Latest Offenders

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A REVELLER on a night out has avoided being sent to prison, despite sexually assaulting a young woman on a night out.

David Kovac grabbed the victim to the genital area and gave her unwanted kisses in the middle of a busy street in the town centre.

The 35-year-old told police that he could not remember what he had done because he was extremely intoxicated at the time.

He later admitted a charge of sexual assault however, and he appeared to be sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, March 16.

Stephanie Fanello, prosecuting, explained to the court how the offence was committed in October last year while the defendant was on a night out.

The defendant was on Bridge Street in the early hours of the morning when he approached a young woman who was a stranger to him.

Kovac then grabbed her to the genital area and tried kissing her. This was non-consensual, the court heard, and Kovac was repeatedly told to back off, which he failed to do.

During his police interview, during which he was shown CCTV footage of the incident, he confirmed that he did not know the woman and said that he could not remember the incident due to him being intoxicated.

He added that he was ‘raised appropriately’ and that he ‘respected women’.

The court heard an impact statement from the victim in which she said she has not been able to relax as a result of the incident.

She struggles to sleep and has not been eating properly, while she is also constantly anxious and nervous and is scared about going out again.

Defending his client, David Robb said that Kovac ‘clearly expresses remorse and regret’, adding that his behaviour was ‘out of character’.

He said that the defendant was extremely drunk and is ‘completely appalled about what took place’.

The court heard how Kovac is a single man with no children living in the UK, is working and sends a lot of his income back to his parents in Slovakia.

Before sentencing, deputy district judge Anita Price said: “This was an appalling incident.

“This offence clearly does cross the custody threshold, and you committed this offence while in drink, which makes it more serious.

“You also committed it in a location and time which adds to the seriousness of it.

“You have heard the impact it has had on this young lady, and no doubt continues to have on her.

“Were it not for your guilty plea and no previous convictions, you would have been going to custody today.”

Kovac, of Fitzherbert Street in Orford, was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days, including a sex offender treatment programme, and an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement for 60 days.

In addition, he must abide by sex offender registration and notification requirements for seven years.

The judge opted not to order compensation for the victim as to not ‘reminder her’ of what Kovac did, however he was told he must pay court costs of £120 and a victim surcharge of £154.

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Daniel Molan, 51, exposed himself to teenage girls and masturbated in view of them but was given a suspended sentence and allowed to walk free from court (pictured outside Bolton Crown Court)

At Bolton Crown Court, he faced up to three years in jail under sentencing guidelines after he admitted three offences of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and two of outraging public decency, but was given 22 months jail suspended for a year.

His lawyer Paul Treble told the hearing: 'He has been open and honest with probation and psychological report. He has told me he deeply regrets what he did and is ashamed of it. As a result, probation have said that he is someone they were willing to work with.

'He is in full time employment and was described by his employer as having a good work ethic. Whilst I'm not negating the seriousness of the offence, the harm is relatively modest.'

The court heard Molan targeted his first victim aged 14 at 8am on a day in February 2022 as she was walking to her bus stop in Leigh.

Amanda Johnson, prosecuting, said: 'Whilst waiting for her bus, she noticed the defendant nearby. He was standing and looking at her rather than looking up the road for the bus. At the time although she noted the strangeness of his conduct, she thought little more about it.

'The defendant then exposed his penis to her. He stood staring at her with his penis exposed, trying to get her attention. Fortunately the bus arrived, and she quickly boarded. She did not report the matter at the time as she thought it was a one-off incident but she fell victim to the defendant a second time a week later.

'Again, she was at the same bus stop at around the same time. Again the defendant was there, wearing the same clothing. He again exposed his penis to her however on this occasion he began to masturbate in full view of her. The bus arrived and she got on. This time, on her arrival at school she informed a teacher of both incidents.

'In April, 2022, after the Easter holidays she was again at the bus stop... This time the defendant did not expose himself, but he was wearing the same clothing. She was afraid and decided to walk past him, filming him on her phone as she did so.

