Latest Offenders

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Steven Collins (26/06/1999), of Pink Street in Burnley, targeted four females, all under the age of 16, on public transport and at a supermarket in Ashton-under-Lyne.

He inappropriately touched, threatened and stalked the females, causing untold distress. Two of them managed to take photographs of Collins on their mobile phones, which led the police direct to him.

Appearing at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday 19 October 2022, Collins was sentenced for three sexual assaults – offences he had pleaded guilty to at an earlier hearing.

He received seven years, six months imprisonment as well as a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for 10 years and he is on the Sex Offender’s Register for life.

Detective Constable Victoria Eronini, of the Child Protection Investigation Unit based in Ashton, said: “This is a good sentencing result for all involved. What this man put these young females through is absolutely horrendous.

“I would like to commend the bravery and strength of the victims coming forward to report the sexual assaults. We know this can’t have been easy and we are grateful for all of their assistance throughout the investigation.

“Without their help, a very dangerous man would still be preying on young females on the streets of Greater Manchester.”

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A BRADFORD man has been jailed for 17 years for sexual and violent offences.

Anthony Mawson, 38, was convicted by a jury in May of offences including rape, sexual assault by penetration and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court today on a video link to prison.

Mawson, who had been held on remand in HMP Leeds for many months, was guilty of serious and depraved conduct, the trial judge Recorder Gavin Doig said.

He had read the probation and psychological reports prepared following the trial.

Recorder Doig told Mawson he had shown ‘no hint of remorse, humility or understanding’ during his trial.

He had twisted the victim’s fingers and leg and punched them on the hip.

He was imprisoned for 13 years for the sexual offences with four years to run consecutively for the matters of violence.

Recorder Doig ordered him to sign on the sex offender register for life.

Mawson’s barrister, Ian Howard, said he had significant learning difficulties and had recently been found to be dyslexic and autistic.

While on remand he had addressed his drugs misuse and he was gaining qualifications to equip him to gain employment on his release.

Mr Howard said that Mawson had an aptitude for music and lyrics and had been put forward to feature on national prison radio. There was talk of moving him to London to better access those facilities.

He was taking steps to ensure he was fully rehabilitated on his release.

His disabled mother had been unable to visit him in prison because of the Covid pandemic.

Mr Howard said Mawson knew he was going to get a sentence of more than seven years so he would not be released at the halfway stage.

After the case, Detective Sergeant Matthew Harrison said: “We welcome the lengthy sentence handed down to Mawson today.

“He is a violent man.

“I would like to praise his victim’s bravery throughout the court process. I hope this sentence brings them some closure so that they can finally move on with their lives.”

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The offender offered children sweets and money while an order was in place to stop him having any unsupervised contact with a child.

A 90-year-old registered sex offender from Northampton has been jailed after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Bernard Alan Crathorne, previously of Grosvenor Gardens, Northampton, was expected to abide by a number of very strict conditions, one of them being not to have any unsupervised contact with a child under the age of 16.

However, on multiple occasions in August 2020, Crathorne spoke to numerous children offering them sweets and money.

As a result of these breaches, Crathorne was arrested and charged with four counts of breaching his sexual harm prevention order, one count of sexual assault on a female under 13, and one count of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He was remanded into custody and pleaded guilty to the offences. He was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court on Friday (October 14) to four years and six months in prison.

Lead Investigator – Detective Constable Angie Torley, said: “Bernard Crathorne is a dangerous and prolific sex offender and I am really pleased that we have managed to get him locked up and away from children.

“As part of his sentence, he was also given an extended licence of five years, meaning it won’t expire until just shy of his 100th birthday, thereby protecting children further.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the children in this case for their bravery in reporting this matter, alongside their families, and for their support throughout our investigation. Initially, Crathorne decided to plead not guilty, meaning they had to be cross-examined in court, something no child should have to be asked to do.

“Their bravery in coming forward and providing evidence has meant that Crathorne can no longer harm children in the community.

“Northamptonshire Police takes an absolute zero-tolerance approach to situations like this. If a breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order is identified, there are no second chances and just like Crathorne – offenders will be sent to prison.

“I hope this case demonstrates the force’s commitment to bringing sex offenders to justice and keeping the public of Northamptonshire safe,” DC Torley added.

