Latest Offenders

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A serial sex offender has been jailed after he spoke to an 11-year-old boy in a caf and attempted to video call him on Facebook.

Christopher Jones, 46, of William Booth House, Hull city centre, breached a sexual harm prevention order when he spoke to the young boy at a caf in Hulls city centre on numerous occasions.

The boy was enjoying a day with his mum at the caf in November 2018 and took a seat next to Jones and a woman where several conversations took place.

A hearing at Hull Crown Court heard after attending a Christmas party at the centre in December, the boys mum realised a Facebook account under Jones name had requested her son to join an online game of Cluedo, waved at him, and attempted to video call him.

Jones Sexual Harm Prevention Order was issued in 2009 and extended in August 2012 indefinitely after he was caught waiting in a public toilet for young boys.

The order prevents him from having any contact in the community by any means what so ever with any person, a child under the age of 16 except in exceptional circumstances.

Following the Facebook activity, the mum of the young boy grew concerned and at another trip to the caf, noticed that from another table Jones was looking at her son almost constantly.

Her friend also noted the man staring at the young boy and reported it to a member of staff, who told her Jones was a resident at William Booth House.

The mother then informed police, who were able to see where Jones was at the dates and times of their meetings through a buddy tag he had to wear as part of his probation.

After being questioned following his arrest in February this year, Jones said he had been in contact with the 11-year-old six times and said that the pair had chatted about things including Star Wars, Hull KR, and what the boy was getting for Christmas.

Prosecuting, Stephen Welch said: He claimed he hadnt breached the order as he thought he was able to contact a child as long as the child was supervised but he was told he was not allowed to do that.

During the interview he denied being the person behind the Facebook account but the prosecution dont accept that as it seems too much of a coincidence. The police say they havent been able to track the account.

Mr Welch said Jones had a substantial history of committing sexual offences.

He said: These started in 1999, when he was 26 years old, for two counts of indecent assault on two young males, one under 16 and one under 14. All offences on his record are related to sexual offences.

The last conviction on his record is from October 2009, which he was sentenced for five years and three months imprisonment. It was made up of two offences of inciting a male child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Mitigating, Miss Charlotte Baines said Jones acknowledged he had a problem and an interest in young boys, but would benefit from an assessment and rehabilitation and appealed for a suspended sentence with an assessment and rehabilitation.

She said: He admits he is still struggling and battling with these thoughts and feelings and has spent time in prison and has accessed programmes to assist with this type of offender.

"He has had a buddy tag and there have been no sexual offences of this type on his record since his release.

Recorder Taryn Hunter described Jones history and current breach of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order as more than troubling as she sentenced him to two years in jail.

A pre-sentence report written by the probation service said Jones was at very high risk of reoffending.

It also stated at a risk management system assessment in July last year Jones had never had a relationship with an adult and could not see himself having one as he still had a sexual interest in children.

Recorder Hunter said: There was a number of contact with this young boy from November of last year. You have a very long history of sexual offending involving young boys and this case is a great concern.

"Your order prevents you having any contact with children under 16, except in special circumstances, which did not apply to the contact you had with this young boy in December, January and February.

There was a persistent breach. There are alarming comments on the pre-sentence report which cause extreme disquiet.

She said she hoped he would be able to start work on rehabilitation and added: Such that when you are released you can hopefully move forward and not present the risk you currently possess to young boys or anyone in your sexual prohibits.

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A PAEDOPHILE raped a vulnerable 12-year-old boy in Rugby after grooming him over a period of months.

Adam Craig Pike, 30, of Jersey Way, Barwell, Leicestershire, was sentenced to nine years in prison at Coventry Crown Court on Thursday (March 28), after being found guilty of raping a child under 13 and causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard how Pike befriended his victim in Rugby in 2015 when the boy was just 12.

Pike developed the relationship over a number of months before he started to abuse the boy, promising him gifts in return for performing sexual acts.

The offences occurred some time between 2015 and 2016.

Pike was arrested in July 2016 after the victim’s mother reported the offences to police in Coventry.

Det Con Scott Loughran from Rugby CID said: “Pike specifically targeted a vulnerable boy and exploited him for his own sexual gratification.