'The video was then provided to the police. She described how he had made her feel really uncomfortable and she was worried about where else the defendant may have behaved like this. She worried about younger children having seen him engaging in this conduct.'

Describing a later incident, Ms Johnson added: 'Two girls aged 14 were on the bus, going to school, having boarded at Leigh Bus Station. They were sitting on the back few rows.

'The defendant also boarded and made his way to the rear. He left two empty seats between himself and the girls. The girls were with their friend whose attention was first drawn to the defendant. He nudged her with his leg and she got up and moved away from him.

'One of the girls could feel that the defendant was staring at her. She turned to look at him and thought that he looked weird. It looked as though he was feeling pleasure. She turned back around and put her headphones in.

'One of the others also felt like she was being watched. She looked at the defendant who had a bag on his knee and he was staring at her legs. She then saw that he was masturbating and saw his exposed penis.

'She then called her mother to tell her what was happening. Her mother advised that she report it and one of the girls then went to tell the bus driver who stopped the bus and went to challenge the defendant. He removed him from the vehicle and then contacted the police.

'One of the girls described being "a bit freaked out" by what had happened, but said she was OK. One of the others was rather more affected and described feeling she judges all the men she meets. She worries on the bus when a man gets on behind her, that he will sit next to her.

'Police conducted enquiries and discovered a similar incident in March 2022 involving three schoolchildren at Leigh Bus Station with a similar description of the offender had been given and a PC viewed CCTV footage. The defendant was arrested and interviewed on 13 June 2022. He made no comment.'

The court heard Romanian-born Molan was of previous good character.

Sentencing the judge Mr Recorder Andrew McLoughlin told him: 'You have targeted school girls, one in particular was a victim on two separate occasions at the same bus stop near her school. Although she admits that she has the mental strength to not be too affected by the incident, others, unfortunately, have been impacted more.

'The reasons for why you undertook these offences are still unclear, especially considering your age and lack of previous convictions. It's clear that you need significant assistance with your criminal behaviour. I believe that you will benefit from this intervention from probation and am therefore convinced that I can suspend your sentence.'

Molan was also ordered to complete 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 120 hours of unpaid work. He will have to abide by the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and sign the Sex Offender Register.

It comes as three women, who were flashed at by killer policeman Wayne Couzens days before he murdered Sarah Everard, warned that indecent exposure offences are not being treated seriously enough.

Earlier this month Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley called for a change to the law on flashing.

He argues that a football fan who streaks on a pitch should not be treated the same way as a sexual predator.

On average, women and girls are being subjected to more than 40 indecent exposure and voyeurism attacks every day.

However, data from the Ministry of Justice showed the number of people convicted of indecent exposure has collapsed in recent years, almost halving from 810 in 2016 to 435 in 2020.

Solicitor Harriet Wistrich, director of the Centre for Women's Justice, said police were not taking the offence seriously enough: 'This sort of offending can be an indicator of more serious, prolific and sometimes escalating sexual offending.'

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A man who discussed meeting what he thought was a nine-year-old girl for sexual activity was told he was 'very lucky' to be spared from prison.

Struan Taylor, formerly of Victoria Street in Kettering, believed he was speaking to the youngster's mum when he embarked on his sickening chat and thought she would let him abuse her child.

But he had no idea he was communicating with an undercover police officer when he suggested possible locations and sent 'disgusting' pictures.

On Friday at Leicester Crown Court the 24-year-old was handed a suspended sentence and placed on the sex offender register.

Taylor, now of Sutherland Way in Livingston, Scotland, was arrested on January 25, 2022, after sending sexual images of himself and explaining in detail what he wanted to do to the 'child' when they met.

He denied attempting to arrange or facilitate an act which would commission a child sex offence but was found guilty by a jury.

Taylor, who wore a blue suit in the dock, spent about two months in prison on remand before being released on bail ahead of his trial.

