Latest Offenders

Description

A man from London has been convicted of possessing over 800 indecent images of children, after he admitted owning stun guns and pepper spray.

A former BBC producer has been found guilty of possessing indecent images of children following a National Crime Agency investigation.

Victor Melleney, 76, who previously worked on programmes such as Panorama and Question time, also pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to four counts of possessing a prohibited weapon.

He was arrested by NCA officers at his Kensington flat in October 2018. The weapons – three tasers and a pepper spray – were recovered following a search of the flat and his Porsche.

Officers also seized Melleney's laptop and iPad from this address.

An external hard drive, which he initially attempted to hide in his pocket, was recovered at his house close by in Holland Park.

His devices contained over 800 images and videos of child sexual abuse (categories A-C) and he had downloaded four different Peer 2 Peer file sharing applications onto them.

Analysis showed that the keywords he used to search for the material included "PTHC" (Pre Teen Hard Core), "Preteen" and "11 yo".

In March 2019, NCA officers executed a warrant at another of Melleney's properties in West Wittering, Chichester, as intelligence showed that he had also accessed child abuse material from the address in the month prior to his arrest.

Today at Kingston Crown Court, Melleney was found guilty of possessing indecent images of children.

He will be sentenced for this, along with the prohibited weapons offences, on 14 January 2022 at the same court.

Martin Ludlow, Operations Manager at the National Crime Agency, said: "Melleney had a significant collection of child abuse material, which he had sought out from with other like-minded individuals using the internet.

"It's really important not to forget that behind every sexual abuse image is a child whose life has been cruelly torn apart by an abuser, with men like Melleney fuelling the demand for such material.

"Protecting children and targeting those who pose a sexual threat to them remains our top priority."

Description

A man from Southport has been jailed for 17 years for raping a toddler and sexually assaulting another child.

Ryan Hawkins, 29, was identified by NCA investigators as username 'bigladuk6' who had been discussing the sexual abuse of children with other paedophiles online.

In September 2021 he shared a graphic sexual image of a baby and told another user about his plans to abuse a young girl the following week.

Hawkins was arrested by NCA officers eight days later and his phone was seized.

Two identical videos of Hawkins raping a female toddler were recovered from the device, along with four graphic sexual images of baby.

When interviewed, he admitted to sexually abusing the toddler on two separate occasions and to sexually assaulting a young boy.

He was charged with the rape and assault of a girl under 13, sexual assault of a male under 13, two counts of making indecent images of a child (IIOC) and one of distributing IIOC.

Hawkins pleaded guilty to all the charges on 16 November 2021 at Liverpool Crown Court.

He was sentenced today [17/12/2021] at the same court to 17 years in prison.

NCA operations manager Phil Eccles said: "Ryan Hawkins' crimes are absolutely horrific.

"The fact he openly discussed the abuse with strangers on the internet shows his callous nature and the fact he had no regard for the profound impact this would have on his victims.

"He is an example of the highest risk and most dangerous sexual offenders targeted by the NCA and it is only right he is behind bars where no longer poses a threat to children."

Description

A sex offender who attacked six lone women has been given a life sentence. Joshua Victorin, 25, who approached his victims from behind, carried out four of the attacks within four hours. The offences between 23 December and 4 January happened days after his release from prison, where he had been serving a sentence for three sex attacks and other crimes. At Inner London Crown Court, he was told he must spend at least eight years and eight months in jail. Victorin pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted rape and four charges of sexual assault.

'Most people's nightmare'

Victorin, who was living in a probation hostel in Walworth, disguised himself in dark clothing, a hooded top and a face mask to carry out the attacks across south London. At an earlier hearing, prosecutor Claire Harden-Frost said: "These offences can be seen as part of a campaign to rape and sexually assault women walking alone in the streets of London. "This, frankly is most people's nightmare in this situation." Victorin first struck on the evening of 23 December, when he followed a woman as she got off a bus in Peckham. He pulled down her jogging bottoms, causing her to fall to the floor, before fleeing when the woman's screams alerted a passer-by.

