Latest Offenders

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A sex attacker who plied a woman with alcohol then raped her when she was unconscious has been jailed.

Ian Howdon waited until the victim was heavily intoxicated before taking advantage of her. When she came round during the degrading attack, she was horrified at what he was doing.

Howdon, just 19 at the time, denied any wrongdoing but was convicted by a jury of two counts of rape. Now the 21-year-old, of Hendon Burn Avenue, Sunderland, has been jailed for eight years and three months by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.

Judge Robert Spragg told him: "You were plying her with alcohol that night, I'm satisfied you were trying to get her drunk. You fully intended to have sex with her that night.

"She became increasingly drunk, she describes herself as passed out drunk and a friend said she was nine out of ten drunk. You didn't care by this stage she was so drunk she couldn't possibly have consented.

"She had been sick and was essentially passed out when you raped her."

The court heard a camera outside the window of the room where the attack happened picked up an audio recording, which the judge said was "absolutely harrowing".

In addition, the court heard there was a recording of the 999 call made by the woman after she realised what was happening. Judge Spragg said: "The terror in her voice was awful to hear."

The court heard Howdon has never been in trouble before and handed in references, including one from a rugby club, about his ordinarily positive character. Gavin Doig, defending, said Howdon's behaviour in custody has been exemplary" and he has been praised by prison officials after he assisted another inmate during a medical emergency. Mr Doig added that Howdon is still young and was "immature" at the time he committed the offence.

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A HEATWAVE peeping tom has been jailed for spying on a 17-year-old girl as she slept on her bed naked at 6.30 in the morning.

The horrified teenager woke up to hear the sound of a camera phone snapping and saw a figure peering through a narrow gap in the blinds that covered her ground floor window.

She called her mother who shouted at prowler Kristoffer Roberts, pictured, causing him to flee. He was identified from doorbell video footage and his fingerprints were found on a beer bottle he dropped at the scene.

Roberts was already a registered sex offender, having previously been jailed in 2014 for using a phone to take 657 ‘upskirt’ pictures or videos of unsuspecting women.

He went on to attack his girlfriend so violently while high on drink and drugs that she was left traumatised and unable to carry on her training as a nurse.

Roberts, aged 29, previously of Drum Way, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, but now of Abelia Close, Paignton, admitted voyeurism, strangulation and battery.

He was jailed for a total of 22 months and put on the sex offenders’ register for a further seven years by Judge Peter Johnson at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him: ‘The victim of your voyeurism was a 17-year-old girl lying in her own bed asleep and naked because of the temperature. She became aware of someone standing by the window and of a clicking noise being made by a mobile phone taking photographs.’

Miss Felicity Payne, prosecuting, said the girl’s mother called police during a spell of very hot weather in August 2020 to report that a prowler had been taking pictures of her daughter through a small gap in the blinds.

He was identified through CCTV footage and arrested wearing the same baseball cap. He also dropped a beer bottle at the scene with his fingerprints on it.

Miss Payne said Roberts put his partner’s neck in an arm lock and strangled her three times with increasing force after she told him to leave her home in Torquay because he was drunk.

She was so badly affected by the ordeal and by his behaviour during their relationship that she failed nursing exams and is now appealing to be allowed to continue her degree.

Mr Martin Salloway, defending, said Roberts’s problems arose from his abuse of alcohol and drugs to mask the psychological effects of a violent and unhappy childhood. He is now addressing all these issues in custody and is truly sorry for the harm he has caused.

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A community centre cleaner, who raised thousands for charity, has been jailed for sexually abusing a child.

Peter Gibbons, from Exeter, worked at the Wonford Community and Learning Centre when the offences took place, Exeter Crown Court heard. Police arrested him when they found pictures of the naked child on his phone and drawers filled with children's pants.

Gibbons is well-known in the community for the annual Christmas lights switch-on and charity fundraising, Devon Live reports. Some members of the public who were in court for the sentencing had to be told to be quiet during the hearing on Friday (October 7).

