Latest Offenders

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Richard James was found guilty of four incidents of rape, as well as indecency with a child and indecent assault A 57-year-old man from Cornwall who raped a young girl when he was a teenager has been sent to jail. Richard James, of Radnor Road in Scorrier, was found guilty of indecency with a child, indecent assault and four incidents of rape between April 1979 and April 1981. He appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentence today. A victim personal statement was read out in court, explaining how the assaults changed the victim's life. The court heard how the woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - became shy and started to have nightmares. "It felt like I had all this anger inside me that I needed to get out," her statement read. James' victim went on to explain that she has had sexual issues with her partners ever since and that, when she eventually came forward on Christmas Day 2019, she felt really embarrassed and ashamed of herself. "I believe this has really ripped my family apart," she added. Prosecuting the case, Mary McCarthy also added that James once threatened to kill his victim if she did not comply. Representing James, Piers Noseworthy said that the father-of-two has not offended since. "He's a very different person now," he said. "All offending occurred when he himself was a child." "He's had an exemplary conduct since." The court was told how James has been suffering with serious medical problems for the last 10 years and has mobility issues. Sentencing, Recorder Simon Levene said he took into account James' age and maturity at the time of the offence, evidence of good character since, as well as his health issues when considering what sentence would be appropriate. "Although your age between the first and last date of the indictment spans between 14 years and almost 18 years, I shouldn't treat you like someone with the maturity of an 18-year-old," he said. "But the younger you were, the younger your victim was. "I accept that there was a degree of immaturity on your part. "I certainly think you were old enough and mature enough to know that what you were doing was wrong. After all, your victim was suffering and you threatened to kill her if she told anybody - not every time, I accept. It shows you knew you would be in trouble if it ever came out. "To her credit, she has gone on to have a successful career. She has managed to function in society but it's quite clear from what she said in the victim impact statement that was read out today she has suffered lifelong from what you did to her. "If you had been an adult at the time that you committed these offences the sentence would have been one of eight years of imprisonment. I reduce that to five years because of the age that you were at the time that you committed these offences. I then consider the aggravating factors and I move the sentence up to one of six years of imprisonment. "Finally, I take into account the mitigation that I have. You have kept out of trouble for 40 years, but for me, the most important point, is that you are very poorly." Recorder Levene proceeded to sentence James to four-and-a-half years of imprisonment. James will have to continually update his personal details including his address with the police. A restraining order was also made. James cannot contact directly and indirectly three named individuals until further notice.

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James Roberts, of South Shields, thought he was talking to a schoolgirl but it was actually an undercover police officer A perverted pensioner who wanted a 14-year-old girl to go his home and offered to "train" her how to have sex has been jailed. James Roberts, 70, began chatting to what he believed was a schoolgirl online and told her he didn't mind her age if she didn't mind his, which he said was 65. The profile was actually an undercover police officer but Roberts thought he was talking to a child. Newcastle Crown Court heard Roberts initially communicated with the profile on a chat app and then it moved to WhatsApp. He told her he was at home all day drinking beer and she was welcome to join him and told her he lived near South Shields Metro station and could meet her there. The conversation progressed to him asking about her sexual experience and he said they could have sex if she wanted to. An arrangement was made to meet the following week and Roberts told her: "You won't tell anyone," adding a winking emoji. He went on to ask if he would need to wear a condom and said he would get some just in case. Andrew Finlay, prosecuting, said: "He said she was the youngest he had been with. "They discussed what she was going to wear. He said he wanted her to wear a skirt. "He asked if she was a virgin and she said she tried but it didn't really work and he said 'I will take it for you'. "He then asked if she wanted him to train her." Roberts also told what he thought to be a child that he watched pornography and how big his penis was, saying he would be gentle with her when they had sex. After being sent a picture purporting to be her, he said she was beautiful and that he was thinking of her naked. The conversation developed and he asked how big her breasts were and described things he wanted to do. When she expressed uncertainty about meeting, he encouraged her. On November 12 2020, he turned up to meet her at South Shields Metro and was arrested by police. Roberts, of Green Place, South Shields, pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. Judge Robert Spragg jailed him for 30 months and told him he must sign the sex offenders register indefinitely and he will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. The court heard he has been married three times and has children he doesn't see and was "lonely and isolated" and was drinking at the time of the offences. Robin Turton, defending, said: "This was a regular chat site and she made the first move. "He was flattered and surprised she wanted to have a conversation with him given the age disparity." The court heard he has a number of health problems including arthritis and COPD. Roberts has 58 previous convictions but nothing for sex offences and his last conviction was in 1995 for drugs offending, for which he was jailed for 30 months.