'Hyperventilating'

On New Year's Eve, he tried to rape a second woman in Elephant and Castle, pulling down her trousers and dragging her by her ankles to the doorway of a London South Bank University building, but was disturbed by a security guard who heard her "hysterical" screams. On 4 January, Victorin carried out four similar sexual assaults on separate women, between 11:00 and 14:15 GMT. One victim described how he was "panting" as he grabbed her hips, while another was said to be so distressed she was "hyperventilating" when he groped her thighs. Victorin was identified after detectives theorised the attacker might be on some kind of curfew because of the timing of the offences and tracked him down to his hostel. He has seven previous convictions for 14 offences dating back to 2014. While serving a sentence for unlawful wounding and possession of an offensive weapon, he sexually assaulted two prison guards and was jailed for a year, having also sexually assaulted a female police officer in March last year. He was released halfway through his sentence in August, but recalled to prison after being charged with possession of cannabis and outraging public decency - by having consensual sex in a park in front of people, including children - and was then freed under licence in December. Stephen Akinsanya, defending, said his client's "indication of remorse is genuine". Describing Victorin as a "prolific offender", Metropolitan Police Det Sgt Chloe Angris said: "It is possible that there might be other women who were assaulted by him, and I would urge them to contact us."

Description

A 'violent bully' forced his victims to eat their own faeces in a horrific campaign of abuse. David Fury-Walsh, who also falsely claimed he was related to pro-boxer Tyson Fury, raped, assaulted and coerced three women.

The case began building against the 31-year-old, also known as David Overton, in September 2021, when police received reports he had raped and assaulted a woman.

He was arrested within hours of the report but during his time in custody, two other women also came forward and reported they had also been victims of his abusive behaviour.

The victims all told police how when they initially met Fury-Walsh he was a 'caring and generous man', who told his victims that he was a relative of the boxing champion Tyson Fury. However, police said his behaviour quickly changed and he began abusing the women.

Fury-Walsh, formally of Brook Street, Macclesfield, forced his victims to have sex on demand, violently assaulting them if they didn’t comply with his wishes. On two occasions he even made victims eat their own faeces.

He also controlled the women’s finances, taking out loans in their names and manipulating them into handing over their savings on the promise that there would be a big return, which never emerged.

Following the reports, officers from Cheshire Constabulary built up a case file of evidence against Fury-Walsh and charged him with a total of 25 offences. He was found guilty of all charges following a three-week trial at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday (December 14).

The offences included 13 counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, three counts of controlling and coercive behaviour, three counts of actual bodily harm, one count of sexual touching and possession of a knife. He has been remanded in custody to appear at Chester Crown Court on February 6 2023 for sentencing.

Following the verdict, Detective Constable Jade Bannerman, who led the investigation said: “Firstly I would like to thank the victims for the courage and bravery that they have shown throughout this investigation. Fury-Walsh is a violent and manipulative bully, and even when faced with all the evidence against him, he refused to plead guilty to any of the charges.

“Instead, he forced his victims to relive their experiences in court, which could not have been easy for them. Thankfully, as a result of the statements provided by the victims, and the evidence we gathered the jury have seen through his lies and he is now being held accountable for his actions.”