The court heard that Gibbons has been at the centre of a "great deal of vitriol within the community" since pleading guilty. He admitted to six serious sexual offences against a child, including oral rape and making indecent images and was jailed for six years.

Exeter Crown Court was told Gibbins has a low IQ and "reduced cognitive functioning". Judge Peter Johnson said: "This was sexual abuse of a young boy by a man with significant intellectual difficulties."

Prosecutor Mr Peter Coombe said the abuse came to light earlier this year when the child revealed what had been happening. The defendant had frightened the child into silence by saying there would be trouble if anyone found out.

When police went to Gibbins' home they found him sobbing and saying sorry. In his drawers, they found sexual aids and bags of children's pants. Miss Virginia Cornwall, defending, said Gibbins was a man with limitations who would find it more difficult than most to be in prison. He lived with his mum and until this offending had not been in trouble before.

She suggested his behaviour did not amount to grooming but Judge Johnson disagreed and said grooming was a feature of the case. He added that the defendant's intellectual defects had to be taken into account when sentencing. Gibbins was also given credit for his guilty pleas.

He said the defendant was not dangerous within the legal meaning of the word but was an offender of particular concern and would have to serve a further 12 months on licence once he is released from jail. He must serve at least half of the six-year sentence before the parole board considers whether it is safe to free him.

Gibbins, formerly from Exeter but lately of Cockington Lane in Torquay, was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order to restrict his contact with children in the future and must sign the sex offenders register.

Description

 AN on-the-run child sex offender whose disappearance from Cumbria prompted an appeal on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme has appeared before a Carlisle court.

Paul Hunter Redpath, 51, admitted three offences when he appeared via a video link before the city’s Rickergate court.

The court heard that the defendant, whose past offences include convictions for sexually abusing two teenage girls, put himself in breach of sexual harm prevention order by leaving Cumbria without the permission of his offender manager.

He admitted that offence as well as two allegations of failing to complete his annual Sex Offender Notification form for the police.

When he went missing, police issued an urgent appeal, stating that Redpath was last seen in the Kendal area but also had links with west Cumbria, Preston and Scotland.

He was described as being 6ft 4ins tall and having a distinctive grey beard.

George Shelley, prosecuting, said: “Essentially, since a date in 2019, Mr Redpath has been at large in respect of his monitoring and management of his risk in the community.

“It’s a persistent breach which had gone on for two years plus.” 

 The starting sentence point for the offences admitted by Redpath was one year’s custody, said the prosecutor, who asked for the case to be sent to Carlisle Crown Court given the more limited sentencing powers available to the magistrates.

Magistrates agreed with the prosecution assessment and sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court for a hearing on November 4. The court heard that the defendant had been recalled to custody and had been due for release from prison on October 11.

His criminal record comprises 63 past offences, with the last conviction being a breach of his sexual harm prevention order in 2018.

Defence lawyer Anthony Wilson said the defendant took a 'practical view' of his situation, and did not wish to apply for bail before he is sentenced.

In September 2018, Redpath was featured on BBC Crimewatch, named as one of seven men who were wanted by Cumbria Police.

Over his video link from Lewes Prison in East Sussex, the defendant said he wanted to return to Carlisle to be sentenced in person because of his situation in that at jail, saying: “I’m banged up 23 hours a day.”

Originally from Stranraer, Redpath has previously gone missing, prompting earlier appeals for information about his whereabouts. In 2009, The Belfast Telegraph described him as a 'dangerous sex offender'.

He had fled from a probation hostel, triggering a manhunt.

Redpath was jailed in 2006 for three years after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing teenage girls, aged 13 and 15, at waste ground on the Killough Road in Downpatrick.

The Telegraph’s report stated: “Police have not said how long Redpath, who is known to abuse alcohol and is considered to pose a serious risk to vulnerable children and young people, has been missing.