The court heard he had claimed he didn't get any sexual gratification - and that his pleasure was that the person he was talking to was able to live out their fantasies.

Sentencing, His Honour Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "The jury said that what you were talking was palpable nonsense.

"What you were doing was living out sexual fantasies and your aim was to meet with a child."

Prosecutor Claire Fraser said there was a significant disparity in age and told the court that sentencing guidelines for the offence said it had a starting point of five years in prison with a range of between four and 10 years.

Defending, Stephen Garbett said no firm meeting was ever arranged and that the chat was always with the 'mother' and not the 'child'.

He said Taylor, who had no previous convictions, was 'horrified' by the messages he had sent.

He said: "He does accept that his behaviour was absolutely inappropriate and the language used was disgusting."

Mr Garbett added that Taylor was a 'very, very changed person' and urged Judge Mooncey to suspend any sentence he passed, acknowledging that it was a 'big ask'.

Mr Garbett said: "He is a person who made a pretty awful mistake."

His Honour Judge Mooncey told Taylor his behaviour was 'worrying' and reduced the sentence from four years in prison to three years because there was no real child.

He then further reduced it to two years because of his mitigation meaning it could be suspended. And he said that, because he had already had a taste of custody and because of the prospect of rehabilitation, that he was willing to suspend the two-year prison term for two years - telling Taylor he was very lucky to have avoided jail by the skin of his teeth.

He told him: "I hope the probation service can work with you and the court will never see you again."

Taylor was ordered to take part in rehabilitation activities and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

He will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender register for 10 years.

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A scheming paedophile who sexually abused a girl with learning difficulties was caught when he mistakenly sent social media messages to her mum admitting his crimes.

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A RYEDALE sex offender who had a vast hoard of more than 330,000 sexual images of children - and distributed some of them online - has been jailed.

Stephen George Garside’s collection of videos and pictures included some featuring children as young as two, said Brooke Morrison, prosecuting.

He had printed off some of the images off and made a photo album of them.

Garside had been downloading sexual images of children for 12 years by the time police put a stop to his crimes.

Officers arrested him at his place of work and searched his work locker and his home near Malton.

After pleading guilty to a series of online sex charges, Garside claimed to a probation officer that he was interested in adult pornography and never looked for sexual images of children online, York Crown Court heard.

But deputy circuit judge Deborah Sherwin dismissed that claim.

“It is clear to me you have held an interest in child pornography for many years,” she said. “This was sexually motivated by the need to satisfy your needs, you not having experienced a sexual relationship in your adult life.”

She jailed Garside for 18 months. She also put him on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and made him subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) indefinitely.

The order will restrict his use of the internet and enable police to monitor what he does online.

Garside, 58, of Saxon Drive, Rillington, near Malton, pleaded guilty to six charges of making indecent images of children by downloading them, one of distributing a small number of images from the least serious category, one of having extreme pornography and one of having prohibited images of children.

He represented himself and when asked by the judge if he wanted to give any mitigation, declined.

Ms Morrison said police went to Garside’s home and place of work on July 7, 2020. They found him at work and searched him. They also searched his work locker and his home and seized a number of internet devices and related items.

Forensic checks revealed that between them, the seized devices and items contained 333,337 videos and pictures, all but 115 of them were of children. There were 373 videos of which all but one were of children. There were 94 sexual videos of children of the most serious category, 51 of the middle category and 219 of the least serious category. There were seven prohibited videos of children and one sexually extreme video.

There were 321 sexual pictures of children of the most serious category, 606 of the middle category and 332,237 of the least serious category, 114 sexually extreme pictures and 59 prohibited pictures of children.

The earliest material was dated 2008 and dates on other material showed he had continued to download material up until his arrest 12 years later.

On two occasions, he had used “torrent” software to distribute a very small number of the images of the least category online.

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'Sex-obsessed' Daniel Rutter, 34, has previously been jailed for attacks on women.

A violent Hull man strangled and suffocated a sex worker in a "degrading and dehumanising" attack in Leeds.

