Latest Offenders

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A man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison following serious sexual and violent offences against three women.

Gerald Hever, 51, was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday, 1 September, 2025.

The offences took place between 1996 and 2020 in Inverness-shire and Moray.  

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register and given a 20-year non harassment order.

Detective Constable Lauren Barron said:

“Hever carried out appalling acts of sexual and violent abuse against the three women.

“Following a complex investigation, he has been brought to justice and this sentence reflects the seriousness of his offending.

“We remain committed to investigating all reports of sexual crime, regardless of when it happened. We will do everything in power to support victims and all reports are treated sensitively.”

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A 24-year-old man has been jailed in absentia after he was found guilty of sexually abusing four girls.

Raeshon Dean Everton Rose, of The Headlands, Northampton, first started abusing the girls, who were all children, when he was a teenager. The abuse lasted for six years.

The court heard how Rose abused his victims on multiple occasions, forcing them to perform oral sex on him and repeatedly sexual assaulting them.

In 2021, one of the girls bravely told a friend about the abuse which had taken place when she was younger and this started a process which would set a police investigation in motion.

Northamptonshire Police would go on to find three other girls who Rose had sexually abused.

After pleading not guilty to the charges, Rose appeared at Northampton Crown Court in July where the trial jury found him guilty of eight counts of sexually assaulting a child aged under 13, five counts of child rape and one of causing or inciting a child under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity.

On Thursday, August 28, he was sentenced to a total of six-and-a-half years in prison.

However, the court was then told the defendant was being sentenced in absentia after he fled the UK while on bail from the earlier hearing.

Northamptonshire Police is now carrying out extensive inquiries to determine his whereabouts and bring him back to the UK to serve his sentence.

Det Supt Jen Castle, head of child safeguarding, said:

“It is deeply distressing for the victims to discover Rose has fled the country – and justice – following his trial. Northamptonshire Police is doing all it can to locate the defendant and ensure that he serves his sentence.

 “The four young women in this case have shown tremendous bravery and I cannot stress that enough. They have found courage they should never have had to call upon.

“Raeshon Rose’s crimes lasted more than half a decade and we are appealing for anyone who knows anything about his whereabouts to contact us on 101.

“Northamptonshire Police takes all forms of sexual abuse incredibly seriously. If you have been subjected to any form of assault or abuse, please come forward and report it to us. We will listen. We will believe you. And we will do all we can to bring those responsible to account.

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Two women subjected to sex attacks in a Dundee pub will be paid £1,000 in compensation between them.

Andrew Swan is now on the sex offenders’ register after assaulting the women in the Bush Bar on May 18 this year.

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Craig Arrowsmith, 48, of Hoadley Green, Salisbury, appeared at Salisbury Crown Court yesterday (01/09) after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a child, making indecent images of children and four counts of possession of extreme pornography, namely bestiality.

He was jailed for 12 months, suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay compensation of £500 and complete up to 35 days of rehabilitation activity days. He will also be required to sign on to the sex offender’s register for 10 years.

On January 30, 2024, police received a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) referral from the victim’s school raising concerns that the victim was receiving inappropriate messages from Arrowsmith.

Arrowsmith was arrested and bailed. An examination of his phone revealed that between March 2023 and January 2024, Arrowsmith repeatedly messaged the victim, a 15-year-old girl, on a social media platform, many of which were sexual in nature.

Four videos featuring bestiality were also found on his phone, as well as a total of 245 category C indecent images were also found on his phone, all of which related to superimposed photos of the victim.

Arrowsmith admitted the offences and was sentenced yesterday.

DC Louise Butler of the Child Abuse Investigation Team said:

“Firstly, I would like to thank the victim for her bravery throughout the case.

“Her courage in speaking with us and giving a video recorded interview has led to Arrowsmith being sentenced yesterday.

“Arrowsmith’s crimes are abhorrent. Despite knowing the victim was only 15 years old, he continued to message her in a sexual manner and used photos of her to impose her face onto an AI-generated female’s naked body.

“He has now been sentenced and will be on the Sex Offender’s Register for the next decade.”

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A former school administrator has been jailed after admitting sexually abusing three teenage girls.

All the girls were aged under 16 – with all three incidents taking place at the Da Vinci School in Chaddesden, Derby.

The extent of Roberts’ offending came to light after the first teenager came forward reporting that, the now 23-year-old, had had sex with her during school time – before two more girls were identified as having been targeted.

