Latest Offenders

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A man jailed for the sexual abuse of nine children has had his sentence extended on appeal.

Jonathan Richard Maertens, 35, of Freshwater, recorded himself abusing the girls, aged between four and 17.

Following an investigation, during which almost 2,500 pieces of footage and 12,000 indecent images detailing his direct offending were found on hard drives, he pleaded guilty to 34 separate indictments:

• 10 multiple incident counts of rape of a child under 13

• Three counts including two multiple incident counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration

• Five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13

• Three counts including one multiple incident count of rape of a child

• Two multiple incident counts of assault by penetration of a child

• Three counts of sexual assault of a child

• Three counts of taking indecent photographs of a child

• One count of making indecent photographs of a child

• Three counts including two multiple incident counts of administering a substance with intent

• One count of possessing a paedophile manual

Maertens was subsequently jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years at Isle of Wight Crown Court on November 23, last year.

However, the court's decision was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) Scheme.

At a hearing today (Friday 19 March 2021), the court found Maertens' sentence was unduly lenient and extended the minimum term to be served to 25 years.

Following the hearing, Detective Sergeant Damon Kennard said: "We welcome the Court of Appeal decision today to extend the sentence of Jonathan Maertens.

"I hope this provides further justice to the girls and their families, who continue to receive support from services as they seek to move on with their lives.

"We take all reports of sexual assault extremely seriously and will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.

"It is vital for us that people have the confidence to report incidents to us.

Description

A sex offender has been jailed for having contact with children in breach of a banning order.

Craig Beddows, 55, befriended two mothers in breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed by a court to protect children.

He should have told the women about his past but ignored the order and was in regular contact with four boys.

He did not commit any sexual offence against them and was never left alone with the youngsters but a judge at Exeter Crown Court said he was guilty of persistent and wilful breaches of his order. He would give the children presents and liked to be called 'Uncle Craig'.

Beddows, of Wolborough Street, admitted four breaches of the order and was jailed for 20 months.

The court was told he led a lonely existence having been shunned by his family due to his previous behaviour which started with a conviction for indecent assault against girls under 16 back in 2003.

The court was told the defendant befriended a woman and over a period of about a year came into contact with her children.

"There was nothing inappropriate in the way he behaved towards them but she wasn't aware he was subject to a SHPO," said prosecutor Mr Ian Graham.

Beddows also made friends with another mother. There was no suggestion he behaved inappropriately to her children but did not reveal the contact to his offender manager.

When the women were told about his past they felt 'betrayed' and upset, the court was told.

Mr Barry White, defending, said Beddows previous offending had been against girls and he did not pose a risk to boys.

Recorder Timothy Kenefick said: "You have a number of previous convictions for sexual offences involving children under 16 and breaching notification orders.

"The probation report says there is a clear pattern of befriending mothers with young children and having contact with these children knowing full well you're not permitted to do that."

He said he accepted that Beddow led a solitary life and endured a considerable amount of loneliness but it was not the first breach and there was no alternative to immediate prison.

