Latest Offenders

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A Coventry man has been jailed after he sexually assaulted a woman last year.

Saad Sheikh, 30, of The Spinney, Coventry, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assaulting a stranger. The incident took place on the evening of August 1, 2020, near Jephson Gardens, in Leamington.

The victim, a woman in her 40s, was sitting on a bench when Sheikh sat down next to her and sexually assaulted her by touching her over and under her clothing.

Sheikh was identified on CCTV and was arrested five days later.

He was sentenced to 30 months in prison at a hearing held at Warwick Crown Court yesterday (September 29). He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which stops him from engaging in paid or unpaid work with vulnerable people.

Detective Constable Nic Mort, from Leamington CID, said: This was a terrible ordeal for the victim, who is an extremely vulnerable woman. The judge was clear that Sheikh would have been aware of her vulnerabilities and targeted her because of this.

The ordeal left her distraught and traumatised.

I would like to recognise the bravery of the victim who has conducted herself with bravery and dignity throughout the investigation.

As well as receiving a custodial sentence, Sheikh will also have to sign the sex offender register and be subject to sexual harm prevention order which means he will be closely monitored when he is released from prison.

Incidents of this nature inevitably have an impact on the local community, so I hope the police response and this outcome will reassure the people of Leamington that we will work tirelessly to bring offenders like Sheikh to justice.

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A judge today told a paedophile he had no doubt a jury was right to convict him of sexually abusing a young boy.

Ryan Kitchen, 26, repeatedly molested his vulnerable victim by sexually assaulting him on 20 separate occasions.

Kitchen, of Strafford Drive, Bootle, denied any wrongdoing and claimed the child was lying in a trial last month.

But after jurors heard evidence from both him and the boy, they unanimously found Kitchen guilty of six counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual activity in the presence of a child, while acquitting him of one further count of sexual assault.

Judge Garrett Byrne today told Kitchen: "You continue to deny the offences and seek to blame others for the situation you find yourself in.

"Having seen the evidence of the boy during the trial, I have no doubt the jury's verdicts were correct."

He jailed Kitchen for eight years, prompting one of Kitchen's supporters sitting in a public gallery to question: "Seriously?"

The woman then moaned: "F***ing lies. Send an innocent man to jail, all for lies."

Liverpool Crown Court heard Kitchen repeatedly performed sex acts on the boy, both over and under his clothing, tried to get the boy to touch his penis, and performed sex acts in front of the child.

Seven supporters of the victim, including his mum, sat in one public gallery, with 10 supporters of the defendant sitting in another public gallery.

The boy's mum told the court that when her son confided in her about Kitchen's sexual abuse "my whole body went cold with shock".

David Polglase, prosecuting, read out her statement in which she described how she holds "a lot of anger and resentment" towards Kitchen.

She said: "I hope in the future I will be able to channel this more productively, but at the moment it cripples me."

The mum said the ordeal of giving evidence impacted on her son and before the verdicts were returned he kept repeating that if they were not guilty, "it meant people thought he was lying".

She said her son had spent days crying in his room, his mental health was affected and along with thoughts of suicide, she had found him threatening to kill himself.

The mum said: "I'm in constant fear that he will actually follow through with his threats."

The boy's father told the court in a second victim statement that he also felt suicidal about what had happened to his son.

He said: "I hope that Ryan Kitchen realises he's destroyed my son's life. He's totally obliterated his trust in people."

The victim's mum cried as the statements were read and was comforted by members of her family.

Nick Cockrell, defending, said his client had no previous convictions and nearly 30 character references submitted to the court, which "paint a very positive picture of Mr Kitchen".

He said: "That of course has to be set against the offences for which he has been convicted by the jury, but in total it seems there were almost 30 people who had taken the time to write letters or emails of support for Mr Kitchen."

Mr Cockrell said there was also a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service, but added: "Where there have been convictions after trial, convictions which it's clear from the report are still denied and disputed by Mr Kitchen, it does make such a document difficult in the circumstances.

"Your honour has no option but to sentence Mr Kitchen to a lengthy custodial sentence and it will be hoped that some of the concerns that are raised in that report can be addressed as part of that sentence."

Mr Cockrell added that Kitchen was still relatively young and it would be his first prison sentence, and asked the judge to take into account conditions in jail during the coronavirus pandemic.

Judge Byrne said the jury had found Kitchen guilty of eight counts of sexual abuse against the victim, "representing a total of 20 separate occasions when you sexually abused the boy".

The judge told Kitchen he took advantage of a situation "by sexually assaulting the boy for your own pleasure".

The judge said Kitchen had "deliberately and cynically" abused a situation to molest his victim.

He said the offences had a detrimental impact on the "vulnerable" child's mental health.

Judge Byrne said: "During the course of his evidence, he said this, he would ask himself 'why, why is he doing this?'

"It would make him feel angry and sick. He said 'I thought it would never end'."

The judge said weighing in Kitchen's favour was his previous good character.

He said: "I've read all the references. Very many people have spoken very highly of you, describing your positive influence, that you're a good friend, that you're a caring person and you're a hard worker.

"I've also read the moving letter from your parents and I will of course take into account the impact the sentence is going to have upon them and your family."