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Kevin Askew admitted to sexually assaulting the 13-year-old girl A man who sexually assaulted a child has been jailed. Kevin Askew, who is also known as Sean, admitted to sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, with police stating that all the offences took place in Lancaster. Askew, of Far Moss, Northside, Workington, has been jailed for six years, and has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life. He has also been given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which "significantly limits his interaction with girls under the age of 16". Askew initially denied any wrongdoing but pleaded guilty when presented with the weight of evidence compiled against him by detectives in West Child Protection Team. A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: "We hope this case and its outcome will encourage other victims of sexual abuse no matter how historic to come forward. You can do so knowing you will be listened to, believed and that Lancashire Police will do everything in our power to keep you safe and bring the perpetrator to justice.

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A dark web Northampton paedophile who was caught with help from the FBI in the United States has been handed 30 years in jail.

Keith McFadden, aged 57, formerly of Talbot Road, Northampton, was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court today (11 March) for historic child sex offences.

The convicted child predator was finally arrested by Northamptonshire Police detectives following an investigation of the dark web by the National Crime Agency.

Andrew Howarth, prosecuting, said McFadden had bragged about the offences and later read impact statements from McFadden's victims.

The statement said the victim had tried to take his own life and had been on "antidepressants for most of my life because of what he did to me."

Other victims described having their lives "turned upside down" by McFadden's actions.

Stephen Garbett, defending, said: "Mr McFadden is going to be in prison for a significant amount of time. By the time he is released from prison he will be extremely old.

"Mr McFadden is under no illusion that this will be the case."

Her Honour Judge Rebecca Crane said in sentencing: "There is no way of knowing whether you will engage with programmes, especially given that you continue to maintain your innocence.

"You pose a threat to young boys, as opposed to the general public."

Keith McFadden was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with a minimum time to serve of 20 years.

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A paedophile who groomed a vulnerable teenage girl from Warrington over several months has been jailed for 12 years. Michael Smith was convicted of causing and inciting a teenage girl to engage in sexual activity following a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The 49-year-old, of Cheetham Fold Road, Hyde, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 28th February where the judge sentenced him to 12-years in prison after describing him as a danger to the public. During the hearing, the court heard how Smith had groomed the teenager over a number of months before arranging to collect her from an address in Warrington on Tuesday 2 February 2021. He then drove the girl back to his flat in Hyde where he sexually assaulted her. The victim was located at around 5.30am the following day after she contacted police. Following the sentencing Detective Constable Stephen Martin, who led the investigation, said: Smith knew the victim was underage and he knew that she was vulnerable. In spite of this, he purposefully chose to take advantage of her, grooming the girl over a number of months and convincing her that she was in love with him. After gaining her trust, he then collected her from her home in Warrington and took her to his flat Hyde where he sexually assaulted her. Thankfully, as a result of the evidence provided by the victim and the evidence gathered during our investigation, Smith is now facing a significant prison sentence and is no longer a danger to the general public. On top of his custodial sentence, Smith was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

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A 25-YEAR-OLD man from Ellesmere Port has been jailed after breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order by possessing indecent images of children. Neil Webb, of Bruera Road, Ellesmere Port, was sentenced to 20 months in prison at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, March 8. He had earlier pleaded guilty to two sexual harm breaches and breaching his suspended sentence. Webb was previously convicted of possessing and making indecent images of children at Cheshire Magistrates Court on February 12, 2021 and sentenced to eight months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months. He was also subjected to the notification requirements of the Sex Offender Register and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. DS Keith Campbell said: As a registered sex offender Webb was required to adhere to a number of conditions to deter him from reoffending. An officer allocated to monitoring him visited his home address on June 25 to ensure he was keeping to his conditions. "Following a check of his mobile phone, she discovered it was on private browsing mode which masked his internet history - a breach of his prevention order. The officer then checked the device, and no indecent images of children were found. But on further scrutiny of the phone, the officer discovered there were in excess of 350 bookmarked URLs (or web addresses). These related to category C indecent images of children. On February 2, a warrant was executed at Webbs home address and a further phone, which was not registered with the police, was seized from him. This was found to contain 198 images indicative of indecent images of children. DS Keith Campbell said: This shows the effectiveness of monitoring offenders who are subject to Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and highlights the consequences of not adhering to the conditions. I hope it reassures people that we do carefully monitor registered sex offenders in the community and take action when a breach is discovered.