Description

He previously filmed a toddler and said he wanted to have sex with him A paedophile used the popular children's video game Fortnite to try and groom boys. Adam Syers previously filmed a toddler and made vile sexual comments before posting the video on Facebook. The 23-year-old - who recorded the sick clip from the window of his home - walked free from court last September. But within hours of being spared jail he was back online, trying to snare children playing Fortnite and Roblox on Xbox. Using the username JuicyGamer, he let a 12-year-old boy spend 200 on his credit card and got the child to send him a photo of himself in shorts. He then targeted a seven-year-old boy, asking him whether he wanted to go on a date with him and be his boyfriend. Liverpool Crown Court heard Syers, aka Adam Shipley, was handed 10 weeks in jail, suspended for two years, on September 2. He admitted sending an indecent communication after filming a mum and little boy walking down the street outside his then address in Orford, Warrington last May and saying he wanted "sex" with the child. Magistrates gave Syers a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) - banning him from contacting boys online -and told him to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register for the same period. Later that day the pervert began communicating with a 12-year-old boy via Xbox Live, before their chats progressed onto Instagram. The boy's mum noticed a credit card on her son's Xbox gaming account registered to AG Shipley and Tully Avenue - Syers' new address in Newton-le-Willows - over a month later. Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, said her son explained the card belonged to "Adam", whom he had become friends with online. The mum asked to chat to then 22-year-old Syers on the Xbox, who explained he let her son buy a game for 7.99. He had actually allowed 200 of purchases, but claimed he wasn't good with numbers, was autistic and considered her son to be a friend. The boy revealed Syers asked him not to tell his parents and to send a picture of himself wearing shorts, which he did. He said during chats Syers asked him to turn his camera on and sent messages saying he missed him and loved him. Texts downloaded from the Xbox showed Syers asked him to play Fortnite and Roblox and join Xbox party chats. Syers had also begun talking to a seven-year-old boy via Xbox Live and TikTok on September 6. That child's mum discovered a string of "inappropriate messages" between the two on October 5. Syers gave the little boy his mobile number and asked "can I meet you?" before asking him to call and sending the message: "I love you." The boy said they played Fortnite together and when he told the man he was seven, he asked if he wanted to go to his house to play football or Fortnite, and to change his Xbox name because he would get in trouble if anyone found out. Ms McCloskey said: "The man also asked whether he wanted to go on a date with him and be his boyfriend. He had also commented that he was fit." The mum investigated Syers' account and found a picture of a man in his 20s and noted his TikTok was "full of videos of young boys, none more than 10-years-old". Syers had also failed to provide police with his personal details within the necessary period. Officers were informed he was adding girls under 16 to his Instagram account and visited his home on September 15. They found he had been accessing Pornhub, Grindr, Chaturbate, Snapchat and Instagram on his phone. On Instagram he sent messages to a third unidentified boy - thought to be under 11 - who Syers denied knowing. Screenshots revealed he had a photo of the boy, asked his age, whether his mum was there, said he loved him, told him "this is our secret", and had live chats with him. When arrested and interviewed, Syers answered "no comment" to questions about the first two boys, but claimed he thought the third was an adult. He admitted three counts of breaching his SHPO, failing to comply with notification requirements and breaching his suspended sentence. A report said he hadn't attended any rehabilitation appointments since November, showed "no insight", denied a sexual attraction to children and there were "significant risk concerns". Syers has a conviction for sexual assault on a child and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity from November 2012. He received a warning for this offence, when he was aged just 14. Natalia Cornwall, defending, said Syers only had "himself to blame" for not taking the chance given to him last year. She said he now accepted he had a "problem" and "a sexual interest in children". Ms Cornwall said Syers was immature and diagnosed with ADHD, autism, learning and speech difficulties, and struggled to put on weight because of stomach ulcers. She said: "He himself has had a difficult upbringing. He was taken into care from a relatively young age, he himself has suffered abuse whilst in foster care and he also had to deal with the death of his mother. "He now has no contact at all with any of his family members and is effectively isolated within the community." Judge Rachel Smith accepted Syers was himself a "vulnerable individual" and there was "some prospect of rehabilitation". However, she said: "Only immediate custody will follow for the range of offences that you have committed in this case." The judge said it was a "persistent breach risking serious harm" and jailed him for two years and eight months. She made a new seven-year SHPO, told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, and ordered the destruction of his iPhone and Xbox.

Description

Following an investigation by West Mercia Police, a man has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for historic charges of child sexual offences, that took place in Worcester.

Simon Clancy, aged 44 previously of Teme Road, Worcester was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Thursday 11 March. He was found guilty of nine sexual offences during a two week trial that finished on Thursday 10 December 2020, he was found guilty by jury of:

Seven counts indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14-years-old.

Two counts gross indecency with a boy under the age of 14-years-old.

The offences on three boys all occurred in 1992. Clancy was originally interviewed in April 2019.

He has also been registered as a sex offender.

 Following the sentence Detective Constable Nerys Stevens said: "I am pleased that the sentence reflects the severity of these crimes and hope this helps provide some closure to the victims of these horrific crimes."

"The victims have all been extremely brave throughout the process in providing evidence during interviews and in court proceedings. Hopefully, this serves as a reminder and deterrent to offenders that we are absolutely committed to bringing those responsible of crimes to justice, even when it is some 10+ years later, like in this instance."

Description

A depraved Iraq War veteran who trawled the internet for child sex abuse images involving girls as young as one has been jailed by a sheriff who branded the material appalling and extreme. Thomas Brankin whose lucrative post-military career as a private bodyguard in war-torn countries lies in tatters today has also been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years. The Inverclyde dad-of-two was noted in a pre-sentencing background report as having limited recognition of the victims of the sickening sexual abuse he downloaded over a seven-year period. Brankin, 44, used depraved terms in internet searches as he deliberately sought sexual abuse photos and videos of underage girls being molested and raped, a jury trial had heard last month. The material was found stored on a laptop computer that he hid under his bed in his locked room at the upmarket villa home he shared with his unwitting sister and adult niece in Wemyss Bay. Brankin claimed during his trial that others including close relatives whom he named used his room when he was away and could easily have accessed the disgusting material because the laptop was not password protected. The jury found him guilty by majority verdict of both taking, or permitting to be taken, and possession of indecent images or pseudo images of children between March 16 in 2011 and February 11 in 2018. Advocate Mr MacLeod said there was scope not to jail Brankin, a former RAF infantryman and veteran of the second Iraq War, adding: I would urge the court to deal with him as leniently as possible given the circumstances. Sheriff Joseph Hughes noted the deliberate internet searches that had been made to locate indecent images. The sheriff told Brankin: Ive reflected very carefully on the criminal justice social work report. The report says you are unable to recognise the seriousness of the offences Only a custodial sentence is proportionate for the seriousness of the offences. Sheriff Hughes imposed a 16-month prison sentence.