Kitchen showed no emotion when he was jailed, which prompted the outburst from a female supporter.

A male supporter started sobbing and was consoled by others, before the woman continued to swear and complain as she walked out of the courtroom.

Kitchen must comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Judge Byrne also made a 10-year restraining order, preventing Kitchen from contacting the boy or his parents.

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A "cruel" and "manipulative" former policeman who "systematically" raped two girls and a woman during a "campaign of rape" has been jailed for 33 years.

A "complicit" woman who joined in with him during his "domineering" sexual abuse has been jailed for eight years.

The repeated sexual exploitation of the traumatised victims left them with severe psychological problems and one girl wrote in her diary that she suffered "disgusting, painful, sickening memories".

Former Royal Hong Kong Police officer Ken Chik, 63, of Endymion Street, Hull, was convicted of 28 offences after a trial spanning four weeks at Hull Crown Court.

The offences included rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, sexual activity with a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and cruelty.

Tracy Choi, 37, from the Hull area, was convicted of six offences, including rape and attempted rape.

Soheil Khan, prosecuting, said that it was a "campaign of rape" by Chik and the offences were "frequently planned" by him and involved the "deliberate isolation of the victims".

Chik had caused "emotional degradation and humiliation" and sometimes used physical violence.

"The complainants were told by him not to report the offences," said Mr Khan.

The two girls were caused "severe psychological harm".

Judge Mark Bury said that Chik "systematically" raped one of the girls and caused "humiliation" to her.

"It involved significant manipulation, psychological coercion and the instilment of fear in her," said Judge Bury.

"You repeatedly engineered situations to abuse her."

Choi was involved in some of the sexual offences.

Judge Bury told Chik: "It's clear to me that you are a cruel, domineering, angry, totally selfish man."

Chik was "prone to violent mood swings" and "exploited" the vulnerability of the adult victim "cynically" for sex.

He said of her: "She was psychologically coerced to a high degree. You cynically manipulated a young woman.

"Your offending is characterised by extreme levels of manipulation and humiliation.

"You went to considerable lengths to ensure you were not caught."

Chik told the victims that nobody would believe them if they told anyone what had happened.

One of the girls had written in her diary: "Why didn't I kill myself to end this suffering?"

She wanted to know when her ordeal would end and Judge Bury said: "Today. This is the first day of the rest of their lives."

The victims had given "utterly compelling" evidence to the trial.

Judge Bury told Choi: "You were manipulated. I am satisfied that you became involved in these offences through psychological coercion and bullying."

But the "significant sympathy" for her "evaporates" because she was "complicit" in rape and "encouraged" Chik and participated in what happened.

One of the girls said in a statement: "Physically and psychologically, I felt disgusting, dirty and ashamed.

"He was manipulative and controlling. Ken was addicted to power over vulnerable women and children."

She had suffered "traumatising flashbacks weekly" and sometimes "woke up in a sweat".

The girl added: "I am scarred externally and internally from his actions."

The other girl said: "This kind of trauma isn't easy to forget. It's ingrained into my mind. There are many ways that Ken has affected me."

The adult victim said that she had lived with fear and struggled with depression.

She had suffered "nightmares about falling from a very dark and high-up place" and did not feel safe.

She felt "worthless", ashamed of herself, "dirty and unclean" through being raped.

Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said it was a "campaign of rape" by Chik and there was "little that can be said" for him. He denied all the offences.

Chik suffered from health problems, including heart trouble.

Julia Baggs, representing Choi, said that the defendant came to Britain from Hong Kong for education when she was 18 but was "here illegally" and might face deportation.

She had suffered "nightmares about falling from a very dark and high-up place" and did not feel safe.

She felt "worthless", ashamed of herself, "dirty and unclean" through being raped.

Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said it was a "campaign of rape" by Chik and there was "little that can be said" for him. He denied all the offences.

Chik suffered from health problems, including heart trouble.

Julia Baggs, representing Choi, said that the defendant came to Britain from Hong Kong for education when she was 18 but was "here illegally" and might face deportation.

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Police in Hampshire have launched an appeal to locate a man in connection with a sexual assault.

Hampshire Constabulary say they are looking for 27-year-old Zackery Bell after a sexual assault in Waterlooville.

The incident in question happened on December 6 of last year.

After extensive enquiries to try to locate him, the public are now being asked for their help.

He has links to Sussex and it is believed that he could be in Warwickshire.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We are trying to locate wanted man Zackery Bell. Can you help or do you know his whereabouts?

"If you have seen him, or know where he is, do not approach him but contact us on 101, quoting 44200471788.

"We would also like to remind people that anyone found to be harbouring him to obstruct our attempts to locate him may be committing an offence and be liable for arrest themselves."

As well as 101, people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Met Police officer Wayne Couzens has been sentenced to a whole-life term for the murder of Sarah Everard, in a case that sparked national outrage and calls for more action to tackle violence against women.

Couzens admitted the kidnap, rape and murder of the 33-year-old marketing executive when he appeared in court several months ago.

But it was only during his sentencing that the full details of his crimes emerged.

Ms Everard was walking home from a friend's house in Clapham, south London, at about 21:30 BST on 3 March when she was abducted.