Daniel Rutter, 34, of HMP Leeds, but formerly of Plane Street, Hull, went to the victim's house after only two weeks of knowing her, and went into a rage when she "accidentally knocked over his crack pipe". The aggressive bully then relentlessly attacked her, leaving her with two black eyes, cuts to her neck and swelling to her lips, jaw and ear.

The prolific offender has a long history of attacking women, and Hull Crown Court heard last year that "sex-obsessed" Rutter exposed himself to a policewoman while being transported in a police van. He made disgusting comments to her, offering sex, while he committed a sex act, and then defecated and urinated in the van.

On Thursday, Leeds Crown Court heard that Rutter continuously punched the woman at her home in Burnsall Gardens, Leeds. She was then able to escape his abuse and lose him before returning to her flat.

Leeds Live reports thatProsecutor Jade Bucklow said she later let him back in, "fearful" of what he would do if she did not. Ms Bucklow said: "He went in and was standing in front of the door and punched her.

"He straddled her and put his hands around her neck and she struggled to breathe. She kicked him in the genitals and it worked and she began to scream. He [Rutter] put a woolly hat over his hand and over her mouth and punched her to her body."

Police received a call that people were "screaming" at the address, and officers found Rutter and the woman there. In a basis of plea, Rutter argued that he did not put a hat over his hand to suffocate the woman, but did it with the intention of stopping it from bleeding, after the woman bit him.

However, he did accept he put his hand over her mouth. The Hull offender also claimed the woman already had injuries prior to him going over there.

The victim was treated at Leeds General Infirmary after the attack, and suffered two black eyes, cuts to her neck, swelling to her lips, the left-hand side of her jaw and ear.

Rutter was sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation and intentional suffocation. He was also sentenced for failing to comply with notification requirements after he failed to tell police he no longer had a home.

In a police interview on December 19, Rutter provided a pre-prepared statement in which he said he had gone to the woman's house to drink, listen to music and watch television. Ms Bucklow said: "He said they had consensual sex during which she fell and hit her face on the table and chair.

"The interviewing officer remarked he took issue with her being a prostitute."

The court heard Rutter had 39 previous convictions for 94 offences including 16 offences against a person. In November 2021, Rutter was sentenced for slapping and spitting on his ex-partner, just days after he was released from prison.

After police arrived to arrest him for the attack, he then aggressively spat at officers. His previous stint in prison was for assaulting the same woman.

Mitigating, Michael Walsh, said he had been diagnosed with a condition - which was later said to be the life-shortening Huntington's Disease. Mr Walsh said: "He is realistic about the type of sentence that will be imposed today.

"The probation service have expressed the view that they don't think they could work with him because of his issues that mean he isn't amenable to them and because he is likely to spend time in custody but they will work with him in custody. He is a man with complex issues that arise from his mental health."

Mr Walsh said Rutter was using drugs and to some lesser extent, drink, to self-medicate and "that perfect storm led to anxiety and the commission of these offences". The barrister added: "He has said to me he wants to be in a position where in the future if he gets involved in stressful situations he acts better than he has before.

"When he is released he wants to seek assistance in regards to his mental health."

His Honour Judge Robin Mairs told the court that in the pre-sentence report, Rutter stated the woman wanted to be strangled and he "made references" to her role as a sex worker. The judge said the author of the report wrote: "As though that provided explanation for the offences."

He said: "Your attitude to the complainant (who) you beat and strangled over hours is degrading and dehumanising. Because she is a sex worker you deem her to be worthy of the violence you used upon her. Your conduct and attitude towards her is despicable."

The judge jailed Rutter for two years and seven months. Rutter will have to serve up to half of his sentence in custody before being released on licence.

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A convicted registered sex offender has been jailed for breaching the conditions of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by contacting a 12-year-old child.

