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A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a man convicted and given a custodial sentence in his absence this week for sexually assaulting an underage girl. Craig Elliott, 32, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assaulting a girl under 13 by touching on the third day of his trial at Durham Crown Court. The trial began on Monday afternoon as the court as given no good reason for the absence of the defendant, among suggestions that he may be in Ireland. Both offences are said to have taken place in early October last year and Elliott, formerly of West Crescent, Easington Colliery, but living while on remand at an address in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, in Scotland, denied them both at a plea hearing at the court, on November 2. The case was adjourned for trial this week, although there have been further mentions, a ground rules hearing and the pre-recording of cross-examination of the victim, in the meantime. Following the jurys guilty verdicts, Judge James Adkin imposed a 40-month prison sentence on Elliott and said the defendant should be subject of registration as a sex offender, indefinitely. The Crown will also seek the imposition of further restrictions by way of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, as well as a restraining order, for the protection of his victim, as and when the defendant is arrested and brought before the court. In the meantime, Judge Adkin issued a bench warrant not backed by bail for the arrest of Elliott.

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A SEX offender was caught messaging a 'child' in an undercover police sting. Ashley Mark Yard, 38, thought he was messaging a 13-year-old girl called Holly. He sent a picture of himself and made various sexual references between April 6 and April 8 last year. Yard, of Cocklands, Charminster, was in fact communicating with a police officer who was pretending to be the teenage girl. Judge Stephen Climie said it was "good fortune rather than design" that no actual child suffered harm as a result of Yard's "serious" offending. Yard previously pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. He appeared in the dock for sentencing on Tuesday, May 10. Prosecuting, Hannah Williams said the defendant started messaging the 'girl' online. The undercover officer wrote in messages that Holly was 13 years old and from Derby. Ms Williams said the conversation continued with Yard writing that "he wants a long-term relationship" and asking her about what she was wearing. The communication moved to WhatsApp, where the defendant made references to sexual behaviour and whether the girl would like it. Officers attended an address in Poole where he was staying at the time in June last year. He identified himself and he was arrested. In interview, Yard made full admissions and expressed his remorse, Ms Williams said. The court heard the defendant was jailed for 18 months in 2010 for a series of convictions relating to making and distributing indecent images of children in 2007 and 2008. Mitigating, Amber Athill said her client "appreciates the seriousness of the offence", adding that he was "extremely anxious" ahead of the sentencing hearing. She described the offence as a "momentary slip up when he was using cocaine heavily". Ms Athill said the drug use made him act "impulsively" and he "forgot all he had learned and all he had achieved in those 14 years" since his previous criminality. The defendant was "disgusted and ashamed" after reading the conversation he had with the 'girl'. The court heard the offence carried a maximum sentence of two years. Judge Climie said the appropriate starting point was 15 months imprisonment before reducing this by a third to 10 months due to his guilty plea at an early stage. He decided against sending the defendant to prison. He said he would have only served a short time behind bars and then not be under supervision. "The public would be concerned for the future as am I," said Judge Climie. After hearing of the defendant's compliance with the previous 10-year sexual harm prevention order, Yard was made subject to a new indefinite order, which will likely run for the rest of his life. The judge sentenced Yard to a three-year community order, which would keep the offender under the "court and probation service's control for the next three years". He was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

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A MAN from Alderley Edge described as 'a dangerous predator' has been found guilty of rape following a trial at Chester Crown Court.

Daniel Exley, of Beech Close, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years by Recorder Simon Killeen on Friday, May 6.

The 37-year-old had been found guilty of two counts the previous day.

He had taken advantage of a 26-year-old woman who, at the time of the offences, was described as being in a state of vulnerability.

However, rather than admit to his crimes, Exley denied assaulting the woman and raping her.

The victim has been praised by the police officer who led the investigation for her courage in providing evidence that led to Exley's downfall.

As well as being handed a 90-month prison sentence, Exley must also sign the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

The horrific incidents happened between June 26 and 29, 2020.

The court also imposed an indefinite restraining order, barring Exley from contacting the woman in any way whatsoever.

Detective constable Catherine Hudson, who led the investigation, said: "Exley is a dangerous predator who took advantage of the woman at a time of vulnerability.

"The fact that he made his victim endure a trial and recount what he did to her was extremely distressing, but thanks to the bravery and courage that she has shown, Exley is now behind bars.