Description

Sex obsessed Matthew Bushell groped women and sucked their fingers in his home A sex attacker placed adverts for topless women to clean his home. Matthew Bushell, 48, is banned from advertising for women to contact him as a result of past sex attacks. The pervert lured two female victims to his home under false pretences then molested them in 2013. Courts have heard about his "unhealthy obsession" with sex and history of using sex workers and escorts. But last December he flouted the ban by placing 32 ads for what he called "consensual sexual entertainment". Bushell was convicted of two sexual assaults in May 2014 after putting adverts on Gumtree for female cleaners. Explaining the "context" to his latest offence, Simon Duncan, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court one woman met him at Southport train station in June 2013. Mr Duncan said Bushell took her to his home in Cobden Road, Southport, where "he grabbed her, kissed her and sucked her fingers", so she left and called police. Officers went to his house the next day and found another woman, there "under the pretence of a job interview". She didn't make any criminal allegations, but then a second female victim came forward, who had also responded to a Gumtree advert. She went to Bushell's house that April, but when she arrived, he asked her if she would clean topless for cash. Mr Duncan said he "put his hand down her pants and touched her breasts and offered her money to stay the night". Bushell was sentenced to a hospital order and hit with an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). He was released from hospital in February 2015 and then monitored by Merseyside Police's sex offender unit. Mr Duncan said "suspicions were building" for officers in October 2020, when they examined his electronic devices and found search terms "of concern", but no evidence of any offences. However, in February this year, police discovered he had placed ads on the website Viva Street under the username "CoolBoy47" asking women if they wanted "horny fun". Mr Duncan said: "He was inviting females to call, text or WhatsApp at any time." He said Bushell placed 32 adverts for women on Viva Street between December 10 and 16 "inviting them to engage in sex work, some advertising for topless cleaning services, and others offered payment for sexual services". Mr Duncan said: "He has a history of using sex workers and strangely on occasions reporting his dissatisfaction with their services to the police." He added: "He was interviewed on March 29, 2021. He admitted that he created the Viva Street account with a view to some 'consensual sexual entertainment'." Bushell admitted placing the adverts and said he received "a fair few responses" but only chatted to them on the phone and then stopped because he feared it would be discovered. He admitted breaching his SOPO. Bushell was previously convicted of breaching the order in February 2018, when he was spared jail after placing ads for female house cleaners. Mr Duncan said he was later convicted of harassment against a female doctor, who had once treated him, by sending her "abusive and insulting messages" and calls. The prosecutor said his last conviction was for criminal damage offences, adding: "They relate to motor vehicles. The defendant apparently was drunk and went on a bit of a spree, damaging cars." Mark Phillips, defending, said "remorseful" Bushell had been "very open" in a detailed pre-sentence report. He said: "The report is very critical of him in many ways, but it addresses the way he perceives right and wrong in many instances. "It's clear he has a drink problem, he's on the autistic spectrum and he has a low IQ, that is approximately 71. "He knows what he was doing was wrong. He's a lonely individual, very isolated. His best friend is his father who provides him with a home." Mr Phillips added: "His father said to me he 'fires from the hip' quite often. That is evident in his pre-sentence report. "He has not done himself any favours - he has essentially stated to probation he does not wish to cooperate with them." The lawyer said he had told Bushell he was facing jail, which had "woken him up", and he was now willing to do "whatever he's told, anything to avoid prison". Judge Stuart Driver, QC, said Bushell's culpability was high because "it was a persistent and deliberate breach" and the harm involved was high because "there was a risk of very serious harm or distress". He said: "You intended to get women inside your house and the probation officer in the report concludes that you represent a high risk of harm to women." Noting his "strong mitigation", Judge Driver said: "You have mental health problems that are entrenched, you have been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorder, and you're functioning at a low level of intelligence." However, the judge said he wasn't willing to suspend the prison sentence, stating: "You represent a risk and a danger to the public." He jailed Bushell for two years, who shook his head, then gave a thumbs up and waved to a man sitting in the public gallery as he was sent down.

Description

Jamie Teasdale, of Gateshead, wanted to meet a child for sexual activity and had downloaded indecent images online A self-confessed paedophile who tried to groom a 13-year-old girl for sexual activity and was twice caught with indecent images of children has been locked up. Pervert Jamie Teasdale made persistent attempts to groom and meet a child called Chloe - not realising it was a decoy profile online being run by vigilantes. He admitted he would have engaged in sexual activity with the youngster if she had been real. Police also found child abuse images on his phone and then later found he had downloaded more after his initial arrest. Now the 28-year-old, of Sheriffs Highway, Gateshead, has been jailed for three years at Newcastle Crown Court. Recorder Keir Monteith QC told him: "You have shown you are capable of harming a child, sexually and psychologically." Paedophile hunters Guardians of the North had set up the Chloe profile online and when Teasdale began communicating with her, he was told she was 13. He went on to groom her for sex, telling her she was attractive and asking for images of her. The communication went on for weeks, with Teasdale telling her he wanted to meet her to have sexual activity. He asked her about whether she had any sexual experience and when told no, he suggested it would be fun to start off with "little things". Recorder Monteith said: "You later said it was an added bonus she was a child who was willing to discuss sex." He tried to entice her to go to his home and made an arrangement to meet her but was detained by the vigilantes and arrested. His laptop was seized and more than 200 indecent images were found, some of the most serious type, including a girl aged between eight and ten being raped. Teasdale was subsequently arrested again around two years later and had a further 12 indecent images. And in September 2018 he had distributed one category B indecent image to a woman he was talking to on Kik. He pleaded guilty to attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming, six counts of making indecent images and one of distributing an indecent image. As well as the prison sentence, he will have to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years. Jennifer Coxon, defending, said: "He has not shied away from the fact he has a sexual interest in young children." Miss Coxon said Teasdale's first job was as a bartender and he ended up having a "difficult relationship with alcohol" and had "dabbled with cannabis". She added that he had engaged in casual relationships with adults, one of whom he was in bed with watching TV when he first communicated with Chloe. The court heard he struggled with caring for his mum and his death and has been depressed recently.

