Latest Offenders

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This is the face of a Derbyshire rapist who took advantage of a young woman - paralytic on drink and drugs - to sexually attack her.

A judge told Simon Sowden what he did to the brave victim was "a horrific incident" for her.

In her own victim impact statement she told how she did not even want to look at herself in the mirror because of what the 32-year-old did to her.

She and her family showed huge courage to come to Derby Crown Court earlier this week to see Sowden jailed for 10 years and nine months.

But her attacker could not even begin to muster the same courage, choosing instead to turn away from the public gallery and shield his face from her during the hearing.

Now, after consulting with the victim, Derbyshire police has released a custody photograph of Sowden.

Sarah Phelan, prosecuting, said the sex attack happened in the early hours of the morning one day in April 2019.

She said Sowden met the victim in a pub in Chesterfield and the two of them drank heavily and took cocaine.

Miss Phelan said: "He took advantage of her when she was heavily intoxicated, took her back to his flat under the guise of protecting her when she was paralytic through drink and drugs and was not capable of consenting.

"Two taxis refused to take them and it was only a third taxi, driven by a female, who was prepared to take them.

"They arrived at his flat and she recalls taking her false eyelashes off.

"She said she then recalls feeling she was being (touched sexually) and then felt him inside her and could hear him moaning and breathing.

"She got to the bathroom, grabbed her things and left.

"There is CCTV of her trying to flag down an ambulance."

Miss Phelan said the victim rushed home and told her mother she had been raped and the police were called.

She said the defendant was arrested at around 9.45am in a van in Chesterfield and answered "no comment" to questions he was asked in two police interviews.

Sowden, of Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, pleaded guilty to rape, assault by penetration and sexual assault but only on the day his trial was due to begin.

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Sick Marc Stokes-Denson claimed he was acting as a paedophile hunter himself A paedophile said he wanted to repeatedly rape a girl, aged 12, as her mum watched. Marc Stokes-Denson tried to claim he was in fact acting as a paedophile hunter and continued the chat because he was "concerned", but a jury didn't believe his lies. The 45-year-old was actually talking to an undercover police officer who posed as 'Becky'. David Polglase, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said Stokes-Denson had used the name 'KinkDomM_UK on Chat Avenue and live:d***stokes on Skype. Judge Anil Murray said over two months Stokes-Denson "developed a relationship" with 'Becky'. He told her he was sexually interested in her 12-year-old daughter, Lizzie and in vile chats spoke about the two of them sexually abusing the 'child' together. Mr Polglase said: "On one specific day, Becky allowed Lizzie onto the computer to chat with the defendant, and he engaged in sexual communication with Lizzie'." Stokes-Denson was arrested on Sunday, September 2019, and in a police interview claimed he had reported 'Becky' to an online admin, despite having no evidence he had done so. He claimed he "continued to chat with Becky as he was concerned and wanted to find out more". He denied being sexually attracted to children and said he carried on so he would have "evidence" to show police. Stokes-Denson, of The Close, Walton, was convicted by a jury of arranging to commit an offence of penetrative sexual activity with a child between May 28 and August 6, 2019. He was also convicted of attempting sexual communication with a child between the same dates. Stephen Tettey, defending, said: "The defendant makes clear he is sorry for the position he places himself and his family in. "He is ashamed of his conduct and realises the hardship which members of the jury must have endured in listening to a case of this nature." Mr Tettey said there was a "prospect of rehabilitation" and Stokes-Denson had undergone treatment "by way of counselling" and had a "willingness to cooperate". Mr Tettey said: "A rehabilitated defendant is better than one who is only punished." He said Stokes-Denson is "not the person he was in 2019" and his family "continue to support him". Mr Tettey stressed there was no actual child involved and that he sent a message to say he was "no longer prepared to meet". Judge Murray, sentencing, noted Stokes-Denson had a "good work record" and had suffered "some physical illness in 2017" as well as financial problems which "caused stress". In February 2019 Stokes-Denson had also separated from his wife. A doctor said Stokes-Denson showed signs of an adjustment disorder which meant he was "unlikely to consider the full consequences" of his actions. The judge rejected the suggestion and said: "The way you acted was quite deliberate." Judge Murray added Stokes-Denson was a "danger of causing serious harm to children". The judge said he was not sure if Stokes-Denson's claim he was "ashamed and sorry" was an admission of guilt, but said he did not accept remorse. Judge Murray said: "You have shown not a shred of remorse." Stokes-Denson was jailed for five years and six months and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. He was also ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life. Speaking after the case, Detective Chief Inspector Bev Hyland said: "Were pleased to see Stokes-Denson dealt with at court today after his plans to abuse a child. "Unbeknownst to him, Stokes-Denson was speaking to an undercover officer, and he was swiftly arrested. We are absolutely committed to protecting children, from those who seek to cause them harm. Our Merseyside Police Online Child Abuse Investigation Team works tirelessly and will use all available powers to identify offenders who pose a risk towards children and bring them to justice. Anyone that has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us. "We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports and we will do everything we can to continue to bring offenders to justice.

