has been a victim of recent or non-recent sexual abuse, or anyone who believes someone they know is suffering at the hands of a man like Baig, to please tell someone.“

Description

A registered sex offender has been jailed following serious online child-safeguarding offences and breaches of an order imposed after he committed 13 offences.

Rhys Jones, 27, from Bridgwater, was sentenced to an immediate three years in prison when he was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on Friday 16 January.

He pleaded guilty to six counts of breaching the requirements of the Sex Offenders Register (SOR) by failing to notify police of new accounts, usernames, or email addresses on Snapchat, TikTok and Gmail.

Jones also breached the conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order three times (SHPO) by using file sharing website Dropbox and installing Snapchat on mobile phones, and he also pleaded guilty to making four indecent images of children.

Alongside an immediate custodial term, he has been handed a restraining order to not contact his victim, a girl under 16 who he contacted for sexual gratification, which is in place until 2036. The SHPO is now in place indefinitely.

Jones’ latest offending came to light when officers made an unannounced visit to an address he was staying at to check he was complying with the conditions of the SOR and SHPO on Friday 7 November, which were imposed in August 2025 by Taunton Magistrates’ Court.

Jones was then arrested following mobile phone analysis where the offending was discovered. Officers found his devices were used to breach previous orders and were therefore seized.

These measures were imposed to reflect the gravity of his offending and to ensure longterm safeguarding of the victim and wider public.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Paul said: 

“Without the positive joint working of the newly formed Offender Manager Investigation Team, the digital team and CID, we would not have been able to achieve this sentence.

“This case shows the devastating impact online predators can have on vulnerable individuals. The victim showed exceptional bravery throughout this investigation, and this sentence reflects the seriousness of these offences. Our priority will always be the safety of children and young people, both online and offline.

“We want to reassure victims that they will be listened to, believed, and supported. Reporting abuse is incredibly difficult, but nobody must face it alone. If you are worried about your safety, or the safety of a child, please reach out. We have dedicated teams who will act swiftly to protect you, and we were supported in this case by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit.”

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A man caught by online paedophile hunters encouraging two "teenage" girls to engage in sexual acts has won his bid to keep unrestricted internet access.

Robbie Smith, 31, faced potential limits on his online activity under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after his 2023 conviction.

But Folkestone Magistrates’ Court ruled such restrictions are not necessary or proportionate.

Smith was arrested in 2022 after evidence showed he encouraged two girls he believed were 13 to engage in sexual acts. The accounts were operated by adult decoys.

He initially denied the charges but later pleaded guilty to two counts of attempting to cause or incite a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

Smith received a nine-month suspended sentence, two years' supervision, and 10 years on the sex offenders’ register.

His legal team opposed the SHPO application by the Crown Prosecution Service and police. SHPOs are civil measures that can restrict internet use, contact with children, or device access to protect the public from sexual harm.

At the January 12 hearing, via video link from his Ashford home, prosecutor Terry Knox said Smith, then 28, believed the girls were 13: "He was 28 at the time. He thought the girls were 13, so it shows you the age difference."

Smith sent one "girl" a message admitting he could get in trouble, then blocked her. For the other, chats referenced school, but he called her "babe" and "gorgeous," discussed masturbation, and said it was natural for her to "play with her privates."

Mr. Knox added: "There are elements of a grooming nature, but then the paedo hunters come forward. The SHPO is needed to protect the public, or to protect children, or vulnerable adults."

Defender Nigel Riley argued an SHPO must be necessary and proportionate: "My client accepts these are serious matters, but an order of this nature being made, well, the court takes each case on its own facts. And on these particular facts, I will persuade you, it’s not necessary to make such an order. They are made in many cases, but not as a matter of routine."

He noted the offenses occurred nearly four years ago (February-April 2022), with no prior or subsequent sexual offenses, no breaches of notification requirements, and that an SHPO "should only be made at the end of a case, not some four years after the offence has been committed."

Mr. Riley said Smith had a psychiatric disorder, unstable personality, depressive disorder, and was socially isolated amid a health scare: "He was socially isolated and on his computer [a lot] and was particularly depressed."

He added: "There were no underage victims; the matter was reported to police by the paedophile hunters, the vigilante group, and there has been no further offending, and four years have gone by. Were he to reoffend, he would be prosecuted and could get custody. He accepted full responsibility and had genuine remorse and embarrassment; he doesn’t need a further order."

Bench chairman Ken Benn said: "We do not think a SHPO is proportionate to issue; the notification requirements are adequate."