Kevin Challen, 55, from Worthing, had been first convicted in March 2021 for possessing indecent images of children that were found on his computer during an investigation by police. This resulted in him receiving a suspended prison sentence of 10 months, being placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and subject to specific restrictions under a SHPO.

Whilst serving his suspended sentence, Challen went on to breach the conditions of the SHPO and through lies and deception, befriended unsuspecting family friends and started messaging a 12-year-old child.

The child was brave enough to inform their parents of the extent of Challen's unlawful contact with them and this resulted in Sussex Police officers arresting Challen again.

After a detailed investigation, Challen was charged with three offences of breaching his SHPO and also for failing to comply with notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register.

Challen pleaded guilty to the offences and appeared at Lewes Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday (15 March) where he received a prison sentence of 31 months and his SHPO was amended to run indefinitely.

Crime investigator Dawn Hosken said: “I would like to commend the victim for their bravery in coming forward and to the witnesses for their support in this case. Challen, a convicted sex offender, is now in prison.”

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A Sexual Harm Prevention Order banned Jake Pinhorn from having devices that were not declared to police officers

A Walton paedophile has been jailed after breaching a court order barring him from having undeclared smartphones. Jake Pinhorn was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in 2018 when he was convicted of making and distributing indecent images of children.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register. But police say the 31-year-old's risk management officer believed he was accessing the internet again on an undeclared smartphone.

This suspicion was confirmed when a warrant was conducted at Pinhorn's home. There, police say, a smartphone was discovered that was attributed to him.

Police say he was also found to have breached the terms of the sex offenders' register by staying at an address he had failed to disclose to the police.

He has now been jailed for a year after appearing before Guildford Crown Court. Pinhorn admitted breaching the terms of his register and his SHPO when he appeared in the dock.

PC John Rose, from Surrey Police’s High Harm Perpetrator Unit, said: “This result shows that we will work tirelessly and robustly to bring convicted sex offenders who breach the conditions placed upon them to justice. Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are ultimately put in place to protect the community and manage risk around further offending, which is why any breach is taken incredibly seriously and we will never hesitate to take action.”

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A dangerous Grantham man who was convicted of a string of sexual offences against four victims over two decades was today (Thursday) sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Christopher Manning, 38, of Dalton Close, Grantham, was also made the subject of an extended licence period of four years once he is released from custody making a total sentence of 29 years.

Manning was found guilty of 21 charges, including rapes, after a three week trial earlier this year.

Lincoln Crown Court heard two of Manning's victims were children when they were raped.

Passing sentence, Judge Catarina Sjolin Knight told Manning she had concluded that he was a dangerous offender.

Judge Sjolin Knight explained Manning would therefore be subject to an extended licence period of four years on his eventual release from custody to protect the public.

The Judge told Manning: "I am satisfied you take delight in abusing children and have done so since you were a child."

Judge Sjolin Knight said Manning also contacted girls online and developed an interest in looking for indecent images which led to his arrest when he contacted an undercover officer called 'Dave'.

The Judge told Manning he showed no concern for his victims during his trial, accusing them of lying and going on the offensive. "You are 38. You donated a kidney to your father. There is no other mitigation."

Judge Sjolin Knight said Manning's online activity also made her concerned about his interest in babies.

Manning was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life and must also register as a sex offender for life.

Impact statements from Manning's victims were read out in court. One woman described how she suffered flashbacks and nightmares, but was now finally getting justice.

Another victim said she did not trust anyone except her immediate family. A third victim added: "The impact of the crime on me has been significant."

In total Manning was convicted of seven rape charges, two charges of indecent assault, three charges of sexual assault, three charges of making indecent photographs of children, two charges of causing or inciting a person to engage in sexual activity, one charge of sexual activity with a child, one charge of sexual communication with a child, one charge of encouraging or assisting an offence and one charge of sexual intercourse with a girl aged under-13.

Manning was arrested on February 25 last year and denied all the offences when he gave evidence during his trial.

The offences occured over 20 years and began when Manning was a child himself.