“He is clearly a danger to children having gained his victim’s trust, promising him gifts, in order to satisfy his disturbing impulses. This is a type of behaviour typically associate with people who exploit children.

“The victim and his family have shown immense courage in supporting this investigation and trial. I hope this sentencing gives them some form of closure as they attempt to move on with their lives.

“Warwickshire Police is committed to investigating all reports of sexual abuse against children and I hope this outcome gives others the confidence to come forward.”

Pike was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order.

He was found not guilty of two counts of rape and one count of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.

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Disgraced former police inspector Bryan Calam has been jailed for five years after being convicted by a jury of repeatedly sexually abusing a "particularly vulnerable" schoolgirl more than 15 years ago. Calam - who later worked for Hull City and Hull FC, and was chairman of Hessle Golf Club - had denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the victim's account as "absolute rubbish". But a jury of seven women and five men took just an hour and 40 minutes to find him guilty of all charges he faced - five offences of indecent assault and three of indecency with a child - after a five-day trial at Hull Crown Court. Calam, now 71, also had sex with the victim 20 to 30 times over the two-year period of the abuse, but was not charged over that activity for legal reasons. Sentencing Calam after the verdicts were delivered on Friday, trial judge Recorder Christopher Knox told him: "It has to be a substantial sentence of imprisonment. You know that and I know that. 'You will suffer in jail' "You will suffer very considerably at your age and with your antecedents [police background] in prison." Calam, of Wood View, Swanland, spent most of the time standing in the dock with his head bowed and his eyes closed during sentencing. After being told he will now be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life, he was placed in handcuffs and led from the dock There had been a slight shake of his head when the guilty verdicts were being announced, but as sobs broke out in the packed public gallery he put his hands over his face, then held them together as if praying. But whatever his thoughts were, they were not for the victim - whom he called "vindictive" when giving evidence in the trial. The judge told him: "The only mitigating feature is you didn't make her pregnant, although she was fearful of that at some stage. You have shown no sign of having any regret about this at all. 'You made up evidence' "You in fact half-confessed this [when confronted by the victim] in 2017, but you then tried to brazen it out. You declined to answer questions to the police and you forced your way through this trial - in my view making up parts of your evidence as you went along." Calam had "planned" his grooming of the victim, the judge said. He told the grandfather and father-of-two: "I'm satisfied that you were charismatic ... you were influential, and you used all your powers of persuasion and patronage to impose yourself on this little girl, who was at the time particularly vulnerable. "And you used the position you had to exploit her, during which time you had the effects which we have heard in that extremely moving and devastating victim impact statement." The court had sat in silence as Claire Holmes, prosecuting, read the victim's statement to the court before sentencing. 'He makes me feel sick' The victim said: "I remember the first time he had sex with me quite clearly, and now it makes me physically sick. This was a man [in his 50s] wanting to have sex with a child. I knew this experience wasn't normal as none of my friends were talking about similar experiences." She said Calam had warned her not to tell anyone about the abuse as it "would kill his wife and he worshipped the ground she walked on". She said: "He took away the chance of me experiencing the normal way of growing up and losing my virginity [with someone her age]." The victim said she has had 33 counselling sessions to try to cope with the abuse, which at first she did with "no support because I was ashamed of telling people". She also revealed she had been diagnosed with an illness triggered by stress, which she believed was a direct result of Calam's abuse. 'He ruined my life' She said: "It has ruined my life and I don't see why he should be able to continue with a normal life and not pay for what he's done to me mentally and physically. "I would panic every day I would see him. I have lived in fear since reporting this that he is going to come after me and I'm always looking over my shoulder. "It makes me feel sick to think about it - that a grown man would want to do this to a child. I hope this case will give me closure by justice being brought." The court heard during the trial that when the victim told Calam to stop the abuse, he "begged for one more time and said he might have to go to a prostitute". As well as sexually touching the girl over and under her clothing, Calam had her perform a sex act on him while he was driving on a motorway in his Jaguar, performed sex acts on her, and had sex with her in a garden, in a caravan, and before he played golf.