Couzens' choice of victim was random, but the attack was planned.

In his sentencing remarks, Lord Justice Fulford said there had been "significant planning and premeditation" by Couzens.

The police officer had "long planned to carry out a violent sexual assault on a yet-to-be-selected victim" who he intended to coerce into his custody, noted the judge.

Couzens spent at least a month travelling to London from Deal, Kent, where he lived, to research how best to carry out his crimes.

Several days before the attack, he booked a hire car, which he would use for the abduction, as well as a roll of self-adhesive film advertised as a carpet protector on Amazon.

After finishing a 12-hour shift at the US embassy that morning, Couzens, a parliamentary and diplomatic protection officer, went out "hunting" for a lone, young woman to kidnap and rape, the prosecution said.

The court heard how Couzens used the knowledge he had gained from working on Covid patrols in January and his Metropolitan Police-issue warrant card to trick his victim under the guise of a fake arrest for breaching coronavirus guidelines.

The 48-year-old, who had been a police officer since 2002, handcuffed her before bundling her into the car and driving away.

The abduction was witnessed by a couple travelling past in a car - but they believed they had seen an undercover police officer carrying out a legitimate arrest, so did not intervene.

The whole kidnapping took less than five minutes.

Sarah Everard's last known movements

Couzens then drove to Dover in Kent, where he transferred Ms Everard to his own car, before travelling to a remote rural area nearby.

It was there that he raped and murdered his victim - strangling her with his police belt.

By 02:31 Couzens had left the scene and was spotted at a service station buying drinks.

He visited the site where Ms Everard's body was dumped twice, leaving just before dawn.

The next day, as the search for her escalated, Couzens bought petrol, which he used to burn her body inside a fridge.

He also purchased two green rubble bags, which he used to dump the remains in a pond near an area of woodland he owned in Hoads Wood, Ashford.

A week after she disappeared, Ms Everard's body was found in a woodland stream, just metres from land owned by Couzens.

Meanwhile, Couzens returned to normal life, carrying out mundane activities like calling a vet about his dog.

Days later, he even took his wife and two children on a family trip to the woods where he had burnt his victim's body.

However, on the 8 March, the day he was due to return to work, he reported in sick.

The following day he was arrested at his home in Deal.

In a brief police interview, he told a false story about being threatened by an Eastern European gang, claiming they had demanded he deliver "another girl" after he had underpaid a prostitute a few weeks before. He then claimed he kidnapped Ms Everard, drove out of London and handed her over to three men in a van in a layby in Kent, while she was alive and uninjured.

But after Ms Everard's body was discovered in a pond just 130 metres from land owned by Couzens, he was charged.

Couzens has since been sacked by the Met, but the force is still facing questions over whether chances were missed to prevent his predatory behaviour.

After Ms Everard's murder, the police watchdog announced it was probing alleged failures by the Met to investigate two indecent exposure incidents linked to Couzens in February.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is also investigating alleged failures by Kent Police to investigate a flashing incident linked to Couzens in 2015.

Couzens transferred to the Met in 2018, from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, where he had worked since 2011.

Two years later he began working for the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command as an authorised firearms officer at diplomatic premises around central London.

In July, appearing by video link from Belmarsh high security jail, Couzens pleaded guilty to murder at the Old Bailey.

On Wednesday he appeared in court again - this time in person - for a two-day sentencing hearing.

There, he faced Ms Everard's mother, father and sister, who described to the court the torment of losing their loved one in such horrendous circumstances.

Her father, Jeremy, demanded that Couzens looked at him as he told the murderer he could never forgive him for taking away his daughter.

Her mother, Susan, said she was "tormented" at the thought of what her "precious little girl" had endured.

"I go through the sequence of events. I wonder when she realised she was in mortal danger," she told the court.

"Burning her body was the final insult. It meant we could never again see her sweet face and never say goodbye.

"Our lives will never be the same. We should be a family of five, but now we are four. Her death leaves a yawning chasm in our lives that cannot be filled."

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The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was assaulted by Havant man Daniel Cake, 42, after he went into the bedroom where she was asleep in the middle of the night before sexually assaulting her.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how intoxicated opportunist Cake, of Blendworth Crescent, was then kicked off the bed by the girl as her boyfriend woke up.

The court heard a hullabaloo then erupted in the house where there had been a party the previous evening resulting in Cake being punched in the face by a man before he was thrown out.

Police were called resulting in Cake, who was in a healthy relationship at the time, being arrested.

Despite feeling disappointed by the sentence after Cake walked away from court with his freedom, the teenager is determined to do good following her ordeal.

She said: I want everyone to know what he is really like and for me to help other girls who have had things happen to them.

The girls mum said she was proud of how her daughter had handled the nightmare situation but said she was shocked at the lenient sentence. I cannot believe he walked, she said. He just has to be a good boy now for a while and thats it. I wanted him to be sent to prison.

I cant believe he was not jailed. We feel let down by the justice system. What kind of a message does that send out?

My daughter doesnt want to be a victim over this and is helping others who have been through similar things. She has gone on to have success in what she is doing.