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A Peterborough paedophile who carried out horrific abuse on a schoolgirl more than thirty years ago has finally been brought to justice. Bernard Taylors horrific abuse of the girl in Peterborough continued until she became an older teenager and he tried to rape her. The historic offences only came to light in 2018 when Taylors victim bravely confided in someone she knew. Taylor, now of Lisnamon Court, Londonderry, was interviewed but gave a prepared statement in which he denied any involvement in the abuse and claimed his victim was lying. He also claimed he had never been sexually attracted to children at any stage of his life. The 73-year-old stood trial at Norwich Crown Court in November, where jurors found him guilty of eight counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 and one count of attempting to rape a woman over the age of 16. He was handed an 18-year sentence at the same court on Wednesday (9 March), comprising a 17-year jail term and one year on licence. Taylor was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. DC Sian Thomas, who investigated, said: Taylors horrific sexual abuse of his victim went undetected for decades and I am pleased he has finally been brought to justice. Regardless of when it happened, we will always take reports of sexual offences, including child sex abuse, very seriously. Protecting young people from harm is one of our top priorities and we have specially trained officers who are there to support victims and bring offenders to justice. Taylors abuse has had a huge impact on his victim, who is now an adult, and I hope she can find some closure to this traumatic period of her life.

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Jordan Hubbock was released on licence while serving a sentence for raping three people, but cut off his electronic tag and went to ground in Essex for a month A convicted rapist from Bushey, near Watford, considered "high risk" was at large in Essex for a month after he cut off his electronic tag following his release from prison. Jordan Hubbock was put in jail after his conviction in 2014 for raping three people, one of whom was a child under the age of 16. Hubbock, 26, committed the crimes between 2011 and 2013 and was released from prison on licence in 2021 and fitted with an electronic tag to track his movements, EssexLive reports. He was also listed on the Sex Offenders' Register, requiring him to inform police of his address, telephone numbers, credit cards and social media accounts. However, shortly after his release to the Basildon area in Essex, and later Barking, Hubbock cut off his tag. Essex Police was informed that he was a "high risk" sexual offender and a manhunt was launched, which included appeals on social media. Hubbock went to ground in February last year, and it was not until March 18 that he was found by police searching an address, where he had been hiding behind a sunbed. Hubbock was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday (March 9) for breaching notification requirements. Prosecuting, Mitchell Cohen said: "He had failed to notify police that he was using an application called Kik, and he had been using that in a different name by which he was generally known. "The fourth breach relates to a credit card. "It was a determined and long-lasting attempt to evade. It caused a great deal of harm when he was declared a high-risk offender." Mr Cohen said police had located the broken electronic tag that had been dumped in a bin by Hubbock. Mitigating, Chris Harper said Hubbock had taken full responsibility for his actions and admitted his guilt, but the use of a different name was not a "deliberate attempt" to evade and was actually his mother's maiden name. He added: "He hasn't understood the requirements that he should have. That's no excuse, the obligation is on him but it does put this into context. He accepts his behaviour was wrong." Mr Harper added Hubbock was undertaking a business economics degree from the Open University whilst in prison. Judge Samantha Leigh told Hubbock: "It was a determined effort to evade detection. You were off the record for a month. You were eventually tracked by telephone data through your family." Hubbock was jailed for 30 months, however, this will run alongside his recall to prison to serve the remainder of his original sentence, which is expected to last until at least January 2027.