Description

A SLOUGH man has been jailed for three years and two months following child sex offences online.

Ross Thompson-Cooley, 62, of Lowestoft Drive, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday, December 13.

He pleaded guilty to one count each of, engaging in sexual communication with a child, adult attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and adult attempting to meet a girl under 16 of age following grooming.

The offences occurred online in August and September this year.

Thompson-Cooley used Rando and Whatsapp to send explicit messages to two girls under 16, calling himself Romeo.

He also attempted to arrange an in-person meet.

Thompson-Cooley was later arrested on September 4.

A section 18 house search was carried out and multiple electronic items were seized.

After further investigation by Thames Valley Police, Thompson-Cooley was charged on September 5.

And later convicted following a hearing at Reading Magistrates Court on September 7.

He pleaded guilty to all three charges.

Thompson-Cooley was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

Police Staff Investigator Rina Sahota, of CID, said: "Thames Valley Police is committed to investigating and bringing before the courts people like Thompson-Cooley who clearly poses a threat to young girls.

"If you think someone is committing such offences, or you feel you have been a victim of such an offence we would advise you to contact Thames Valley Police on 101 or online or on 999 if is an emergency.

"There is further information on how to keep you and your family safe online on our website."

Description

A teaching assistant from Runcorn who sexually abused a vulnerable pupil from the school where he worked has been jailed.

Alexander Palin appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday 15 December where he was sentenced to 36 months in prison.

The 30-year-old from Runcorn, had earlier been found guilty of five counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 17, being an adult abusing a position of trust.

Palin was employed as a teaching assistant at a school in Runcorn for a number of years.

The allegations against him came to light in November 2019 when the victim, a 16-year-old pupil, confided in her mum about what had taken place.

She revealed that she had met Palin outside school multiple times and that the pair had engaged in sexually activity on a number of occasions.

The offences occurred within Palin's car, whilst parked in a secluded area of Wigg Island between the winter of 2018 and summer of 2019.

Palin was arrested in relation to the allegations in November 2019 and, despite denying any involvement, he was subsequently charged with five counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13 to 17 and one count of abusing a position of trust.

Following the sentencing Detective Constable Ed Flaherty, who has led the investigation, said: "I'd like to praise the victim in this case for the bravery and courage she has shown, both throughout this investigation and subsequent trial.

"Palin held a position of trust, and while the victim was not in any of his classes, he was well aware that she was a pupil and he knew that she was vulnerable.

"In spite of this, he purposefully chose to take advantage of her for his own sexual gratification.

"Despite all of the evidence gathered against him, Palin continued to deny all of the allegations made against him and has shown no remorse for the pain that he has caused, which will impact the victim for the rest of her life.

"Thankfully the jury were able to see through his lies and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.

"I hope the sentence handed to Palin provides reassurance for the victim and allows her to move forward with her life."

On top of his custodial sentence Palin was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register (until further order) and added to the barring list.

He was also issued with a banning notice preventing him from working with children.

Description

A paedophile has been jailed for deliberately deleting the internet search history on his laptop.

Justin Sanders, 26, who is also known as Justin Washington, installed an app on the machine designed to clean it of evidence, Exeter Crown Court heard.

Sanders is a convicted sex offender who was subject to a court order banning him from deleting his internet search history.

But when police checked up on him last year they found child abuse images on his phone.

They also discovered he had installed CCleaner software on his laptop and used it to delete evidence of what he had been looking at during lockdown.

He told a judge that he had only deleted cookies, temporary files and caches to make his computer work better but the judge said the evidence pointed to him deleting indecent images of children.

