Latest Offenders

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Stephen Lea, 53, of Logan Close, Southampton was found guilty of one count of rape and 13 counts of indecent assault on a child, following a trial at Southampton Crown Court.

The court heard that Lea began abusing his young victim in 1994 and continued until 1999.

Lea's offences were reported to the police after the victim disclosed what had happened to a relative.

Lea was sentenced to 17 years, with an extended licence period of one year. He was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and ordered to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Detective Constable Marie Leather from Hampshire Constabulary's Amberstone team said "Lea's offending took place over a prolonged period of time.

"I cannot praise the victim enough for the bravery and courage she has shown in reporting what happened. Lea's actions have had a significant impact on her and it has been something she has been trying to come to terms with throughout her life.

"I hope this sentence goes some way in helping her move forward.

"I also hope this sentence will encourage others who have suffered this type of abuse, no matter when it happened, to come forward and speak to us. We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously and work hard to bring offenders to justice."

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A CARER has been locked up for 12 years after sexually abusing a vulnerable man he was caring for.

Vile Mohammed Bari carried out a sustained campaign of abuse while he was working as a carer for his victim in south Essex.

The 22-year-old secured the job in 2016 to care for a 65-year-old man who was suffering from depression and dementia.

On at least two occasions Bari forced the vulnerable man to perform degrading sex acts on him.

Bari, of Lewes Road, Southend, consistently abused the man in his own home.

His victim eventually told another carer about what was happening in July 2017, and Bari was suspended, and later charged with sexual activity with a person suffering from a mental disorder.

Following a trial at Basildon Crown Court earlier this year, a jury convicted Bari by majority verdict of two counts, and acquitted him of one other.

His victim has since died.

Bari appeared by video link at Chelmsford Crown court today where he was lambasted by Judge Samantha Cohen.

She said: You stayed overnight in his home. You had authority over him as a parent would over a child.

Your employment placed you in a position of trust. You abused that trust in the most grotesque fashion.

You said what you were doing would help him relax.

You made him promise not to tell anyone about it. Fortunately, he did tell someone, another carer.

He made a tape recording of him explaining what it was you had done. His stress and fear are manifested in that recording.

Having heard it and seen his victim statement I am satisfied you sexually assaulted him on many occasions. The jury convicted you on two occasions, but I am satisfied it was many more than that.

Your victim was relieved that you were not going to come back. He died in May 2019. You were not responsible for his death, but you were responsible for the despair and fear which occurred in the immediate aftermath of your offending.

Your offending is hard to comprehend. You did not, and do not suffer from any mental illness.

Judge Cohen said that Bari had denied performing sex acts on himself while his victim was in the same room during the trial, but has now admitted to that.

Despite the conviction, the court heard that Bari does not accept the verdicts of the jury.

Judge Cohen added: It is very hard to say that you are remorseful when you keep changing your story. You have refused to accept what you have done despite the overwhelming evidence.

It makes it quite impossible to understand why you did this. Perhaps you were sexually attracted to him, or attracted to having total power over him in such invasive fashion. They are repeated offences that took place over many months.

Bari was given 12 years detention and will serve at least two years on licence following his release.

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Former taxi driver Khan, nick-named Billy, betrayed his wife when he started a relationship with the school-age girl just a few weeks after his wife had delivered their first child.

He got his victim, who thought he was her boyfriend, pregnant when she had just turned 13 and also trafficked a second girl, 15, to other abusers, using violence when she complained.

Khan, of Oswald Street in Rochdale, was jailed for eight years in 2012 but was released in 2016. A jury convicted him of trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child.

He was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life.

Although he was released from prison in 2016, he remained out on licence but that sentence has now elapsed.

However, he and two other members of the gang - the only members of the gang to have dual UK-Pakistani citizenship - were told they would be deported after their British citizenship was revoked.

Khan lost an appeal against the Home Office ruling in 2018 but, despite that, they remain in the UK.

Khan is still in Rochdale. Khan was charged over a catalogue of serious sex offences against five vulnerable victims in Rochdale and Heywood where young white girls were plied with drink, abused and then shared with other abusers at parties held across the north of England.