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The woman was left bruised and crying after Andrew Matthews attacked her A sex offender told his victim he was a 'black belt' in attacking women. After making the vile comment, Andrew Matthews grabbed the woman's genitals with such force she was left bruised and crying. The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was left suffering "anxiety" and "panic attacks" after the horrific incident. Kate Morley, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court, said Matthews had "forcibly grabbed her over clothing" after which she "screamed" and "began to cry". Judge Louise Brandon said Matthews had "grabbed and squeezed her vagina causing pain and bruising" in the attack earlier this year, which left the victim "feeling depressed" and "unhappy in her own skin". He had also "grabbed her by the neck with one hand" and spat in her face before punching her. Ms Morley said there was "no physical injury" from the punch. Matthews has 19 previous convictions for 24 offences including battery against a woman and a non-domestic violence related battery. William Staunton, defending, said the offences "should cause him to feel shame" and to "reflect upon the way in which he behaves". He stressed he had "no previous for sexual offending" and added he has completed a 12-step programme to address his drinking while in custody. Mr Staunton said: "He will have time from today to sit at Her Majesty's Pleasure to sit and contemplate what he has done." Matthews, of O'Leary Street, Warrington, was convicted of sexual assault and common assault following a trial. Judge Brandon, sentencing, said a "particularly disgusting aspect of this offence" was his spitting at the woman. Matthews was jailed for 18 months and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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A Bristol-based member of the Salvation Army and former National Crime Agency employee has been jailed after being convicted of having sex with a schoolgirl.

James Bryant "moulded and manipulated" the youngster from when she was aged 13, Bristol Crown Court was told.

It was claimed he persuaded her to send him photos of her private parts he told her to touch herself when he phoned her.

They went on to have sex on numerous occasions, in Bristol and in a hotel, and on one occasion together with a adult woman, a jury heard.

Bryant, 40, of Charter House Close in Nailsea, denied three charges of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He denied 12 charges of sexual activity with a child but admitted three sexual activity with a child charges.

He also denied sexual assault of a woman by touching her bottom.

After 12 hours' deliberation a jury convicted him of all counts barring one charge of causing or inciting a chilld to engage in sexual activity, three of sexual activity with a child and the sexual assault.

The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC jailed Bryant for ten years.

He was told to register as a sex offender indefinitely, was barred from working with children and was handed a 16-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop him re-offending.

At Bryant's trial David Sapiecha, prosecuting, said Bryant worked for the NCA and was a "rising" member of a Salvation Army branch.

Mr Sapiecha told the court: "The prosecution says the defendant was feeding his own sexual appetite and using a girl for that puropse, a girl too young, to achieve his own sexual desires.