He reminded Smith to comply with the register until its 10-year term ends.

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A convicted sex offender who sparked a police hunt by repeatedly ignoring strict monitoring rules fled and climbed onto a roof when officers spotted him by chance.

Serial offender Stuart Webster went missing after release from a 10-year prison sentence for rape, prompting a police appeal for his whereabouts.

He had a "very poor record of compliance" with requirements to report regularly, Hull Crown Court heard. Webster, 42, of no fixed address but recently in custody, admitted breaching sex offender notification rules on August 23 and October 10, plus handling stolen goods on October 17.

Prosecutor Hannah Turner said Webster was convicted of rape in May 2015 and jailed for 10 years, with indefinite registration duties. He registered as homeless in Doncaster on July 9, requiring weekly police check-ins, but failed to comply.

Arrested in Doncaster in August for non-registration, he was later listed as wanted for further breaches. On October 17, Beverley police spotted him at the bus station. "Officers saw him and spoke with him," said Miss Turner. "He confirmed his name.

"He began to flee from the officers on foot. He was pursued by officers for some distance and the defendant ended up on the roof of a building – a low sloped roof.

"He dropped a bag that he was carrying with him. He was pursued further by officers and he was seen throwing items into a skip.

"He was detained in the Beverley area. Within the bag that he discarded were bottles of alcohol with the security tags still attached.

"He told officers that they were given to him by a friend, who had stolen them." One of three bottles was broken.

Webster had 76 prior convictions, including failing to register on July 10 and 17. He received a one-year conditional discharge on August 22.

Mitigator Billy Torbett said Webster pleaded guilty, faced prison, and had spent four months in custody. "He knows that this has to be something of a crossroads sentence," said Mr Torbett. "He has either got to sort himself out or he is going to be serving a life sentence in instalments. He is remorseful and he knows that he needs assistance in custody. Regrettably, it's the best place for him at the moment."

Deputy circuit judge Timothy Clayson told Webster: "You have got a very poor record of compliance." Originally from Grimsby, Webster was jailed for 14 months, including two consecutive months for breaching the conditional discharge.

Description

A serial sex offender jailed for life for a savage attack on a university lecturer is back behind bars after changing his name to deceive women into relationships.

Brian Travers received a life sentence and indefinite placement on the sex offenders register for the 2002 assault on the woman in her Edinburgh home. Register conditions required him to notify authorities of name or address changes and bank account details.

Released in 2022, Travers violated these by using the alias "David Quinn" to form romantic relationships with two unsuspecting women. One discovered his true identity via a letter addressed to Brian Travers in his flat; after Googling, she learned of his crimes. Having allowed him time with her young daughter and use of her phone during their six-month relationship, she reported him to police.

Travers, now 52, and accomplice Paul Gargaro were convicted for forcing entry into the lecturer's home, subjecting her to indecent assault, forcing her to reveal her bank PIN, and stealing credit cards, cash, jewelry, and a phone. Travers was identified by DNA after licking her ear while she was bound, blindfolded, and threatened with rape.

Judge Lord Phillip sentenced them to life, calling Travers "a cruel and calculating criminal" and "a danger to women" at the High Court in Edinburgh in July 2002.

Travers also served seven years for punching and undressing a 20-year-old American student in an Edinburgh park in 1997. Two days earlier, he robbed a mother walking with her baby near the Water of Leith, stealing her handbag with bank cards and money.

On January 22 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Travers pleaded guilty to failing to notify authorities of his name change between November 1, 2022, and August 10, 2024, and possessing two unreported bank cards and accounts from June 12, 2022, to August 10, 2024.

Fiscal depute Morgan Beattie noted Travers was on the register for life due to his 1997 and 2002 indecent assaults, and used "David Quinn" or "Quinny" in the relationships post-release.

Defense lawyer Nicola Haston said he failed to inform police due to "laziness" and was recalled on license.

Sheriff Watson stated: "These charges cover a period of 21 months where you used an alias and two years where you used bank accounts you did not register. I was told it was laziness, but it was not lazy to change your name and it was not lazy not to report that. No doubt distress was caused to those who discovered you had conducted yourself under a false name and were unaware of your offending."

Travers received an 18-month sentence, backdated to November 18 of the previous year.

In July 2016, Travers escaped Castle Huntly jail near Dundee during home leave, after bragging about meeting sex workers. Recalled and facing downgraded privileges, he absconded for four days before being found drunk in an Edinburgh pub. He broke his arm during arrest and was sentenced to 16 more months at Perth Sheriff Court in September 2016 for the escape.