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Paul Burchill jailed after admitting vile abuse of children as well as raping a woman A chicken coop cleaner confronted with historical allegations of child abuse told police 'I was an animal, I'm guilty as hell'. Paul Burchill admitted subjecting two youngsters to a catalogue of vile sexual assaults, as well as raping a young woman. The 65-year-old, of Tickenham Road in Clevedon pleaded guilty to four indecent assaults and attempted rape of one girl aged under 15. He also admitted five indecent assault charges relating to a second child under 13 and raping a woman. Judge James Patrick jailed him for 13 years. He told Burchill: "You are 65 and have not been in trouble before. "This will be your first prison sentence. "Your remorse is said to be genuine." Burchill was barred from working from children and vulnerable adults. He was told to register as a sex offender for life. 'It felt horrible and disgusting' Mark Worsley, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court Burchill abused the first complainant and, when she complained, called her a "miserable s**g". The court heard the victim had since suffered night terrors and is unable to trust anyone. Burchill abused the second girl and made her perform sex acts on him, the court heard. She made an impact statement in which she said: "It felt horrible and disgusting." Mr Maunder said an earlier attempt to prosecute Burchill for raping the young woman was not proceeded with. When the allegations were later reported Burchill told police: "I was an animal, I'm guilty as hell." He admitted abusing his victims and, regarding the rape, said he was half-drunk and: "The animal inside me came out." David Maunder, defending, told the court: "He has always accepted his guilt in principle. "He has been at pains to avoid a trial, genuinely for the victims. "He is anxious that he did not want them to go through the process. "He said 'they have been put through enough already'. "He understands he has seriously damaged their lives, irrepairably." Mr Maunder said his client was at a complete loss to explain why he was capable of committing the offences. He said: "He doesn't recognise himself in them."

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A PERVERT jailed for preying on young boys while he was a teacher in the Kidderminster area has been sentenced for further offences. Jonathan O'Brien, 61, spent more than a decade grooming young boys while he taught at Winterfold House School as well as schools in West Sussex and Oxfordshire during the 1980s and 1990s. Twisted O'Brien was already serving time for sexual offences against young boys when he was convicted for the second time last month. It took the victim more than 20 years to report the traumatic events which happened while he was a teenage student and O'Brien was a teacher at Seaford College, Petworth in West Sussex in 1992. It was revealed just a handful of years earlier O'Brien indecently assaulted male students up to 170 miles away in Worcestershire and Oxfordshire. In 2014, O'Brien was found guilty of sexually abusing pupils in his care during the 1980s - including five charges of gross indecency and 15 counts of indecent assault, all of which he had denied and he was cleared of two further indecent assaults. Twelve of the offences were committed against seven boys at Winterfold House School - where he taught subjects including sports and photography - between 1980 and 1985 and the others were committed against three pupils at The Oratory School, near Reading, between 1985 and 1989. Police Constable Yvonne Daddow said the former teacher pretended to have an interest in computers to groom the young boy, who kept the distressing experiences to himself. She said: "This offending came to light when the victim contacted us for the first time in 2017. "Having courageously come forward he supported our investigation and was ready to give evidence in court if necessary. "It became clear that O'Brien had used an allegedly mutual interest in computers to in effect gradually 'groom' the boy into sexual activity, in O'Brien's study at the school and his home in Oxfordshire. "The boy kept the distressing experiences to himself for more than 20 years until an chance family discussion to some media coverage on the general subject of sexual offending triggered him into coming forward. "This case is another example of the way in which we will always take such reports seriously, no matter how long ago they relate to, and will seek to help achieve justice for victims wherever possible." It was added that Seaford College has cooperated with the investigation by West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit and the indecent assaults are unconnected with current or recent management of the school and it's pupils. O'Brien pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court on May 24. The former teacher, from Bosham, West Sussex, denied two further counts of indecent assault on the same boy, which will lay on the court file. He was handed two and-a-half years to run concurrently to a previous sentence relating to sexual assaults against boys in Kidderminster and Oxfordshire. He was sentenced to 13 years at Chichester Crown Court in 2014 for the vile attacks which happened between 1980 and 1989. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and handed a Sexual Offence Prevention Order (SOPO) which severely restricts his contact with any children.