"He manipulated and moulded the victim into his own sex toy, willing to do what he wanted, and he did so in the context of a gross breach of trust."

Mr Sapiecha told the court: "She said at the time she thought she loved him.

"She thought that he loved her.

"She was clearly impressionable.

"He was in control., she was much less robust than somebody of an adult age."

On one occasion Bryant and the girl engaged in a sexual threesome with a woman, the court heard.

The prosecutor told the jury Bryant's case was that the girl and woman spontaneosly engaged in sexual behaviour and he joined in on the spur of the moment.

Matters were reported to police after the girl told her mum and sister what had been going on, the court heard.

Bryant denied a charge that he touched a woman's bottom around New Year's Eve in 2011.

A spokesperson for the NSPCC in the South West said: "This is an awful case where a child was victim to a campaign of sexual abuse.

"Bryant manipulated and exploited a young teenage girl for his own sexual gratification and it is right he now faces justice for his crimes.

"The victim has shown huge courage in coming forward and it is crucial she now receives the appropriate support."

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A sex offender was found to have breached his order by downloading indecent child images and distributing them on a secret phone after struggling in lockdown, a court heard.

Shaun Turrell, 56, who was subject to checks by police officers, was suspected of having a phone which he kept hidden from the authorities, Norwich Crown Court was told on Friday.

Marc Brown, prosecuting, said as a convicted sex offender Turrell had to disclose if he had any devices which could access the internet. Mr Brown said that Turrell claimed he did not have a smartphone and only had a basic phone, without internet access.

However acting on a tip-off, police carried out a search of Turrell's home and found a smart phone hidden in a drawer in his bedroom.

Mr Brown said when analysed, the device showed that Turrell had downloaded indecent images, including some in the most serious category, and had shared images with another person on a chatroom site which he had been using.

Mr Brown said it was not the first time that Turrell had breached court orders and downloaded indecent child images.

The court heard Turrell had previous convictions for possession and distribution of indecent images of children and was also in breach of an eight week suspended sentence given to him.

Turrell, formerly of Old Hunstanton Road, Hunstanton, admitted distribution and downloading indecent images and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order and was jailed for 33 months.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Isobel Ascherson, for Turrell, said that he had re-offended during a particularly difficult time in lockdown.

She said he had been thrown out of the family home but had then had to help care for his elderly mother, who ended up in hospital in Norwich.

Ms Ascherson said although not an excuse, the stress of what was happening and the rigours of lockdown made him re-offend.

She said that 2020 had been a particularly difficult year for him.

Sentencing Turrell, Recorder Simon Taylor said he accepted lockdown and his family difficulties had made it harder for Turrell, but said: "These are very serious matters indeed."