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Connor Swindle, formerly of Wallsend, had only been released from prison two days earlier when he left the 18-year-old distressed.

A convicted rapist left a teenage hospital patient in tears by brazenly exposing himself to her in the waiting area of A&E.

Connor Swindle had been released from prison just two days before ending up at the RVI in a drunken state. Newcastle Crown Court heard that at one point the 18-year-old victim asked Swindle if she could borrow his phone to call her mother.

Despite the presence of others in the room, Swindle twice exposed himself to the distressed teenager. Now the pervert, who is assessed as posing a high risk of harm, has been jailed.

Glenn Gatland, prosecuting, said the offence happened when the pair ended up at the city centre hospital at the same time, around 6am one morning in July this year. He said: "After some time the defendant took his penis out from his trousers and began to move it around in a circular motion, swinging it and saying 'you know you like it''

"When challenged by the victim she asked him to put it away, which he did. Five minutes later he again exposed it, swung it around and (made a lewd comment).

"She began to cry and got up and went to the reception desk, where she reported what happened." Police were called and when they arrested him they found him to be in possession of a tube containing cocaine.

In a victim impact statement, the teenager said: "I attended the RVI hospital to seek treatment and became a victim of crime. I can't believe somebody would act or behave like this and it's so much worse because this is a hospital.

"I don't know if I will feel fully safe in a hospital after this. I will feel on edge in future."

The court heard Swindle was convicted of rape and sexual assault in relation to three girls when he was just 15. He also has convictions for breaching his sex offender registration, arson and attempted arson - for which he was released from a prison sentence just two days before the hospital offending.

Swindle, 22, of no fixed address, previously of Wallsend, pleaded guilty to exposure and possessing cocaine and was jailed for eight months, with an extended licence period of one year and four months. He must also sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

Kate Barnes, defending, said Swindle had been released from prison with no accommodation. He wasn't taking his anti-psychotic medication and started taking drink and drugs.

Miss Barnes said: "It was a woeful situation on his release from custody. He had no support at all." She added that he is sorry, says the offence was not sexually motivated and is addressing his mental health issues and feels safe in custody. The court heard Swindle "endured a great deal of trauma as a child".

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A Yeovil sex offender has been jailed for repeatedly breaching the terms of a court order banning him from contacting children. David Reynolds, 35, lied about his identity and background in order to befriend a family with children.

He became 'obsessed' with one child and would regularly visit and buy gifts. There was no evidence of inappropriate sexual behaviour but his actions put him in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order issued by the court following a conviction back in 2014.

Reynolds, of Goldcroft, admitted a series of breaches, including having his photo taken with other children at an animal centre, and has been jailed for three years and nine months at Taunton Crown Court.

Judge Paul Cook said the offences started a month or so after a suspended sentence imposed for a previous breach ended. He befriended a family, lied about his name and told them 'a fiction about your circumstances, background and prospects'.

He made regular visits to see the child and bought gifts. The judge said Reynolds had used his time in custody since his arrest to reflect on his behaviour.

"This was a very serious and persistent breach against a backdrop of you lying about your name and identity," he said. "It was predatory contact."

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A child sex offender who stabbed and seriously injured two police officers in a 'savage' and drunken attack after they found him drinking at wheel of car has been jailed for 20 years.

Jon Ross, 62, stabbed and slashed at PCs Darren Brimacombe and Timothy Willett after they responded to a disturbance at a home in Dartmoor.

Ross burst from his parked car launched a 'frenzied' attacked the officers with a knife after they found him in Princetown, Devon, in the early hours of July 9, 2021.

PC Brimacombe suffered a serious arm injury and cuts to his head and face while PC Willett sustained serious injuries to his arm and fingers.

Both officers needed hospital treatment and have undergone surgery as part of their recoveries. Neither officer has come back to frontline duties as a result of the incident, and both are looking for other roles within the force.

Ross of Burrator Avenue, admitted to two counts of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, with intent. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of affray and assault on a previous occasion.

He was sentenced to 12 years for these offences.

He had previously been found guilty of four historic sexual offences against a child in a trial that concluded in April, for which he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The total 20 year sentence will be served consecutively and was handed down by Judge Simon Carr at Truro Crown Court yesterday.