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A "FOOLISH" Southampton sex offender lied to police about his real address, because he was afraid of losing his home and job.

Andrew Portelli was given a suspended sentence just last month after attempting to meet what he thought was a 14-year-old girl at a supermarket car-park in Southampton.

The 49-year-old was told to register his address with police, as part of the requirements of his sexual harm prevention order.

But he gave police the wrong address, because he was living and working as a night porter at The Elizabeth House Hotel, on The Avenue, in Southampton.

Portelli believed he would lose both if his job and accommodation if his employers found out.

But police later informed them of Portelli's sentencing, which was reported in the Daily Echo, and he was sacked.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Portelli was given a six week prison sentence by Judge Gary Burrell QC, who described his actions as "astonishingly stupid".

The court heard how Portelli had breached the order just days after his sentencing, on February 8 this year.

During that sentencing, it was revealed how Portelli had sent inappropriate messages to a member of a paedophile hunter group, posing online as a 14-year-old girl.

He sent messages inviting the girl to shower with him before arranging a meeting at an Aldi car park in Portswood, where he was confronted by the paedophile hunters.

He was given a six-month suspended sentence after admitting to engaging in sexual communications with a child.

Just days later, he was found to have lied about his address.

In mitigation, Gemma White said Portelli had been "foolish".

She said: "He was concerned for his employment at the hotel if he made them aware of these matters and he would lose that accommodation, which was source of stability for him."

Judge Gary Burrell QC also described Portelli's actions as "astonishingly stupid".

He said: "You must have realised that not giving police the right information would have caused a breach of your order."

Portelli, who had been in custody for a month since his arrest, was jailed for six weeks as punishment, meaning he was eligible for immediate release.

He was also ordered to complete an extra 50 hours of unpaid work, which will be added to his previous punishment of 100 hours.

His six month suspended sentence remains in place.

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A sex offender who tried to claim a ‘child sex doll‘ was for an art project has been jailed.

Donald Styles, 61, said he purchased the 3ft doll, which had realistic sex organs, for a university application after it was intercepted at customs.

Police raided his home in Newton Abbot, Devon, and found 149 films and images of child abuse including rape, the BBC reports.

A judge said his story was “ridiculous” and jailed him for 18 months.

Exeter Crown Court heard Styles, a former Plymouth University art student, had told police he wanted the doll for a project he needed to submit as part of an application for a masters degree course at the university.

Judge David Evans told Styles: “If you needed a doll, there were plenty you could have bought legally. There was no reason whatsoever it had to be a child sex doll.

“Your explanation is utterly ridiculous and I reject it completely. This offence is so serious that only immediate imprisonment is justified.”

Jason Beal, prosecuting, said an investigation was launched by the National Crime Agency when Styles tried to import the doll from China in 2016.

His home was raided in February 2018 and the images were found on CD ROMs which were made in the early 2000s.

In reality 149 films and images were recovered of which 72 fell in the worst category, depicting child rape.

There was also a video he had made of a naked five-year-old child.

Inquiries with Plymouth University also showed he had not made any recent application for any courses.

Paul Dentith, defending, said the offences had taken place a long time ago and there was no evidence of any direct physical offending against children.

Styles, of Oak Place, Newton Abbot, admitted one count of producing and three counts of possessing indecent images of children.

He was jailed for 18 months, put on the sex offenders register for 10 years, restricted from contacting children and will have his internet activity monitored.

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A "pathetic and isolated" Scout leader has been jailed for attempting to meet a "14-year-old boy" for sex.

Matthew Thomson, 36, of Littleham Close, Bransholme, pleaded guilty to searching for indecent images of young boys on the internet, as well as grooming what he thought was a 14-year-old named David on homosexual dating app Grindr.

However, "David" was actually a fake profile created by a paedophile hunting group Keeping Our Kids Safe.

A hearing at Hull Crown Court heard that after "David" told Thomson he was just 14, the conversation continued and Thomson attempted to set up a meet for sex.

However, he then realised the profile of "David" was actually fake and so contacted Keeping Our Kids Safe, who then issued an ultimatum.