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A man from Southampton has received a prison sentence for a series of thefts as well as sexually assaulting a female hairdresser. Rashpal Sanghera, aged 36, of Southampton, has been jailed for 30 months after he sexually assaulted a female hairdresser. He was also responsible for a spate of thefts. Southampton Crown Court heard he had been having his beard trimmed when he sexually assaulted the female hairdresser. Sanghera chased the victim around the barbershop. When he forced himself on her, she used a rolled-up magazine to fend him off. He stopped the assault, however, Sanghera issued a threat, telling the victim: Watch out what happens to you. Robert Welling, prosecuting, said the woman was alone at the time and was left scared and distressed by the ordeal. In September 2019, Sanghera was arrested and released under investigation. On October 18, 2019, he had been driving his BMW on The Avenue when he was pulled over. A test found traces of cocaine and benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, in his system. Sanghera, who has 29 existing convictions, went on to steal a charity tin from Sams Chicken Takeaway in Shirley High Street on January 17, 2020. On January 27, he stole another charity tin from Moby Dick fish and chip shop in Church Street, Shirley. Sanghera was later found in possession of a bank card which had been stolen from a student. He used it to pay off 770.21 of drug debts across Southampton, Eastleigh and Winchester. On February 1, Sanghera had been at the McColls store in Bedford Place when he lunged over the counter and stole four scratch cards. Just days later on February 7, he and a friend stole four bottles of alcohol worth 115 from Sainsburys in Leigh Road, Eastleigh. Sanghera then failed to appear at court for the sexual assault offence but was found guilty in his absence on March 16. He was finally arrested on March 24, 2020. On March 25, he pleaded guilty to three counts of theft, one fraud, one burglary and one count of driving under the influence of drugs. Chris Gager, defending, stated that Sanghera planned to change but was stuck in a vicious circle of drug abuse. Sanghera was jailed for 30 months, of which he will serve half. As he was sentenced, he repeatedly abused Judge Christopher Parker. Sanghera was also disqualified from driving for two years which will begin upon his release. In 2015, he had been accused of robbing a sex worker in her own home. The victim had been at her home when three men burst in and one of them held a knife to her throat before making off with 100 and identity documents. Sanghera was arrested and interviewed by police. He admitted going to her flat, saying he wanted to have sex with Miss Pasare, but told detectives he had a panic attack and denied being involved in any robbery, the court heard. After listening to evidence given by defence witnesses the jury found him not guilty.

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A paedophile posed as a girl on social media to trick a boy into sending naked photos and sexual videos before blackmailing him.

Corey Hycz, who admitted he was sexually attracted to children, told the victim he would send the explicit photos to his friends if he did not send him further images.

In a statement read out at Mold Crown Court the victim said: I could never have imagined someone would do this to me.

Ffion Tomos, prosecuting, said the victim who cannot be named for legal reasons was in year seven when he first received a message from a profile called Molly.

The court heard it was the defendant pretending to be a girl from another school. She told the victim he was attractive and asked him if he had reached puberty.

Prosecutors said the boy replied he was not sure and Molly asked him to send naked photos so she could give him advice.

The boy sent 20 pictures of his genitals and three explicit videos of himself. Ms Tomos said: The defendant continued to look for further material from [him]. When he did not comply with those requests he blackmailed him.

Hycz told the victim if he failed to send him any more images Molly would show his friends the images he had already sent.

The boy was left feeling nervous and worried and he tried to block the account but the defendant created another fake profile called Sammy and used that to contact him again. He told the victim he would share the images with everyone if he did not unblock Molly.

Initially the boy did not tell anyone but eventually confided in a close friend and later a family member.

Describing the moment he was first contacted he said: I thought they just wanted to be friends. When they asked for photos I was confused I felt pressured.

He added: When the person became threatening I was much more stressed and frightened. I was worried what might happen if it got out in school.

I was worried people would make fun of me and my friends would stop speaking to me. I began to isolate myself.

He said he felt stressed at school and could not concentrate on his work. He felt worried when he thought he might have to give evidence at court.

Hycz was arrested at home in Ruthin on June 4 last year and replied to the caution: I havent done anything.

His phone and laptop were seized and found to contain 39 of the most serious Category A indecent images of children, 20 at Category B, and 31 at Category C.

Prosecutors said there was also one Category C film and his search terms included school uniform porn. He had also searched for local schools.

The defendant had two police interviews and denied committing any offences. The court heard he had no previous convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings.

Hycz, 21, from Min Yr Afon, Ruthin, admitted two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity as well as blackmail and making indecent images of children.

Simon Killeen, defending, said his client was under 18 when the offending started and described him as naive. He told the court he was socially isolated and diagnosed with autism, dyslexia, and dyspraxia.