The court heard there was a significant disparity in age between Manning and some of his victims. All his victims are entitled to anonymity for life.

Karen Walton, mitigating, conceded Manning is someone who would present a considerable risk in the future and would require management once he is released from a long sentence starting at the age of 38.

Miss Walton urged the sentences for when Manning was a juvenile to reflect his age at the time.

"Any sentence he gets today is going to be very long, and before any release he will have to go before the parole board."

Miss Walton said she could not speak of any remorse from Manning as he does not accept the offences.

Judge Sjolin Knight also praised the support given by the National Crime Agency (NCA) to the victims.

David Levett, senior investigating officer at the NCA, said: “This investigation uncovered that Christopher Manning inflicted the most horrific abuse against children over the course of many years.

“The impact of his criminality is utterly devastating, yet many of his victims bravely gave evidence during the trial and helped to secure his conviction.

“He is a prolific and dangerous sexual offender who poses a grave risk to the public. His sentence reflects the severity and totality of his offending.

“The NCA is dedicated to identifying high harm criminals like Manning and ensuring they are brought to justice.”

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Luke Baker, 20, of School Street, Walsall, is accused of two counts of raping a boy under 13, and two further charges of inciting a boy under 13 to sexual activity.

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A paedophile, who raped one woman and also engaged in sexual activity with a child, has been jailed following an investigation by Lancashire Police.

Preston Crown Court was told that in May, 2020, Billy Whitehouse took a 14-year-old girl into an abandoned shed in Burnley where they kissed. He then had sex with her, knowing she was underage.

Whitehouse, who is now 18 but was 16 years old at the time of the offence, was charged with rape. But part way through the trial he pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity with a child. That plea was deemed acceptable by the prosecution.

In December, 2021, Whitehouse threatened to stab the second victim, before punching her in the face and rendering her unconscious. Once the victim regained consciousness, he took her into a house and raped her. On other occasions Whitehouse fractured the victim’s hand, sexually assaulted her, urinated on her and threatened to release private sexual images of her which he had taken without her knowledge.

Following the trial Whitehouse, of Green Street, Padiham, was found guilty of rape, assault by penetration, assault occasioning actually bodily harm, and threatening to disclose private sexual images.

He appeared back at the crown court today (March 14) where he was sentenced to eight years custody. He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

In an impact statement to the court, the second victim said: “I struggle getting to sleep, and when I do sleep, I have severe nightmares. This impacts me at work because when I get there I am already so tired. I have been prescribed anti-depressants because of what Billy put me through. The effects on me are long lasting and extend far beyond the incidents themselves. I’m still dealing with the aftermath every single day.”

She added: “I hope I can start to move forward now without interruption from Billy, slowly rebuild my life and replace aspects of it which he stole from me.

“I had many aspirations for my life and still do, but this is something which people can’t see. It's pain which I will have to carry with me for the rest of my life.

“It has changed how I view myself and how I view others, and I have come out the other side a different person and a different version of myself. “The impact this has had on me does not have an end date and is something I will live with forever, so you could say it is me who has been handed the life sentence.”

DC Matthew Bourne, from East CID, said: “Whitehouse is an individual who presents a clear danger towards women and girls by his appalling attitude towards them, and a warped sense of entitlement. For such a young man he has committed some extremely serious and appalling crimes, which will have a long-lasting impact on both victims.

“I welcome the sentence handed down to him and the orders handed down by the judge mean Whitehouse will continue to be monitored by the authorities once he is released from prison.

“I hope this case and it’s outcome will encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward, knowing they will be believed, listened to and we will do everything in our power to put the perpetrator before the courts.”

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A convicted sex offender has been jailed after striking up a relationship with a 'vulnerable' woman he met on Facebook.

Scott Bray, 24, was handed a 12-month suspended jail sentence and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in July for three offences of making child abuse images. But he breached the SHPO by failing to tell police within three days that he had a phone and an Xbox games console.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Bray used the phone to contact a 23-year-old woman with learning difficulties who has become his girlfriend.