"They said numerous attempts have been made to locate him and have warned the public not to approach him.” 

Description

A serving soldier’s career is over after he took part in sexual communication online with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.

Steven Lancaster’s downfall was making contact with what, in reality, was a non-existent girl, ‘Megan’, via the Kik app, in October 2020.

Durham Crown Court was told the profile of ‘Megan’ was posted on the site Young Girls and Older Men by a member of the online child protection group Innocent Voices.

Christopher Bevan, prosecuting, said it was made clear to Lancaster, who was 34 at the time, that ‘Megan’ was purporting to be aged 14. 

 Mr Bevan said over a period of more than a month, it was, “prolonged and consistent communication”, where the subject matter was, “of a nature inappropriate for a person who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl.”

The defendant sent her pictures of naked women and of a couple having “graphic” sexual relations.

Innocent Voices reported his conduct to police and when he was arrested officers seized his phone, on which they found indecent videos of children in the ten to 14-year bracket, two each in the most serious categories, A and B, and one in C, along with an indecent image of a child, also in the C bracket.

Mr Bevan said the videos were of between 30 seconds and one minute 59 seconds in duration.

Lancaster was interviewed and fully admitted the offending, but he denied having any sexual interest in children or that he gained any sexual gratification from the images.

The defendant, now 36 and of previous good character, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, plus three counts of making (possessing) indecent images of children.

Amrit Jandoo, representing the defendant, pointed out that it was, “an attempt” as the child he believed he was communicating with did not exist.

Mr Jandoo conceded the images found on Lancaster’s phone were “abhorrent”

He said the background was the deep depression Lancaster suffered due to injuries suffered as a serving soldier.

“Despite him serving his country well, as seen by the references before the court, his career is at an end because of the offending behaviour.

“It’s very disappointing for him.

“His motivation is to recognise these are serious offences and probation can work with him.” 

 Judge James Adkin told Mr Jandoo: “He thought he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl.”

Mr Jandoo replied: “A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) may assist with him behaving in that way.”

Judge Adkin said given that the risk thought to be posed to the public by Lancaster was “moderate”, and given the, “strong character references I have read, plus his medical problems and depression”, he could suspend the eight-month prison sentence for two years.

But the defendant, of Warner Avenue, St Helen Auckland, must complete 50-hours’ unpaid work, attend 30 probation-led rehabilitation activity days and a sex offenders’ group work programme.

He was also made subject of notification as a sex offender and a SHPO, both for ten years. 

Description

A paedophile subjected a young boy to years of sickening sexual abuse. The victim suffered in silence for more than two decades until he heard that his abuser had been convicted of online child sex offences, and he decided to go to the police to report what had happened to him as a youngster.

Gary Fisher has now been handed a 20-year extended sentence as a dangerous offender for the abuse his carried out on his young victim in the 1990s, abuse which the victim said had stolen his innocence.

Matthew Cobbe, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that Fisher carried out a campaign of sexual offending on his victim which began when the boy was aged under 10, and which continued for years. The offending included the attempted rape of the child. The court heard the boy would cry and say "no" while being abused but the defendant continued anyway, often placing a piece of material over the child's head during the attacks.

The prosecutor said the offending went unreported until earlier this year when the victim learned that Fisher had been convicted of attempted sexual communication with a child, an offence which had seen the 62-year-old asking what he believed to be a 12-year-old boy he met online for pictures of his penis. The boy was actually a decoy account being run by the the police. The court heard Fisher has already been given a suspended sentence for the communication offence.

In an impact statement, which was read to court, the victim said the years of abuse had destroyed his life. He said he had lived with the secret of what had happened for 20 years, shutting out the world around him and battling to keep the demons at bay. He said he had not sought counselling because he did not want to relive the memories of the abuse, and he said it was impossible to know what kind of person he would have been had the defendant not done what he did to him.