Judge Roger Thomas QC, sentencing said: "At some point he got wind of the fact this this wasn't what he thought it was and it was a set up to try to discover people like him.

"He tried to get out of the hole he was in and contacted the group."

The vigilante group eventually gave Thomson an ultimatum and told him that if he did not hand himself over to police, they would release his personal details on their Facebook page.

Thomson - a Beaver Master in charge of young Scouts between the ages of six and eight - met the paedophile hunting group in May last year and they filmed him outside Clough Road Police Station before he handed himself in.

In the video, Thomson admits saying to "David", after finding out that he was 14, that they could start with "kissing and touching" before going onto a sexual act.

Defending, Mr Harold Bloomfield, said: "There was nothing to suggest that David was a child, Grindr is for over 18's and contact was made. The defendant accepts that the pictures showed someone who appeared as being 14, and first contact wasn't as a 14-year-old, as no 14-year-old should be on Grindr."

He went on to add that Thomson is of good character and has been in the same job since leaving school, although this has since ended after the video went on Facebook.

Mr Bloomfield also added there has "never been any concerns expressed by those he had charge of, or their parents, that they were any any risk of him."

After a police interview, Thomson's personal computer was recovered and was found to have seven indecent images of Category B, and 16 images in Category C.

However, Thomson told the probation service that he had "no sexual interest in children".

Prosecuting, Mr Philip Evans told the court the images featured black rectangles, covering the private parts of the children used in the photos which "could be an attempt to confuse the software" used by the IPS and authorities to detect indecent images.

The sentencing hearing also heard that during forensic examination of Thomson's computer, it was found he had searched terms of indecent images including those of "young gay boys," "very, very, very young boys", and worryingly, "Scouts".

Judge Thomas described Thomson as a "lonely, pathetic individual" who lives with his mother and his brother.

He said: "His use of the internet and what he is interested in, and the fact he was able to get involved with the scouts is disturbing.

"As well as having a job you have been involved with the Scout movement and have been involved with the most junior, the Beavers, who are very young boys, who will move in later years to the Cubs and Scouts.

"When you joined them, maybe it was because you were wishing to give them good service to a good organisation.

"The suspicion may be though that you had some sort of interest in them young boys that was unhealthy, however it cannot be said that you acted anyway untoward.

"The three charges do show an unhealthy interest in sexual activity with a child. You said you had no sexual interest in children, that can't be right. What brought the police to your door was that you attempted to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex."

Sentencing to 12 months in jail, as well as to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, Judge Thomas said: "This is a serious case. This sentence seeks not just to punish you but to send a message that people who access material are at risk of going to prison, and people who commit sexual offences with boys as young as 14 will go to prison."