He also breached the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register by using three social media accounts with different names without informing the authorities. And he was in breach of the suspended sentence by staying at an address in the Potteries without prior permission from his offender manager. Now Bray has been jailed for 16 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.

Prosecutor Ben Lawrence said on January 4 police visited an address in Stoke-on-Trent where Bray was living with his new girlfriend. Mr Lawrence said: "He was twice asked for a phone and he denied having one. Eventually he admitted he did have one. He had it from at least December 31, more than three days.

"It was that phone he used to communicate with the vulnerable woman. In his police interview Bray said he used the phone since mid November.

The court heard police visited his home again on January 18 and recovered an Xbox games console. Mr Lawrence said: "His grandmother was spoken to. She revealed he had been using social media accounts in three different names. That put him in breach of the notification requirements.

"She also confirmed he had been speaking online to the vulnerable woman, his girlfriend, using those accounts and names. He was interviewed about it and agreed he was in breach of the SHPO."

Bray, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching a SHPO; failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders' register; and breaching a suspended prison sentence.

Rob Holt, mitigating, said: "He says he is genuinely sorry and remorseful for his behaviour. He has learned his lessons and won't be making the same mistakes again."

He said Bray met the vulnerable woman on Facebook and did not target her. He said his client had been assaulted in custody and is suffering from anxiety and depression.

Mr Holt added: "He has not given proper regard to the order in detail and the level of consideration that needs to be given to these orders. It will not be repeated, he tells me."

Recorder Julian Taylor said: "I regard these as very serious breaches." Bray remains subject to the 10 year SHPO and is on the sex offenders' register for the same period.

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A SEX offender has been described as ‘predatory and deviant’ by a judge after being responsible for covertly filming a teenager in a bathroom.

Colin Pennell, formerly of Latchford, used technology to spy on the woman and record her as she undressed, showered and used the toilet.

The 47-year-old was told that his voyeuristic actions only ceased as he was caught rather than voluntarily, and that he was reluctant to admit he was sexually motivated.

He was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Monday, March 13 after pleading guilty to a charge of voyeurism.

The court heard from prosecutor Jayne Morris who explained how the teenage victim was taking a morning shower, getting ready for the day ahead.

After getting out and while naked, she noticed a recording device in the bathroom window, leaving her ‘very angry’.

The complainant checked the device, where she uncovered a number and videos of her naked herself in the bathroom. The discovery left her ‘extremely upset’ and in tears.

Cheshire Police were informed, with an examination of the device revealing a total of 275 photos and five videos of the complainant.

All of the material was covertly photographed or filmed in the bathroom or shower showing her in varying states of nudity.

The court heard how some of the images and videos had no metadata attached, so it was unclear when the photos and videos had been taken.

Following investigations, the defendant was arrested and made no comment during his police interview.

In an impact statement, the complainant said that the offending has had a big impact on her mental health, leaving her feeling anxious and considering receiving therapy.

She has suffered from panic attacks and heart palpitations, which never happened before the offending, while she also now feels paranoid about being watched and does not want to go out anymore.

The statement added that the woman’s mental health is ‘very up and down’, while learning what had happened made her feel ‘sick, disgusted and as if her stomach had turned inside out’.

Ms Morris revealed to the court that Pennell has two previous convictions for dissimilar matters.

In defence of his client, Mark Connor said: “I accept that the case crosses the custody threshold, and that the evidence clearly suggests an established pattern of behaviour.”

He added that Pennell is ‘deeply ashamed and remorseful’ for his actions, and asked the court to consider suspending the inevitable prison sentence.

This would allow him to engage in a sex offender treatment programme outside of a custodial setting.

But this call was rejected by judge Michael Leeming, who concluded: “Your offending was not isolated, and shows a pattern of predatory and deviant sexual offending.

“You have been less than frank with probation officers, offering no explanation for your behaviour and not admitting that you were sexually motivated from the outset.