Both the girls told officers how he had sexually assaulted them.

Roberts was quickly arrested, before being charged and appearing at Derby Crown Court where he initially denied the offences.

However, before the case could reach a trial, Roberts changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced at the same court on Friday 29 August.

Roberts, formerly of Breaston, was handed a 44-month sentence for sexual activity with a child by penetration – as well as ten months and three months for the two sexual assaults to be served concurrently.

The mother of one of the girls explained how Roberts had taken away her daughter’s innocence and childhood and that she had blamed herself for what Roberts did.

DC Charlotte Flint, who led the investigation into Roberts, said:

“I first want to thank each of the three girls – along with their families.

“Their determination to see Roberts brought to justice has been incredible and their resilience to see him jailed is nothing short of immense.

“Roberts’ role at the school meant that he had a position of trust – one that he betrayed in the worst possible way.

“For these three young girls their school should have been a place of safety, and Roberts used that for his own disgusting means.

“I want to thank the school for their assistance during the investigation – and their excellent safeguarding work after Roberts’ offending was brought to light.

“The likes of Roberts have absolutely no place in our communities, and I would urge anyone who may have been the victim of similar crimes to please come forward.”

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The man pictured is Bradley Hawkins and he is a violent child rapist.

When he was a teenager, he raped an eight-year-old girl in Cheltenham. He also assaulted the same victim, raped her again and caused or incited her to engage in sexual activity.

The victim, who now lives in Lancashire, stayed silent about what had happened to her for years through fear.

However, she bravely reported the offences to police in 2023 and we launched an investigation.

Hawkins, who is a career criminal, was interviewed in prison in relation to this offending.

Before the interview could start, he said he ‘doesn’t do these types of offences and he isn’t a nonce or a rapist’. He said that ‘all his life he has been robbing’ and that ‘no one wants this put to their name as this is scum of the earth stuff’.

However, 26-year-old Hawkins’ name will now be associated with sexual offending after he pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court earlier this year to two rapes of a girl under 13, causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Hawkins, of no fixed address, returned to the same court today (1st September) where he was jailed for three years. Although he is now an adult, Hawkins was sentenced based on the age he was when he committed the offences – between 13 and 14-years-old - and the sentencing guidelines at the time.

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

In an impact statement to the court, the victim wrote:

“Having the strength to open up about the abuse I endured as a child has been one of the hardest things I have ever done.

“I felt ashamed that this had happened to me. Before I finally managed to open up to my family and then the police, I had lived with this burden all my childhood and early adult life.”

She continued: 

“I struggle to put into words how these events have affected me now as an adult. I believe this is due to the behaviours I have as an adult, that I have always considered normal to me. Upon further self-reflection and evaluation, I now understand how some of my behaviours are not ‘normal’ and are in fact a result of the trauma I experienced as a child.

“To this day I dislike being touched by anyone, unless this is on my own terms. This also has effects on my personal relationship with my partner, due to the abuse suffered I have this behaviour where I have to feel validated and reassured by people I love, If I do not receive this then my mind starts to play tricks and I feel that I am either not loved or liked, realistically I know this is not the case however due to the abuse I suffered, I cannot move past how this makes me feel all the time and I hope that one day, I can heal from this and in my eyes, act normal.”

DC Dan Healey, of the East RASSO (Rape and Serious Sexual Offences) Team, said:

“Hawkins is a dangerous and violent individual who has a worrying sexual interest in children. His views towards females and his sense of entitlement are also of great concern.

“I am content that Hawkins has been convicted and is ultimately now held accountable for his abhorrent offending. I would ask any women or girls who believe the victim of similar offending to make contact with the police as soon as possible.

“I also want to place on record my thanks to the investigation team for their diligent work in bringing Hawkins to justice, particularly DC Sarah Andrews.

“Finally, and most importantly, I want to take this opportunity to praise the victim for the bravery and strength she has displayed throughout this process.  Hawkins’ offending has clearly had a profound and long-lasting impact on her, and her bravery has not only led to a dangerous individual being put behind bars, it may also lead to other victims coming forward.”

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A Coventry man has been jailed for raping a woman while she slept.

Leslie Mangwa was sentenced today after he attacked the woman, who was sleeping after a night out in January last year.

On the night of the attack, the woman was asleep when she awoke to find Mangwa sexually assaulting her.

