Latest Offenders

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A lodger who raped and murdered a 13-year-old girl to stop her exposing him as an abuser has been jailed for life. Stephen Nicholson, 25, stabbed Lucy McHugh 27 times at Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre last July. He was found guilty of murder and three charges of raping Lucy after a trial at Winchester Crown Court and was ordered to spend at least 33 years in jail. Judge Mrs Justice May said Lucy had "unknown promise, cruelly obliterated" and described Nicholson as "depraved". The judge told Nicholson: "This was a pitiless attack on a child following months of sexual exploitation. "The prosecution has described it as an execution and I am satisfied this is correct. "The combination of [Nicholson's] cold narcissism and hot anger dictated that she had to be put out of the way and he saw to it that this was done." The trial heard Nicholson first raped Lucy, then aged 12, in May 2017 while living at her home, and on two further occasions over the following week. Mrs Justice May said Lucy had been "vulnerable, easy prey to someone satisfying his own appetites". She said Nicholson "encouraged and cynically exploited" Lucy's "crush" on him after he had moved into the family house, and called him "utterly selfish and depraved". Nicholson had later decided Lucy had "become a serious object to his comfortable life and there was a real threat of her outing him as a paedophile". The judge said teachers had "done the right thing" in raising concerns to social services but no action was taken. She added: "The [social services] team had investigated and had found nothing to concern them. The obvious question is, 'how could social services have arrived at that conclusion, not once but twice?'". Southampton City Council declined to comment due to an ongoing serious case review into the reports made to its social services department. The review is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Nicholson was also found guilty of sexual activity with another girl, aged 14, in 2012.

Children's home hostage

Victim impact statements from Lucy's mother and father were submitted to the court. The court heard Nicholson had previously been detained in 2009 for taking staff and residents of a Southampton children's home hostage, when he was aged 14. Prosecutor William Mousley QC told the court that while he was a resident of the home - under the influence of amphetamines - Nicholson threatened staff with a knife. He then locked them and other children in a room, before stealing £1,000 in cash and making off in a staff member's car. He was also later convicted of affray and damaging property after he barricaded himself in a room and threatened staff at a young offenders centre. Nicholson recorded a music video in 2012 as part of a music rehabilitation project after being released from prison that year, in which he rapped about turning his life around, having previously not cared about who he hurt. Defence barrister James Newton-Price QC said Nicholson had a "difficult" upbringing, having been placed in a children's home from the age of 13. Jurors heard Nicholson moved into the family home after being invited by long-time friend Richard Elmes, the partner of Lucy's mother Stacey White. The trial heard Lucy would later describe Nicholson to friends as her "boyfriend". Nicholson told police Lucy sent him a message the night before her murder, saying she was pregnant. After luring her to woodland nearby, he stabbed her 27 times, including 11 in the neck, in what prosecutors described as an "'execution-style" murder. It was later found Lucy was not pregnant. Nicholson was linked to the murder via DNA evidence found on clothing discarded in woodland about a mile from the murder scene. He was also convicted of sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl in 2012, who he had taken to the same woodland where Lucy was found dead years later. Nicholson was cleared of one count of sexual activity with a child which related to Lucy after she had turned 13.

Description

A gross man who raped an East Riding schoolgirl and made her conceal the truth has been jailed.

Michael Billups, who worked for a major TV company, subjected the youngster to horrific sexual abuse over a two-month period.

The 52-year-olds campaign began when he unzipped the girls onesie to abuse her before going on to brutally rape her on more than one occasion.

Claire Holmes, prosecuting, said: He would unzip her onesie to touch her. She said that it had progressed to the defendant raping her numerous times and this lasted for two or three months until she told her mum.

The abuse happened in around 2011 but was only exposed years later when she confided in her boyfriend.

An educational welfare officer reported the abuse to the authorities and when Billups was arrested in September 2018 he immediately admitted to raping the girl.

Miss Holmes said: When he was arrested he was told not to talk about the offence but he said I dont need to it was statutory rape'.

In a statement, given to police following his arrest, Billings said: I accept the offence of rape and sexual allegations against me. I am truly remorseful and sorry for what occurred.

I have been living with this for six years and want to get this matter resolved. I believe I need help for what happened and I cant say why I did it.

Im truly sorry and wish I hadnt done what I did every day.

Sickeningly, Billups even said at on the stage that the girl wanted it...and enjoyed it.