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He later told the person she disclosed it to "you f***ing rat, you're f***ing dead" A "horrible monster" raped a woman then tried to intimidate the person she disclosed the attack to. Barry Worrall entered a room when his victim was sleeping and started kissing her, before she woke up and told him to stop. But when the woman went back to sleep, she woke again to find Worrall, 36, of Gleneagles Drive, Haydock, raping her. Judge Robert Trevor-Jones today said: "She pleaded with you to stop. She attempted to struggle physically with you, but you carried on regardless." A trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard how Worrall simply walked off after the rape and smoked a cigarette. The woman disclosed the attack to a female relative, which led to a complaint being made to the police. The victim later told officers: "I told him to get off me, and he wouldn't, he was just carrying on. And all I could smell was sweat. "I was trying to get him off me but I just... I couldn't, I just could not get him off me cos he had that much force onto the top." Worrall was arrested by police, but gave a no comment interview and was released on bail. Robert Dudley, prosecuting, said the rapist then intimidated the woman's relative, who was a prosecution witness. He did this by driving past her home, rolling down the window of his car and shouting: "You f***ing rat, you're f***ing dead." When arrested again, he denied driving past her home and said he couldn't have done because he had been in a crash, which meant his car had been written off. However, detectives spoke to his insurers, who confirmed the only crash they were aware of happened after the alleged intimidation. Worrall denied the rape but was found guilty after a trial. He pleaded guilty to witness intimidation shortly before the trial began. Mr Dudley today read a statement from his rape victim, in which she described Worrall as a "horrible monster". The woman said she struggles with "daily flashbacks", has had nightmares every night since the attack and is now undergoing counselling. The victim said she was given different types of medication but none helped and what he did to her "makes me feel anxious and weak". She described how she "blacks out" a lot, little things trigger memories of the rape, she can't relax, is anxious around men and suffers from panic attacks. The court heard Worrall has 40 previous convictions, including possession of offensive weapons, criminal damage, public order offences, shoplifting, harassment and breaching court orders. Ben Jones, defending, accepted a psychiatric report didn't show any link between his client's mental health issues and the rape, but said it did identify a mental health background "some of it self-inflicted, some of it long term in origin". Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said he had to consider whether Worrall's mental health problems affected his responsibility for the rape and therefore the length of sentence he would impose. He said the psychiatric report dealt with his "long term drug use, cannabis and cocaine", referred to him being diagnosed with anxiety and depression and receiving antidepressants, which "appears to be cannabis related", but found no link between this and his attack. The judge added: "I notice of course you still maintain your innocence." He said the psychiatrist diagnosed him with "mild learning problems" and "paranoia induced by cannabis misuse", but concluded his sentence shouldn't be adjusted to reflect this. Judge Trevor-Jones said Worrall had caused his victim "very significant" psychological harm as he jailed him for seven years for the rape. Worrall, who appeared via video link from jail, showed no emotion and appeared to tell a prison officer the hearing had finished, when the link was then switched off. However, the judge then handed him a further two months in prison for the witness intimidation, to be served consecutively, and said he must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A sex offender has been sent to prison more than two decades after he abused a girl under the age of ten. David Wilson was locked up for two and a half years after pleading guilty to indecent assault. Wilson, 47, was aged in his 20s when he committed the offence. The victim read a statement to the court describing the years of physiological torment she had suffered since her ordeal. Judge Graham Reeds QC told Wilson, of Spittal Hardwick Lane, Castleford, that he must go on the sex offender register for life. He told Wilson that he had caused the victim "significant psychological harm." The judge also praised the victim for her bravery and the dignity she had shown.