Thompson must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

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Both men were found guilty by a jury of two counts each of raping the 13-year-old A pair of depraved paedophiles have been found guilty of raping a boy aged 13. Sick duo John Cox and Jamie Cross twice raped the teenager in 2005 before being arrested years later. The victim went through years of torment and eventually found evidence to convict the pair, one of whom admitted to the sexual activity in a Facebook message, LeicestershireLive reports . Both men were found guilty by a jury of two counts each of raping the 13-year-old. In a personal impact statement, the victim admitted: "I felt angry at what they'd done to me and my body." He described the abuse as affecting his education and sending him off the rails for several years, and said he suffered recurring nightmares with the defendants' "faces coming out of the walls and shouting at me." When messaging them on Facebook, years later, he said he felt "fear and disgust." Although both defendants denied the rapes, Cross had referred to sexual activity having taken place when the victim later engaged him in text conversations - which was evidence used in court. Sentencing the pair to substantial terms in jail, Judge Robert Brown said: "You were both in your mid-20's at the time and the complainant was 13. "The circumstances in which you abused him were a gross breach of trust by you." Judge Brown told Cox, 38, and Cross, 37, both of Simons Close, Wigston Harcourt, near Leicester: "You took advantage of him and you raped him twice." Cox raped the boy during two incidents - including when Cross also took turns and twice raped the victim. Judge Brown said: "I can't and don't attempt to begin to describe the pain and suffering he's gone through ... the pain is real, it's lasting and will never leave him." The judge said the victim was accused of lying during the trial and added: "For him it was like going through it all again. "You're both still in denial and still maintain you didn't abuse him. "The jury by their verdicts have found you guilty - and guilty you are in the way described. "It was a clear abuse of trust, you planned these encounters and took advantage of this young boy." The court heard both defendants had previous convictions relating to child pornography and were given suspended sentences in 2017. Judge Brown told the defendants: "There's no remorse, there's no previous good character, there's no mitigation apart from what I've already referred to in your character references." He said both defendants would receive "sex offenders' treatment" whilst in custody. During the trial, Richard Thatcher, prosecuting, said the boy had got to know them when they were running a first aid service, providing medical care at public events. Mr Thatcher said that when the victim became an adult: "He entrapped Cross in a conversation on Facebook. "He wanted to get them to admit what they'd done." Giving evidence in the trial caused the victim's fear and pain to resurface that he described afterwards "felt like a tornado." The complainant said the court process had proved successful and added: "I hope if anything similar happened to anyone else, I suggest they come forward." James Varley, mitigating for Cross said: "For the most part he's lived a hard working and respectable life." He said: "It was one incident. "There was a break and then a resumption; not an ongoing course of conduct as the two offences were within the same episode." He said the offences happened 14 years ago and added: "He knows he's going to spend a period of time in custody. Paul Fleming, for Cox, said that references spoke well of the defendant regarding many positive aspects of his life. He added: "The references speak of how he has been well regarded by others who know him." Cox and Cross were each jailed for 12 years. They were placed on life-time sexual harm prevention orders and will have to record all future addresses on the police sexual offenders' register. Both were "automatically barred" from ever working with children, the judge said. The defendants were also on trial accused of less serious sexual assaults upon the same victim, during the same period, but both Cox and Cross were acquitted by the jury on those counts.

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Crimes include the rape of a teenage girl A Staffordshire driving instructor has been convicted for raping a child and "abusing his position to sexually assault female pupils". Martyn James Rees, 37 has today, Friday, March 22, been convicted at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. He was found guilty of numerous sexual offences, including rape, two counts of sexual activity with a child, sexual assault, two counts of attempted sexual assault, six counts of making indecent photographs of a child and possession of an extreme pornographic image. Rees pleaded guilty to assault by penetration, two counts of sexual assault, four counts of making indecent photographs of a child and two counts of cannabis possession at an earlier hearing. His eight victims were aged between 14 and 25 at the time of the offences, which took place between 2015 and 2018. Rees, of West Avenue in Stoke, was arrested on Friday, March 8, following reports that a 14-year-old had been raped. An examination of his mobile phone found indecent images of children and led to the identification of further victims, leading to him being rearrested. He has not been able to operate as a driving instructor since March 2018. Speaking about the case, Detective Inspector Simon Caton from Staffordshire Police's Child Protection and Exploitation Team said: "Rees has spent years abusing his position as a trusted driving instructor to commit sexual offences against his pupils. "He also sexually assaulted a vulnerable 14-year-old girl, following a chance encounter with her. "I would urge anyone who has been a victim of such crimes to come forward and report this to us, we will listen and you and your families will be supported by specially-trained detectives and social workers. "If you are or have been a victim or you are worried about something, and you don't feel ready to talk to the police, please speak to someone you trust." Rees has been remanded and will be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court at a later date, which is yet to be decided.

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AN ABINGDON man has been given a five year jail sentence for a string of child sexual offences.

Linus Rickett, 20, of the Holt, pleaded guilty to the counts - involving boys between nine and 13 - and was sentenced yesterday at Oxford Crown Court.

He was also given a further three years on extended licence after admitting to 13 counts involving 10 boys.

Police say he was a 'prolific offender' who pretended to be a young girl and filmed boys using urinals.

Seven counts involved inciting boys under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

He also admitted to three counts of voyeurism and three counts of making indecent images of a child (one in categories A, B and C respectively).

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Ali Driver, of Force CID based at Abingdon police station, said: “Rickett is clearly a prolific offender, targeting young boys to abuse for his own sexual gratification.

“Rickett committed these crimes by pretending he was a young girl of a similar age to the victims online and by filming boys using urinals.