The defendant, of Lilac Oval, Leeds, had a prior history of upskirting and engaging with prostitutes before raping the youngster.

During Wednesdays sentencing at Hull Crown Court it was revealed that Billups had put a camera between a womans legs on an escalator before taking a photo of another young woman up her skirt in Pocklington.

He was subjected to an antisocial behaviour order (Asbo) which prevented Billings from having access to a mobile phone with a camera.

However, in 2009 he was found by police in Leeds Red Light District asking a prostitute to take pictures of her genitals on his phone in exchange for cash.

The girl told her friend that Billups had taken naked pictures of her but it was not until last year when she and her boyfriend were doing an online quiz that the truth about him raping the youngster was revealed.

Miss Holmes said: There was a mention of rape within that quiz and she went silent and began to cry. She confirmed she had been raped and her boyfriend was shocked by this and asked her if it was true.

She said yes but was so upset and could not give him any more information.

Her boyfriend suggested she go to see a doctor but she then revealed that years earlier Billups had told her not to seek any medical help.

Miss Holmes said: Mr Billups had objected to her going to the doctors and the Crown submits the reason for that is the fear that she may have disclosed the sexual abuse.

Billups wept in the dock at Hull Crown Court as the harrowing impact of the abuse was brought to light.

The girl suffers from anxiety and told doctors she had considered killing herself, leaving her mother heartbroken.

The victims mum said: It made me feel upset and angry and it made me overprotective and cautious. I used to dread pushing open her bedroom door and I feel remorseful towards the whole situation.

This is something my daughter will always have to deal with and its through no fault of her own.

Gordon Stables, defending Billups, said his client had spent years waiting for police to knock on his door prior to his arrest in 2018.

Mr Stables said: He has not beaten around the bush. He has admitted it and he admits that for that two or three months he committed the most awful criminal offences.

He is utterly ashamed and he is full of remorse.

Billups pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and another charge of assault against a child.

Judge Mark Bury condemned his crimes as gross before jailing him for ten years and handing him a five-year restraining order which prevents him from contacting the victim or her family.

He must also sign the sex offenders register for life and must serve an extra year on extended licence.

Detective Constable Becky McInnis from Humberside Police said: Investigations of this nature are always difficult and I welcome todays sentencing.

I hope that this offers reassurance that we will always work to protect vulnerable people, taking action against those that commit offences against them.

Where we have victims that are unable to be involved in the proceeding and we need to seek a prosecution without their participation - we will do so.

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A man who cloned a bodybuilder's Facebook profile so he could target and sexually abuse a boy has been jailed.

Brandon Cooper, 24, cloned the account of a well-known local bodybuilder and sent messages of a sexual nature to the boy, who was under the age of 13.

The victim's father became aware of the messages and alerted police in August.

Cooper, of Brook House Avenue, Eccles, pleaded guilty to inciting a child to commit a sexual act and was jailed for 16 months at Manchester Crown Court.

Cooper used a fake name and Facebook profile "to gain the trust of the young victim", Greater Manchester Police said.

'Veil his identity'

The victim's father became concerned about messages of a sexual nature, which his son had received on social media.

The court heard how the man Cooper had impersonated was initially arrested but was quickly eliminated by detectives.

Det Con Tina Jackson said the "resilience" of the boy was "remarkable" but "Cooper's actions could easily have robbed a young person of his childhood".

"In impersonating an innocent man in an attempt to veil his identity and sadistically lure the young victim in, Cooper spared no thought for the consequences of his actions and the damage he could have done to another, innocent person's life.

Cooper was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely.

Description

A former police officer abused his position by collecting thousands of images of female officers and police cadets as young as 12, before posting manipulated sexualised pictures on sick paedophile websites, a court heard.

Christopher Dunn, 33, was told his actions had 'undermined public confidence in Greater Manchester Police', as he was jailed for four years and four months.

While working as a cadet leader Dunn led a 'double life', taking pictures of young and often 'vulnerable' cadets for his own sexual pleasure.

On some occasions he even manipulated pictures of young girls to make them sexualised, before posting them to online networks for the pleasure of other paedophiles.

He also did the same with adult female police officers, either taking pictures or collecting them from social media and sometimes manipulating them before uploading them to sick porn websites.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Dunn, from Salford, had been amassing thousands of images of women since he started full time at GMP in January 2014, storing them in 'organised' folders on his computer.He had done the same before he joined GMP, when he worked at the Trafford Centre.