“You now accept today for the first time that you were motivated by sexual gratification.”

He added: “Had you not been caught, chances are you would have continued to act in that way and not desist voluntarily.

“In my mind, appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate imprisonment.”

Pennell, now of Snaefell Avenue in Liverpool, was sentenced to eight months in prison.

He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order to limit his ability to reoffend and a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting the victim – both for a period of 10 years.

In addition, the defendant is now bound to abide by sex offender registration and notification requirements for the next decade.

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Pervert pensioner Stephen Bradbury has been jailed after he was caught with hundreds of child abuse photos - including one of a baby girl being raped. The 75-year-old sex offender was arrested after police visited his Bucknall home in January last year.

Officers could see him trying to conceal a device as they looked through his window. He came clean and told the officer there were indecent images on his iPad.

It was analysed and contained hundreds of pictures at category A, B and C. There was also an extreme pornographic image and an one of an 18-month-old toddler in considerable distress as she was being raped.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard he has previous convictions include indecent assault; gross indecency with a child; indecent assault on a girl under 14; and possession of indecent images of children. Now Bradbury has been jailed for 20 months.

Prosecutor Mark Brookes said police analysed the iPad and it contained 126 still images and 75 movies at category A - the most serious; 35 still images and eight movies at category B; and 34 still images and six movies at category C.

Bradbury, of no fixed address but formerly of Fellbrook Lane, Bucknall, pleaded guilty to three offences of making indecent photographs of children; possession of a prohibited image of a child; and possession of extreme pornography.

Paul Cliff, mitigating, said the case did not involve any onward distribution of images. And he said there was a relatively modest amount of images compared to other similar cases.

He said Bradbury suffers with chronic emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, diabetes and arthritis. Mr Cliff added that Bradbury admitted his offending to the police and pleaded guilty.

Judge Sally Hancox said: "You were asked if there was anything you had not declared. You responded, 'There is child porn on it. I am going back to prison, aren't I'?

"You accept that you have an ongoing attraction to children. The children were disturbingly young. One is a child aged 18 months being raped. She is clearly in extreme distress."

Judge Hancox added that Bradbury will serve half the sentence before he can be considered for release by the parole board but the 'likelihood is he will remain in custody for some time'.

She made him the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years and he will be on the sex offenders' register for the same period.

DC Darren Bithell, from the sex offender management unit, said: "We welcome the sentence imposed upon sex offender Stephen Bradbury. He is a person that poses a risk to children and to the public overall.

"We will always investigate and seek to bring to justice those who commit sexual related offences. Safeguarding victims is also of paramount importance to us."

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A 70-YEAR-old Bradford man has been jailed for more than eight years after raping a teenager.

Edwin Gill, of Dulverton Grove, Holme Wood, initially pleaded not guilty to the offence, claiming the teenager had consented.

But after seeking legal advice, he changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court today (March 14).

Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp told the court that Gill had first asked to cuddle the teenager, touched their bottom and inner thigh, then proceeded to rape them.

The victim was left shocked and felt helpless after the attack, but was able to tell family about what had happened, and Gill was arrested.

In interview he initially denied any rape, but later admitted having sex with the teenager, which he claimed was consensual.

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, the victim described how they had suffered panic attacks as well as struggling to sleep and concentrate on studies following the attack.

Judge Ahmed Nadim praised the young victim for “courage and fortitude” in assisting the authorities in bringing Gill to justice.

Laura McBride, for Gill, told the court that there was genuine remorse from Gill and that “he is truly sorry for what has happened”.

“He can’t put into words the shame and regret that he’s felt,” she added.

In sentencing Gill to eight years and nine months imprisonment, Judge Nadim said he had broken moral and legal norms, adding: “A child’s carefree days have been marred." 

He added that his victim suffered “degradation and humiliation” at his hands.

A life-long sexual harm prevention order was imposed on Gill, and he must register as a sex offender for the same length of time too.