“Crimes of this nature will not be tolerated in the Thames Valley and we ask that anyone who believes they could be a victim of this type of crime or knows a child that could be affected to get in touch.

“Cases of this nature will always be thoroughly investigated to ensure every effort is made to take them through the criminal justice system.”

Rickett will also be placed on the sex offender register for life and will be issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The offences took place between February 2017 and October 2018.

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A MAN arrested in an anti-paedophile police sting at a York supermarket has been jailed for three years.

Christopher George Walton, 33, was sitting in a Berlingo van whose rear seats had been removed and had “a large supply of condoms” and other items that could be used in sexual activities, said Paul Newcombe, prosecuting.

He was waiting to meet a schoolboy nearly 13-year-old called “Noah” whom he had told via social media he would meet him at a Lidl supermarket car park, take for a drive and “see what happens”.

But in reality “Noah” didn’t exist. His profile on Grindr social media had been created as part of a police operation and 15 minutes before he was due to arrive at 4pm on January 14, police pounced.

“The defendant was shaking as he was arrested and said “I knew it”,” said Mr Newcombe.

Walton, of Ingleborough Avenue, Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to two offences of attempting to incite a child into sexual activity and one of attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming.

He was jailed for three years, put on the sex offenders’ register for life and made subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order curbing his contact with boys under 16 and use of the internet and electronic devices.

Mr Newcombe said “Noah” had told Walton at the start of their exchanges in early January he was “nearly 13” and that he was at school. Walton had been the first to turn their exchanges to sexual content, and had asked him more than once to send him a sexual picture of himself. “Noah” had not done so.

For Walton, Keith Allen said as part of their Grindr exchanges, the 33-year-old had told “Noah” he was too “skint” to buy him a McDonalds and they wouldn’t be able to drive far because he didn’t have much fuel.

On two occasions, he had also not contacted “Noah” for days at a time and “Noah” had resumed the contact

At the time of the offences, Walton had been suffering from depression, but not on medication.

As soon as he had been released following his arrest, he had gone to his GP and got anti-depressants.

Mr Allen said police must have submitted a profile with a false date of birth because Grindr was restricted to adults.

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The victim of Paul Maiden's drink and drug-fuelled sex attack is now looking to the future, Teesside Crown Court heard A woman went through "pure hell" when a rapist forced himself on her while she was sleeping next to her boyfriend. Now she says she is looking to the future as sex attacker Paul Maiden, 33, starts a long prison sentence. A judge said she hoped the woman could take comfort from the fact a jury believed her and convicted the rapist. Maiden had been drinking and taking cocaine when he began raping the woman while she and her boyfriend slept. She awoke to find him having sex with her, Teesside Crown Court heard on Wednesday. "Initially she thought it was her boyfriend then realised that he was asleep next to her and realised it was you," Judge Deborah Sherwin told Maiden. "There was something of a struggle. "She was left covered in bruises. It isn't clear to me at all how this happened. Something happened to cause her that bruising." Woman suffered post-traumatic stress disorder The woman's boyfriend woke up to her shouting that Maiden had raped her, and he chased Maiden away. Maiden was cut to the hand with a knife, and the boyfriend gave evidence that he felt he had to defend himself from the rapist. In a moving statement the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she went through "pure hell". Prosecutor Paul Newcombe said: "She has lost her self-esteem and it's compounded issues she had. "She's still suffering from depression and a form of post-traumatic stress disorder but is looking forward to the future with confidence." Judge Sherwin said the woman was particularly vulnerable as she was sleeping. She said the victim was also affected by alcohol as she was found to be four times the alcohol limit for driving afterwards. 'It's had a profound effect on her life' "It's had a profound effect on her life," added the judge. "She sets out in her statement the attempt she has made to take her own life. "I can only hope that she gains some comfort from the jury's verdict in this case." Maiden, of Hartlepool Marina, denied rape but was convicted by a jury after a trial last week. He had no previous convictions for sexual offences and had been out of trouble since a drink driving offence in 2010. 'Quite excessive levels of drinking' Robin Denny, defending, said: "No relevant convictions. He's never been sent away. "An incident which would never have happened if there hadn't been a background of quite excessive levels of drinking." Passing sentence, Judge Sherwin said: "It could be argued she has suffered from severe psychological harm. "The best mitigation is that you have no relevant previous convictions. "You are effectively of good character and have never served a custodial sentence before." Maiden was jailed for eight years. He was given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order banning him from contacting the victim, and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.