In total Dunn collected images of 46 women aged between 12 and 44.

His offending was uncovered after an alert was triggered because he uploaded indecent images of children.

When his computers and mobile phones were examined, he was also found to have more than 100,000 indecent images of children in his possession.

After being arrested, Dunn said: "I'm not like one of those paedophiles who touch children. They make me sick.

He added: "My life is effectively over. It's over, there is no way back from all of this."

A judge said that Dunn's crimes had 'undermined the fabric of the police service' and damaged the credibility of GMP.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Bryan told him: "You were in a position of trust and responsibility in relation to young, and often vulnerable police cadets.

"You betrayed that trust in harvesting pictures of them for your own personal gratification, and posting them on paedophile websites for the sexual gratification of others who shared your unhealthy interest in young females.

"Those young cadets will have to live with what you have done for the rest of their lives."

The judge added: "Your behaviour has caused long lasting damage to your fellow officers and their families.

"It is almost beyond belief that someone could have distributed pseudo-images of their colleagues and their children on pornographic websites, but that is exactly what you have done."

The judge said statements he had read from victims were 'painful reading', saying they told how they feel 'humiliated and violated'.

The court heard that Dunn, who has no previous convictions, graduated with a computing degree in 2007.

Later that year he found work at the Trafford Centre, where he collected 998 pictures from social media of an adult woman who he knew through his job.

Prosecuting, Rob Hall said that was not a criminal offence but it 'foreshadowed' what was to come.

In February 2009, Dunn became a special constable at GMP. He is said to have performed well and was nominated for Special Constabulary Annual Gala Award.

Meanwhile he collected 1,800 images of three other adult women, who he knew from his old job at the Trafford Centre.

In May 2012 he tried and failed to join GMP as a full time officer, a process which put him in the company of female police officers.

From the following year, he started to collect images of women and girls who he knew through the Trafford Centre, GMP or through the cadets.

As he became a full time student police officer in January 2014 he was continuing to collect images of colleagues, as well as download indecent images of children.

He first started collecting pictures of police cadets in November 2015. Many of the cadets were said to have come from 'troubled homes' and were 'vulnerable'.

In May 2017 Dunn started a relationship with a fellow police officer. She was unaware of his double life, and he continued his offending during their relationship.

After becoming a cadet leader, Dunn was given a GMP award in recognition of the 'commitment and dedication' to his role, with the force unaware of his crimes.

He continued to abuse his position, collecting hundreds of images of his victims.

In October last year, Dunn uploaded an indecent image of a child which led to an online alert to the authorities.

But he still continued his sick behaviour.

In February police executed a warrant at Dunn's home, where he is said to have 'appeared nervous'. He was formally sacked from GMP in May.

In interviews he told officers that he had been addicted to legal pornography since the age of 16, and that he became interested in illegal pornography by 2013.

He said he had developed a split personality, one that was seen by the public and the other that was private to himself online.

Dunn also admitted having recorded videos of girls at his local supermarket.

Saying he was remorseful and that he needed help, Dunn added: "I regret what's happened and I am going to use this situation to turn things around."

In total Dunn collected more than 3,600 images of police cadets, and more than 7,500 images of colleagues.

He had also downloaded more than 20,000 indecent images of children, with a further 100,000 indecent images which prosecutors said had not been classified because it wasn't in the public interest to pursue them.

Defending, Colin Buckle said Dunn was 'socially awkward' as a young person and that he found it difficult to maintain 'age appropriate' relationships with women.

At university he lived at home and didn't engage with fellow students, Mr Buckle said, with Dunn instead turning to illegal pornography.

Mr Buckle said that Dunn's parents were not in court to see him being sentenced as they 'simply cannot face the enormity of his position'.

Police Inspector Natasha Evans told the court that the 'most heartbreaking' result of Dunn's offending was that a young cadet said if they ever got into trouble 'I will not call the police as I don't trust them'.

Dunn, of Moss Lane, Swinton, pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children, two counts of misconduct in a public office and two counts of possessing indecent images for distribution.

He will have to sign the sex offender's register for life, and is also banned from working with vulnerable children or adults for life.

After the hearing, Amanda Rowe, regional director of the Independent Office of Police Conduct which managed the investigation, said: "Swift action has been taken by the court in jailing Christopher Dunn for these most shocking and serious of crimes. 