Description

A man who sexually assaulted two teenage girls and then filmed himself putting his hands around a third girl's throat without her knowledge has been jailed.

Oliver King, prosecuting, told Chester Crown Court, Adam Connolly, 30, of Frederick Street, Widnes, groped the first victim below her top, whilst she slept. However she jumped up and when she asked what he was doing Connolly replied he thought she liked it.

The following year, Connolly covered the face of a second girl and ran his hand over her. Connolly asked if she wanted a cuddle and she said no.

When arrested, he denied assaulting them and claimed his first victim was unreliable and that he inadvertently touched the second girls shoulder.

His phone revealed he had been looking at pictures of his second victim on the day of the assault - but he had also saved pictures of his first victim.

Magistrates' court documents said the offences happened in Runcorn.

The court heard Connolly was also in possession of indecent video of a third girl.

Mr King said the footage showed him placing his hands around her neck and appearing to strangle her

Connolly had two previous convictions for mainly carrying weapons.

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, his first victim said the effects of the assault included loss of sleep and appetite, and diminished relationships.

His second victim said she began to push myself away from people after the assault and had stopped going out as much as she used to.

Her life had changed forever, she said, adding she feels disgusted and angry over what happened.

A statement from his third victim was not provided.

Connollys two younger victims both underwent cross-examination as the cases approached trial before he pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault and to a third count of making a Category A indecent video of a child.

Jo Maxwell, appearing for the defence, cited Connollys guilty pleas and the principle of totality in mitigation.

She added Connolly had backtracked on his attempts to minimise his offending and perhaps now realises how stupid it sounded when he tried to inform the author of the pre-sentence report that any contact was innocent and accidental.

Miss Maxwell said there was no objection to the terms of the indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order proposed and granted by the court.

Judge Patrick Thompson, presiding in Chester on Friday, made restraining orders in respect of the two younger victims and placed Connolly on the sex offenders register for life.

He imposed consecutive sentences on each offence to reflect separate incidents and the time elapsed between them, with 18 months for each sexual assault and five years for the indecent video, totalling eight years.

Sending the defendant down, Judge Thompson said: It seems to me, having read everything I have about you and the circumstances of these offences, and having seen the victims in counts one and two cross-examined, that you have an unhealthy sexual interest in children and I notice in the pre-sentence report you are assessed as a danger to children under the age of 18.

A victim surcharge was also ordered.

None of the victims can be named for legal reasons.

Cheshire police were unable to provide a mugshot of Connolly in time for publication, five days after the hearing.

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Former Bristol City goalkeeper Alhaji Sesay has been jailed after being convicted of rape.

Sesay was a very talented footballer who had achieved his dream to make it as a professional, Bristol Crown Court heard.

But a jury heard how he subjected a woman to a serious sexual assault in the female toilet of a nightclub in Bristol.

And, after being arrested and released under police investigation, he targeted a second woman in the female toilet of a nightclub in London.

The 22-year-old, of Barnfield Gardens in London, denied wrongdoing.

But after a three-week trial at Bristol Crown Court a jury convicted him of attempted rape of the woman in Bristol, and the attempted rape and rape of the woman in London.

Judge Michael Cullum jailed him for ten years.

He told Sesay: "In some ways you are a brazen sexual predator.

"To that extent you are dangerous.

"There's a risk, if you are released today, of you acting in a similar way.

"But you are not going to be released today.

"You are not going to be released for many years."

The judge ordered Sesay to notify his whereabouts to police for life.

He was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

James Tucker, prosecuting, said Sesay groped a woman's private parts in the female toilets of a Bristol nightclub in 2019.

Having been arrested, interviewed and released, he went on to attempt to rape, and orally rape, a woman in a London nightclub last year.

The first complainant said it felt like she left her own body when Sesay abused her, and she had suffered significant trauma as a result.

In an impact statement she said: "I am left in a constant state of hyper-vigilance.