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He had 'extremely disturbing' chats and shared child rape videos and images on WhatsApp A paedophile had sick online chats in which he fantasised about being a dad raping his own baby. Kyle Griffiths, 23, took part in "extremely distributing" conversations with other perverts on WhatsApp. And he also used the messaging service to share some of his vile collection of child rape videos. Liverpool Crown Court heard his disgusting stash included clips of babies and toddlers being raped. Police acting on information about the uploading of indecent images raided his home in Middleton Drive, Prescot, on July 6 last year. His Samsung mobile phone was seized and found to contain 47 Category A indecent images - the most serious category showing child rape - including 13 videos. Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, said these files, along with 41 Category B and 28 Category C indecent images, plus 1,616 prohibited (cartoon) images of children, were all downloaded between October 2019 and July 2020. Analysis of the phone showed Griffiths had also distributed Category A, B and C indecent images on WhatsApp. The court heard he sent a Category A video, two Category B photos and a Category C photo to one person on April 2, then on April 5 sent two Category A photos and one Category C photo to a different person. Mr Hopkins said: "I should also highlight a conversation which was sent by the defendant... I'm not going to read it out." He added: "It's extremely disturbing. It's a conversation where the defendant sets out a narrative of raping a baby as if he were the father of the baby." Mr Hopkins said: "There are other conversations which I'm not going to refer to, but I think it's fair to say that in summary the conversations with other users do talk about very young children." One Category A video showed a baby aged between four to six months being raped and another a girl aged three or four being raped. Griffiths admitted three counts of downloading, one count of possessing and three counts of distributing indecent photos of children, plus one count of possessing prohibited images of children. Jeremy Rawson, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had references from his mum and stepdad, sitting in the public gallery. He said Griffiths was single, with no children and in full time work, having lost a previous job as a result of the police investigation, but gained another. Mr Rawson said a pre-sentence report showed his "regret and remorse" and full acceptance of responsibility and his "sexual motivation". He said: "I'm not going to rehearse in full the detail of the pre-sentence report, but your honour will be aware that he himself was subject to abuse of the type which he then went on to view and that's had a significant effect upon him. "He's deeply ashamed, not just for the fact that the offence has been committed, but the fact his family have undergone the indignity of a search of their premises, they had their electronic items, laptops, iPads, phones, seized and searched." Mr Rawson added: "They have taken some considerable time to come to terms with what has happened to him as a result of this. "They stand by him, your honour can see they're sat at the back of the court today in support of him, and are anxious he's dealt with appropriately." The lawyer said the report identified the substantial "immaturity" of Griffiths, who was 21 at the time, and that his remorse was "genuine". He said Griffiths was undergoing therapy with child sex abuse prevention charity The Lucy Faithfull Foundation to address his issues. Mr Rawson said sentencing guidelines suggested a starting point of three years in prison. He urged the judge to reduce this because of his client's mitigation and full one third credit for his guilty plea to a sentence less than two years, which could then be suspended, so he could be rehabilitated in the community. Judge Denis Watson, QC, said he bore in mind all that he had read in the report and the references about Griffiths, "which tells me you come from a good family, that you have been successful in obtaining work and there is genuine remorse and shame". He also acknowledged that Griffiths had actively sought help and noted his age and immaturity. However, the judge said aggravating features of the case included the "extreme youth" of the children, the detail of Griffiths' conversation and the fact he distributed Category A images to two different people. Judge Watson said although there was a prospect of rehabilitation, the distribution of those images was the "dominant factor" in him deciding the only appropriate punishment was immediate custody. Griffiths started breathing heavily in the dock as he was jailed for 18 months. The judge ordered Griffiths to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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Matthew Peter Wood sent a young girl intimate images as well as videos showing him touching himself.

Using Facebook Messenger, the 19-year-old of Old Redbridge Road, asked the girl called Sophie to send him naked photos.

However, Wood was speaking with a decoy account using the name of a fictional person which had been set up to snare paedophiles.

Prosecution barrister, Jonathan Underhill, told how Wood was later confronted by a group of paedophile hunters who travelled to Southampton.

He initially denied the accusations against him and claimed his phone had been hacked.

However, he was then shown screenshots of his interactions with Sophie and admitted to what he had done.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court he was charged with intentionally attempting to communicate with a person under 16 who he did not reasonably believe to be 16 or over, the communication being intended to encourage her to make a communication that was sexual. He was also charged with intentionally attempting to cause a child to look at an image of himself engaging in sexual activity.

He pleaded guilty to the offences which happened between April and July last year at an earlier hearing.

Defending, Mark Florida-James, said his client has had depression since he was 12 years old when his girlfriend at the time died.

Mr Florida-James said: "Put quite bluntly Mr Wood is still a young man. He is terrified of what might happen to him."

At sentencing, Judge Peter Henry, said "I make it clear also that I have concerns about the ways of these so-called paedophile hunters because there is a narrow line between people who really are doing it for virtuous reasons and those who do it for recognition on Facebook."

He jailed him for six months, suspended for two years. Wood must complete 60 rehabilitation activity days and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Furthermore, he has been made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for seven years and must register as a sex offender for the same period.

He warned: "Had this been a real child, you would be going down those steps behind you."

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The general manager of a tipi hire company has admitted committing fraud and sex offences ahead of a trial for further voyeurism charges.