She screamed and made him leave the room.

Shortly after the rape, the woman reported her story to the police.

Thanks to her bravery in coming forward, officers identified and arrested Mangwa, 33 and charged him with rape.

In interview, Mangwa denied rape, claiming what happened had been consensual.

Despite this, he was found guilty at trial on 4 August and sentenced on 29 August.

Mangwa, of William Hillman Court, was jailed for eight years, along with being given a restraining order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

We would encourage anyone who has suffered sexual abuse to come forward and tell their story.

We know that reporting rape, sexual assault or another sexual crime like indecent exposure or upskirting can be daunting.

We're here to support you whether you're ready to report it to us or if you'd prefer to talk to someone else.

If you want to talk it through before deciding whether to report to us, you can talk to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service (ISVA) or another support service.

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In February 2023, John Halliburton, then aged 15, committed sexual offences against two young girls in a wooded area in Dundee on the same day.

He sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl and raped a 13-year-old girl, during which he pulled down the victims' clothing.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Michael O’Grady KC sentenced Halliburton to five years in custody, describing the attacks as “cowardly, humiliating and cruel” and branding them “wicked acts.” The judge also ordered that Halliburton be supervised by authorities for three years following his release and placed him on the sex offenders register for life, stating, “The victims here are the girls — no one should lose sight of that.”

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Prolific Sex Offender Admits to Drugging and Raping Woman Multiple Times, Plus Offenses Against Others

A man described as "a prolific, calculated sex offender" has confessed to drugging and raping a woman on four occasions, along with committing sexual crimes against five additional women.

Chao Xu, aged 33, faced initial charges for raping a woman following a social event at his residence in Greenwich, south-east London. Subsequent accusations emerged involving further offenses against other victims.

At Woolwich Crown Court, Xu entered guilty pleas to 24 sexual offenses, encompassing sexual assault, voyeurism, and upskirting. He remains in custody pending his sentencing date of November 14.

Investigators suspect the Chinese national's criminal activities extend far beyond the current charges and are encouraging additional victims to report.

Concealed Camera in Air Freshener

In June, during a networking gathering at his home, Xu offered a female attendee the chance to stay and recuperate after she felt ill. He proceeded to drug and rape her repeatedly, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Authorities discovered hidden cameras placed by Xu in various spots, such as within an air freshener and in restrooms.

His mobile device contained hundreds of unauthorized intimate photos and videos of unidentified women.

Police now estimate that Xu's offenses span several years and include many more incidents.

Leading the probe, Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Sanderson stated: "Xu is a calculated prolific sex offender, who has preyed on unsuspecting women using cowardly methods - administering drugs to rape, sexually assault and take intimate images without consent.

"Our investigation is ongoing and we continue to examine a large amount of evidence, which will help identify any further potential victims."

Xu, a UK resident since 2013, admitted guilt to four rape charges, eight counts of assault by penetration, four sexual assaults, four voyeurism offenses, two instances of administering substances with intent, and two upskirting violations—formally known as operating equipment under another's clothing without consent—occurring from February 2022 to June 2025.

The court was informed that the upskirting incidents involved cameras at a workplace and London Bridge Underground Station.

He denied one sexual assault charge and one assault by penetration count, but prosecutors indicated they would not proceed to trial, opting instead to leave them on file.

'Serious Danger to Women'

Recorder Simon Stirling, the presiding judge, addressed Xu: "You have pleaded guilty to a large number of offences for which the inevitable outcome is a lengthy custodial sentence."

Crown Prosecution Service's Suzanne Crane remarked that Xu had "deliberately drugged women to render them unconscious and vulnerable, enabling him to rape and sexually assault them without their knowledge."

She further noted: "Xu is a serious danger to women, and without the bravery of victims who came forward, his offending may well have continued undetected."

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A paedophile has been jailed after he sexually assaulted a teenager more than 20 years ago.

David Marriott, 63, approached a 14-year-old girl from behind as she played on a slot machine in the garage of a Peterborough home back in 2003.

Marriott unclasped the victim’s bra and touched her inappropriately underneath her clothes.

The offence came to light after the victim confided in family members about what had happened, and wanted Marriott to be held accountable.

Marriott, of Rushton Avenue, Peterborough, denied the offence, claiming the allegation was “untrue” and stated that he “chooses not to speculate on why the allegation has been made”.