Speaking of the impact the incident had on the family, the mum said: It was horrific to have that call from my daughter telling me what happened. I never thought such a thing would happen to us.

It is disgusting what he did. She was sound asleep and defenceless. He said he didnt remember doing it but how can anyone not remember doing such a thing?

It was the biggest shock of her life. Hopefully what she went through will help others talk about experiences that have happened to them.

Judge Timothy Mousley QC described the act as appalling and shocking.

After his arrest, Cake told police he had consumed up to 12 beers, smoked cannabis and possibly taken cocaine.

He could not recall the incident whatsoever, prosecutor Charles Digby said.

The girl, in a statement read out to court, said she felt dirty after the incident, which involved her having to undergo a police medical examination.

She also revealed how her life had been turned upside down with her now paranoid in certain situations. Before I was very sociable and would go out on my own but now I have to have someone with me all the time, she said.

The teenager said she now worries when a man comes near me with the incident having a massive impact on her life.

She added: What did I ever do to him?

Jason Halsey, defending, called the incident shocking, humiliating and embarrassing before adding: It is inexplicable. He is a man of good character with no previous at 42 years.

There is no previous sexually deviant behaviour.

The barrister said Cake could easily be thrown in prison but he told the court the defendant was remorseful.

Cake was also described as a great father.

Judge Mousley added: People that know you say it was out of character. Why you committed the crime is a mystery.

Cake admitted a single count of sexual assault on a female aged 16 or over.

Despite the charge having a maximum sentence of 10 years jail, the judge concluded there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Cake was then given a sentence of 16 months jail suspended for two years.

He was also told to complete 35 rehabilitation days and was handed a 10-year restraining order and sexual harm prevention order. He must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for the same period.

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One of Stoke-on-Trent's worst repeat sexual predators has been locked up after sending sick pictures to '13-year-old Ruby'.

Autistic Michael Horn has spent the last nine years of his life appearing in courts for breaking orders aimed at keeping children safe from his perverted ways.

And the 29-year-old's latest crime saw him having sexual chats with 'children' online.

Now Horn - who has over 20 previous convictions for various sexual offences - has been handed a nine-year extended sentence which is made up of four years in custody with five years on licence.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Horn was released from prison on licence in October last year, and was granted permission to have an internet-enabled mobile phone on June 8 this year.

Just days later he breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) by chatting to underage girls as far away as America on apps.

He would frequently lie about his age, often saying he was only 14 or 18.

But he was caught out after striking up a conversation with a '13-year-old Ruby' who turned out to be an undercover law enforcement officer.

Another incident saw Horn contact a '16-year-old American girl' on teen dating app MyLOL.

He asked her if she would 'like to see his penis' and requested naked pictures, as well as asking if she would like to meet up for sex.

Prosecutor Tariq Bin Shakoor said: The SHPO was put in place in September 2012 for 10 years and made following his convictions for a variety of sexual offences.

The defendant was released in October 2020. He was given permission to use a mobile phone.

On June 21 this year officers visited him to check he was complying with the SHPO.

He was asked if he needed to tell them anything. He was nervous.

The defendant, in a private room, then told the police he had breached the order."

Horn, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and two charges of breaching his SHPO.

Hamish Noble, mitigating, said: He understands that its wrong. He is autistic and says it has held him back in life.

He understands that he needs to be punished and be rehabilitated for the future. He doesnt deny that he presents a risk.

The bottom line is he knows he needs help and he does not seek to lay the blame at anyones door.

He sees other peoples lives and can see how he would like to be.

Sentencing Horn, Judge David Fletcher told him: There is a continuation of a pattern of behaviour which is being exhibited by you.

Since the first conviction when you were 20 you have been made the subject of a SHPO.

Over the years that have followed you have found yourself in breach of it on several occasions. You are no stranger to the court system.

You find yourself now a young man who is completely divorced and separated from family members and has no friends.

I am satisfied that you do present a risk. It is necessary to propose an extended sentence to protect the public.

Horn was also made the subject of a new SHPO which will remain in place until the court says otherwise.

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A Catholic priest let altar boys smoke cannabis and drink alcohol so he could sexually abuse them.

One of Father Thomas MacCarte's victims thought the priest was "cool" for letting them hang out in his room.

But there was "another side" to MacCarte, who preyed on children at Bishop Eton Monastery in Woolton Road, Childwall.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the pervert made one teenage boy watch gay porn, before twice performing a sex act on him.

However, when one victim's dad complained about MacCarte to the church, the priest was simply moved away to Scotland.

MacCarte, now 70 and of St Mary's Monastery, Hatton Road, Perth, denied five counts of indecent assault.

A six-day trial heard how MacCarte was born in Glasgow and in the 1980s and early 1990s lived and worked at Bishop Eton.

Robert Wyn Jones, prosecuting, said it was there he met the two altar boys - Boy A and Boy B.

Mr Wyn Jones said MacCarte "drank too much" and sometimes walked home to the monastery drunk.

The court heard Boy A had thought MacCarte was "cool" and said he didn't lecture boys about sex or lust.

Mr Wyn Jones said he also let Boy A and some of his friends visit his accommodation in the monastery to smoke cannabis and drink alcohol there.