Judge Niclas Parry noted a pre-sentence report found him to present a high risk of sexual re-offending and told him: By your own admissions you are sexually attracted to children.

Hycz was jailed for 27 months. A 10-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed and he must register as a sex offender for that time.

Detective Constable Natalie Horgan-Jones, of North Wales Police, said: This sentence reflects the serious nature of his offending and hopefully it will provide reassurance to both the victim and community of how the criminal justice system will deal with this type of offender.

This investigation was only possible with the courage and resolve of the victim in reporting these crimes. Hopefully it will bring closure to a prolonged period of stress and anxiety the victim has suffered at the hands of the defendant and I hope it provides some level of comfort to the whole family."

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A man who was convicted of the murder of a Sawtry schoolgirl has today been jailed for horrific crimes which took place in the 1980s.

Martin Cooper, 61, admitted charges of rape, false imprisonment and assault and was jailed for seven years when he appeared at Peterborough Crown Court.

The case involved an incident that took place in March, 1987, but thanks to painstaking work by Cambridgeshire police, detectives were able to bring a prosecution more than three decades later.

Cooper convinced his victim to get into his car before locking the doors and driving her to a wooded area near Leighton Bromswold, near Huntingdon.

Cooper, who was known as Colin Hill at the time, ignored pleas from the victim to turn the car around towards the arranged location, and instead began to kiss and grope her without consent.

After making several threats of violence, Cooper raped her.

Afterwards he grabbed the victim and told her he would, keep her for a few days, and, he didnt know what he was going to do with her.

In a bid to escape, the victim told Cooper she needed to use the toilet and he stopped the car at a nearby pub.

She ran through the pub and hid under the landlords car until Cooper eventually left. The landlord found her under the car and arranged for her to be collected by her family.

Several weeks after the incident, Cooper raped and murdered Leanne Scott, a schoolgirl from Sawtry, and was initially jailed for 18 years. After the murder, the victim spoke to officers and informed them of the rape.

Cooper, of Russell Street, Luton, was released in 2018, but jailed again shortly afterwards due to concerns about his behaviour and licence breaches.

DC Elaine Penniket said: I would like to applaud the phenomenal bravery shown by the survivor in this case, who has had to live with the devastating impact of Coopers horrific actions.

This case highlights the significance of reporting serious sexual offences to police. Tackling rape is a force priority and if you or someone you loved has suffered at the hands of a rapist, I would urge you to come forward to report it to police.

Anyone who is concerned someone may have been convicted of a sex offence, and could be posing a risk to someone, can apply for disclosure information through Clares Law and Sarahs Law.

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Manzoor Akhtar, 31, has been jailed for four years and six months after being found guilty of raping a young girl between 2005 and 2006.

Akhtar, from the Crosland Moor area of the town, is the latest person to be convicted in the ongoing Operation Tendersea investigation over the historic sexual abuse of young girls.

Girls were abused by multiple men in the town between 1995 and 2011 and 35 men have so far been jailed for a total of 380 years over the crimes.

Leeds Crown Court heard how Akhtar sexually assaulted his victim when she was aged between 13 and 14 years of age.

He was sentenced at the court on Wednesday last week.

Another man, from Dewsbury, has also been jailed for 12 months as part of the sexual abuse probe.

Shaqeel Hussain, 36, of Spen Valley Road, Dewsbury, pleaded guilty to an indecent assault committed in Huddersfield between 2004 and 2005 on a 16-year-old girl.

Hussain is already serving an eight-year sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old girl as part of the Tendersea investigation, in a trial from February of this year. He was told he must serve the 12 months consecutively with his current sentence.

Commenting on the conviction of Manzoor Akhtar, Detective Chief Inspector Richard McNamara of the Kirklees District CID, said: “Akhtar richly deserves the prison sentence he has been given after being found guilty and convicted for the dreadful sexual abuse of this young victim.

“He thought nothing of this girl’s obvious very young age as he raped her and treated her in a fashion which can only be described as callous in the extreme.”

DCI McNamara said he was also pleased that the force was now able to name Shaqeel Hussain.

He said: “Hussain was convicted for rape in an Operation Tendersea trial in February 2020 but at the time we were not able to release his identity. He has now been sentenced after pleading guilty to an indecent assault on a 16 year old victim, and can be named as reporting restrictions have been lifted.

“He will face a total of nine years in prison in total for both of these depraved offences in which he showed no regard whatsoever for his victims.