Recorder Don Tait said: "He was deliberately and knowingly deleting incriminating and significant evidence from his laptop."

Sanders was jailed for two years.

The defendant, of Howell Road, Exeter, admitted two offences of having indecent images of children on his phone. He also admitted breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed in 2016.

Mr Brian Fitzherbert, prosecuting, said police could not find evidence of exactly what images Sanders had deleted from this laptop. But they found a conversation Sanders had on Facebook with another sex offender in which they shared enthusiastic paedophilic opinions on a child anime character.

The defendant has previous convictions for possessing indecent images of children and for sexual offences against boys.

Ms Emily Pitts, defending, said Sanders knew he had breached the terms of his SHPO by deleting cookies with CCleaner but said his police offender manager had told him he had permission to do so.

He was someone who needed help for his behaviour and would not get that in prison, she said.

"Custody is a damaging environment for him," she added. "It is not going to address his longer term issues. Custody is not going to help him and not going to help the public or protect the public.

"What is needed is structure and tailored intervention."

Description

An Essex pensioner has been jailed after he secretly filmed himself giving sports massages to young girls and possessing indecent images of children.

Hugh Hunter's vile videos were found on USB sticks after police raided his home in Irvon Hill Road, Wickford, last year.

The 74-year-old's home came to police's attention after officers discovered an IP address had been used to access indecent images of children.

After raiding the home while Hunter and his partner were present, police seized numerous devices, on which dozens of images were found, plus the voyeuristic videos on the USB sticks.

The videos were made when Hunter was working as a sports massage therapist to at least two young girls over a five year period.

Hunter attempted to claim he did not have a sexual interest in children, and that he recorded the videos due to fears the girls would accuse him of inappropriately touching them.

But this was rejected by Judge Shane Collery at Hunter's sentencing at Southend Crown Court on Wednesday (December 8), saying Hunter did it for his own gratification.

The court heard that Hunter had 62 category A images of child abuse - the most serious kind - along with 36 category B and 365 category C.

Prosecuting, James Lofthouse said: "Various recordings were made by Mr Hunter himself and on USB sticks, made certainly without the girls or parents knowing they were being recorded. These occurred over a number of years.

"They were able to be identified in their house."

Mr Lofthouse said that one of the girls had been made to feel "uncomfortable" when Hunter asked her to remove items of clothing.

In a victim impact statement, one of Hunter's victims, now an adult, said she had been left "angry and upset" by his actions.

She said: "Finding out as a result of a police investigation has had an impact on me.

"I had to go to counselling as a result and the stress and anxiety had me off work.

"I kept playing the events over and over in my head. I feel guilty that I never spoke out about it."

Mitigating, Daniel Setter said that Hunter recognises that his actions were "unacceptable", but had admitted his guilt as early as possible, and that the offences cast "a long shadow" over him.

Mr Setter also cited Hunter's various health problems and old age.

Judge Shane Collery said: "He said it was done to protect himself from later accusations of wrongdoing.

"It was done because he had a sexual interest in children.

"The videos are recorded and he planned what was going to happen.

"No one knows what the motive was."

Judge Collery jailed Hunter for 33 months for two counts of voyeurism and three counts of possession of indecent images of children.

Description

Aiden Nicholson, of Gateshead, claimed he possessed the indecent images accidentally and denied having a sexual attraction to children A computer specialist caught with indecent images of children as young as three has walked free from court. Software engineer Aiden Nicholson had downloaded hundreds of indecent images, some depicting youngsters who were in pain and distress. A court heard he claimed to have possessed them accidentally while downloading legal pornography but he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images. He also admitted having an extreme pornography image depicting someone having sex with a dog. Now Nicholson, 25, of Hamsterley Crescent, Wrekenton, Gateshead, whose partner and family are standing by him, has been given a suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court. Police went to his home with a warrant in July last year and found the illegal material on a memory card. There were 193 pictures and videos of the most serious type, category A, 93 category B and 801 category C. When he was arrested he said he downloaded a large amount of adult pornography which he then found contained indecent images of children. Nicholson, also known as Mynard, denied having a sexual attraction to children. The children featured in the videos were aged between three and 17. Penny Hall, prosecuting, said: "There was pain and distress suffered by children in some of the images." Recorder Keir Monteith QC sentenced Nicholson to 16 months, suspended for two years, with 300 hours unpaid work, a 500 fine. He must also do a sex offenders treatment programme and sign the sex offenders register and be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years. Joe Culley, defending, said Nicholson had written a letter expressing remorse and demonstrating insight into the impact of his offending. He added that he has taken steps to ensure there is no repeat. Mr Culley said: "He has a good job which provides him with a reasonably good level of income, he works as an IT specialist. "He's in a long term relationship and plans to move in with his long-term girlfriend. She knows of what he has pleaded guilty to. "There are character references from people who say they find this type of offending to be out of his character. There are two sides to his character. "He is a blood donor and gives blood as often as he can." Mr Culley said Nicholson's employer was not aware of the nature of the proceedings but that he expected to be able to keep his job.