Gareth Fearnley Edwards, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on June 29.

Edwards was the general manager of Big Chief Tipis, based in Bolton, where he falsified freelancers' invoices before paying the fees to himself, heard the court.

The manager, of Willand Close in Breightmet, also pleaded guilty to one count of recording a person doing a private act and one count of making an indecent picture of a child at a plea and trial preparation hearing in Bolton Crown Court today (July 5).

He pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempts to possess indecent pictures of a child, another count of recording a person doing a private act and another count of making an indecent picture of a child.

Edwards will go on trial for the offences he denies.

The case has been adjourned until the trial is scheduled to begin on June 6, 2022.

Edwards has been released on bail.

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An abuser convicted of a catalogue of sex crimes against a Loughborough schoolgirl is facing a "significant" prison sentence.

Darren Looby was found guilty of 18 offences, at the end of a three week trial at Leicester Crown Court.

The 39-year-old defendant denied the offences.

The court heard that Looby, of Chilwell, Nottingham, began abusing the a girl in Loughborough when she was 11-years-old.

Two members of the jury were discharged during the trial, leaving remaining 10 jurors to bring in 18 guilty verdicts, all with a majority of 9 - 1.

They deliberated for nine and a half hours.

Looby was convicted of:

- Six counts of sexual activity with a child

- Four counts of rape

- Four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13

- Two counts of rape of a child under 13

- Two counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration

His crimes started in 2011 and continued until 2018 when the victim now in her early 20's left the town to attend university.

She contacted police in November 2018 and said the abuse she suffered at the hands of Looby eventually became normal and expected. She added she was scared about what he would do if she told anyone about what had happened.

After the guilty verdicts were announced Judge Keith Raynor thanked the jurors for their "public service" and said the defendant would be receiving a "significant prison sentence."

He adjourned the case for the preparation of a pre-sentence report to assess the "issue of dangerousness."

Looby was remanded into custody to await sentencing on Friday August 13.

Afterwards, the officer in the case, Det Con Emma Burrows, from the forces Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: Looby felt he had a degree of control over his victim and that he would be able to get away with his crimes because she wouldnt tell anyone.

But, after moving away to study at university, the victim was finally able to tell police about what happened and this is what led to him being brought to justice.

"I hope the outcome of the trial can provide some relief to move on with life.