"The sentence handed to him reflects the severity of his crimes and I hope that this conviction sends a clear message that Cheshire Police takes all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and will do all that we can to bring offenders to justice."

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Gavin Sloan has been sentenced to 21 years for a string of sexual offences, including the rape of a child.

Sloan formerly of Briar Close in Minsterley near Shrewsbury pleaded guilty to more than 30 offences last month including the rape of a child, possessing indecent images of children and sexual assaults against children.

The 46-year-old was sentenced yesterday (Thursday 12 May) alongside Louise Smith and Jenna Ball who assisted Sloan and were given an 11 year sentence and two year suspended sentence respectively.

Sloan was arrested in May 2021 after officers from West Mercia Police carried out a warrant at his home address. The warrant was granted as it was believed he may have been in possession of indecent images of children.

Following searches of his home, officers discovered numerous videos containing indecent images of children, including a video of Sloan himself sexually assaulting a young child.

The images found were taken between 2013 and 2021.

The discovery of these images then led officers to arrest and later charge Smith aged 42 and Ball aged 37 in connection.

Smith, formally of Cheshire, was charged with 12 counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child and causing a child to commit a sexual act.

Ball, of Sutton Road, Kidderminster was charged with three counts of arranging child sex offences, causing a child to commit a sexual act and possession of indecent images.

All three were previously found guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Detective Inspector Jo Delahay said: “This investigation has been one of the most harrowing for all involved and we welcome the sentence that has been handed to Sloan. We also welcome the sentences handed to Ball and Smith for their part in assisting Sloan.

“He is a highly dangerous individual who preyed on young and vulnerable victims, and it is incomprehensible that he would commit such crimes against children and young people. Our thoughts remain with the victims and those close to them.”

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A former Gogglebox star has been jailed for a sex attack on a teenage boy. Andrew Bennett took selfies with his victim, then cornered him on a sofa, gave him a love bite and tried to lure him to a bedroom for sex, Newcastle Crown Court was told. He has now admitted one charge of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two charges of sexual activity with a child. The 47-year-old, of Gleneagles Road, Sunderland, was jailed for 29 months. Judge Tim Gittins also ordered him to sign the sex offenders register and abide by a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. Prosecutor Glenn Gatland said Bennett, who had been drinking, told the teenager he was gay and asked if his victim was, and he replied he was not. Mr Gatland said: "The defendant started to put his hands down his pants again then told him to turn away from him and started kissing him on the back of his neck and gave him a love bite." 'Slimming drugs' The teenager then reminded him he was a child and Bennett told him: "Stop, you are making me feel bad." He continued to pursue him, before the teenager left the house "in tears". The victim said in a statement that he had suffered "flashbacks". He said: "I looked up to Andrew. I was interested in what he did. I am aware he was on Gogglebox a while ago. "What happened in that few hours will be with me for a very long time. I felt frightened and very uncomfortable. I didn't know what to do." Bennett initially denied all the charges, blaming his behaviour on "slimming drugs", but pleaded guilty after DNA linked him to the teenager. 'Unwanted attentions' Gavin Doig, mitigating, said Bennett "could not be more remorseful" for what he had done and handed in "multiple" references from people who spoke highly of him. He added that his client posed a low risk of re-offending and had "lost his good name forever", as well as his employment. Judge Gittins told Bennet the love bite was a "clear injury and unwanted, painful reminder of your unwanted attentions that night". He said: "I acknowledge this was an aberration in your behaviour, it was unplanned and only occurred because you were intoxicated."

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A sex offender who was jailed for grooming teenage girls has been back in court for breaking rules imposed on his release. Liam Proudman was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institution in 2018 for having sexual online chats with the three victims - and subsequently warning one girl to 'drop the charges' against him.

Having been released, he set up six social media accounts in false names and sent unwanted sexual videos and photos of his genitals to a male 'acquaintance' on Snapchat.

Proudman, now aged 23, also started a new relationship without telling police, which brought him into contact with a three-year-old girl. He is banned from doing either under the restrictions placed on him following his previous conviction.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Proudman sent sexual photos and videos after contacting an acquaintance on Facebook. Prosecutor Rosemary Proctor said: "The defendant contacted the male using an account in the name of Liam Smith. The two exchanged messages.