Gary Fisher, whose address in court was given as the Twelve Knights pub and hotel in Margam, Port Talbot, had previously pleaded guilty to 11 counts of indecent assault of a child, attempted buggery of a child and attempted rape of a child when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. Stewart John, for Fisher, said the defendant had indicated his willingness to seek help while serving the inevitable lengthy custodial sentence he was facing.

Judge Geraint Walters told Fisher that effects of abuse on the scale he subjected his victim to lasted a lifetime, and said his victim "Will take those memories with him to his last breath". The judge said he could not better the three words the victim had used in his statement to the court of "stole my innocence" to describe what happened.

The judge said as a matter of law he could not exceed the maximum sentence which would have been applicable for the offences at the time they were committed, even if the modern equivalent of those offences carried a greater maximum. He said the conviction from earlier this year showed that more than 20 years after the sexual abuse of his victim, Fisher was still seeking to engage with children in sexual way - he said in those circumstances he could come to no other conclusion than that the defendant posed a risk of causing serious harm by the commission of further specified offending.

With a one-quarter discount for his guilty pleas, Fisher was sentenced to a 20-year extended sentence as a dangerous offender comprising 15 years in custody following by an extended five-year licence period. The defendant can apply for release after serving two-thirds of the custodial element of the sentence but it will be up to the Parole Board to determine if he is safe to be released.

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Jason Sweeney, 25 of Chelmsford Avenue, Southend has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison, after demonstrating multiple instances of predatory behaviour and repeatedly breaching a court order placed on him that was secured by Essex Police MOSOVO (Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders).

Sweeney first came to the attention of Essex Police in 2020, when he had caused concerns around his behaviour towards children and vulnerable adults. Essex Police had issued Sweeney with a Child Abduction Notice, an early intervention tool to prevent predatory behaviour from an adult.

Officers had also secured a Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Sweeney and following a routine check on 28 August 2020, he was arrested on suspicion of six counts of breaching this as well as two counts of not complying with his sexual offender notification requirements, which had also been imposed on him. Following his arrest, investigating officers identified evidence of sexual offences which had been committed against children by Sweeney.

He was charged with eight offences relating to the breaches whilst MOSOVO continued to investigate the further offences including engaging in sexual communication with a child and meeting a girl under 16-years following grooming.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for the breaches. Just two weeks after being released from prison on license in February 2021, Sweeney continued to demonstrate dangerous and predatory behaviour. Essex Police’s MOSOVO conducted a risk assessment and found that Sweeney had come out of prison, and almost immediately began to groom a young female victim. He was arrested again and charged with breaching his sexual harm prevention order. Sweeney was recalled to prison where served the rest of his original sentence and then remained in custody on remand. 

Last Friday (30 September 2022), Sweeney appeared at Basildon Crown Court and was sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment. Sweeney has been subjected to a Sexual Offender Notification for life and issued with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Description

A sex predator who molested and raped an underage teenage girl after her school friend had been in contact with him through a website was jailed on Thursday, September 1.

James McAllister left his victim in pain after an initial encounter when she said he knew she was 13 years old but then later subjected her to a rape at a flat in Edinburgh.

One attack happened at a flat in Gilmerton.

A sex predator who molested and raped an underage teenage girl after her school friend had been in contact with him through a website was jailed on Thursday, September 1.

James McAllister left his victim in pain after an initial encounter when she said he knew she was 13 years old but then later subjected her to a rape at a flat in Edinburgh.

The woman, now aged 33, told the High Court in Edinburgh that if someone was looking her at the time of the offences they would have seen "a child".

She said that the abuse inflicted on her by the older man had left her crying, shaking, upset and feeling dirty.

McAllister, 44, of Newtoft Street, in Edinburgh had denied subjecting her to indecent conduct at a car park in Newtongrange, in Midlothian, between August 22 in 2002 and August 21 in 2004.