However, he said: "There was another side to Father MacCarte. He was very tactile. He would stroke his hair in a way that was far too affectionate. He would talk about sex and mutual masturbation."

The court heard one time Boy A helped MacCarte get home after the priest had drunk too much.

Mr Wyn Jones said: "They were walking along Woolton Road, which has a few houses overlooking it at that point. It was pretty deserted.

"Father MacCarte was wearing a cassock and he grabbed Boy A by the head and forced his head under his cassock to the area of his penis.

"He was clothed but Boy A remembers smelling the stale urine and pulled his head away."

The jury heard when Boy A visited MacCarte in his room, the priest would question him about masturbation, saying "I bet you do it".

Mr Wyn Jones said: "He remembers Father MacCarte would urinate in the sink in his room and wave his penis about when he had finished."

He said MacCarte would also give Boy A money.

The court heard Boy B turned to Father MacCarte for support when he was undergoing psychological problems and drinking heavily.

Mr Wyn Jones said MacCarte "spoke kindly to him and gave him alcohol", just as he had Boy A.

He said: "Father MacCarte would show him pornography while he was drunk, in particular gay pornography.

"Boy B recalls while he was drunk Father MacCarte took Boy B's lower clothing off and performed oral sex upon him."

The court heard he did this twice and MacCarte wanted Boy B to do the same to him, but that didn't happen.

Mr Wyn Jones said: "This was happening to Boy B when he was vulnerable and needed support.

"It only came to an end when Father MacCarte was sent away by the church."

The court heard that happened after Boy B told his dad "sexual things" had happened with the priest.

The jury was told the boy's dad complained to Bishop Eton, then the parish priest.

Mr Wyn Jones said: "It was agreed that the matter would be dealt with by the church internally and Father MacCarte was moved away to Scotland with the promise that he would be sent on a course.

"These things were dealt with rather differently back then."

The court heard the abuse took its toll on Boy A, who received counselling but "has always struggled to come to terms with it".

Mr Wyn Jones said Boy A had discussed what happened to him with various people and one night, after a discussion with a friend about sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, became upset.

This led to Boy B learning that Boy A had been abused by MacCarte, having "thought it was just him".

Both victims went to the police and reported what happened to them in 2019.

When arrested and interviewed, MacCarte agreed he had worked at the church and told police he recalled the two boys.

However, he denied sexually abusing them and said he couldn't remember why he had been moved from Liverpool to Perth.

MacCarte told the jury the incidents hadn't happened and his victims weren't telling the truth.

However, jurors heard evidence from Boy B's dad and from his mum about the complaint the dad made and how the church reacted to it at the time.

They also heard evidence from a friend of Boy A, who said years previously Boy A confided in him that he had been abused by a priest at Bishop Eton.

The jury also heard from a friend of Boy B, who recalled how Boy B was very confused about MacCarte's behaviour, so he agreed to go with him to the priest's accommodation.

This witness described how MacCarte sat too close to him and stroked his hair, which made him feel uncomfortable, so he told the priest to stop and he and Boy B left.

MacCarte was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault by a majority of 11-1 and acquitted of two further counts of indecent assault.

Judge Gary Woodhall remanded him on bail until his sentencing next month.

A previous version of this article repeated an error, made in court, about the precise circumstances in which a complaint about MacCarte was made to the parish priest.

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His actions were called "nothing short of horrific" A Sheffield paedophile has been jailed for his sick attacks on a child. Kevin Yeardley pleaded guilty to six offences, including sexual activity with a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 13 and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. The 64-year-old's offences were described as "nothing short of horrific" by investigating officers from South Yorkshire Police. His offences were committed between 1999 and 2005 to one victim. Yeardley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison at Sheffield Crown Court on September 28. He has also been placed on the sex offenders register. Temporary Detective Sergeant Susi Taylor said: This mans actions were nothing short of horrific, he has rightly been served a substantial custodial sentence for his crimes. The distress his actions have caused will no doubt have a long-term impact; those involved are being supported by specialist services to help them attempt to come to terms with what has happened. It is absolutely vital that any victim of child sexual abuse feels they can speak out and seek help. I want to reassure the public that South Yorkshire Police is committed to investigating all reports and we have specially trained officers and partner agencies who can offer support and advice. In some cases, it takes a relative, family member, friend or loved one to take those first steps so my message is to everyone, if you have concerns, speak to us. Your actions could help safeguard or protect someone who is vulnerable, and they could also bring offenders to justice. If you would like to speak out to someone, you can call 101 for support and advice today.

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An A&E nurse caught with baby rape videos was spared jail after a judge heard of his "positive good character".

John Wadeson worked at Aintree hospital's emergency department in Fazakerley until he was exposed as a paedophile.

The 30-year-old had previously helped victims of the Manchester Arena bombing while on placement at Bolton hospital.

But the whole time he was downloading a sick collection of indecent images of little children and disturbing extreme porn.

Liverpool Crown Court heard police raided Wadeson's home in Borron Close, Newton-le-Willows, at around 8.30am, on June 10, 2020.

Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, said: "Mr Wadeson was present at the address with his partner. Police officers cautioned and arrested both males."