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He claimed he only breached sex offender rules because he was 'running scared' A convicted rapist claimed he only breached the rules of the Sex Offenders Register because he was "running scared". Alan Badley once raped a woman in her own home and threatened to show a video of the attack to people on his estate. The then 20-year-old thug headbutted and repeatedly punched the victim during a vicious three-hour ordeal in April 2008. She only escaped when she persuaded him she was going to buy cigarettes and fled covered in blood to a neighbour's home. Badley, from Woodchurch in Birkenhead, was found guilty of rape after a trial and jailed for seven years in December 2008. The young dad - with three children to three different women - was also told to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Liverpool Crown Court today heard he has kept breaching its rules, including failing to notify police when he moves address. Simon Duncan, prosecuting, said the now 33-year-old told police he was living in Rice Lane, Wallasey, on September 7, 2020. But when an offender manager visited him on April 19, they "found the flat had been trashed and there was nobody present". Badley wasn't questioned about this until his arrest on June 3, when he claimed he left the flat in March and started buying cheap cars to live in. Mr Duncan said: "He told the police he had formed a relationship with another occupant at the flat who was married. He was threatened by her partner and left for a few days." Judge Gary Woodhall said: "That is consistent with what officers found at the scene, with some graffiti and the like." The court heard Badley was also arrested by police in Caernarfon, North Wales on March 19, after a call from a member of the public. Officers found him sitting in the driver's seat of a car, with the engine running, and a woman sitting in the passenger seat. They could smell alcohol and cannabis and he admitted having "a few drinks of vodka" and handed over a cannabis grinder. Badley failed a roadside breath test and later gave a reading of 40mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. He was previously banned from the road for dangerous driving in 2003 and never took an extended retest to regain his licence. Yet Badley told police he drove to North Wales to "chill out" and after parking up, was asked to move his car. Judge Woodhall said Badley had crashed into a wall and the car was "still wedged against it when the police arrived". While on bail over that incident, and still wanted over breaching his notification requirements, Badley drove again on June 3. Police saw him at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta on false plates on the M53 and stopped the car in Birkenhead at around 8.40am. Badley later admitted failing to comply with his notification requirements, two counts of driving while disqualified, two counts of driving without insurance, fraudulently altering a vehicle registration mark, being in charge of a vehicle while above the alcohol limit, and breach of bail. The court heard his criminal record includes four previous breaches of notification requirements. One is from July 2017, when he was jailed for three years for offences which also included assault causing actual bodily harm and harassment with violence, after repeatedly beating a former partner in the North East. Durham Crown Court heard during a four-month relationship he threatened to slit her throat and persuaded her to have her pet dog put down. Badley was last convicted of breaching his notification requirements following a period of homelessness last summer. On December 14 he was handed 26 weeks in jail, suspended for 18 months. The court today heard Badley's current girlfriend was sitting in the public gallery and had written a letter to the judge. Bernice Campbell, defending, said all of the offences were linked to her client's "chaotic life". She said: "He was released from prison, no fixed address, he initially met his current partner, though they did have a break in the middle, and she put him on the right tracks. "He got accommodation and unfortunately that didn't work out, and neither did the relationship at that time. "He's a man who has had a history of things that have upset his adult life, such as abuse when he was much younger, and he's at the moment currently waiting to be reviewed in regard to PTSD." Ms Campbell said Badley had abused alcohol, cannabis and heroin, but was now on methadone in prison and trying "to get on the straight and narrow", while also receiving medication for depression, anxiety and borderline personality disorder. She said the latest breach of his notification requirements wasn't deliberate and a result of him "running scared because of threats to his life". Ms Campbell added that Badley's partner was willing to support him and give him a home when he is next released from jail. The lawyer said: "She will stand by him. She sees through perhaps what many don't." Judge Woodhall adjourned the hearing just before a lunchtime break at 1pm, stating he would pass sentence after 2pm. Badley, appearing on a video link from HMP Altcourse, said: "Do I have to come back for that your honour?" "You do," the judge replied, to which Badley moaned: "What a joke." Judge Woodhall jailed him for 20 months in total, including four months of his suspended prison sentence. He also banned him from the road for two years and 10 months.

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A youngster left troubled after being molested by a Thornbury man found courage, with maturity, to report his abuser.

And as a result that abuser is now in prison.

The boy was aged 10 or 11 when Jeremy Farrow sexually abused him, Bristol Crown Court heard.

After Farrow told him not to say anything the child said nothing, but after some years he emailed his mum describing what Farrow had subjected him to.

Police were called in and Farrow was arrested.

Farrow, 53, of Castle Court, pleaded guilty to: causing a child aged under-13 to engage in sexual activity; engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child aged under-16 and breach of a Sexual Offence Prevention Order. (SOPO)

The Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC jailed him for seven-and-a-half years.

The judge told him: "You told him to keep quiet and that's what he did until it all became too much.

"You have caused severe, psychological harm to that young man."

Farrow was barred from working with children and was told to comply with sex offender notification, indefinitely.

James Tucker, prosecuting via video link, said the boy changed from being "bright and diligent" to a cannabis smoker whose academic work declined.

There came a time when he emailed his mum, describing how Farrow abused him.

The court heard Farrow committed a sex act in front of the boy, and got the boy to carry out a sex act on him.

As a result the complainant found relationships difficult and acted improperly at school, the court heard.

But as years passed he came to realise the abuse and its toll on him and no longer kept it bottled.