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A SERIAL rapist who held his victims captive for days at a time has died in prison, it has been confirmed. Gene Benjamin held his victims prisoner and strangled them into unconsciousness before repeatedly raping and beating them and was jailed in 2011. He preyed on women across Bournemouth over a six-year period. One victim was six months pregnant and another was attacked with a claw hammer. Others were threatened with knives and an axe. Benjamin, previously of Belle Vue Road, Southbourne, was convicted of seven counts of rape, one count of wounding and eight counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. Judge Samuel Wiggs sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 11 years. Due to time already spent in custody, Benjamin became eligible for parole last year. However, on his first appearance before the Parole Board, his release from prison was refused. It has now been confirmed that the offender died in a Yorkshire prison last month at the age of 64. A Prison Service spokesperson said: HMP Wakefield prisoner Gene Benjamin died on February 11. "The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed. Benjamin, who was known as Barry, was found guilty of the offences committed between January 2004 and February 2010 after an eight-week trial. Most of the women the rapist targeted worked in Bournemouth as prostitutes. The victims had been aged between 18 and 40 years and the attacks were carried out at 15 different locations. Benjamin got away with his vile and vicious crimes for years because his victims were too scared to go to the police. Judge Wiggs told him: You preyed on the prostitutes of Bournemouth. You were in their community and used intimidation and violence on them." At the time of sentencing, the officer in the case, Detective Sergeant Lindsay Dudfield, said: Im pleased with the sentence. Gene Benjamin is an incredibly dangerous man and this ensures the safety of Dorset residents. She added: I commend the bravery of the women who gave evidence." The Daily Echo can also confirm that Benjamin was refused parole last year after serving his minimum term. A Parole Board panel it was not satisfied Benjamin was suitable for release. It also decided that the benefits of a move to open prison were considered to be limited and to be outweighed by the remaining risks that Benjamin presented. A document detailing the Parole Board's decision said the risk factors at the time of his offending included his use and willingness to use violence and weapons and preferring sex to include violent or controlling behaviour over women. It added he did not care about the effects of his actions on other people and said he had attitudes that support sexual violence. The Parole Board also examined the release plan provided by Mr Benjamins probation officer and weighed its proposals against assessed risks. The panel concluded this plan was not robust enough to manage Benjamin in the community at that stage because there were outstanding risk factors that needed to be addressed.

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A callous and calculating killer who murdered three people in six days is facing life behind bars after being convicted of raping his final victim. Anthony Russell murdered mother and son Julie and David Williams, 58 and 32, at their flats before raping and killing Nicole McGregor, 31, who was pregnant and had shown him a baby scan. Despite knowing she was dead, he told Nicoles boyfriend: I bet you cant wait for it to be born. The murders took place in Coventry in October 2020 and Nicoles body was found in Leamington Spa three days after her death. After Russell was found guilty, police released footage of the moment he was found sleeping in a stolen car which he had been using as a hideout. Russells murder spree began on October 21 when he strangled David with a lanyard. Four days later he murdered Julie in a violent and sustained attack, hitting her repeatedly around the head and neck. He inflicted over 113 injuries on her and is believed to have killed her because she knew he had murdered her son. The following day, Davids body was discovered with 87 injuries Russell would later go on to say hed killed a man who had had sex with his girlfriend. The deaths sparked one of the biggest ever manhunts in the West Midlands. Detective Superintendent Shaun Edwards said: This was a violent series of killings which happened over a period of just seven days, but which have left two families devastated for the rest of their lives. We believe that David was killed due to Russells mistaken belief that he was in a relationship with his girlfriend. When Russell went to speak to Julie about her sons disappearance, we suspect that he confessed to Davids killing. He then killed Julie to stop her from speaking to the police. Theres no known link between Russell and Nicole, and it appears to be pure chance that he has encountered her. CCTV footage of Ms McGregor, who lived in a flat in Leamington, was played to the jury during the trial, showing her walking alongside Russell at 7.45pm on October 26. During her opening speech, prosecutor Zoe Johnson QC said of the footage: This is the last time Nicole is seen alive. Just three hours after meeting the defendant it appears that Nicole has agreed to walk with the defendant into Newbold Comyn. We suggest that the defendant lured Nicole on to the Comyn, not for sex but more likely for drugs. The defendant murdered Nicole McGregor shortly after that image was captured, just hours after they had met. After the murder, he pretended to help Ms McGregors partner look for her. The killer was eventually the subject of a national manhunt, and fled Leamington by robbing a 78-year-old man of his car. Russell rung the pensioners doorbell asking for directions, and when the victim was distracted he hit him over the head from behind with a brick, leaving him with a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain. The killer was arrested on October 30 after police spotted the stolen Ford C-Max parked on a road near Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, and found Russell on the back seat. While being booked into custody, he told officers: I admit it, I did it. Russell, from Coventry, will be sentenced on Friday.