Officers seized a Lenovo computer, an iPad and a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, containing 142 child sex abuse images.

They included 56 Category A indecent images - the most serious category showing child rape - of which 11 were videos.

Mr Blasbery said the Category A files showed children as young as babies aged between newborn and 12 months.

There were 35 Category B images - including eight videos - involving boys just four to six-years-old.

A further 51 Category C photos included pictures of boys aged as young as three to four.

Police also found 35 extreme porn images, including two videos, and 11 prohibited - cartoon - images of children.

Wadeson was interviewed that day, when he denied any wrongdoing, saying he had "no idea" how any indecent images were linked to him.

He was interviewed again on May 29 this year, when he confirmed he had a Kik Messenger account "but got rid of it when he met his partner".

Wadeson said the computer belonged to both of them, but confirmed the iPad and Samsung devices were his.

The nurse confessed he knew there were indecent images on the phone, but said "he couldn't remember viewing them".

However, Wadeson accepted he must have downloaded them and also admitted watching extreme porn videos, which he said others likely sent him on the messaging app Telegram.

Mr Blasbery told the court: "He said there was a period of time when indecent images of children were on his mind, he did accept responsibility for everything and his partner had no idea what was going on and was not aware of what he was watching - he was solely responsible."

Wadeson admitted three counts of downloading and one of possessing indecent images of children, plus possessing prohibited images of children and extreme porn, all between September 2016 and June 2020.

Ben Berkson, defending, urged the judge to spare his client jail, who he said had no previous convictions and "many aspects of positive good character".

He said Wadeson was supported by his husband, who provided a character reference, and others sitting in the public gallery.

Mr Berkson said: "This course of conduct is described as shocking and out of character by those closest to him and by the defendant himself."

He said Wadeson struggled from an early age with his mental health and self-harming, and had a past diagnosis of psychosis.

The lawyer added: "A particularly dark point as a child was the death of his foster brother, which has had a profound impact on this defendant."

He said: "As a gay man he experienced bullying at school generally and had difficulty with his sexuality growing up, due to fear of homophobic abuse.

"Notwithstanding those difficulties, he qualified as a nurse in 2017 and began working in the A&E department at Aintree hospital.

"But immediately prior to that he was part of a nursing training placement at Bolton hospital. As part of that he actually helped the victims of the Manchester bombing."

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, told Wadeson his collection was "not as big as many that this court encounters" but the Category A files were "of the worst kind, plainly".

He said: "You realise now, if you didn't realise before, that this sort of activity has very real victims."

The judge added: "It feeds and encourages this sort of trade in appalling misery for the children involved.

"The impact on them, here and abroad, cannot be overstated, and though your activity is very remote from that, nonetheless, as I say, it plays a part in the continuation of this particular trade."

He said sentencing guidelines indicated a starting point of 12 months in jail, but told Wadeson: "I'm not going to send you to prison today".

Judge Menary said the reason for that wasn't because the offences weren't serious, but because he had to follow a guideline on the imposition of community and custodial sentences.

He told Wadeson this meant he had to consider whether there were "reasons to believe that you would be punished sufficiently and assisted in terms of preventing further risk to the public by some other means of dealing with you".

The judge said: "I could send you immediately to prison today. I have no doubt that is the sort of sentence many members of the public would demand.

"But that could not be for a significant period and inevitably you would be released back into the community, with no or little support.

"So I hope enlightened members of the public will understand why I am taking the course I am."

The judge said Wadeson had "already suffered a significant amount" by losing his career in nursing.

He said: "You have gained employment within a family business, but that loss is by itself a very significant punishment for you.

"I am impressed by the commitment shown by your husband in supporting you and I bear in mind all that's said in the reference he has written."

Giving Wadeson one third credit for his guilty pleas, Judge Menary handed him eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

He must complete a 60-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, including a Horizon sex offenders treatment programme, and pay £500 court costs.

Wadeson must also comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and sign on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade.

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A paedophile who played sick games with a young girl had the smile wiped off his face at court.

Michael Carr repeatedly sexually abused the child when she was aged between six and 11 and he was aged 17 to 23.

He indecently assaulted the girl, who had to take off clothes if she lost at cards and was made to dance for him in her underwear.

The 57-year-old, of Station Road, Maghull, smiled and grinned when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing via video link.

He was supported in the public gallery by family members, one of whom stormed out when the impact of the abuse on the victim was described, while Carr shook his head.

However, Carr stopped smiling when he was jailed for eight years and told he must serve two thirds of the sentence behind bars.

During a trial in August, a jury heard how one game Carr played with the girl involved her running up to him, when he would pick her up and lift her in the air.

However, one time he made her take her underwear off and indecently assaulted her when he held her aloft.

Sarah Holt, prosecuting, said Carr would make the girl open and close her legs, before touching her genitalia.

She said he also played card games with her such as snap, which involved items of clothing being removed.

He would take the girl for walks to an area known locally as "The Boards" and to "The Ralla", where she liked to make dens.

Ms Holt said once she had made a den and was excited and wanted to show him, but he exposed himself to her.

He then took the girl's hand and placed it on his penis, telling her to stroke it and asking: "Does that feel nice?"