Description

A convicted sex offender who repeatedly hid his computer during police checks has been jailed over indecent images of children.

Neil Marston, 51, admitted breaching a life-long sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) imposed after he was convicted of possessing similar images of children in 2018.

Norwich Crown Court heard officers who visited his home on April 14 this year discovered him attempting to hide a Lynx tablet computer behind a wardrobe.

It was subsequently found to contain more than 100 indecent images of children and two videos of sexual content involving children.

In interviews Marston, of Quarry Lane in Lyng, admitted he had hidden the device on previous visits by officers carrying out inspections under the order.

He claimed the images were not illegal and were "just erotic".

Marston, a carpenter, appeared at court to be sentenced on Tuesday having previously pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images of a child and two counts of making indecent photos of a child.

Lori Tucker, defending, said the offences had been committed without a "consideration of the consequences" but that Marston now accepted that indecent images of children caused "real world harm".

"These offences were committed 20 months ago and in the meantime there has been no suggestion of further reoffending," she added.

But the court heard that a pre-sentence report had concluded there was a "high risk" of Marston committing further offences involving indecent images of children and that he also posed a danger to children in person.

Jailing him for 15 months, including three months from the suspended prison term imposed in 2018, Judge Katharine Moore said he was a "dishonest man willing to deceive and lie to authority".

She said: "It's perfectly clear, despite everything that you have said, that you have a sexual attraction to children that is longstanding and enduring.

"When this is taken together with your deceitful ways it mitigates against community intervention.

"What is particularly concerning is that you are someone who, on the face of it, is likely to attend and engage but in reality you are practicing deceit and carrying on regardless and repeated prosecution has proved to be no deterrent to you."

Description

A former Norfolk traffic warden who sexually abused a 13-year-old boy three decades ago has been jailed for four and half years.

Shane Vertigan, 52, who also worked previously as a police community support officer (PCSO) in Fakenham, preyed upon Wesley Spinks, who was aged 13 at the time of the offences.

The abuser was jailed at Norwich Crown Court on Monday (December 13) after having previously admitted three counts of gross indecency with a child under 14 and two counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14 dating back to 1992 and 1993.

Vertigan, who appeared via videolink from prison, is already serving a six-year sentence imposed two years ago for sexual assaults he committed against a teenage girl in the mid 2000s.

Mr Spinks, now aged 41, has waived his right to anonymity. He read out an emotional statement to the court about the impact the abuse has had on his life.

Addressing his abuser directly and with his voice breaking, the former Hellesdon High School pupil said: " Shane, I will never truly know the emotional and life changing effects that your abuse had on me."

He added: "Through the years your actions shut me down emotionally and physically, having to relive your disgusting actions daily , where I can both smell and remember what you made me do to you, all for your own self-gratification."

Prosecutor Lori Tucker said Mr Spinks had known and trusted Vertigan but that he had sexually abused the then teenage boy after coming into his bedroom wearing nothing but his underwear. On another occasion he abused him in a van before taking him to a Norwich City match.

Sentencing Vertigan, Judge Maureen Bacon said he had committed a "terrible abuse of an innocent child".

"I have heard from the very considerable impact your offending has had upon him over the years," she said.

"He describes how his emotions have been disabled and disturbed and how he had descended into alcohol dependency which mercifully he has fought his way back from.

"He stands in this court with sufficient magnanimity to forgive you."

Juliet Donovan, mitigating, said Vertigan has been married for 22 years and had been involved in church activities for many years.