Ross must serve two-thirds of that before he will become eligible to be released on licence and will be on the Sex Offender's Register for life.

Judge Carr praised the victim of the sexual offences and said: 'Your victim gathered the courage to approach the police to report what had happened to her.'

Referring to the serious assault on the officers, he said: 'Frenzied is a term overused by the court but not in this case.

'Armed with a knife, you stabbed out repeatedly causing permanent injury to both. The psychological damage has been immense. You went on to attack two other officers.'

The court heard how police were called to reports of a disturbance at a property late on July 8, 2021.

Officers were told Ross had been drinking alcohol, had taken his car keys and left the address and that the caller was unsure of his state of mind.

PCs Brimacombe and Willett, who knew Ross from previous community work, searched the area and located his vehicle.

They found him in the driver's seat and drinking from a bottle.

Both officers calmly spoke to Ross despite him being verbally abusive and aggressive towards them.

Without warning, Ross swung at and narrowly missed PC Willett with a knife.

He then exploded out of the open car door and attacked PC Brimacombe, repeatedly stabbing him as they grappled on the ground.

The officer suffered lacerations to his scalp and face — nearly having the end of his nose cut off.

Ross stabbed PC Brimacombe in the arm, causing a significant arterial bleed.

PC Willett then struggled with Ross and pulled him off his injured colleague.

He was stabbed in his forearm and sustained finger injuries as he wrestled the blade from Ross's grasp.

PC Willett deployed his Taser to subdue Ross, allowing PC Brimacombe to apply handcuffs and detain him.

Both officers then activated emergency buttons on their radios to request immediate help.

PC Brimacombe's arm was bleeding so heavily, a police-issue tourniquet had to be applied to the wound.

Ross was later found to be twice over the legal limit of alcohol to drive a vehicle.

Devon and Cornwall Police released shocking images of the scene, with the blessing of PCs Brimacombe and Willett, to highlight the dangers faced by officers.

Detective Constable Craig Ferguson said after the sentencing hearing: 'We are pleased with the outcome in what has been a lengthy and detailed police investigation.

'Jon Ross employed an extreme and savage level of violence, with a bladed weapon, to severely injure the two police officers.

'The officers were on duty and in uniform when they attended to try and help him. They knew him personally from previous dealings where they had successfully helped him.

'The officers sought to speak with him and tried to help, but he responded by repeatedly stabbing them in a sustained attack.

'As a result, Jon Ross has been imprisoned for a lengthy period of time, meaning that a significant risk has now been removed from our local community.

'I have worked as a police officer for the past 18 years and can say that this assault is without doubt the worst incident of its kind that I have dealt with.

'The officers conducted themselves with the utmost professionalism, both before and after this terrible ordeal, and we have concluded that their approach and conduct throughout was of a very high standard.

'There was nothing that they could do to plan for or avoid the extreme level of violence that Jon Ross had in mind.'

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Parker added: 'I would like to praise the courage shown by the sexual assault victim.

'This is an important reminder that such reports will always be taken seriously by the police and justice will be sought and we would always encourage victims to come forward.'

He added: 'The assault on the officers reflects the dangers and challenges police face on a daily basis, despite this force area being one of the safest places to live in the country.

'They understand risk comes with the nature of policing but being assaulted on duty should never be condoned or seen as 'part of the job'.

'Devon and Cornwall Police will always seek to pursue and prosecute those who behave in this way.

'This incident could all too easily have resulted in a more tragic conclusion.

'I would like to take the opportunity to praise the bravery of PCs Brimacombe and Willett and acknowledge the actions taken by their colleagues and other emergency service workers who came to their aid, whose actions and professionalism under difficult circumstances played a huge part in preventing an even worse outcome.'

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A Lincolnshire man who was arrested in Portugal has been sentenced to three years in prison for child sex offences.

Alistair Riggott, 53, of Grosvenor Road, Skegness, was arrested by a Portuguese police team in a joint operation with Lincolnshire Police International Unit and the National Crime Agency. The arrest followed a warrant issued by Boston Magistrate's Court in October 2021 after Riggott failed to appear at court.