"The conversation moved to Snapchat. The defendant started to send masturbation videos and photos of his penis. It was reported to the police."

In October, police carried out a check at Proudman's home and found he had two mobile phones. Miss Proctor said: "He told police a Sony phone was his girlfriend's. It transpired he had been in a relationship for a week.

"He had attended a meal with her and her family at a pub restaurant and a three-year-old female relative had been present. The defendant had not notified the police that he had entered into a relationship."

Proudman, of Yarnbrook Grove, Norton, pleaded guilty to two breached of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said: "The defendant wants to comply with the orders and be clear of offending. They are causing issues where he lives. He has already served the equivalent of a 14-month sentence on remand."

Due to the length of time Proudman has been in custody on remand, Recorder Francesca Levett decided to sentence him to a community order. She said: "There was a clear and deceitful attempt to breach your notification requirements. The fact you had six Facebook accounts in false names is clearly an aggravating factor.

"You have served longer in prison than you would have done had you been sentenced in November. I'm sorry that matters could not be dealt with sooner.

"If I were to impose a suspended sentence on you today, the most I could impose would be 24 weeks. You have already served that, so there's no benefit in you having that hanging over your head.

"The most important thing is to give you some structure. It will make the community a safer place and hopefully you and your family can put this behind you."

Proudman was handed an 18-month community order with a six-month monitoring requirement and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

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A County Durham pervert has been jailed for having sexual activity with a child and sexually assaulting a woman.

Paul Bell denied the offences but was found guilty following a three-day trial at Durham Crown Court last week. The 41-year-old appeared back in front of a judge at the court on Thursday to be sentenced for sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard Bell, who appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham, carried out the offences while drunk.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, read from victim statements of both victims, who described what impact Bell's offending had had on them. One said it had affected her mental health and left her feeling nervous whenever around anyone who has been drinking. She added she did not think she would ever be able to forget her experience.

The younger victim said she had feared not being believed and had been left unable to sleep. She added her education had suffered as a result.

Ian West, defending, said Bell was of previous good character but added that he was "limited" with what he could say on his behalf due to him being found guilty after a trial.

Judge James Adkin told Bell, of Yewtree Avenue, Shildon, he had left his victims suffering with trauma and anxiety. He said: "One victim suffered significant trauma after what you did when you were drunk."

He added that Bell could "not control your attraction to a child" and sentenced him to 46 months in prison. Bell will also be on the sex offender's register for life and a restraining order was also imposed. A life time sexual harm prevention order was also made.

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This is the face of convicted sex offender Victor Balfour, who was jailed for 20 months yesterday for repeatedly logging onto library computers in breach of a court order. The 68-year-old had been released on bail by Record of Oxford Judge Ian Pringle QC just days before he went to a public library in Weymouth, Dorset, and asked to use the computers. That was despite a stern warning from Judge Pringle that Balfour, who was in Oxford Crown Court for using the Westgate library computers in breach of his sexual harm prevention order, was not allowed to use any computer unless the internet history was saved. On Thursday, the court was told Balfour used the Weymouth library computers three times in December and January, while he was on a four-month deferred sentence. Jailing him for 20 months, Judge Pringle said: I am quite satisfied you were fully aware of what you were doing. Thames Valley Police has now released Balfours custody shot.

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Raymond Ellis, from Bristol, formerly of Sheffield, carried out a sophisticated and harrowing attack on a 17-year-old girl more than 30 years ago.

Today, he was sentenced to five years in prison at Bristol Crown Court having been found guilty of Indecent Assault.

Bristol Crown Court heard today (May 13) how, in the assault close to midnight on March 15, 1987, the survivor was approaching her home address after a night out with friends when she became aware of someone behind her.

She began running but one of her shoes came off. She saw her pursuer pick it up and was struck on the head, grabbed and dragged along a nearby passage towards Earl Marshall School Fields, at the rear of Skinnerthorpe Road in Sheffield.

The attacker removed an item of her clothing which he used to tie her feet together and forced her to perform a sexual act. He then made her lay face down and fled. The victim was then able to flee to a nearby telephone box where she called police.

Despite an extensive investigation involving many forensic submissions, her attacker was never traced.

But due to advancements in forensic science, further forensic submissions were made which resulted in a match to Ellis. A mixed DNA profile was obtained from the outer sleeve of the womans leather jacket she was wearing at the time.