"He has written an apology note," she said. "In essence it is a deep apology. He realises what he has done and the effect he has had."

Description

A FORMER Wakefield teacher has been jailed after being convicted of sexual activity with a child. Jonathan Adamson, 33, of Lockley Crescent, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, was sentenced on Monday, December 6, to seven years imprisonment. He was also put on the sex offenders register indefinitely and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. He was convicted following a trial at Leeds Crown Court of four counts of sexual activity with a child and pleaded guilty at the start of the trial to one further count of sexual activity with a child. The offences occurred a number of years ago and were against one teenage girl. Adamson worked as a teacher at the time of the offences. DI Suzanne Gall, of Wakefield Child Safeguarding Unit, said: Adamson has groomed his victim and sexually assaulted her on a number of occasions. His actions were predatory and took advantage of a vulnerable victim. "I welcome the custodial sentence he has been given and hope it provides the victim with some closure after she was forced to relive the offences he committed against her at trial when he refused to accept his guilt. These offences were reported a couple of years after they occurred and I hope it demonstrates that the police and CPS can, and will, still investigate and prosecute such offences where possible.

Description

A convicted sex offender used Snapchat to pretend he was 15 in order to groom an underage girl before meeting up with her to have sex.

Joshua Murrell, from Crewe, who was in fact 19 years-old, has been jailed for five-and-a-half years after admitting a string of serious sexual offences.

His victim was aged 13 and 14 at the time of the offences.

Murrell, of Plane Tree Drive, was already the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) having been convicted of sexual offences in March 2020.

He was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on December 9 having pleaded guilty to several offences, including sexual activity and sexual communication with a child as well as breaches of the SHPO.

Rob Edwards, prosecuting, said the SHPO prohibited Murrell from using the internet to contact a child under the age of 16.

However, on May 8 this year he contacted the victim on Snapchat and persisted with messaging her despite the fact she told him she was 13.

Murrell told her he was 15 and began asking for images of the victim.

Upon receiving them, he referred to her as "sexy" and told her he loved her. He also sent her an image of his erect penis, the court heard.

Mr Edwards said Murrell had told the victim that "if she did everything he wanted" he would get her "everything she wanted" up to a value of 500.

On June 1 they met at a park in Nantwich where they shared a kiss.

Then on the following two days, June 2 and 3, the defendant had sex with the victim near a lake in Nantwich, the court heard.

The victim told her support worker about what had happened and the police were informed.

Following his arrest, Murrell denied that he knew the victim. He was released under investigation.

On August 29, he made contact with the victim again, anonymously on Snapchat.

Mr Edwards said messages were then shared via WhatsApp with Murrell telling the victim he intended to marry her when she was 16.

He asked her not to tell anyone that he was in contact with her.

"She felt sorry for him", Mr Edwards told the court. "She didn't want to cooperate with the police."

On August 31 they met again in Crewe where they had sex.

They arranged to meet again but never did, and Murrell was re-arrested the following month.

Mr Edwards said the victim has suffered "panic attacks" as a result of Murrell's offending. She feels "sad and angry", he added.

Sarah Badrawy, defending, said her client, who has been diagnosed with autism, was aware that he faced "a sentence of some significant length".

She told the court: "He struggles to understand why he offends in this way. It's something he wants to explore and address.

"As a young man he doesn't want to spend his life committing offences of this nature.

"He wants to address the issues and risk he poses. He does not shy away from that.

"He wants to know why his mind works in this way, to identify the trigger factors and keep away from this type of behaviour."

She added that her client has a "supportive family" and there was an employment opportunity awaiting him upon his release.

Judge Simon Berkson said the offences committed by Murrell have had "a significant effect on the victim".

He told the defendant: "You're 19 and have pleaded guilty to a number of sexual offences.

"You groomed your victim who was then aged 13. You were purporting to be 15.

"The grooming became sexual. You denied committing the offences and persisted with the lies until your first appearance at crown court."

Judge Berkson added that having autism had "affected" Murrell and told him it may be a reason why he struggled "making relationships with people your own age".

Murrell was sentenced to five and a half years in a youth detention centre, of which half will be served on licence.

He was also handed a 12-year SHPO and a restraining order covering the same length of time.