He added: “A repeated feature of these cases has been the stunning bravery of the now young women who have come forward to tell us about the abuse they suffered and then doing everything they can to support the police and CPS in taking action against those who abused them.

“The courage of victims is helping us take dangerous predators such as Manzoor Akhtar and Shaqeel Hussain off our streets, show them for what they are, and put them behind bars where they belong.”

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On April 22 Shaqeel Hussain of Spen Valley Road was jailed for 12 months in a separate criminal case, also investigated as part of the wider Operation Tendersea enquiry.

The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to an indecent assault committed in Huddersfield between 2004 and 2005 on a 16-year-old girl.

In a previous Operation Tendersea trial in February 2020, relating to the sexual abuse of two girls in the Huddersfield area between 1995 and 2011, Hussain was jailed for eight years for the rape of a 14 year old girl. He was told he must serve the 12 months consecutive to the eight year term he is currently serving.

Manzoor Akhtar (31) from Crosland Moor in Huddersfield was sentenced to four years, six months at Leeds Crown Court on April 22 after being found guilty of raping a young girl between 2005-2006.

Akhtar became the latest man to be convicted as part of West Yorkshire Police’s multi part Operation Tendersea investigation into the sexual abuse of young girls in Huddersfield between 1995 and 2011.

During proceedings, the court heard he subjected his victim to sexual assault when she was between 13-14 years old.

Commenting on the conviction of Manzoor Akhtar, Detective Chief Inspector Richard McNamara of the Kirklees District CID, said: “Akhtar richly deserves the prison sentence he has been given after being found guilty and convicted for the dreadful sexual abuse of this young victim.

“He thought nothing of this girl’s obvious very young age as he raped her and treated her in a fashion which can only be described as callous in the extreme.”

DCI McNamara said he was also pleased that the force was now able to name Shaqeel Hussain.

He said: “Hussain was convicted for rape in an Operation Tendersea trial in February 2020 but at the time we were not able to release his identity. He has now been sentenced after pleading guilty to an indecent assault on a 16 year old victim, and can be named as reporting restrictions have been lifted.

“He will face a total of nine years in prison in total for both of these depraved offences in which he showed no regard whatsoever for his victims.

He added: “A repeated feature of these cases has been the stunning bravery of the now young women who have come forward to tell us about the abuse they suffered and then doing everything they can to support the police and CPS in taking action against those who abused them.

“The courage of victims is helping us take dangerous predators such as Manzoor Akhtar and Shaqeel Hussain off our streets, show them for what they are, and put them behind bars where they belong.”

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Jake Mills, 21, sexually assaulted and tried to rape his first victim - a young woman in her 20s - then exposed himself to two female pensioners while under investigation.

All three attacks happened on Chesterfield streets.

Judge Nirmal Shant QC said Mills targeted the two elderly women because they were more vulnerable and he posed a significant risk to lone females.

The court heard a psychological report found Mills had a very low IQ however Judge Shant added that provided no explanation for what he had done.

During the first incident in November 2020, Mills followed a young woman into an alleyway at around 5.40am, began kissing her and tried to force her to perform oral sex.

However the court heard while Mills was released on bail under investigation, he exposed himself to two elderly women on the same day.

And the same morning he had followed a young woman in his car while she was jogging in Tapton.

Judge Shant, speaking about the November 2020 attack, said: This was an attack on a lone female in the street in the early hours of the morning.

Suffice to say its had a profound impact as statements describe her misery - she suffers panic attacks, loss of confidence, anxiety and depression which has required medication.

She has had nightmares and flashbacks - it will take her years to get back to normality.

She had to move home as the incident occurred not far from her home.

Speaking about the second incident - committed 10 months later while Mills was on bail - the judge said: It would have been evident to you that one of (the victims) was in her late 70s and the other was in her 80s.

I take the view that you decided to approach them because they were more vulnerable than the younger lady.

You sat in your car and invited them to participate in sexual activity while you were masturbating and I have no doubt you took some pleasure in doing so.

They were hugely traumatised by what happened - its completely changed their lives.

Laura Pitman, prosecuting, told Derby Crown Court how during the first incident in November, 2020, Mills followed his young victim into an alleyway at around 5.40am.

The scared girl had just set off walking to work from her Chesterfield home when she came across Mills - who was stood in the street.

After asking her the time Mills offered the female a spliff and then a cigarette, engaging her in conversation, walking alongside her as they approached the alley - which was still dark.