"In overseeing this investigation by Greater Manchester Police, our joint work has ensured this former officer, who had no place in public office, is no longer a danger to the local community. 

"Christopher Dunn’s actions do not reflect the integrity of hard-working, honest police, and the public can be confident that there is no place for his behaviour in any police force."

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A former traffic controller from Camberley has been jailed for abusing two boys in the 1990s.

Peter Chiverton, now 53, of Upper College Ride, was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison on Monday (July 15) after he was convicted of abusing the boys on several occasions.

Passing sentence at Guildford Crown Court, Judge Peter Moss said the abuse had left one of his victims with "psychological issues" and the other with feelings of guilt that still affect him to this day.

Judge Moss explained Chiverton had "groomed" the two boys before sexually abusing them. In total, he was convicted of eight separate counts, including one of indecent assault "involving penetration", the judge said.

In mitigation, Chiverton's barrister, Sarah Read, told the court he was a man of previous good character who had worked for 23 years as a traffic controller before retiring due to ill health. One of his former colleagues, she said, described Chiverton as "a caring person; a shy chap whose heart is in the right place".

Ms Read added that he continued to live with health problems, including mobility difficulties, back pain and depression, particularly following the death of his mother and aunt.

Chiverton will serve half of his nine-and-a-half-year sentence in prison and will then be released on licence, during which time he can be recalled to prison if he commits further offences or breaches the terms of his parole.

He has also been made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Description

A lonely teenager has been jailed for grooming a 13-year-old girl on social media and having sex with her in a park in Barnstaple.

Matthew Medland went on to try and force an adult woman to have sex with him by threatening to post a naked video of her on the internet.

He was about to turn 19 when he had sex with the girl and he was said to be isolated from people of his own age, lonely, and very immature.

He started exchanging messages on social media with the girl when she was just 12 but she was 13 by the time he persuaded her to have sex with him.

Medland sent messages telling her he loved her and saying he wanted her to have his baby when she turned 14. He got her to send naked selfies on her phone.

Her mother became suspicious about the relationship when she overheard his voice on the phone and realised he was much older than her daughter. The girl became upset when her mother questioned her about it and ran off in tears to her grandmother’s house, where she disclosed the truth and the police were called.

Medland was released under investigation by the police while his phone was sent for forensic examination and he went on to commit the second offence seven months later.

He obtained a video clip of a 19-year-old girl which he sent to one friend before telling her he would post it online unless she had sex with him. She said no and called the police.

Medland, aged 19, of St Brannocks Road, Ilfracombe, admitted sexual activity with a child, sexual communication with a child, making indecent images of a child, and sending an electronic communication with the intention of causing distress.

A more serious count of blackmail was dropped by the prosecution.

He was jailed for three years and six months by Judge Timothy Rose at Exeter Crown Court. He was put on the sex offenders’ register and made subject of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order which bans future contact with under age girls and allows he police to monitor his internet activity.

The judge told him: ”You were in a chat group with people much younger than yourself and made contact with the victim when she was 12. You knew her age perfectly well because she told you about her 13 birthday.

“You should have had no contact whatsoever. It was wholly inappropriate with an age gap of six years, which is an important gap at that time of life.

“There is no doubt you embarked on the process of inveigling yourself into her affections to pursue sexual contact with her. You were insistent and persuasive and there was an element of grooming.

“It was extremely harmful behaviour. She was your victim. She was in no way an equal participant, which you seem to have thought she was.”

The judge said Medland’s behaviour towards the second victim was ‘quite despicable’

Miss Mary McCarthy, prosecuting, said Medland started chatting to the girl online when she was 12 and started meeting her when she was 13, culminating in them having sex in a park in Barnstaple in September of last year.

He went on to ask her to have his children and go her to send naked pictures of herself. When he realised her mother had found out, he told her ‘delete everything’.

In April of this year a woman of his own age went to the police because he was threatening to release a naked video of her onto the internet. He had already shared it with a friend and said he would make it available publicly unless she had sex with him.

Mr Richard Crabb, defending, said:”He was an immature, lonely, inadequate young man who found friendship, and more, with a younger girl because his hopes of a relationship with a girl of his own age had not materialized.”

He is struggling to cope in prison and is now accessing mental health care for the first time.

Description

A lying rapist has been jailed for 13 years after a teenager suffered a horrendous gang attack in a town centre subway.