Carr asked the girl to dance to music, then said he wanted to see her dance in her knickers, because "he could see her better like that".

Ms Holt said he also told the child to lie down for a "hug", but "put himself against her and pulled her shorts down".

The court heard he would kiss her on the cheek or turn her face towards him, so he could kiss her on the lips.

Ms Holt said there was also an occasion when the girl was older when he approached her from behind, put his hand on her back and tried to pull her bra strap, but she told him "no, I don't like it" and told him to leave.

The abuse came to light in 2019, when the woman contacted police and told officers Carr had abused her when she was a young child.

When interviewed by police, Carr denied ever touching his victim sexually and said the allegations were "disgusting".

However, he accepted that as an adult she had confronted him several times and accused him of being a paedophile.

Ms Holt told the jury: "He said that he hadnt reported this as he didn't want to cause any hassle."

Carr, who had no previous convictions, was found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault.

In a victim statement, the woman described how she had been forced to live with the impact of the abuse on a daily basis.

The woman said she suffered from "bad anxiety" and "severe panic attacks", when she struggles to breathe, which can be "triggered by the slightest things" and particularly certain smells and playing cards.

She described self-harming, suffering from eating disorders, "vivid nightmares", feelings of vulnerability and fear, and how "I've often thought what's the point of being here anymore".

The woman said: "When I'm close with partners, I see Michael's face looking back at me."

The victim, who has undergone counselling, said: "I'm happy that after 40 years Michael is facing the consequences of his actions and justice is being served. However, this will never change the devastation he has left behind."

Brendan Carville, defending, said: "The defendant of course still denies the offences and I'm not able to comment in any way at all on the findings of the jury."

He said Carr hadn't been in trouble since these offences, which showed he could rehabilitate himself, and that at the age of 59 he would find his first time in prison "devastating".

Judge David Swinnerton told Carr: "You're 59 years of age. You've got no previous convictions, but what that reveals is to some extent you've been living a lie for the last 30 years, because people have treated you as a man of good character."

He said Carr had "sexualised" typical childhood games, such as when he threw her up and indecently assaulted her.

The judge said when playing snap, who lost "had to take a piece of clothing off".

He added: "You played that with that young child."

The victim first told her mum years previously Carr had touched her and it was "wrong", but at the time didn't feel able to disclose the abuse in full.

Judge Swinnerton said the victim also talked to a friend about the abuse over the years, who described her breaking down in tears.

He said: "Though this was a long time ago Mr Carr, and though it's difficult for any man to face the first custodial sentence of his life at the age of 59 as Mr Carville said, you've had a devastating effect on the life of your victim for the last 30-odd years, and that's a continuing and ongoing impact, and serious impact on her."

Judge Swinnerton told Carr to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

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A teenage girl fought off a man who tried to rape her before he later claimed she 'came onto him'.

Gary Mulligan took advantage of and sexually assaulted his vulnerable victim when she was drunk.

Liverpool Crown Court heard he came as close to raping her as possible, without actually doing so.

But the cowardly predator later suggested it was him who had resisted the advances of the child.

Mulligan, 51, of Riddell Way, Juniper Grove, St Helens, targeted the girl one night in 2005.

She confided in her best friend at the time but didn't feel able to make a complaint to the police until November 2018.

Peter Killen, prosecuting, said Mulligan denied any wrongdoing when interviewed by officers and said the girl came onto him, but he resisted.

The dad and businessman maintained this claim during a five-day trial, when his traumatised victim had to go through the ordeal of giving evidence.

Mulligan was unanimously found guilty by a jury of attempted rape, causing a child to look at an image of sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration.

Judge Robert Trevor-Jones today told Mulligan: "You took advantage of her drinking. You didn't ply her with alcohol, but she was drunk and you took advantage when she had dozed off."

He said the girl had been watching a horror film with Mulligan, but after she fell asleep he put on a pornographic film, and when she woke she was "astonished".

The judge said: "You made a series of sexual advances towards her. She was protesting and distressed."

The court heard Mulligan tried to rape the "vulnerable" girl, then sexually assaulted her, before the "scared" child fled.

Judge Trevor-Jones said in a victim personal statement the now adult woman outlined how she had "a lack of self-worth" and has ongoing therapy because of the "enduring impact" of the abuse.

He said the attempted rape caused "severe psychological harm" and occurred during a sustained attack.

Judge Trevor-Jones said: "It was an attempt, but the complete offence was only prevented by her resistance."

David Polglase, defending, highlighted his client's previous good character and said he hadn't offended before or since this incident.

He said Mulligan had a logistics firm involving the transport of medical supplies and had worked his way through the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Polglase said Mulligan was the sole carer for his 80-year-old mum and had spoken to his son about fulfilling this role in his absence.

He said Mulligan had never been to prison before and asked the judge to take into account serving a jail sentence during the pandemic.

The judge accepted Mulligan was of previous good character and that this incident could be seen as something of an "aberration".

He said he took this into account in his favour, along with the impact of serving a prison sentence in the current climate.

Judge Trevor-Jones jailed Mulligan for 11 and a half years and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Mulligan will have to spend two thirds of the sentence - seven years and eight months - behind bars, before he is released on licence.