However Miss Pitman said: As they entered his behaviour changed - he positioned himself in front of her and put his arms around her.

As he stood in front of her he kissed her on the lips - she had done absolutely nothing to suggest that was what she wanted.

Mills kissed the woman several times despite her repeated attempts to push him away, forcing her hand down to his privates - which were now exposed.

The court heard after sexual predator Mills tried to force his victims head down to his groin she was able to force him away.

Miss Pitmans said: He then said add me on Snapchat, kissed her, then walked away.

However the court heard while Mills was released under investigation he exposed himself to two elderly women on the same day - in September, 2021.

He targeted both pensioners - in their 70s and 80s - as they walked along the street in Chesterfield around 8am, following them in his car and uttering vile sexual comments.

One of the victims, aged 82, was walking along a road when she heard the defendant shouting from his car.

As she approached Mills black vehicle he asked her the time before asking her to jump in the car and asking her to have sex with him, saying it will do you the world of good.

As Mills exposed himself and the woman walked off he reversed along the road following her while touching himself before eventually driving away.

Miss Pitman said Mills later came across the second victim, aged 77, as she walked to a shop to buy a newspaper.

After repeatedly asking her the time, Mills followed the OAP in his car as he tried to make her way home.

The prosecutor said: As she neared her home address she began to get scared - she didnt want him to know her home address.

He then opened the car door and she noticed his trousers around his ankles and his penis was in his hands.

As vile pervert Mills tried to persuade the elderly lady to have sex with him a passing driver, seeing the woman in a distressed state, pulled up to check she was Ok. Mills then fled in his car.

The court heard the very same morning a young woman had called police to report a black car - later identified as belonging to Mills - had followed her as she jogged in Tapton.

Mills was linked with the September 2021 incidents after victims described a missing panel from his car interior and police viewed CCTV footage of him returning to his parents home afterwards.

He was snared for the November 2020 attempted rape when his DNA was found on his victims glasses.

Mills, of Boythorpe Road, Boythorpe, admitted sexual assault and two counts of exposure. He was found guilty of attempted rape during a trial.

He was ordered to serve at least two-thirds of an eight year jail term in custody and was given an extended licence period of four years to be served after his release.

The Boythorpe man was also made subject of an 18-year sexual harm prevention order.

Under its terms he is banned from approaching lone females he does not know or driving any vehicle without registering its details with the police.

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A teenager who sexually groomed two young girls has been locked up after appearing in court to admit his crimes.

Brandon Vernon sent "highly sexualised" messages to his young victims even though he knew they were both under the age of consent, police said.

He was placed under investigation late last year when the mother of one of the girls contacted police to raise her concerns about him.

Both girls were spoken to by police, and the nature and extent of Vernon's offending emerged.

Vernon, 18, pleaded guilty at Leicester Crown Court in February to the following offences against his first victim: two counts of sexual activity with a child, one of sexual communication with a child and one of distributing an indecent image of a child.

In relation to the second child, he pleaded guilty to one count of sexual communication with a child and two of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Vernon appeared at the same court today and was sentenced to three years' detention in a young offenders institution.

At the conclusion of proceedings, Leicestershire Police said its detectives believed there might be more victims who are yet to be traced.

Releasing a detailed account of the case, the force said it opened an investigation into Vernon, of Fountains Avenue, Eyres Monsell, Leicester, in late-December last year when a parent rang the force because she believed Vernon was sexually grooming her daughter.

In a statement, the force said the teenage girl was interviewed, telling officers that she and Vernon had been messaging each other and the messages would often have a sexual reference.

"The girl was also concerned that she had been sent by Vernon an indecent image of another child," it added.

At that stage, Vernon was arrested on suspicion of committing those offences and was later released on bail while officers conducted further inquiries, including an examination of his electronic devices.

In January this year, police received a call from another parent concerned that her daughter had engaged in sexual activity with Vernon in early December 2019.

The second child was also interviewed by detectives, the force said.

The statement continued: "The teenage girl detailed that she met Vernon through a friend in November, the previous month, and they began messaging each other, which often would have a sexual reference.

"Vernon initially told the victim that he was the same age as her. She later found out that he was 18 years old.

"As part of the victim’s disclosure and subsequent inquiries, Vernon was arrested for these offences."

Detective Sergeant Jim Muzzell, from the force’s child sexual exploitation team, oversaw the investigation.