"I see the worst of people when I used to see the best."

The second complainant stated she suffered an anxiety disorder before Sesay abused her which was made worse by his abuse of her.

She stated: " I look at men differently now.

"I wonder if they are dodgy and what they are capable of?

"Anything can happen, anywhere."

Sophie Shotton, defending, said: "This is a young man whose career is now in tatters.

"Football has been all he's known from a very young age.

"It was the only career choice because of his limited education.

"He came to the UK with the intention of furthering his education and furthering his career in football and the intention of making his mother proud and supporting her financially."

DC Toby Hayes of Bristol CID, said: "Alhaji Sesay is a predatory sexual offender who would brazenly target women at random at nightclubs.

"CCTV footage gathered during the police investigations showed him going into female toilets, where he carried out his attacks.

"The victims have all been through a harrowing experience. I want to pay tribute to their incredible bravery and courage for reporting the offences committed against them, for giving crucial evidence in court and for supporting our investigation, which has resulted in this dangerous sexual offender being brought to justice.

"I would also like to thank the many members of the public who assisted with our enquiries and helped to ensure justice was served.

"Due to the nature of Sesay's offending, it's possible there are other victims out there who haven't yet reported incidents to us.

"I would encourage them to place their faith and confidence in the police and come forward. You will be listened to, believed and respected. If you don't want to speak to the police, please speak to someone."

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A Derby man who has been found guilty of raping a young woman while taking her home from a party has been jailed.

Sudesh Kumar, of Carsington Crescent, Allestree, had been accused of raping the victim in his car after leaving a party at the pub where he worked as a manager in August 2018.

During the trial, Derby Crown Court heard the victim woke up the next morning and "felt something was wrong", before telling her mother who called the police.

The 41-year-old was charged after forensic experts found traces of his semen on the complainant's tampon.

Kumar, who was known to many as Bobby, denied any wrongdoing, but was found guilty of rape by a jury at Derby Crown Court on Tuesday, March 16.

Over the course of the trial, the court heard how the woman, who is in her 20s, had spent the afternoon and evening drinking at the Pear Tree Inn, in Derby, where Kumar worked as a pub manager on August 3, 2018.

Following this, the woman, Kumar and other people went to a house party in Sunny Hill in the early hours of next morning.

Opening the trial last week, Jonathon Dee, prosecuting, told the hearing the Crown's case is that Kumar raped the drunk young woman as he gave her a lift home from the party in Sunny Hill.

He said the prosecution say he took advantage of the complainant's state to carry out the sex attack wich she cannot remember owing to how much alcohol she had drunk.

During the trial, the jury heard testimony from one witness who saw Sudesh offer to take the woman home and the last time she had seen the victim was when she left in his car.

The trial heard the victim said the last thing she remembered was playing with the dogs belonging to the host of the party, before waking up in her home the next morning.

She sensed something was wrong and told her mother, who rang the police. When Kumar was linked to semen found on the woman's tampon, he was spoken to by police.

Mr Dee, prosecuting, said: "He was interviewed about the matter three months later and gave a prepared statement. Basically it said 'I took her home, I did not rape her, I did not do anything to her'."

He said Kumar claimed he had touched himself sexually while at the party in Sunny Hill and one explanation may be his semen transferred from hand-to-hand.

Kumar's denial meant the victim was forced to take to the stand to give evidence before the jury.

When being cross-examined by Kumar's defence barrister Alisdair Smith, the victim said Kumar had a history groping her.

Mr Smith said to her: "You said in your police interview Bobby must have had something to do with it.

"You said he was 'a bit touchy-feely' and touched your bottom sometimes in the pub. I am going to suggest to you that is not something he did."

She replied: "He did."

However, the jury spent eight hours and 59 minutes deliberating before returning a majority verdict he was guilty.

He was sentenced by Recorder Adrian Reynolds to eight years imprisonment and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, immediately after the verdict was announced.

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Richard Crook who volunteered as a Scout leader started a sexual relationship with a teenage girl from Southampton, a court heard.

Postman abused boy in Royal Mail van - and even befriended victim's father

The 41-year-old formerly of Vine Road claimed they had even planned the pregnancy.

Prosecution barrister, Gary Rutter said that Crook knew his victim was 14-years-old and would have seen her wearing her school uniform.

He added: The defendant would take her to hotels for the purpose of sex.

CCTV was even recovered showing him and his victim at Sutton Scotney services on the A34, according to Mr Rutter.

Crook, who installs CCTV security systems for a living was eventually arrested after raising suspicions.