However, he was found guilty of committing an indecent assault on a girl under 16 following a trial at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court in June.

Marriott was sentenced to two years and four months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday (22 August).

DC Helen Keighley, from the force’s Child Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit (CAISU), said:

“Marriott thought he had got away with sexually assaulting a young, vulnerable girl all those years ago.

“I hope this sentence brings closure for the victim, and that it allows her to move forward with her life.

“I also hope it shows that we will always take allegations of this nature seriously, and will work to bring offenders to justice, despite how long has passed since the crime took place.”

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Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been convicted of rape and other sexual offences.

Darren Brassington was found guilty of two counts of rape of a female and one count of assault by penetration following a trial at Oxford Crown Court which concluded on Thursday (28/8).

The 47-year-old of Queens Road, Carterton, has since been remanded in custody and is set to appear at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday 29 October where he will be sentenced.

During the trial, the court heard how Brassington violently raped and sexually abused the victim who he had groomed and coerced through fear of violence.

He was arrested on Sunday 16 February this year and charged on Tuesday 18 February.

Despite pleading not guilty, the jury found Brassington guilty on all counts following a 7-day trial.

Following the verdict, Detective Sergeant Matt Richardson from the Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit said: “Brassington was found guilty today by unanimous verdict for two counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault be penetration at Oxford Crown Court.

“On Friday 14 February 2025, he violently raped and sexually abused the victim, a young woman who he had groomed and coerced through fear of violence into having contact with him only a month prior.

“Brassington will be held on remand until sentencing at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday 29 October 2025.

“The victim in this case has been incredibly brave, without her support I have no doubt that Brassington would have continued to pose a risk to any female who had the misfortune of coming into contact with him. I am very grateful for her unwavering support throughout this case.”

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A sex offender already in prison for historical offences against a child has been sentenced to a further six years behind bars after being found guilty of additional offending.

In 2019 Tyler Munday, formerly of Porthleven, was jailed for 12 years for a "campaign of sexual violence”.

At that time he pleaded guilty to 12 offences, committed over two separate periods of time from 2011 to 2013 and then again between 2017 and 2018.

The first period of offences occurred when he was 14 or 15, but another seven offences took place when he was aged 19 and 20.

This year he faced a further three charges against a different victim, dating back to 2011 to 2014, but pleaded not guilty.

However, a jury convicted him of two counts of oral rape against a child under 13 and a further charge of inciting a child to carry out a sexual act on him.

Prosecutor Nikki Coombe told Truro Crown Court on Friday (August 29, 2025) that the victim was of young primary school age at the time, while the defendant was aged 14 to 17 during the period of offending.

Ms Coombe said that following the abuse the victim began self-harming and also attempted suicide on more than occasion.

The court heard that the impact on the victim was ongoing. On one occasion they drank so much they passed out, and upon coming back to consciousness all they could see was Munday’s face.

Munday has been sentenced to a further six years in prison (Image: Devon and Cornwall Police) Ryan Murray, representing Munday, said that during the defendant’s time in prison he had completed a number of courses and was “broadly doing well in custody.”

Before this latest conviction, papers had started to be prepared for the parole board for an application for his release on licence, when he would have become eligible in 2027.

However, Mr Murray acknowledged that pleading not guilty to these offences had “tarnished” that progress.

Mr Murray said a “return to Cornwall is not anticipated” once Munday, now aged 28, is eventually released from prison.

Judge Simon Carr told Munday: “The effect on [the victim] has been devastating. During times she has committed acts of significant self-harm and suicide attempts.

“You have shown little remorse for that, as your lack of guilty pleas indicates.”

He continued: “You have done well in prison. However, your not guilty pleas puts this into context, as they [the prison reports] are [now] not as glowing as they might be, and there’s clearly still work to be done.”

Judge Carr said he had to sentence Munday as a child at time of the offences.

As such he sentenced Munday to a total of six years in prison, to be added on to the time already sentenced.

He must serve two thirds of these six years before being eligible for a referral to the parole board.

Munday has also been placed onto the sex offenders register again, where he was already placed in 2019.

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A child rapist from Tonbridge has been jailed for life.

Michael Link was convicted of a catalogue of offences relating to the abuse of three victims over a period spanning more than four decades.

Kent Police was alerted to reports of repeated sexual abuse involving one of his victims in August 2019 and Link was arrested.