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The 16-year-old who raped and murdered Alesha MacPhail has been sentenced to a minimum of 27 years behind bars after he finally admitted his crime. During his trial, Aaron Campbell had repeatedly denied he abducted, raped and killed the six-year-old on the Isle of Bute last July. But he admitted his offences to a psychologist preparing a report to the court ahead of his sentencing. Judge Lord Matthews imposed a life sentence for the "brutal" murder. He set the punishment part of the sentence, before Campbell can apply for parole, at 27 years. Lord Matthews said Campbell's crime had caused "revulsion and disbelief". He said Alesha had been violated and murdered and told Campbell he was a "cold, callous, calculating, remorseless and dangerous individual". The judge read out Campbell's "cold blooded and horrific" account of his actions that night and how he described seeing Alesha asleep in her room as "a moment of opportunity". Campbell's confession was contained in the criminal justice social report and the criminal psychologist's report, which were prepared ahead of his sentencing. The report by the forensic clinical psychologist Dr Gary Macpherson quoted Campbell as saying: "At any other time in life murder would not have been the conclusion. "If I was a year younger I don't think I would have done it. "All I thought about was killing her once I saw her." In his sentencing statement, the judge said the teenager had shown breathtaking arrogance during the trial and had failed to plead guilty despite overwhelming evidence against him. He said he had shown "a staggering lack of remorse". "Not once did I detect a flicker of emotion from you," the judge said. Lord Matthews said it would be for others to decide if Campbell would ever be released, indeed, he said his reintegration into society might be "impossible". During his nine-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow last month, Campbell claimed he had never met his victim and lodged a special defence naming the 18-year-old girlfriend of Alesha's father as the killer. The judge said this was a "cruel travesty of the truth" and said the woman he blamed, Toni McLachlan, was "completely innocent". The judge said he was "shocked" by the clear admissions of guilt in the background reports, especially after the "tissue of lies" Campbell had told in court. The psychologist said that on the night of Alesha's death Campbell had been drinking and wanted cannabis so he decided to go into her father's home to get some. Alesha's father had previously sold him the drug. In his sentencing statement, Lord Matthews said Campbell had carried Alesha to a secluded spot where he raped and murdered her "in the most brutal fashion". He told the teenager: "You said that Alesha was drowsy and became a bit more awake when you went out. "At one point she asked who you were and where you were going. "You said you were a friend of her father and that you were taking her home." 'Harmful behaviour' Campbell gave Alesha his coat because she was cold. The judge said that over the next few days Campbell was unconcerned about what had happened, and was "slightly amused" that the police had not caught him. The court heard that the teenager had said he was "quite satisfied by the murder". The judge said Campbell told Dr Macpherson that at points during the trial it took "everything to stop laughing" and he had to "zip his mouth". Lord Matthews said the reports concluded that Campbell was not suffering from a mental health disorder but showed a total lack of victim empathy. Alesha, from Airdrie in Lanarkshire, was just days into a holiday when she was abducted from her bed. She was reported missing from her grandparents' home on Ardbeg Road, near Rothesay, at 06:23 on 2 July last year. Dozens of islanders joined the search for the child but at 08:54 her naked body was discovered in a wooded area in the grounds of the former Kyles Hydropathic Hotel. A post-mortem examination later revealed she had suffered 117 injuries and died from significant pressure being applied to her face and neck. After the sentence was read out family members shouted "evil" and "beast" as Campbell was led down to the cells.

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HGV driver John Ellison, 64, of Walton Road, Farlington, was found guilty of two charges of actual bodily harm and a single charge of raping a woman, a Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman said.

The offences date back to the 1990s.

A judge at Preston Crown Court ordered him to sign the sex offenders' register for life when he was sentenced in February.

Ellison denied the charges against him.