Man who downloaded indecent images 'never considered children were being abused'

Man who sent messages to 12-year-old girl claimed to be 'paedophile hunter'

However, he was released on bail and the sexual relationship resumed.

He was arrested again after the girl told a teacher she was five weeks pregnant.

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, he was charged with four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.

He pleaded guilty to the offences which took place between July and December last year.

Mitigating, Richard Tutt said: Mr Crook has asked me on his behalf to apologise to both the victim and to her family.

Mr Tutt told how his clients marriage had been deteriorating and that he had been drinking heavily.

Judge Christopher Parker QC said there had been an element of grooming.

Former Bank of England employee took out 300 to pay for sex with '11-year-old girl'

'I was terrified he was going to kill me': Paedophile raped girl in ca r

And the judge heard how a report - which he agreed with - had concluded that Crook represents a continued danger to young girls from the age of 13 and up.

However, Judge Parker said that Crook had not used his position as a Scout leader to abuse or take advantage of the girl.

He was jailed for 14-years and will be released on licence.

He will have to register as a sex offender for life.

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Michael Wort aged 69, of no fixed abode, committed the offences against the three children between 1971 and 2019.

All of these took place at addresses in the New Forest.

At Southampton Crown Court yesterday, he was sentenced to five years behind bars afte a jury found him guilty of one count of sexual assault of a girl under 13 (by touching), and two counts of indecent assault of a girl under 16.

He was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and given an indefinite Restraining Order against contacting his victims.

The court heard that the offences took place over a 48-year period aganist three seperate children. One took place against a child in 1971, three offences that took place against another child between 1985 and 1986 and two offences that took place against a further child between 2018 and 2019. All of these took place at addresses in the New Forest.

Detective Sergeant Oliver Battersby said: "We would like to commend the women who have shown incredible bravery and courage in coming forward.

"These are extremely difficult times for these women and it would not have been easy, both emotionally and physically, to have to re-live their ordeals from when they were younger.

"We know how hard it is to come forward and report these offences, whether they have taken place recently or in the past.

"We are committed to getting justice for victims and have specially trained officers to support them through the process.

"We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse to contact police on 101 where you can speak with our specialist detectives in confidence."

Two of the victims also came forward to say: "We would like to thank all the officers involved in the case and Hampshire Constabulary's witness care team, for all their support through this most difficult time. They made the whole experience of coming forward so comforting, and while it was hard, we now have closure. We would recommend anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to come forward."

Description

A Devon paedophile who twice groped a teenage girl in her own Co Armagh home was handed a 12 month sentence on Friday.

In addition to the sentence with half to be spent in jail and half on licence, 34-year-old William Pope was also ordered to sign the police sex offenders register for ten years and banned from working with children.

Pope, from Stonelands Park, Dawlish in Devon, had entered guilty pleas to two counts of sexual assault on a date unknown between December 5, 2018 and May 1, 2021 by touching his young victim sexually.

Prosecuting counsel Nicola Auret told Craigavon Crown Court how the offences came to light in December 2021 when the teenager disclosed to a counsellor that Pope had twice abused her.

That disclosure lead to a police investigation with the victim describing to detectives how she had been 14 when Pope was at her home and when he “pulled her in for a cuddle,” he stuck his hand up her top, felt her breasts, moved over her stomach and then put his hand in her pants.

Pope asked her “do you like it when I touch you there,” said Ms Auret but the victim “kept telling him that she needed the toilet, he got frustrated and told her to leave.”

Turning to events in April 2021, the barrister said there was a party in the teenager’s house and she had been drinking alcohol when Pope “carried her up to bed,” seizing the opportunity to grope her breasts again.

Arrested and questioned by police, Pope denied doing anything wrong, a stance he maintained until 12 days before his trial was due to start.

Ms Auret submitted there were multiple aggravating features to the offending including the fact the girl was twice abused in her own home where “she should have felt safe.”

Defence counsel Joel Lindsay said while he accepted the aggravating features, he submitted there were also mitigating factors including Pope’s clear record, guilty plea and genuine remorse, “recognising the pain that he has caused this young lady.”

He also conceded that although the custody threshold had been crossed, there was also a possibility that Pope could be put on an intensive probation programme designed to address the underlying causes of his offending.

“Society I know could yell an objection to that and say that’s outrageous, that probation programme is not an easy option,” argued Mr Lindsay.

Judge Patrick Lynch KC said he accepted that Pope’s guilty plea had spared his victim the ordeal of testifying in a public arena and also that Pope had not offended before or since but that given the offences, “a custodial sentence is appropriate.”