A lengthy and extensive investigation led by the West Division Child Protection Team revealed he had also targeted and exploited another young child for more than 10 years, between the 1980s and 1990s.

When a third victim came forward, detectives established Link was still offending in the days leading up to his arrest.

Lies

During police interviews Link denied any wrongdoing and claimed his victims had made ‘false allegations’.

He maintained his innocence during a trial at Maidstone Crown Court but was found guilty by a jury of 19 offences, including multiple rapes, indecent assaults, voyeurism, and sexual activity with a child.

Link, 72, of Audley Avenue, Tonbridge was sentenced on Thursday 28 August 2025.

He was jailed for life and will have to serve at least 15 years before he can be considered for parole.

The judge assessed him as ‘dangerous’ and, if he is ever released, Link will be subject to an indefinite licence and remain on the sex offenders register for life.

Depraved

Detective Constable Tania Muller said:

‘Link repeatedly subjected his young and helpless victims to depraved and sickening abuse. One of the children was as young as five years old.'

He is a predatory and dangerous child sex offender whose crimes will have had a devastating and lasting impact on the lives of all those he targeted.‘

I would like to thank and commend the bravery of the victims who have endured so much, yet have thankfully summoned the tremendous courage to support this investigation.

'The incredible strength they have shown means Link will almost certainly spend the rest of his life in prison.’

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A pervert used hidden cameras to film a young boy, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Scott Sharman secretly filmed a pre-teen child undressing and bathing, but later denied knowledge of the technology, telling police he could not remember doing it.

His offending emerged after indecent images were found on his mobile phone.

Prosecutor Keely Harvey said the images, reported to police, included children as young as a few weeks old... on the defendants phone.

The 39-year-old was arrested at home, his phone seized.

Ms Harvey said: The defendant told police he liked younger men and had, as he described it, a little problem. But the pictures showed children in their first few weeks of infancy.

It was at this point the officers were still looking on his phone when they saw still and moving images of the... boy.

It came to light the defendant had set up a hidden camera which filmed the boy getting dressed and undressed.

On one occasion, Sharman touched the boy over his groin and private area and filmed it, Ms Harvey said.

When the boy caught Sharman filming him urinating behind a bush, he told him to go away and said what he was doing was paedophilic.

In his second interview, Sharman denied filming the boy, claiming videos and images were taken accidentally, and said: He said he was not sexually interested in young boys.

Defence lawyer Stephen Tricker said Sharman struggled after his marriage breakdown and is an isolated man.

He added: He is in denial and is shameful and has an inability to acknowledge it because of fear and retribution. The difficulty is his lack of acceptance of what he has done.

Sharman, of Obelisk Road, admitted four charges of voyeurism, assaulting a boy under 13, three charges of making indecent images, possession of a prohibited child image, and taking indecent photos of a child.

Judge Nicholas Rowland said he could sense no remorse from him at all, and denial is an understatement.

Sharman was jailed for three years, given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, and must register with police for life.

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A paedophile who called police checks on his phone "intrusive" was warned by a judge today that his online activities are "transparent".

Simon Jones had been found with indecent images of children and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order last year.

But a court heard today he breached that order three times. Mold Crown Court heard a police officer made a routine check on Jones on January 30 this year. Prosecutor Laura Knightly said said they found he had breached his SHPO after creating a Snapchat account and activating "Disappearing Messages" on WhatsApp.

Amy Edwards, defending, said Jones, of Howell Avenue, Rhuddlan, said he had not been trying to hide his actions. It was not an excuse but Jones had been "extremely embarrassed" by his previous conviction.

He had been subject to the terms of the SHPO and sex offender notification requirements. Ms Edwards said the breaches had had "nothing to do" with images of children, apps or chatrooms which related to his initial offences (for which he was made subject to the SHPO).

His mental health has been "dire" with severe anxiety and depression. He has a young family and lost his mother three months ago.

The judge Her Honour Nicola Jones said the defendant had been found with illegal images of children of category A, B and C between November 17, 2023 and June 11 last year.

He was given a suspended jail sentence and made subject to the SHPO. But between October 28 last year and January 1 this year he breached the order three times after installing WhatsApp's "auto delete" messages on his phone.

The judge said Jones said police "intruded" on his life. But she said after his original conviction "your online life becomes transparent".

She sentenced Jones to 12 months imprisonment for each breach, with two running concurrently.