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A TWENTY-YEAR-OLD man arranged to meet an underage girl for sex, having spent months grooming her in online messaging, a court heard. Dave Hirchfield travelled from his home in Sheffield for the liaison with the girl in her home town in County Durham, on Wednesday February 9. Durham Crown Court heard that that several months earlier the girls mother discovered her daughter was exchanging messages on the internet with a man called Dave Hirchfield. Elizabeth Muir, prosecuting, said although the conversations were not sexual and there was no talk of a meeting, at that stage, she blocked him on her daughters phone, but did not take it further. But on February 9 the girl told her mother she was going out to a nearby shopping centre. Miss Muir said some time later her mother tried to ring her, but her daughters phone was switched off. But a second phone, of which the mother knew nothing, was found in her bedroom containing more sexualised messages with the same man, discussing plans to meet. Miss Muir said police were contacted and the girl was considered, a high-risk missing person. By 7.35pm that day she was spotted at the roadside and when spoken to, she seemed anxious. She told police said she had fallen over while running and walked into a lamppost, accounting for a bruised knee and marks on her coat. The girl was taken to a police station where her mother was waiting. Hirchfield was located not far away and when approached by police claimed to be, Bob from Dublin, and asked the way to a bus station. He was challenged as to his true identity and arrested. Miss Muir told the court the girl was spoken to by police that evening and the following day, and refused to give a statement, but from the messaging it was clear sexual contact was planned. It also emerged that Hirchfield wanted her to return to Sheffield to stay the night with him, but she made excuses why she could not go, as her mother would be suspicious and she had a hospital appointment the following day. Miss Muir said during their rendezvous Hirchfield had kissed the girl and touched her sexually, while he also performed a sex act on himself in her presence. In a further message he asked if she would be waiting for him for four years for when he comes out of prison. Hirchfield, of St Elizabeth Close, Sheffield, admitted engaging in sexual communication with a child, meeting a child following sexual grooming, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, and sexual assault. In a victim statement read to the court, the girls mother said she found it "heart-breaking" that her daughter could not talk about it with her and she felt it had affected her daughters previous bubbly personality. Ian West, in mitigation, said the defendant, of previous good character, had a difficult upbringing and has had a harsh introduction to the world of adult punishment while on remand in custody for the last month. Judge Ray Singh said despite being blocked from messaging the girl, in October, the defendant had not left it there and resumed communication, making concerted attempts to meet her, with the aim of having sexual contact. Imposing a 26-month sentence in a young offenders institution, the judge also made Hirchfield subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both for ten years.

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A MAN with a previous conviction for sexually communicating with underage girls, briefly lapsed back to his former ways after making contact with what he was told was a 12-year-old female.

Durham Crown Court heard that Darren Thompson had not gone looking to communicate with an underage girl when he accessed an adult internet chat site on his mobile phone on January 13.

But having engaged in chat with someone describing herself as, Bored 18-year-old Tyne and Wear, the user informed him she was a 12-year-old.

Uzma Khan, prosecuting, said, unknown to Thompson, he was actually chatting to an undercover police officer.

He quickly moved the messaging onto snapchat and was sent an image portraying a 12-year-old girl, but he responded by sending intimate images of himself, one after having apparently performed a sex act.

Miss Khan said within days of the chat it was found Thompson had deleted the account, in breach of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), imposed after he received a suspended prison sentence for his previous offending, at Durham Crown Court in 2016.

The terms of the order prohibited him from deleting his internet history.

Thompson was arrested and interviewed, and made admissions over his online activity, at a time when he said he was, feeling low.

Miss Khan said Thompson told police he just wanted to communicate with anyone, and, it could have been a child, or anyone, but he accepted he continued even when told of the supposed age of the girl he believed he was chatting to, on January 13.

He told police he regretted it and told them he wanted counselling to address his sexual attraction to children.

The 36-year-old defendant, of Dorset Crescent, Moorside, Consett, admitted attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and breaching a SHPO.

Chris Morrison, in mitigation, said Thompson was using an open forum and his intention was, not to target a minor.

Having become clear he was chatting with what he thought was a 12-year-old he felt deeply ashamed and deleted the conversation and the material on his phone before police, got in touch.

There was no attempt to cover any of his other internet activity.

Mr Morrison said, on any objective view, this was a victimless crime, which could not be considered, persistent.

He added: It was an aberration, a foolish and self-destructive act.

Imposing a 14-month prison sentence, Judge James Adkin told Thompson: The problem is you seem unable to prevent yourself from behaving in this way.