In addition to the 12 month sentence, the judge also imposed a five year Sexual Offences Prevention Order which bars the pervert from contacting his victim, prohibits him from loving anywhere without permission and compels him to make verifiable disclosure of his convictions to any new partner.

Description

A "dangerous sexual predator" has been jailed after undercover police officers lured him into thinking he was meeting a teenage girl for sex at Guildford Cathedral.

Mark Crampton, 57, of Richmond-upon-Thames, has been sentenced to 44 months in prison after pleading guilty to arranging to meet who he thought was a child for sex.

He had pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence; attempting to meet a girl under 16 years of age following grooming; and two counts of an adult attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child at an earlier hearing.

Crampton was arrested after communicating with two undercover police officers from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit between April 18 and May 21, 2020.

On April 18, Crampton sent a private message to one of the officers, who he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Communication continued, with him sending sexually explicit messages using Kik Messenger.

This led to his arrest on May 21 in the grounds of Guildford Cathedral, where he had travelled with the intention of carrying out sexual acts with who he thought was the child.

It later transpired that Crampton had travelled to Guildford Cathedral the previous day to establish where he could engage in the sexual activity, Surrey Police said.

Crampton was subsequently arrested by two officers from Surrey Police on suspicion of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence.

During the sentencing hearing at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, March 5, Crampton was additionally handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

Detective Constable Steve Branch, who investigated the incident, said: "The sentence and the indefinite SHPO given to Crampton reflect the serious nature of his offending and have meant that a dangerous sexual predator will now be behind bars and will not be able to pose a threat to vulnerable teenagers.

"Crampton communicated with who he thought was a teenage girl for several weeks and these messages were extremely sexual in nature, culminating in him arranging to meet her for sex.

"This case demonstrates our commitment to targeting sex offenders within our communities and ensuring they are held to account for their reprehensible behaviour."

Detective Inspector Lisa Heaton, from the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: "The arrest of Crampton was part of a proactive, intelligence-led investigation relating to child sexual offences. It forms part of our continued priority to protect children from sexual exploitation and from those who would see do them harm.

"If anyone has been the victim of child sexual abuse, I would encourage them to report it to their local police force via 101. We will always follow up allegations and law enforcement work together to bring to justice individuals who use the internet to facilitate the abuse of children.

"Victims can talk in confidence to experienced investigators and we will also help them get access to a range of support services."

Description

A paedophile who molested a little girl was extradited from New Zealand to face justice but refused to say a single word.

Cecil John Thorn, 48, has exercised a "vigil of silence" ever since he stepped off a plane in February last year.

That included not saying anything in his defence at a trial when the brave victim described how he repeatedly abused her.

Thorn, from Wirral, was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and three counts of causing or inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity at a trial last month.

Liverpool Crown Court today heard this is the second time he has been convicted of molesting a child, after previously being jailed for eight years in 2013 for similar offences, also in Wirral.

But after serving just three years in prison for those crimes - and when police were already aware of his second victim's allegations - he was deported back to his native New Zealand, under an early release scheme.

That meant the authorities then had to go through a long extradition process to drag him back to the UK and lock him up all over again.

Thorn, who has been held in custody since his extradition on February 24, 2020, appeared in court via video link from prison.

The clerk asked him to identify himself and Judge Brian Cummings, QC, said: "He doesn't respond, he never has during these proceedings."

Thorn, with a bald head, long black beard and wearing a face mask, then sat in silence, with his eyes closed.

Judge Cummings gave him the opportunity to address the court on any of the matters being discussed or to offer any mitigation on his behalf, but Thorn, who didn't have legal representation, refused to speak.

The court heard he had even refused to talk with the Probation Service for the purpose of a pre-sentence report.

Judge Cummings told Thorn: "You have maintained what has been termed a vigil of silence."

He said at a previous hearing, a determination was made that Thorn's silence "was not the result of any medical or mental health incapacity, but rather was voluntary".

The judge said this was confirmed when shortly before the trial last month, Thorn spoke to staff in the cells to ask whether the trial was going ahead.

Charlotte Kenny, prosecuting, said Thorn was jailed for eight years in July 2013 after he admitted four sexual assaults against a teenage girl.

The predator had confessed in full, after that vulnerable child's parents discovered that she had been abused by him.

He was deported back to his New Zealand and set free in Wellington in December 2016.

However, his second victim had already come forward to the police in February 2016, around 10 months beforehand.

She told a teacher at school and her mum that she was sexually abused by Thorn, leading to officers being informed.

The second girl revealed Thorn performed a sex act on her and made her perform a sex act on him on multiple occasions.

Police went to speak to Thorn in jail about those allegations, but he made no reply and later that year was flown to the South Pacific.