He was charged with numerous offences including attempting to cause a child to watch/look at an image of sexual activity, attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage a child in sexual communication and the making and possession of indecent images of children. A wanted man appeal was issued by police and an investigation revealed he may have fled the UK.

After discovering he may be in Portugal, Lincolnshire Police International Unit set up a fugitive investigation with local forces to track him down. Riggott was successfully apprehended and extradited back to the UK and admitted to the offences on Tuesday, August 9, at Lincoln Crown Court.

He will also have to adhere to the sex offender notification requirements, previously known as the sex offenders register. Speaking about Riggott's conviction, Detective Sgt Sam Ward said: “This is another dangerous offender facing a term in prison for what he has done.

"Ultimately, our work on this case means that the county is safer today and children are safeguarded as a result. Our Officers, colleagues in Portugal, and the NCA worked diligently to find Riggott and bring him back to the UK to face justice. It’s a powerful message that we will not give up the search for any suspect, wherever they may try to hide.”

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A convicted sex offender who pretended to be a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat has been sent back to prison. Kevin Hopson, of Abergwyngregyn, appeared before Caernarfon Crown Court after admitting breaching his sexual harm prevention order and making indecent photographs of children.

Hopson was previously jailed in July 2018 for three years after downloading and distributing indecent images of children. As part of his punishment, a judge ruled that the former Holyhead resident stay on the sex offenders register for life and his internet usage be monitored.

Prosecuting, Richard Edwards, told the court that the defendant found himself back in the dock having reverted to his old habits. He explained how the police became aware in June 2021 that a Snapchat account not known to them was connecting to Hopson's broadband account and was being used to share indecent images online.

The 46-year-old was discovered to have created the social media account under a false identity. He was found to be pretending to be a 14-year-old girl called Lexi, the court heard.

He was swiftly arrested but chose to answer no comment to the police's question when interviewed about the allegation. At this point, his mobile phone had been examined and just over a dozen still images of girls aged roughly 12 to 14 were recovered.

Mr Edwards said this was a "deliberate breach" of his court order. He would have been hiding this secret whilst completing a sex offenders course with the probation service.

The court heard that Hopson won't be helped by his previous convictions of a similar nature. These included him creating fake social media profiles where he both encouraged youngsters to send him indecent photos of themselves and then distributed those images by posing as a teenage girl himself.

Defending, Patrick Gartland, told the judge how there was no evidence that his client made any contact with children using the account. However, he said there was "limited mitigation" for the defendant's behaviour.

Judge Timothy Petts, jailing Hopson for two years and fours months, said he was "only superficially engaging" in the help being given to address his sex offending. He added that the "worrying" factor in this case was the fact the authorities will never know exactly what the account was used for as Hopson wiped data from the device.

He said: "You did risk causing very serious harm and distress as the only reason I can see why you would create a fake profile on Snapchat so you could offend in a way you have done previously. I bear in mind that you are not charged with that offence though."

The judge ordered that the mobile phone seized by the police be destroyed. He added that the lifelong sexual harm prevention order remains in force.

Speaking after sentencing, T/Detective Inspector Emma Gardner said: “I welcome today’s sentence, which underlines our commitment to ensuring that all perpetrators of sexual offences are relentlessly pursued and placed before the court. This sends a clear message that we as a force, and society in North Wales will not tolerate any acts of this nature, and we remain committed to making North Wales the safest place in the UK.”

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A loner paedophile who was found with horrific child abuse images as well as a video which lasted over an hour has been caged.

Marko Istvanic was found in possession of lengthy videos depicting the sexual abuse of children and had distributed six category A videos online. The material he had collected was so bad, a judge at Durham Crown Court described them as some of the worst he'd ever heard of.

Istvanic, of Eglesfield Road, South Shields, appeared at the court on Tuesday to be sentenced for the possession and distribution of indecent images. The 35-year-old had pleaded guilty to the offences at a previous hearing. 

Lewis Kerr, prosecuting, said police went to Istvanic's home on March 31, last year, and seized his computer and computer tower before carrying out examinations on them. He said: "The examinations recovered a number of images which had been downloaded over peer-to-peer software." A total of 15 category A images were found and three images in category B. Istvanic had also shared six category A videos, 16 times online.