Ellis was arrested in August 2019. In interview, the 60-year-old claimed he had memory loss due to a brain injury sustained in 1997 when he was attacked with pick axe handles by poachers on a salmon farm in Scotland.

He made no comment to any questions including where he was at that time

South Yorkshire Polices Dave Stopford, head of the Major Incident Review Team, said: This was a horrific attack on a 17-year-old girl as she made her way home from a night out.

The victim has had to live with this for the past 33 years not knowing who her attacker was.

We thank the victim for her patience and resilience during this difficult investigation in which she had to re-live a traumatic incident. She has shown immense courage, patience and trust in us to do so.

The attack has significantly impacted on her life ever since. This conviction today has provided some closure to the victim, but continues to have serious consequences for her.

"Ellis was obviously surprised when he was arrested for this offence, having thought that he had evaded being caught. The reinvestigation using scientific techniques that were not available in 1987 should send out a message that anyone who has committed such offences is never safe from prosecution.

The review team at South Yorkshire Police prioritise undetected historic sexual offences and are currently reviewing hundreds of cases. Investigating Officer Rachel Morton has been tenacious in achieving this detection, which due to its historic nature has been complex. I would also like to thank the scientists involved, whose work is invaluable in these historic cases, and without them this perpetrator may never have been brought to justice for this crime.

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A sex offender bombarded under age girls with over 300 messages and deleted 500 visits to sexual websites even though he was banned from doing so. But police retrieved the evidence and Callum Keith Roberts, 23, was caught out, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.

A judge said it was a serious case because the defendant breached the ban twice while on the sex offender's register for life. Roberts, of Ffordd Llandygai, Llandygai near Bangor, admitted two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and was jailed for 20 months, to run concurrently, for each offence.

Prosecutor Thomas McLaughlin said Roberts had been convicted at Swansea Crown Court in 2018 of offences including committing sexual activity with a child and causing a child to watch sexual activity. He was jailed for four years and placed on the register.

An order prevented him from contacting girls under 18, unless certain conditions were met, or deleting his internet use. However, the prosecutor said today that on June 9 last year Roberts bought an iPhone 7. The following month police officers went to his home, found the phone and reminded him of his obligations under the court order.

But days later they called again, studied the phone and discovered 310 WhatsApp messages to girls and phone calls, with one lasting 15 minutes. One girl was 13. Officers also found Roberts had made 557 internet visits to sites, with all but 18 of them having sexual content, and that he had deleted these searches.

Peter Donnison, defending, said while the offences are "incredibly serious" his client is still a young man of 23. The original offences were committed when he was 19. He lost his brother last year and hopes to be rehabilitated. Unfortunately, the Horizon rehabilitation programme had been unavailable when he was in custody, said Mr Donnison.

He added that Roberts "recognises the value of life and the importance of rehabilitation."

He has carpentry work lined up for when he is released.

The judge His Honour Timothy Petts told Roberts that his latest offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

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A woman who sexually assaulted and raped a child with two other men has been given a life sentence for sexual offences against children today (Friday 13th May) following an extensive joint investigation by Merseyside Police and St Helens Social Care. During a previous court case in June 2021 a phone of a convicted paedophile showed indecent images and videos of children sent by a mobile number that was linked to Vicki Bevan. Further messages and images alleged that Vicki was sexually abusing children with two other men. The evidence led to a search being conducted of Vickis home address where numerous devices including laptops and a mobile phone were found with several indecent images of children that were shared with two men Tony Hutton and Paul Rafferty. Bevan was arrested on Monday 25th October 2021 and was charged with 11 offences the following day. Further charges were then added to Bevans indictment at court and she was charged with a total of 34 offences. After all pleading guilty at Liverpool Crown Court in January 2022 Vicki Bevan of Napier Street, St Helens was today given a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years for rape, five counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images, three counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child and two counts of possessing extreme pornography. Paul Rafferty, 62, of Fry Street, St Helens was jailed for 10 years with an extended four year license for the rape of a child under 13, assaulting a child under the age of 13 by penetration, sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, one count of making an indecent photograph and two counts of making indecent photographs. Tony Hutton, 42, of Liverpool Street, St Helens was jailed for four years for sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of taking indecent photographs. Detective Chief Inspector Allison Woods said: These extremely disturbing crimes committed by Bevan, Rafferty and Hutton have caused great psychological and physical harm to their victims and destroyed lives. They repeatedly subjected them to deplorable offences, and we welcome the lengthy sentences given out by the court today. "Thanks to our extensive investigations with St Helens Social Services these three despicable offenders are all behind bars where they pose no further risk to other children. I would like to thank the detectives and social workers on the investigation team who have worked tirelessly to support the victims of Bevan, Rafferty and Hutton and gather evidence to bring them to justice. It proves that Merseyside Police are completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm. If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to police. We have a specialist team committed to dealing with all forms of child abuse, who will treat any information from you extremely seriously, and will follow up every report and any information that comes in, so please report this to us. I can assure anyone who reports such offences that you will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and fully supported through the entire process.