When arrested by officers in New Zealand in February 2020 and interviewed, Thorn, formerly of Wirral but now of Favona Road, Auckland, again remained silent.

However, Judge Cummings said his "parting words" to a detective "were to the effect that you were now embarking on a vigil of silence".

The second girl today said Thorn's abuse had a "devastating effect" on her and it was difficult to put this into words.

Ms Kenny said in a victim statement the child outlined how she lost her self-confidence, had "self-worth issues" and "started to hate her own body".

liverpoolecho

Woman kidnapped on Liverpool city centre street by sex attackerliverpoolecho

The girl self-harmed, couldn't stop thinking about her ordeal and found it very difficult having to relive it when she gave evidence during the trial.

Ms Kenny said the girl felt "incredibly embarrassed" about what happened to her, even though it wasn't her fault, adding: "It made her feel worthless."

The prosecutor said: "She couldn't understand why it was that it was done to her."

The girl's mum, who was present in court with her daughter today, also made a statement, in which she said her child had become "withdrawn".

Ms Kenny said she described her daughter trying to take an overdose and how concerned she was about leaving the girl on her own as a result.

The prosecutor said the trial was a constant worry for the family, but now the mum "expresses the hope that they can move on".

Judge Cummings said: "As do I."

The judge said Thorn could have disclosed his abuse of the second girl when in prison for the abuse of the first girl.

He told him any "additional strain" that may have resulted from what happened since was "entirely of your own making".

Judge Cummings said: "You have blighted the lives of two young girls. The consequences for you must inevitably be severe."

The judge said he was an "offender of particular concern" and jailed him for 10 years, with an extended one year on licence.

This means Thorn will spend at least five years in prison, before he can apply for parole.

Judge Cummings said: "You will serve somewhere between five and 10 years actually in prison."

Thorn showed no emotion and did not speak or move on the video link.

He must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Description

A paedophile raped a young boy and offered him 'rewards' like ice cream or 50p to stay silent about the horrifying abuse.

Paul Mannion, 63, of Warrington was sent down for eight years yesterday at Liverpool Crown Court for the campaign of vile abuse, which took place in Widnes in the 1970s.

Mannion had pleaded guilty to eight counts including sexual assault, inciting a child under 13, and one of rape.

The pleas were entered on February 12 when his victim was imminently due to give evidence under cross-examination for the scheduled trial, which was then abandoned.

His victim described certain types of abuse happening regularly and on at least 10 occasions each - all while he was well under the age of 10.

Nicholas Williams, prosecuting, recounted harrowing details of how the teenage Mannion preyed on his young victim over several years, warning him not to tell anyone what was happening because they wouldnt believe him and they would go mad.

He also offered rewards such as 50p or ice cream to seal the boys silence.

Mannion, who abused the child while he himself was a teenager and while he was both under and over the age of 18, instigated the abuse by asking the infant if he wanted to play tiddies.

His victim kept quiet about his ordeal for decades and buried his trauma in drink until he spoke out to police two years ago.

A victim personal statement said he had been afraid as a boy that his friends would laugh at him or avoid him if he divulged being abused.

He said Mannion had "robbed my childhood" and had a "grimy smell as though he hadn't showered" that "will never go away" from his memory.

Describing the trauma, Mr Williams said: He felt like he was a fraud, his life was a big lie - he had his secret.

It made him feel like he wasnt a man - I know I was a child but its been with me since.

He had nightmares.

He couldnt get the smell of the defendant out of his head.

The court heard Mannion was imprisoned in the late 1980s for raping a separate young child, having pleaded guilty.

Jo Maxwell, appearing for the defence, said Mannions guilty pleas meant his victim and other witnesses were spared the ordeal of giving evidence, and she cited the Manning principle of reducing sentences to account for the harsher incarceration conditions during the pandemic.

She added he was in ill health having suffered heart failure, type-2 diabetes, as well as spells of suicidal ideation, and had not committed any offences since the period of abuse decades ago.

Miss Maxwell expressed no objections to the terms of the proposed - and subsequently approved - Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Mannion, which was made to last for life.

She said Mannion had a difficult upbringing and had been "emotionally unstable".

Judge Stuart Driver, QC, presiding, sentenced Mannion to eight years in prison and placed him on the sex offenders register for life.

He said the victim was particularly vulnerable because of his extreme youth.

Sending Mannion down, Judge Driver said: One aggravating feature is the severe ongoing, indeed lifelong impact that your offending had upon your victim.

But that count (of rape) is not an isolated offence, it was the culmination of years of abuse.

The judge also ordered a victim surcharge.