The court was told the material Istvanic was found with involved male and female adults abusing children and images involving animals were also found. Mr Kerr said: "In interview the defendant gave an explanation saying he was not sexually interested in children but was addicted at looking at the images." Mr Kerr added that one category A video was an hour and three minutes long, with other videos lasting "some length". Istvanic had also deleted and re-downloaded images a number of times.

Neil Bennett, defending, said Istvanic is originally from Croatia and has no previous convictions. He said: "He is a man whose formative years were affected by social exclusion and an inability to form social relationships. He was bullied at school as he was born with a number of fingers missing from his left hand. That took a toll in his formative years and he has a lack of self-confidence. He formed an addiction to adult porn and that led to an unhealthy interest in him seeking out this material." Mr Bennett added Istvanic "expresses disgust and shame in himself" and that the offences were committed while he was working remotely during the covid pandemic, which "increased his social isolation".

Sentencing Istvanic, Judge James Adkin, called the images and videos he was found with "utterly repellent" and that they were "some of the worst descriptions I have ever seen". Istvanic was jailed for two years and was made subject of a 10 year sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offender's register for 10 years.

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Keith Bold was using Russian websites were users share photos of child sex abuse.

A "committed paedophile" engaged in vile online conversations about child rape and sent indecent images to an undercover police officer, a court has heard.

Keith Bold - who also uses the name Stuart Jones - met what he believed was a fellow paedophile on a Russian website where users upload and share images of child sex abuse. Bold was using the name Stefan Vilchek during the exchanges but the officer suspected it was in fact the defendant, a registered sex offender with a long history of online sexual offences involving children. Part of that offending saw the 59-year-old making numerous trips to Ukraine.

Megan Jones, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that in September this year Bold began communicating with another user of a Russia-based website, a website where people could share the "sexualised images of children". Bold, calling himself Stefan Vilchek, then began emailing his contact, and during their conversations he talked about how he had raped and abused children both in the UK and abroad. 

The defendant then sent the other man images of girls as young as four being sexually abused, and also discussed sharing information on an app with end-to-end encryption. Miss Jones said the man Bold was communicating with was actually an undercover police officer, and the officer suspected Vilchek was actually Swansea sex offender Bold.

Police executed a search warrant at the defendant's house on the evening of September 30, and when cautioned and told why he was being arrested replied: "Oh really". Officers seized a number of devices including laptops, memory sticks, a phone, and a computer hard drive. In his subsequent interview Bold said the online discussions about his sexual activity with children had been "fantasies" but he admitted he was sexually attracted to children aged between six and 10 and admitted using Mega because of its encryption facilities. Read about a paedophile who took photographs of himself sexually abusing a baby.

Keith Bold, formerly of Pen-y-Dre, Gowerton, but now of Griffith John Street, Waun Wen, Swansea, had previous pleaded guilty to distributing indecent images of children of Categories B and C and to breaching the terms of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) by using a false name online when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has three previous convictions for 29 offences, all relating to online child sex matters.

In December 2010 Jones was jailed for distributing indecent images of children, and the following year convicted of encouraging the commission of indictable offences - chatlogs recovered from computers seized during the 2010 investigation showed he had been inciting other men to commit the sexual abuse of young children. In 2017 Bold was sentenced to a total of 27-months in prison for offences including possession of indecent images of Categories A - showing the most extreme kinds of sexual abuse and rape - B and C. It also emerged he had visiting Russian websites known to host underage child pictures, had been searching for “flat-chested sex dolls”, had been reading pornographic fiction involving children, and had made repeated trips to Ukraine "in furtherance" of his interest in obtaining images of children.

Rhiannon Lee, for Bold, said the defendant's sexual attraction to young children stemmed from his own traumatic childhood experiences. She said the defendant suffered with depression and had previously been medicated for the condition but that medication had caused episodes of bipolar mania which caused him to go on spending sprees and which results in considerable debts. She said as Bold's debts increased his mental health deteriorated and he turned to the offending before the court "to make himself feel better".

Judge Paul Thomas KC described Bold as a "committed paedophile" who had breached the term of his sexual harm prevention order in a "sophisticated, calculated, brazen and persistent" way. He told the defendant that the children in the images he had shared were real youngsters somewhere in the world being "unspeakably abused" to give people like him sexual thrills.