He also denied assaulting and raping her at a flat in the Gilmerton area of Edinburgh between the same dates. He was found guilty of both offences.

The woman said that in early years at high school her friend had accessed a website which she described as being like the dating website Plenty of Fish. She told her she had been speaking to a man called James.

She said a meeting had been arranged for her and her friend with the man and her friend had indicated they were both 18.

"She had asked if I would go along with her to meet James in Dalkeith," she said.

She said they dressed and put make-up on to try to look older, but added the attempt failed. She said they hid in bushes at the library in the Midlothian town and waited for James to arrive in his car.

The woman said she told her friend they would need to disclose that they were not 18 because they did not look old enough to be that age.

She said her friend contacted McAllister and told him they were really 13. She said: "The reply was 'it's fine come over to the car'."

She said McAllister drove off with them in the car. She told the court: "I thought we were going in the car just to drive about."

The woman said they were driven to an area with no other cars about and her friend left the vehicle. She said: "There was a discussion about who was getting picked to stay in the car."

She said she was petrified and added: "I didn't think my friend was going to be leaving me in the car with someone I didn't know."

She said McAllister started kissing and put his tongue in her mouth. She said it was "disgusting" and "tasted like cigarettes".

McAllister began touching her and got her to touch him and carried out a sex act, leaving her feeling sore. She said he asked her to carry out a sex act on him but she did not known what she was doing.

Advocate depute Stewart Ronnie asked the woman: "As far as you were concerned he knew you were 13?". She replied: "Yes."

Her friend returned and they were driven back to the library and left there while McAllister drove off.

She said that after McAllister had contacted her again and told her he liked her and that she was pretty. He said he would buy her drink and let her watch TV music channels. He also bought her top ups for her phone.

"I was young.. I was offered alcohol. I didn't have stuff like music videos at home, " she said. She and her friend met him again by the library and were driven to an address in the Gilmerton area.

She said McAllister gave her Bacardi breezers before he asked her to follow him to a bedroom and told her to take her clothes off.

She said he stripped off and performed a sex act on her but his beard left her with "a burning sensation". She said he began raping her but she said it was sore and asked him to stop.

The woman said: "He said it was fine, that was what was meant to happen. It was meant to be sore. At that point he kept pushing it in."

She said she eventually managed to get up from the bed and picked up her clothes, but was in "searing pain".

Afterwards she got back in the car with her friend but when they reached the Eskbank roundabout, which was the first place she recognised, she asked him to stop. They got out of the car but she burst out crying uncontrollably.

She said she and her friend later printed off some pictures of her attacker and stuck them up in Dalkeith calling him a paedophile. She gave a statement to police in 2018.

After McAllister was found guilty of the sex offences the trial judge, Lord Weir, told him he been convicted of serious charges.

The court heard that although McAllister has previous convictions he has never served a jail sentence.

The judge adjourned the case for the preparation of a background report and McAllister, who was on bail during his trial was remanded in custody.

He was placed on the sex offender's register 

Description

A MAN has been jailed after he was caught pleasuring himself in front of passengers and children on a station platform.

Man jailed for pleasuring himself in front of passengers on station platfor

Oliver Shoesmith jailed for pleasuring himself at Portchester station

A MAN has been jailed after he was caught pleasuring himself in front of passengers and children on a station platform.

Oliver Shoesmith got off a train at Portchester station and started approaching women waiting on the platform.

The 40-year-old helped a woman carry a pushchair up the station steps while he carried a bag across the front of his body, covering his groin area.

A member of staff spotted Shoesmith unzipping his trousers and pleasuring himself while the woman with the pushchair stood with her young child on the opposite platform.

The incident on August 17 was reported to British Transport Police, and control room operators assisted officers on the ground to quickly locate and arrest Shoesmith at the station.

He was also found to be in possession of a small amount of cannabis.

Appearing at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on August 18, Shoesmith admitted one charge of outraging public decency and one count of possessing a Class B substance.