The 17-year-old victim was attacked on July 14 last year in the subway that runs under the A62 Castlegate between New North Road Baptist Church and the old Technical College building.

Saddam Muhamadaim, 26, of Blacker Road, Birkby, was sentenced on Friday to 13 years for three counts of rape and one count of attempted rape after being convicted by a jury.

His sentencing was adjourned from March pending an investigation into his age, which could have affected the length of his sentence.

Leeds Crown Court previously heard Muhamadaim, who came to the UK from Sudan, gave his date of birth as January 1993 in an asylum registration form document, but he later told police it was March 2001 - making him 17 at the time of the offence instead of 25.

Muhamadaim is now 26 years old.

Two other men were jailed in March for their roles in the attack.

Abdul Latif Salih, 35, of Trinity Street in Huddersfield, and Bahaldin Doud, 21, of Village Terrace in Burley, Leeds, were each sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted by a jury.

Salih was convicted of one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, one count of rape and one count of attempted rape.

Doud was convicted of two counts of attempted rape.

All three men were arrested and charged by police a couple of days after the attack after being forensically linked to the inciident.

The Judge commended the investigation team at the end of the trial.

Detective Inspector Mark Catney, from Kirklees CID, who led the investigation, said: "These men have been handed lengthy prison sentences for the crimes they committed against a 17-year-old girl.

"They prolonged her ordeal by making her relive the incident through the court trial, but we are pleased that they were found guilty by the jury and have been given significant sentences.

"This was a distressing incident for the victim, but thankfully detectives at Kirklees Safeguarding Unit carried out a thorough investigation and within days of the incident, we had all three males in police custody.

"I would like to praise the victim for her bravery in coming forward to report the offences to police. She was subjected to a horrendous ordeal but now I hope that today’s sentences will allow her some closure to what has happened.

"Anyone who has suffered any sexual crime is urged to come forward to the police so that we can investigate it. We have specially trained police officers who will offer support and advice throughout."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the police via 101 or information can be passed to police anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Christopher Sansam bragged about incest when he was jailed for eight months The relative of a convicted paedophile has spoken of his disgust after finding out he is reportedly living close to a school after being released from jail halfway through his sentence. Christopher Sansam was jailed in February after he was found with 237 indecent images including of babies and toddlers being sexually abused, as well as two movies lasting more than seven minutes. Hull Crown Court heard how he also boasted about incest, referring to getting his daughter pregnant in an online chat, despite not having one, and had used file-sharing software KIK to distribute the most extreme category of images. Sansams barrister described him as simple during the sentencing hearing, hoping it may be some mitigation for him. But speaking after finding out he had been released, one of Sansam's close family members, who wanted to remain anonymous, claimed this is not true. People should see his photograph so they can protect their children from him, said the relative. Hes not simple at all. He did well at school getting his GCSEs and he went on to gain a full mechanics qualification at college. He even worked as a temporary supervisor at Cranswick Foods hes not simple at all. He knows right from wrong and Im so ashamed of what he has done. Sansam, 24, admitted to liking children between the ages of eight to fourteen, and his online behaviour was brought to the attention of Humberside Police in March 2018. He admitted three offences of possessing indecent images, and two of distributing them. Judge Mark Bury sentenced him to eight months in prison, and he was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for ten years and was ordered to sign the sex offenders registers for a decade. But Sansam's relative said he was now living near a primary school in the east Hull area. Hes only served four months and hes out already, claims Sansams relative. The whole family are ashamed of him and we are sickened he has been moved to near a school. I just cant believe he has been near my children when he was charged with all of this and none of us ever knew. It wasnt until he was in court we knew anything about it. What Christopher did makes me sick and everyone needs to know what he has done.

Description

A man from Wellington has been jailed for 10 years for child sexual offences.

Philip Hawkes, 55, was charged with 32 offences relating to online grooming of teenage girls and inciting them to commit sexual acts and send him indecent images.

He was also found in possession of numerous indecent images of children on his media devices.

Hawkes was handed the 10 year sentence at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday (July 2) after pleading guilty at the first hearing.

Hawkes will also be placed on the sexual offenders' register for life and be required to abide by Sexual Harm Prevention Order conditions.

Detective Sergeant Chris Jay said: We are committed to hunting down any person who uses the internet as a way to abuse children, or view or share indecent images of children.