The existing SHPO will remain in place, but Thompson is now subject to registration as a sex offender for life.

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A DUNFERMLINE lady flashed a knife as she yelled in the street after bombarding a guy with sex texts following a room-renting fraud.

Louise Ramsay, 34, of Kellock Avenue, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentence on a number of charges.

She previously admitted to stealing 340 in cash on December 1st of last year, 525 on February 12th, and 350 on February 28th of this year.

She also stated that on March 7, she sent a guy a series of sexually explicit text messages.

Ramsay also acknowledged to shouting and swearing while wielding a knife on Christmas Eve at Abel Place.

Ramsay has previously admitted to stealing money from customers after advertising her spare room for rent on Craigslist.

One of the victims was also subjected to sexually explicit texts.

"The thefts relate to the accused renting out a spare room at her home." depute fiscal Jill Currie earlier told the court.

People would agree to stay there and pay a deposit, but they would not be permitted to move in until they were repaid.

Ramsay advertised the hotel on the 'Spare Room' website as well as on Facebook.

In one case, after paying for the accommodation, a young guy began getting erotic texts from Ramsay.

According to the deputy, he felt "uncomfortable" and "asked her to remain professional."

She then requested additional money from him, but he declined.

Her sex texts kept coming.

Youre grown-up for your age but I like that, she said, adding that his youth "turns me on."

Before going into graphic detail, Ramsay made jokes about his genitalia and stated she could teach him a thing or two

According to the deputy, she proceeded in this vein, and the man felt this was extremely inappropriate

He demanded his money returned, but Ramsay provided a series of reasons as to why she wouldn't be able to do so in the coming weeks.

Ramsay was shouting and screaming on the street on Christmas Eve, clutching a knife that she flung to the ground and picked up multiple times.

She was shouting: Ive got mental health.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said: She seems to have got it into her head that she was being followed. She had taken cocaine to excess. Its a fairly sad tale.

The social work report advised that Ramsay be sent to a mental institution for her own benefit, but Sheriff Charles Macnair declared he would not do so.

He instead imposed an eight-month restriction of liberty order on Ramsay.

He also sentenced her to pay 900 in damages to the three persons who lost money in the fraud, as well as putting Ramsay on the sex offenders' registry.

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A man from Oxford has today, Thursday, 10 March, been sentenced to 13 years in jail after being found guilty of four counts of serious child sex offences.

Henry Herbert Lenton, aged 36, from Barton Village Road in Oxford has been jailed for 13 years after being convicted of the following offences:

- 1 count of raping a child under 13

- 2 counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity

- 1 count of sexual assault of a child under 13

The charges relate to offences that took place against one child between January 2019 and January 2021 in Bordon.

Lenton denied the charges but following a four day trial at Winchester Crown Court in February, he was found guilty of all four counts.

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court today (Thursday, 10 March) Lenton was jailed for 13 years with a one year extended licence period.

In addition to his custodial sentence, Lenton will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Following the sentence, Detective Constable James Copley from Hampshire Constabularys Child Abuse Investigation team said This was a horrific and prolonged period of abuse against a child.

I would like to commend the child for their courage in coming forward and telling us what happened and for their bravery throughout this investigation.

We know how hard it is to come forward and report abuse which is why we have specially trained officers who support survivors throughout the investigation and the court process.

No child should have to suffer and we hope this case shows that we are committed to bringing to justice those who target children in this way.

We encourage anyone who is being abused or knows of someone who is being abused to contact us on 101 where you can speak to one of our specialist officers in confidence.

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A RAPIST who escaped justice for two years after cops missed him during a DNA swab operation has now been convicted of child abuse. Police hunting the attacker of an 18-year-old girl in 2009 failed to take a sample from Michael Higgins. They took more than 700 swabs during the probe but stopped within half a mile of his house in Warminster, Wilts. He was eventually caught in April 2011 after his son was arrested for a minor offence and routinely swabbed and a family match was found. The builder was jailed for 6 years in November 2011 for rape. He has now been convicted of sexually assaulting a ten-year-old girl in 2020. In the witness box at St Albans Crown Court, Higgins told his barrister Nathalie Carter that he was known as Mucky, which was an old work name he was given when he was a hod carrier. Cross-examined by prosecutor Laura Blackband he said: I dont know where the allegations have come from. I dont know why she made this up. Higgins, 57, now of Chesham, Bucks, will be sentenced at Swindon crown court in June.