Description

A 51-year-old man from Runcorn has been jailed after being convicted for a string of historical child sex abuse offences from the late 1980s.

Philip Cook, of Davenport Row, Halton Lodge, was found guilty by jurors on August 26 of nine counts of indecent assault of a child.

The charges reflected an escalation of worsening crimes from touching to activity characterised as rape by prosecuting barrister Cheryl Mottram on Thursday at Liverpool Crown Court as Cook was sentenced.

Ms Mottram recounted details of the vile abuse, which was perpetuated against a young boy under the age of 12 and included sex acts and simulated sexual intercourse.

The offences took place in Liverpool in the late 1980s when Cook was an adult teenager.

Matters came to light when Cooks victim began to confide in people close to him, resulting in counselling sessions, and then the involvement of Merseyside Police.

His victim, now an adult, read a powerful impact statement in which he asserted his identity as a survivor of child sexual abuse.

He said: I never wanted to believe that you were that word - a paedophile, because that meant I was abused and you were my abuser.

You were someone I liked, I trusted and wanted to spend time with and play the game.

I was too young to realise I was being groomed, too young to know you were taking advantage of me.

You were old enough to know what you were doing was wrong and you shouldnt have been doing it.

You were not my friend who was playing a game.

The abuse survivor spoke of the devastating impact on his life and how it took him years to realise its not my fault, adding that he had prayed for his abuser and will one day forgive him.

Jo Maxwell, defending, said Cook was of hitherto or prior good character with no previous convictions or offences committed since the late 1980s.

She said that in the significant period of time since the abuse took place, adding: He has spent the last 10 years or thereabouts running a well-respected animal rescue service.

Ms Maxwell said this related to cat rescue.

She said Cook had experienced an unstable childhood and traumatic formative years followed by a spell living in hostels when he left home, and later worked until he was 30 when ill health got the better of him and hes been unable to work fully since then.

Cook, who was involved in a serious road traffic collision in 1988 that left him with a damaged leg, appeared in the dock walking with the aid of a stick.

Judge David Potter, presiding, jailed Cook for nine years with a year on extended licence, and placed him on the sex offenders register for life.

He said he was satisfied Cook was not in the opinion of this court a dangerous offender and classed his level of future risk as at most medium, but said Cook had committed serious sexual offences that he dressed up as a game, which constituted grooming.

In sentencing Cook, Judge Potter referred to the defendants continual denials.

He said: When interviewed by the police, you consistently denied and maintained that denial that you had done nothing wrong towards (the victim).

The jury was satisfied that you were not telling the truth and convicted you on all of the counts on the indictment.

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A 64-year-old man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after sexually abusing two young boys.

Michael Smith, of The High Street, Dereham was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court yesterday(Monday 27 September 2021), after being convicted of 17 child sex offences at an earlier hearing.

The offences took place between 2014 and 2016, when the young boys, both aged in their early teens, were at a school for complex needs in Norfolk. Some of the offences continued into 2018 against one of the boys after he had left the school.

Smith was handed a 28-year sentence, made up of 21 years in prison and a further seven years on licence.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) indefinitely and must also sign on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Natalie Riseborough from the Safeguarding and Investigations Team, said: "I welcome yesterday's sentence as it reflects the seriousness of Smith's crimes.

"We see this pattern all too often, when abusers befriend the victims and their families in order to facilitate the abuse and avoid suspicion. The strength these boys have shown in acknowledging Smith's actions as wrong, and speaking out about it, is immeasurable.

"Smith had been a figure of authority in their lives and was in a position of trust. He used this to commit terrible crimes that are likely to live with these victims forever.

"Whilst nothing will take their pain away, we hope that yesterday's sentence provides some comfort to the victims and their families. Their courage has not only broken the cycle of abuse these boys faced but it has also prevented others becoming victims.

"We remain committed to bringing all sex offenders to justice in order to prevent future offending and will listen to anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse, whether this is ongoing or non-recent."

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Michael Slater groomed his vulnerable young victim making her feel disgusted at herself, a court heard

Prosecution barrister, Catherine Donnelly, told how the teen now feels anxious around older men.

In a victim personal statement read out in court, she said: "I hope one day I get over the disgust I have in myself."

The girl who cannot be named for legal reasons said how Slater's abuse and the fallout surrounding its revelation had impacted some of her relationships.

She described this as like having "one of her arms chopped off".

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, Slater, 37, of the Compass, was charged with two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

He pleaded guilty to one of the charges and denied the other.

But following a trial at Southampton Crown Court earlier this year, he was found guilty.

Ms Donnelly told the court how Slater has 12 previous convictions to 12 offences.

These include dishonesty, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly.

However, he has no previous convictions for sexual offences.

Defending, Alejandra Tascon, said her client suffered from ADHD, emotionally unstable personality disorder and sexual dysfunction issues.

She added that Slater had been drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis at the time of the offences and "should have known better".

She also argued that Slater had been sexually and physically abused from a young age.

For the offences which happened between March 2020 and January 2021, Judge Nicholas Rowland jailed him for a total of five years.

He must register as a sex offender for life and was given a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.

Slater has also been given a five-year restraining order not to contact his victim.