Description

A danger to women dragged his victim from a city centre street and towards a secluded alley so he could sexually assault her.

Dhanji Punja claimed he only wanted to kiss his victim, but a judge didn't believe him and ruled he had intended to sexually assault her.

The 42-year-old preyed on the lone woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, as she walked on Lord Street on July 12 last year.

He grabbed her and forced her across towards Dorans Lane, calling her a "f****** b****", and only letting go when faced with three security guards.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he has previously sexually assaulted a woman on a train and lay on a shop floor to look up a woman's skirt.

The judge, Recorder Tom Gilbart, said: "She was out in Liverpool city centre and was with several others in a bar drinking.

"She left to make her way home. As she made her way alone through the city centre she was looking at her mobile phone.

"You appeared and took hold of her with both of your hands. You moved the victim against her will across the street.

"You moved in the direction of a smaller darker street of passageway which was away from the main thoroughfare.

"As you did so you called the victim b**** or a f****** b****.

"Your intention was to commit a sexual assault on her once you had her in a more secluded place."

Recorder Gilbart added: "In her statement she described trying to fight to get away but being unable to do so.

"She was shocked and frightened and feared for her safety."

Fortunately three security guards nearby saw what was happening and intervened - at which point Punja let go of his victim, and when police arrived he was arrested.

Recorder Gilbart said: "Police officers who arrived at the scene described her as looking very distressed and shocked. It's no wonder."

Gerald Baxter, prosecuting, detailed how In a victim personal statement the woman said she was now too frightened to go out on her own.

Mr Baxter said: "She can't go into Liverpool on her own because she thinks about 'walking down Lord Street and past the alley where the man tried to pull me towards'."

The woman said she "couldn't imagine seeing that street again", adding "I just couldn't go to Liverpool city centre".

The court heard the woman has been unable to sleep and "lies awake thinking about what happened."

Mr Baxter said she is "unable to be independent and go to the shops on her own".

Punja, of Stanley Street, Liverpool city centre, has four previous convictions for four offences.

Recorder Gilbart, outlining the offences, said: "In 2005 you were convicted of outraging public decency when you lay on the floor of a shop in an effort to look up a woman's skirt."

"In 2012 you were convicted of sexually touching a woman whilst she was travelling on a train. As a result of that conviction you were made the subject of notification requirements. You breached these requirements and were cautioned for that."

Stuart Nolan, defending, asked the judge to consider the amount of partial credit that should be awarded for Punja's guilty pleas.

Mr Nolan added: "Without alcohol misuse he appears not to be of significant risk."

Recorder Gilbart noted that following his previous conviction for sexual assault Punja said he would "reduce his use of alcohol and address it" but he has gone on to commit another sexual offence eight years later.

Mr Nolan said: "It is also important to state at this point the previous conviction is some distance away - there have been elements of control over alcohol misuse."

He asked the judge to consider the time Punja has served in custody during the pandemic and that he "indicates his remorse".

Pujna admitted kidnap and kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Recorder Gilbart, sentencing, said: "This was a frightening and quite an outrageous attack on a woman on a street.

"You felt entitled to use force to kidnap her and you did so with the intention of committing a sexual offence. Your act was only foiled because of others."

The judge added: "This was a predatory act by you, seizing an opportunity to try and take advantage of this victim.

"The victim was more vulnerable than she might have been because she was a lone woman at night who had drunk alcohol. This was a disgraceful offence."

Referring to the victim's personal statement Recorder Gilbart said: "She can't face walking past the place where you did this.

"She struggles to sleep and spends time at her mother's house because she feels unsafe in her own home.

"She feels she has lost the feeling of being an independent adult and she suffered from anxiety."

The judge explained there was an issue with Nolan's basis of plea, forcing the victim to relive the events in a Newton hearing - a form of mini trial based on the facts of a case which is also referred to as a 'trial of issue'.

Recorder Gilbart said: "The crown's case was you kidnapped the victim with the intent of raping her, your case was you kidnapped her with the intention of kissing her."

The judge said: "The victim was upset in parts of evidence and couldn't bring herself to watch CCTV footage of the incident."

Following the hearing the judge accepted neither the prosecution case nor Punja's but said there was an intent to commit a sexual offence.

The judge noted that the case is "mitigated by the fact you suffer from an identified mental disorder of alcohol misuse" and "to a small extent by your expressions of regret to the author of the psychiatric report".

Judge Gilbart said Punja was a "dangerous" offender and jailed him for five years, with an extended two years on licence.

This type of sentence means he will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term behind bars.

Punja will then only be released before the end of his five-year sentence if a parole board considers he is no longer a risk.

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