This conviction and sentence demonstrates that the police and courts will not tolerate this kind of behaviour.

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Update 2022-07-08 A SOUTHAMPTON sex offender is back behind bars after breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Jordan Larcombe, of Summit Way, was handed the SHPO on April 5 2017 after he was convicted of sexually abusing two teenage girls on the Isle of Wight. Under the conditions of the SHPO, 26-year-old Larcombe is prohibited from using any phone or device capable of accessing the internet unless it can retain the internet history. He must also make the device available for inspection on request by police, and he must not delete any internet history or mobile phone use. During a home visit on June 14 this year, officers examined his phone and saw he had been messaging a woman over WhatsApp. He had also configured the disappearing messages facility, meaning any new messages in the chat would disappear after 24 hours a breach of his SHPO. In one message, he told the woman that she could begin flirting with him now because he had just put disappearing messages on. Appearing at Southampton Crown Court he was jailed for two years for breaching the order. PC Rob Thomas, from the Western Offender Management team, said: We take the management of sex offenders incredibly seriously, and invest significant resources into doing so in order to keep the public safe. Officers will often make unannounced visits to offenders where they may be subject to an intrusive investigative interview process. This helps us understand an offenders routine, interests and behaviours so we can closely monitor them. On this occasion, we visited Larcombes home and quickly established that he had deliberately and knowingly breached his Sexual Harm Prevention Order. These orders are put in place to protect the public, and ensure that individuals do not re-offend. Where they choose to disregard them, they are rightly punished and I am pleased that Larcombe is now back behind bars. 2019-07-05 A SEX offender convicted of sexual activity with a child was given additional prison time after breaching the terms of an order by posting pictures of himself online. Jordan Larcombe, 23, of Chale Green, was caught out when police officers found an Instagram account he had started, including communications with a young female, and references to a Snapchat account, Rose Burns, prosecuting, told the IW Crown Court. A court order prohibits Larcombe from having an internet enabled device without notifying police, which he did not do. Ms Burns told the court that Larcombe had breached his sexual harm prevention order on a previous occasion and had been sent back to prison. He then breached the order again, having acquired a mobile phone and posted on social media. He was released in April and went to live with his mother. It wasn't until May 29 that police found the account. Larcombe admitted the breach and said that he had felt lonely in prison and his friends had ditched him. Ms Burns said: "He is a persistent breacher of this order. It presents a serious risk. "He is messaging young girls with the intention of meeting up with them." For Larcombe, Oscar Vincent said his client had been living an isolated existence since his release from prison, with no prospect of employment and no social interaction. Mr Vincent said that Larcombe's communications from the phone were mostly one-way, with only one person responding, who was a 20-year-old ex-girlfriend of his. Mr Vincent said the breach did not represent sophisticated activity and was very easily detected, with no attempt made to hide his identity. "Mr Larcombe is 23 years of age, but does have have a low IQ. He has learning difficulties and if he were school age, he would be classed as special needs," Mr Vincent said. Sentencing, Judge Timothy Mousley said: "This was a deliberate breach and constituted a very high risk of causing harm. "This is not the first time you have breached the order and you have a history of failing to comply with other court orders." Larcombe was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

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A man has been jailed for 23 years for what police have described as horrific sexual abuse over six years that began when his victim was just 12 years old.

Kevin Langford, 54, of no fixed address, was handed his prison sentence today (5 July) after he was convicted of 29 different charges at an earlier court hearing in May.

The abuse spanned a six-year period when he was living in Wootton.

He had already pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child and was found guilty of the other indictments, which included possessing and distributing indecent images of children, causing/inciting a child into prostitution/pornography and trafficking a person out of the UK for sexual exploitation.

The jury at Luton Crown Court heard how the abuse started when the victim was just 12 years old.

Langford regularly assaulted her and forced her into taking part in sexual activity with him.

As she got older, he made her pose for provocative photos, which he posted to an adult website claiming she was 18, and started taking her to hotels to engage in sexual activity with other men, including once trip overseas.

On one occasion one of the men even filmed her and Langford used this as a threat against her in case she told anyone.

In April 2017, the victim came forward and disclosed to police about the abuse that she has endured over the past six years.

As well as the 23-year jail sentence, Langford will be on licence for two years after he leaves prison.

Detective constable Jenny Bryce said: I am delighted that Langford has received such a substantial custodial sentence as he not only subjected his victim to years of sexual abuse, but he also exploited her in the most horrendous way by advertising her online to strangers.