With a one-third discount for his guilty pleas Bold was sentenced to a total of two years and eight months in prison. He will serve up to half that period in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.

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A former welder has been found guilty of sneaking into the home of a Peterhead mum and subjecting her to a terrifying hour-long sexual assault.

Two other women had also accused Smitras of sexual assaults in Peterhead town centre.

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Christopher Cook, of Throckley, broadcast the footage, which could have been viewed around the world.

A chef who live-streamed himself carrying out a sex act in the presence of a crying child has been jailed.

Christopher Cook videod himself doing the act and included the hashtags "young, no limits, not alone". Newcastle Crown Court heard the footage could have been viewed by other users of the website around the world.

Now shamed Cook, who has no previous convictions, has been jailed after admitting engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

The court heard it was broadcasted on a peer to peer website called Flingster, where other users are randomly selected to view what other people are streaming. The American-based website flagged Cook's illegal behaviour, banned him and alerted the authorities and the National Crime Agency became involved

Judge Edward Bindloss jailed Cook, 38, of Throckley, Newcastle, for two years and ordered him to register as a sex offender and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.

The judge said: "There was a substantial risk others around the world were viewing you masturbating in the presence of (the child). Others could have formed an image that could circulate among those who look to share images of sexual abuse. There's no evidence it happened but there was a risk it did.

"You deliberately put this on the internet, created the hashtags and made the live stream for others to watch.

"You are regarded by those who know you best as a good man, somebody who feels bitterly the shame and regret at what you have done. People who know you regard this as completely out of character."

Jane Foley, defending, said: "He has lost his good character and good name. He has spent four months in custody, a place he would not have expected to spend time.

"The shame he feels is deep. It's an event from which he might not fully recover but he wants to try to put things right.

"It's very difficult for him to articulate what was really going through his mind. He puts it down to a moment of absolute idiocy. He deeply regrets what he did.

"He is capable of doing some good in the community and he can get back to work and support his family. His former job remains open to him. He has suffered immensely and is ashamed and feels the pain suffered by his family."

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A Derby child sex offender has been jailed for downloading Twitter to his mobile phone. Derby Crown Court heard how David Lee failed to tell the police who were monitoring him he had even bought the phone as he was supposed to.

Then, when he did finally tell them, they discovered he had downloaded the social media app on to it. Both of these put him in breach of a suspended sentence order and a three-year community order, the latter of which was handed to him by the judge who has now sent him to prison.

Judge Shaun Smith KC said: "I gave you a chance back in 2020 and it looked like for a long time you were taking it. You have now committed two offences during that order. In November last year you got another chance (at the magistrates' court with the suspended sentence) and you breached that. You know what it is all about because you have previous convictions for offences like this.

"And once month after being given that (second) chance you were uploading things on a phone you were not supposed to have. You knew what you were doing because you have a history of offences such as indecent images."

Mark Knowles, prosecuting, said Lee, of Ashbourne Road, has previous jail sentences for making and downloading indecent images of children. He said in 2020, Judge Smith handed the 58-year-old the three-year community order for such offences.

He said that was breached when he failed to tell the police where he was living and the defendant found himself in front of the magistrates' court in October 2021 where he was handed a suspended sentence. But in November of last year, just a month later, Lee disclosed that he had the phone.

Mr Knowles said: "He was supposed to register it but he had not and when he was interviewed said he did not register it as he kept forgetting to do so. During the interview he admitted he had downloaded Twitter to the phone."

Lee pleaded guilty to breaching both the community order and the suspended sentence order and has previous convictions from 2014, 2017 and 2020.

Sarah Phelan, his barrister, said: "He has attended court with a bag knowing there is likely to be a long custodial sentence. He is a man who has particular mental health problems including being medicated for anxiety and depression."

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A sick teacher who groomed a teenage girl after sending a video of himself carrying out a sex act and asking her if he could whip her with his tie has been locked up.

David Amos was tasked with contacting the County Durham student during the early days of the Covid pandemic but instead used his time to engage in sexual conversations with the girl.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the sexualised talk between the pair started on Snapchat before moving onto other social media platforms.