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A woman who sexually assaulted and raped a child with two other men has been given a life sentence for sexual offences against children today (Friday 13th May) following an extensive joint investigation by Merseyside Police and St Helens Social Care. During a previous court case in June 2021 a phone of a convicted paedophile showed indecent images and videos of children sent by a mobile number that was linked to Vicki Bevan. Further messages and images alleged that Vicki was sexually abusing children with two other men. The evidence led to a search being conducted of Vickis home address where numerous devices including laptops and a mobile phone were found with several indecent images of children that were shared with two men Tony Hutton and Paul Rafferty. Bevan was arrested on Monday 25th October 2021 and was charged with 11 offences the following day. Further charges were then added to Bevans indictment at court and she was charged with a total of 34 offences. After all pleading guilty at Liverpool Crown Court in January 2022 Vicki Bevan of Napier Street, St Helens was today given a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years for rape, five counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making indecent images, three counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child and two counts of possessing extreme pornography. Paul Rafferty, 62, of Fry Street, St Helens was jailed for 10 years with an extended four year license for the rape of a child under 13, assaulting a child under the age of 13 by penetration, sexual assault of a child under 13, three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, one count of making an indecent photograph and two counts of making indecent photographs. Tony Hutton, 42, of Liverpool Street, St Helens was jailed for four years for sexual assault of a child under 13 and two counts of taking indecent photographs. Detective Chief Inspector Allison Woods said: These extremely disturbing crimes committed by Bevan, Rafferty and Hutton have caused great psychological and physical harm to their victims and destroyed lives. They repeatedly subjected them to deplorable offences, and we welcome the lengthy sentences given out by the court today. "Thanks to our extensive investigations with St Helens Social Services these three despicable offenders are all behind bars where they pose no further risk to other children. I would like to thank the detectives and social workers on the investigation team who have worked tirelessly to support the victims of Bevan, Rafferty and Hutton and gather evidence to bring them to justice. It proves that Merseyside Police are completely committed to protecting children from sexual abuse and those who seek to do them harm. If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, or know of a child being abused, please come forward and report this to police. We have a specialist team committed to dealing with all forms of child abuse, who will treat any information from you extremely seriously, and will follow up every report and any information that comes in, so please report this to us. I can assure anyone who reports such offences that you will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and fully supported through the entire process.

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A remorseless rapist who attacked an 83-year-old woman in her own home has been jailed.

Kyle McKenzie, 23, was sentenced to 11 years after admitting his crime but showing no contrition.

McKenzie attacked the woman after breaking into a property in Glenrothes, Fife, on June 25, 2020 and carried out what police described as a 'particularly brutal attack on a vulnerable woman' in her own home.

He pleaded guilty on November 16 and was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh today.

Senior investigating officer DI Darren Stewart said: 'Kyle McKenzie is clearly a very dangerous, opportunistic individual.

'He carried out particularly brutal attack on a vulnerable woman, submitting her to a harrowing ordeal in the one place in the world she should have been safest, her own home.

'He showed no contrition for his reprehensible behaviour when he was charged.

'However, he will now face the consequences of his actions having admitted his guilt.

'A large scale police investigation was carried out following this incident which ultimately identified McKenzie as being the individual responsible.

'I want to take the opportunity to thank the public and partner agencies for their assistance and information provided, particularly in providing support to the woman involved.

'Police Scotland treats all reports of sexual crime with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity in order to bring perpetrators of such crimes such as Kyle McKenzie to justice.'

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Louise Smith, 42, formally of Cheshire, was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to 12 counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child and causing a child to commit a sexual act.