I cant praise the bravery of the victim enough for coming forward and disclosing all of Langfords sickening actions. I hope this sentence can serve as some kind of closure for her so she can move on with her life.

Child sexual abuse is one of the most heinous crimes and it will never be tolerated in our county.

We are committed to tackling these sickening individuals and ensuring that they are made to pay for their actions.

Description

A predator who targeted girls in teen chat rooms was unmasked as a convicted child rapist by a Scotland Yard sting operation.

Daniel Robinson pretended to be a 17-year-old and encouraged a 13-year-old girl to touch herself and send him images without realising he was in fact messaging an undercover police officer.

He was jailed after police tracked him down to his home and found images on his computer of a previous victim of his grooming.

Robinson, aged 34, was already on the sex offenders' register because he raped a 14-year-old gymnast who he met while working as a fitness trainer in Taunton in 2006.

He drove the girl to the countryside near his former home in Watchet where he raped and sexually assaulted her. He was jailed for six years at Taunton Crown Court in 2006.

Chef Robinson, of Conygar View, Dunster, admitted attempting to cause a child to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage a child in sexual communication, and making indecent images of children.

He was jailed for two years by Recorder Jonathan Barnes at Exeter Crown Court and made subject of a sexual harm prevention order which restricts his future contact with children and use of the internet.

He told him: "These offences are aggravated very seriously by your previous conviction for rape. After anxious consideration, I am persuaded, just, that you should not be classified as a dangerous offender."

Mr Robert Yates, prosecuting, said Robinson contacted what he thought was a 13-year-old girl called Libby on the kids' channel of the Chat Avenue website in June 2017, claiming to be a 17-year-old boy.

Mr Yates said: "The conversation was of a sexual nature and he suggested a video call in which he proposed to masturbate."

He went on to urge 'Libby' to show her breasts and vaginal areas on Skype and to touch herself sexually. The Metropolitan Police passed his details to colleagues in Barnstaple and his home was searched.

An analysis of his computer found four images of young girls exposing themselves which he admitted had been sent after contact in chat rooms.

Mr Rupert Taylor, defending, said there had been no physical contact with any girl and the Skype conversation was not with a real person.

He said Robinson is now living with his family and working as a head chef. The probation service have recommended that he go on a sex offender treatment programme, which would not be available in jail.

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A businessman and former taxi driver raped a girl dozens of times over two years.

Vincent Matthews groomed his victim, who was under the age of 13, into thinking she was in a relationship with him.

But instead the former director of Morriston RFC was abusing his victim.

The 56-year-old, of Cwrt Cilmeri in Morriston, pleaded guilty to six counts of raping a girl under 13 and two counts of attempted sexual assault.

Swansea Crown Court was told the actual number of offences was estimated to be "dozens".

John Hipkin, prosecuting, told the court Matthews' grooming had "succeeded in making her (the girl) believe she was in a relationship with him."

He added: "He began by squeezing her leg and kissing and cuddling.

"She did not know about or understand anything sexual, but this proceeded to taking her upstairs to a bedroom, paying her compliments, suggesting she take a bath, and proceeded to having sexual intercourse with her.

"She mentioned pinning her arms down to achieve the act, but it is emphasised by the Crown this case is one of extensive grooming.

"He would put a blanket over her mouth to prevent her screaming. He told her not to tell anyone what they were doing."

Susan Ferrier, defending Matthews, said: "It is clear he is somebody who does need help and by pleading guilty he is making himself available to whatever help is available during what he accepts will be a long sentence.

"He apologises not just to you (the judge) but to the victim and her family and his family. He has lost everything.

"He had his own business, that is gone. He will have a long time in custody to reflect what from the outside looked like the life of a successful middle age man and that is something he has to live with."

Sentencing Matthews, Judge Paul Thomas said: "You deliberately and cynically set out to rape a girl when you were in your mid fifties.

"At her age she was not only never mature enough to consent with what you were doing, it is highly questionable she understood the significance of what you were doing to her at that age.

"She does not. As is almost inevitable in these cases it has had a profound long term impact on her both psychologically and emotionally.

"These offences do not end when acts ends. There are consequences that go on for years and years and years.

"I suspect Mr Matthews, I do not have to tell you because you are an intelligent man.

"Your earlier involvement with the court system did not dissuade you.