Shoesmith, of High Street, Aldershot, was sentenced to two years in jail and handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) at Portsmouth Crown Court.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

BTP Detective Constable Phil James, said: Shoesmiths actions prove that he is a threat to women and girls, and Im pleased to see him swiftly put behind bars after this repulsive incident.

I hope his sentence serves as a clear reminder that there is absolutely no place for this behaviour on the railway and we are committed to stamping it out and bringing offenders to justice.

If you experience or witness a sexual offence on the network, I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency always dial 999.

Nothing is too small or trivial to report and we will always take you seriously.

Description

A ‘sexual predator’ has today been sent to jail with life in prison (Thursday 6 October 2022) for raping two teenage girls.

Faizan Dogar (22/01/2003) of Bolton Road, Bury, pleaded guilty to 12 offences, including five counts of rape, and was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court.

He also previously pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual communication with a child, three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of possession of indecent images.

Detective Constable Nathan Lilley, of Bury CID, said: “Dogar is a calculating sexual predator who has subjected two young girls to horrific attacks.

“He is a fantasist with an unhealthy interest in the abuse of woman and young girls.

“Both victims continue to be supported by specialist GMP officers and showed extreme bravery in providing evidence against Dogar.

“He is a dangerous individual and it’s a relief that he is off the streets and behind bars.”

Dogar contacted his first victim via Facebook and Snapchat in August 2021, and they agreed to meet.

Later that evening, the victim told Dogar she needed to go home but he became aggressive and put her in a headlock while also fondling her.

Dogar threatened to choke the girl until she was unconscious if she didn’t do what he said, and then raped her.

Officers later identified Dogar on CCTV with the victim and found clothes he was wearing at his house when he was arrested.

Officers seized his mobile phone containing indecent images during a search of his house and evidence linking him to the victim.

In May 2022, Dogar approached his second victim via Snapchat and, after discussing gaming, they agreed to meet, and he raped her.

Officers linked a mobile phone number used to contact the victim to Dogar and arrested him, later charging him with the 12 offences following the investigation by detectives from GMP’s Bury and Salford districts.

Description

A postgraduate student who raped and assaulted a woman has been jailed for nine years.

Dayan Garcia, 31, of Mariners Court, Plymouth, was jailed at Exeter Crown Court for two counts of rape and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The jury heard how the victim "feared for her life" during the attack in the early hours in April.

Garcia also taught at the University of Plymouth, the court heard.

He was a PhD student at the university's department of architecture and built environment.

The jury heard how the victim had been out with friends when she found herself separated from them.

The victim then met Garcia at some point in the night at Mambo nightclub and agreed to go back to his address at around 02:00 BST.

'Significantly traumatising offences'

Once back at the house, Garcia struck the victim twice to the head after she refused his advances towards her, causing facial injuries. Garcia then proceeded to rape her.

The victim managed to flee with the offender's phone, and get to safety.

The bravery of the victim was recognised in court for both coming forward to report the "significantly traumatising offences" and for providing detailed accounts of what happened.

Garcia was jailed for nine years by Recorder Mr Richard Stead, who put him on the sex offenders register for life and told him any future work would be vetted by the Declaration and Barring Service.

The judge said: "You were a young man with a life full of promise ahead of you before you threw it all away by your violent conduct that night."

Mr Lee Bremridge, defending, said Garcia's brilliant academic career prospects had been destroyed by his behaviour over just three and a half hours.

Description

A MAN has been jailed for more than seven years for the repeated sexual abuse of a young girl over many months.

Detectives have praised the victim and her family for their “bravery”, which led to Jamie Hollingsworth being put behind bars.

Hollingsworth, aged 37, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday, October 4, after being found guilty at an earlier trial of causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The defendant, of Turbary Park Avenue, Bournemouth, was sentenced to seven years and nine months in prison, as well as being made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for an indefinite period and was also placed on the sex offender’s register for life.