Tabitha Macfarlane, defending, said her client had his own issues to deal with, including a catastrophic brain injury.

She told the court Farrow, who has breached his SOPO on several occasions, wanted to make a fresh start in jail and hoped to take courses including a sex offender programme.

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A sex offender who initially avoided a jail term is in prison after judges said his first sentence was too low. Ionut Voicu, 36, admitted engaging in sexual communications with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl, with the intention of having sex with her. He found he was messaging an undercover police officer when he sought to meet the girl for sex and was then arrested. Voicu, of Massington Park, Taunton, Somerset, has now been jailed for three years and four months. He had initially been made subject of a community order for three years on the condition he attended an offender treatment programme and did 40 hours of unpaid work.

'Appalled'

But his sentence was increased last Thursday after the Solicitor General, Lucy Frazer, intervened and referred it to the Court of Appeal. She said: "I was appalled by Voicu's intentions and it was only thanks to the vigilance of our police that his criminality did not extend further. "I welcome the decision of the Court of Appeal to increase his sentence to properly reflect the severity of his actions." Voicu will also be subject of a sexual harm prevention order for five years, which he was originally given as part of his sentence after admitting eight offences on 14 May at Taunton Crown Court. They included five counts of causing a child to watch or look at an image of sexual activity, two counts of having sexual communication with a child and another of attempting to arrange or facilitate a child sex offence.

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A paedophile who had images of a man having sex with a dog also shared a sickening video of a five-year-old girl being raped.

Among his criminal content Alan Bainbridge kept 501 images of children being sexually abused.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 62-year-old also amassed 52 images of bestiality involving dogs.

He was today jailed after a judge heard how police found chats in which he was "discussing sexual abuse of children".

Robert Wyn-Jones, prosecuting, said on May 12 last year "as a result of intelligence" police searched Bainbridge's Warrington home during which a "number of devices" were seized.

He was arrested on suspicion of possessing, making and distributing indecent images of children.

Bainbridge answered no comment in interview. The devices underwent a forensic examination.

Officers found between January 8 and May 13 last year Bainbridge kept 151 category A images, which involve children being raped.

He also kept 87 category B images and 263 category C images.

Mr Wyn-Jones said the majority of the pictures involved girls around eight-years-old.

Bainbridge also had 52 images of bestiality involving dogs.

Mr Wyn-Jones explained Bainbridge had used "various chat forums" on which he was "discussing sexual abuse of children".

In one chat Bainbridge shared two sickening child rape videos, one of which involved a five-year-old girl and the other which involved a girl of "about three".

In a police interview Bainbridge admitted having a sexual interest in children and that he had sent images to other people.

Bainbridge is of effective previous good character, the court heard.

Kyra Badman, defending, said he was "open" with the author of a pre-sentence report which she said was "perhaps indicative of his willingness to engage with the probation service and his motivation to change".

She said he has sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, Samaritans, and local mental health services and he is "keen to change his ways".

Ms Badman said he has recently retired "really because of the shame of his employer finding out about these offences".

She said his marriage had broken down as a result of his offences and he had become "socially isolated", which has caused him to struggle with his mental health.

Alan Bainbridge, of Doward Street, Widnes, admitted possession of indecent images of a child, three counts of making indecent images, distributing indecent images of a child and possession of extreme pornographic images.

The judge, Recorder Eric Lamb, sentencing, said: "By your age you should know much better than to behave in the way you have done, bringing yourself before the court."

Recorder Lamb said: "The pre-sentence report sets out the many difficulties you have had in your life which result in you now finding yourself isolated and in poor mental health, but expressing yourself you are determined to overcome your previous way of behaving with help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation."

The judge accepted Bainbridge's genuine remorse but said "appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody".

Bainbridge was jailed for two years, which was reduced to one year and 10 months due to the "onerous" conditions in prisons as a result of the pandemic.

He ordered to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for the same period.