Richard Bennett, prosecuting, said the 30-year-old coerced the teenager to send a photograph of her naked bottom after he had sent her a number of images of his penis.

He said Amos sent more than 700 messages to the teenager including ones where he offered to whip her with his tie and tried to persuade her to go to a wooded area so that he could photograph her.

Mr Bennett added: “The conversation turned sexual with the defendant asking her if she had done anything sexual with anyone else. It then progressed to the male defendant sending selfies with his penis out standing in front of the mirror.”

The court heard how the online conversation continued in a sexual manner over a number of weeks after it moved to Skype.

He said: “She sent him a picture of her bare bottom and he sent her a picture of him masturbating.”

Mr Bennett said there was a break in communication before Amos renewed contact in the August and the defendant asked her if she would do sexual things with him but she replied - ‘it would be weird because he was a teacher’.

He added: “There was grooming behaviour, to a degree, because this was a long conversation that has taken place over a number of weeks.”

Amos, of Lumley Road, Durham, pleaded guilty to causing a child to watch sexual activity and a charge of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

Amrit Jandoo, in mitigation, said his client had struggled during lockdown after his relationship collapsed but understood his behaviour would result in the end of his promising teaching career.

He added: “There are extensive messages during that period of time and not all of those messages were of that nature. There were messages where he tried to help the girl and he was carrying out his duties properly.”

Judge Chris Smith sentenced the former teacher to a total of 30 months in custody.

“Over the course of several months you engaged in sexualised conversation with her, that sexualised contact started quite quickly after you contacted her on Snapchat.

“In the course of that conversation, you sent her a video of you masturbating,” he said.

“I have read some of the messages, there is a degree of cajoling or pressurising her to engage in sexual activity within the context of what is a gross breach of trust.”

Amos was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life and was made subject to a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

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A court has heard how a 63-year-old man tricked women into speaking to him before he sexually assaulted them.

A man targeted seven lone women while they were out walking their dogs and heading to work in Edinburgh city centre.
 
Mirza Mohammad Saeed sexually assaulted the women - including a 15-year-old girl - by grabbing their hands and attempting to kiss them on the mouth. Saeed, 63, used the ruse of stopping his victims to ask them to take a picture of him on his phone before he made a grab for them and leaning in to kiss them.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told on Wednesday that Saeed attacked the seven victims as they walked their dogs at the city’s Harrison Park and as they headed to work along the Union Canal pathway. Saeed, of the Capital’s Fountainbridge area, appeared in the dock to plead guilty to seven sexual assaults and had not guilty pleas to eight further similar offences accepted by the Crown.

Fiscal depute James Clark told the court Saeed assaulted three female dog walkers at Harrison Park between 8am and 9.45am on December 31, 2020. The fiscal said all three women were approached by Saeed and asked to take a photograph of him before he then asked for a picture of both of them together.
All the women denied the request for a photo together and Saeed proceeded to kiss them on the hand and attempt to kiss them on the mouth. Mr Clark told the court the women were left feeling “uncomfortable”, “upset” and “vulnerable” during the attacks.

The court was also told Saeed targeted lone women as they made their way along the city’s Union Canal pathway between 3pm and 4.45pm on February 20 last year. The fiscal said Saeed carried out similar behaviour to get the women to stop and talk to him before he attempted to kiss them.

The court also heard of the assault on the 15 year old girl on the same date as she walked her dog in the Craiglockhart area.

Again Saeed approached the girl and asked her to take his picture before he leaned in and tried to kiss her on the mouth. The girl fought the attacker off by pushing him to the chest and shouting “no, no” at him. The girl later said the attack left her feeling “alone and scared”.
Solicitor Mark Hutchison said his client was a father-of-six, has been in the UK for three years and had been “lonely and suffering from stress at the time of the offending”.

Mr Hutchison told the court Saeed plans to travel to Pakistan next week to attend his daughter’s wedding and will return to Scotland in late November. Sheriff Adrian Fraser agreed to release Saeed on bail and deferred sentence for the preparation of social work reports and a restriction of liberty assessment to December. The sheriff also placed Saeed on the sex offenders register for a term still to be determined.
Saeed pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting seven women at Harrison Park and the Union Canal Pathway, both Edinburgh, on December 31, 2020 and February 20 last year.