The charges related to the repeated abuse of a young girl over a nine-month period. 

Hollingsworth was arrested on Thursday, February 11, after the victim made disclosures to her family and they reported the matter to police. 

 Detective Constable Jo Shewbridge, of Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT), said: “I want to praise the young victim in this case and her family for having the courage to come forward and for the support they have given throughout the investigation and court process.

“Through their bravery, Jamie Hollingsworth has been forced to face the consequences of his abusive behaviour.

"I hope this might inspire others who have been the victims of sexual offences to come forward in the knowledge that they will be supported and we will do all we can to bring offenders to justice.” 

Description

Jordan Leigh Courtney was previously found guilty of making and distributing indecent images in 2016.

A Yorkshire sex offender has been jailed for the possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

Jordan Leigh Courtney, from Skipton, was sentenced to four years in prison with an extended licence of two years at York Crown Court. He also breached a sexual harm prevention order, and has now been made subject to an indefinite one.

Courtney, 25, was found guilty in 2016 of making and distributing indecent images of children. He was stopped from possessing any device that accessed the internet after that.

After that Courtney had to register weekly at a police station so the police could monitor his whereabouts. When he attended an offender management meeting in April 2022, it was found Courtney had deleted data from his phone.

The phone was seized and analysed by North Yorkshire Police - they found many indecent images of children. Some of these were classed as extreme category A images.

Because he breached his sexual harm prevention order, Courtney was sent back to prison in June 2022.

Police searched Courtney's former address on Cawder Road and another undeclared phone he had while he was in prison. Video footage and more disturbing category A images were found and as soon as Courtney was released from prison he was arrested again.

He pleaded guilty to four charges of breaching his sexual harm prevention order, six charges of making indecent images of children, four charges of possessing prohibited and extreme images and two charges of distributing category A images.

Detective Constable Tom Sutcliffe from the force’s Online Abuse and Exploitation said: “Courtney showed utter disregard for the restrictions placed upon him by being in possession of these images. He has repeated ignored the courts and has gone on to amass and share the most disturbing content. Those who obtain and distribute child abuse material directly contribute to the sexual exploitation of children, because the children involved are continually re-victimised every time the images are viewed.

“Thanks to the expertise of North Yorkshire Police’s Digital Forensic Unit and the dedication of the investigating officers, Courtney could not deny the charges put against him, and the evidence they uncovered has put him where he deserves to be - behind bars.

“This sentence should send a clear message that we can and will track down anyone involved in downloading or distributing indecent images of children and will use our expertise to uncover the digital evidence that will lead to a conviction.

“We are currently working with agencies around the world to attempt to identify and safeguard the children in the images that Courtney had gathered and shared.”

Description

A paedophile has been jailed for a string of vile acts of sex abuse against animals and children after police discovered video footage of him abusing his dog.

Douglas Moore, 34, was convicted of 24 counts of multiple sex offences, including having intercourse with an animal, at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court last Wednesday after Met Police found 'sickening video' of him physically and sexually abusing a dog.

Analysis of his electronic devices revealed Moore also tried to set up meetings to abuse dogs and children and searched for opportunities to swap and share material with other abusers. There was no evidence the attempted meetings came to fruition.

He was also found with cannabis and to be writing obscene articles online.

Moore is now banned from owning animals and will be on the sex offenders register for life.

While investigating another offence last year, Met police discovered footage of a dog being subjected to physical and sexual abuse. 

The video was so distressing that senior officers had to be called in and a warrant was sought to rescue the animal, as well as arrest the offender.

Moore, of Manchester, was taken into custody at his Stockport home on November 8 2021, on suspicion of bestiality, possession of extreme pornography and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

The dog was dicovered at the property and removed. Officers also seized cannabis from the scene and a number of devices, including his mobile phone and computer.

By analysing his phone and computer, specialists revealed Moore had been committing abhorrent sex acts on the dog for a long period of time and used the dark web to view even more extreme content of animals and humans.