"Your concern was only for your own sexual needs. You pursued her and made her consider you were in a romantic relationship with her. You were not. Your paedophile lust was your motivation.

"Your level of persistent, cynical opportunism and inability to control your attraction to pre-pubescent children means you clearly represent a very significant risk to pre-pubescent children in the future."

He added: "[After] Your business and sporting standing of many years, your public fall from grace is precipitous."

Judge Thomas gave Matthews an extended sentence of 23 years, with 16 years in custody and an extended seven years on licence.

He was also made subject to a sexual prevention order for life, and made to sign the sex offenders' register.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Morgan, of South Wales Police, said: We would like to praise the bravery of the victim for coming forward.

Investigating sexual violence is a priority for South Wales Police and we are committed to investigating all reports of sexual abuse - regardless of when they occurred - in order to ensure that those who exploit the most vulnerable members of society are brought to justice."

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A paedophile has been jailed for 11 years after he was convicted of sexually abusing a girl.

Richard Rowles, 42, of Churchill Way, Sunbury, began abusing his victim when she was just six years old and did so on repeated occasions.

The victim only came forward in October 2017, prompting a police investigation and Rowles' eventual conviction for multiple offences including sexual assaulting a girl under 13 and causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Detective Constable Sara McDowell, who investigated the case, said: "I would like to pay tribute to the victim for her bravery in not only coming forward in the first place, but then for re-living her ordeal when she gave evidence in court.

"I hope that the fact that Rowles has received a lengthy jail sentence can help her to move on with her life.

"Surrey Police takes all reports involving sexual offences extremely seriously and we would encourage anyone who believes they have been the victim of a similar offence to come forward."

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An intruder who crept into the bed of a sleeping woman and started kissing her back has been jailed for 22 months.

Steven Lhirondelle, 30, sexually assaulted the woman as she lay frozen by panic in the bed.

Fearing she would be raped she summoned the courage and leap out of bed before running into the street and shouting for help.

Lhirondelle was later arrested by police and said 'I'm sorry. I don't know why I did it'.

The defendant was described as a lonely but otherwise hard-working man when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court.

He admitted knowingly trespassing on premises with the intention of committing a sexual offence and sexually touching a woman without her consent.

The victim, a woman aged in her 60s, said she still could barely believe the offence had happened and was frightened of returning to her home and bed.

The offence happened in Torquay in May.

Prosecutor Ms Bathsheba Cassel said the victim, who lived alone, had gone to bed only to be woken in the early hours by an intruder. Lights were switched on and off and a voice said 'I will steal' a number of times.

"Shortly afterwards she felt someone in the bed," said the prosecutor.

She did not know who it was or recognise the man during the assault.

She felt the man stroking her back and then kissing it 10 to 12 times. Lhirondelle remained silent during the assault.

"The victim describes being still and feeling confused about what was happening and frightened about what was about to occur," said Ms Cassel.

"She feared she was going to be raped and felt she had to get away."

Summoning the courage she jumped out of bed and ran downstairs as quickly as she could.

"She felt panic, despair and shock," said Ms Cassel.

"She screamed for help as loudly as she could."

Police were called and arrived at the scene soon after.

Lhirondelle remained calmly at the scene for some time before running off. Police arrested him later that morning.

He told them: "Yes, I've had a bit too much to drink and tried to get into the house." He apologised and said he was just looking for somewhere to sleep.

He couldn't remember kissing the woman but agreed she wouldn't make it up.

Mr Martin Salloway, defending, said the defendant could not really explain his actions. He was sorry for what he had done and had been moved to tears by the victim's account of what had happened.

"He is a sad and lonely soul," said Mr Salloway. He said Lhirondelle had admitted is crime at an early stage and spared the victim a trial.

The victim said in a statement: "I cannot sleep in my bed, I cannot bear the thought. I will have to clean and disinfect the house. I am shaken and overwhelmed. Part of me doesn't believe it's happened but I am choosing to think like that because I'm still in a trace."

Judge David Evans said the defendant's crime was too serious to suspend the sentence.

"She feared she would be raped. I accept that was not your intention but that was the terrifying prospect she feared. You must have realised that possibility and had you been sober you would have realised anybody waking up to that situation would be likely to fear that as the ultimate outcome."

He said the defendant, of Babbacombe Road, had given no explanation for his scary behaviour but accepted it was out of character.