Moore had also gone to great lengths to erase chat logs and website histories to conceal his gross offending.

The evidence against Moore was so extensive he had no option but to plead guilty, officials allege.

The paedophile was convicted for intercourse with an animal, causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, and oral sex with a dead or alive animal.

He was further convicted for possession of an extreme pornographic image or images portraying an act of intercourse, and intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an offence of intercourse with an animal.

He was also convicted of child sex offences including making indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and attempting to arrange the commission of child sex offences.

Lastly, he was convicted for possession of a controlled Class B drug - cannabis or cannabis resin - and publishing an obscene online article.

PC Pete Howes, from the Online Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation Command, said: 'Upon discovery of the original video we took immediate and decisive action to identify Moore and save the dog.

'I am happy to say the dog is now safe and well and being cared for.

'The scale of evidence compiled meant Moore was left with no option but to plead guilty. I'm pleased he is now in jail where he belongs.

'It is no exaggeration to say that this investigation may well have spared more animals, and humans, from coming to incredibly serious harm.'

Description

A drunken and aggressive sex pest forced himself on a shocked 17-year-old girl and made "unwanted sexual advances" to her - including leaving a blood-stained palm print on her T-shirt after he smashed a bottle of wine.

Heavy drinker Ashley Wilcock turned nasty when the girl asked him to stop what he was doing and he kissed her and intimately touched her during a frightening and "unsavoury" confrontation lasting 30 to 45 minutes. He seemed to have a "problem with women" and broke the wrist of a woman after becoming involved in a later fight between two women, Hull Crown Court heard.

Wilcock, 25, from Goole, admitted sexually assaulting the girl on June 13, 2018. A charge of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence was dropped.

Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said that Wilcock sent a text message to the girl saying that he would be passing her home in Goole and asking her if she wanted to share a cigarette with him. He had been drinking and he went into her home. He was "coming on" to her and she asked him to leave but he became argumentative and challenged her.

In his aggressive state, Wilcock smashed a bottle of wine and cut his hand after picking up pieces of broken glass. He tried to kiss the girl on her neck, leaving a mark, and touched the top of her thighs and her chest over her clothes, leaving a blood-stained hand print on her T-shirt.

The incident lasted 30 to 45 minutes. "She kept asking the defendant to leave and that he should stop making advances towards her," said Mr Evans.

"The defendant would follow her, refusing to leave the property and coming back in. She attempted to use her mobile phone to contact the police. The defendant took it from her and threw it on a nearby chair.

"The defendant eventually left by climbing over a rear garden and leaving the property. This was clearly a prolonged and sustained incident." Wilcock went to the girl's workplace the next day and apologised.

Wilcock has, since the incident, been convicted of assaulting a policeman, causing criminal damage to a girlfriend's light and, in November 2019, a violence offence involving breaking the wrist of a woman after getting involved in a fight involving two women.

Nick Peacock, mitigating, said: "It was an unsavoury incident, no doubt about it, very unsavoury. He fully accepts it. This all happened four years ago now.

"It happened at a time when this young man clearly had a problem with alcohol, although he appears to be dealing with it now. Alcohol was the problem and, if he can deal with that, there will be no issues.

"He has cut down greatly. He barely drinks and he barely goes out." Wilcock's girlfriend was due to have a baby shortly and he had been working for two years.

Judge Mark Bury told Wilcock: "You made unwanted sexual advances to her. You were not just making advances, you were aggressive and you were drunk. She tried for three-quarters of an hour to avoid you by going out into the garden.

"In your favour, you did try to apologise the next day when you had sobered up." The incident and some of Wilcock's later convictions seemed to show that he "may have a problem with women".

Wilcock, recently of Margaret Road, Fairfield, Barnsley, was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, a sex offender programme, 55 days' rehabilitation and an alcohol abstinence requirement. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.