Det Con Muzzell said: “Despite the victims telling him their ages, Vernon still pursued a relationship with the children and sent highly sexualised messages to them, with one of the relationships leading to sexual activity.

As a consequence of his actions, he has left two young girls trying to cope with their experience.

“There is a possibility that there may be other girls who have been in contact with Vernon and could be further victims.

"If there is anyone who may have been in contact with him and believe they may also have been a victim of a similar crime we would ask them to contact police, quoting Operation Cabbie.

“We have a number of specialist officers available to speak to you and guide you through that process.”

Vernon was also issued with an indefinite restraining order which prohibits him from contacting both victims, and a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which will impose conditions on his behaviour and movements once he is released from custody.

He was placed on the sex offender register for life.

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A man who raped a teenage girl after following her off a bus has been jailed for nine years.

Michael Murray, 29, attacked the girl in Stapleton Road in the Easton area of Bristol on 9 January.

He pleaded guilty to rape and a separate charge of common assault when he appeared via video-link at Bristol Crown Court on 7 April.

Murray, of no fixed address, will serve nine years in jail and six years on an extended licence.

Avon and Somerset Police said his victim gave a detailed description of her attacker so they were able to track him down on CCTV footage in the area at the time of the assault.

Murray was handed a concurrent four-month prison sentence for the common assault on a second victim, who he hit with a cigarette lighter after she rebuffed his advances.

He was also given an indefinite restraining orders in relation to both victims and he will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Det Sgt Stuart Toms said Murray posed "a significant risk to women and in particular, to teenage girls and it's reassuring to know he will now be locked up for a lengthy period of time".

"Sexual assaults by strangers are rare in Avon and Somerset but when they do happen we do everything we can to identify offenders and bring them to justice," he said.

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A PROLIFIC sex offender from Somerford has died four months after being put behind bars.

Peter Bennett, who was 80, had been in Winchester Prison when he fell ill and later died at the citys Royal Hampshire County Hospital on 15th March, the opening of an inquest heard.

Hampshire Coroners Court was told the post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be sepsis, cellulitis and prostate cancer.

The hearing was adjourned and a full inquest is to be held on 3rd August.

As reported in the A&T, the pensioner, of Edward Road, was sent down for five years and 10 months in early December last year at Bournemouth Crown Court by Judge Alastair Malcolm who branded him an adept groomer.

The judge decided to jail him, despite being told Bennett had cancer, because he noted the defendant had committed sex offences stretching back more than five decades and already been ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life.

His latest offence involved him chatting to what he thought was a 12-year-old girl online and encouraging her to have sexual contact with her pet dog and a horse.

But unknown to Bennett, he was actually talking to a paedophile hunter from the vigilante group Stop which subsequently called in another vigilante group to challenge him on his doorstep.

When that happened the group posted a video of the encounter on Facebook which was seen more than 100,000 times.

Bennett was arrested and police also uncovered extreme porn on devices he owned.

He was charged with attempting to incite or cause a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexualised activity, attempting to communicate with a child in sexualised terms and possessing extreme pornography.

Bennett pleaded guilty to all three matters when he appeared before Judge Malcolm.

At his sentencing, prosecutor Sadie Rizzo said Bennetts offending began in 1963 when he indecently assaulted a female under 14, which resulted in Bennett being locked up.

He reoffended against a female under 16 eight years later and was found in possession of obscene articles, but escaped with a suspended sentence.

The defendants most serious offence, Ms Rizzo outlined, was an incident in 1972 when he grabbed an 18-year-old girl, drove her to a secluded spot and got her to perform sexual acts another offence which landed him in prison.

Bennett also had convictions for indecent exposure in 1969 and in the 1980s, and in 2006 appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court after he was found to have made and distributed more than 340 indecent images of children 68 of which were at the most serious level.

Judge Malcolm said they were serious offences that were exacerbated by the fact he had a long history of offending against children who are underage.

Judge Malcom also told Bennett: You have been a danger to children under 16 for very many years; your first offence was in the 1960s and you have targeted children decade by decade since that time.

As far as you were concerned there was a 12-year-old and you were getting sexual gratification by grooming her and trying to get her to commit offences of bestiality.

You are quite clearly an adept groomer, the judge added.

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A fugitive Travelex manager has been jailed after stealing 70,000 from a Tesco bureau-de-change and fleeing to America while on bail for abusing a child.

David Aspden, 33, had been arrested in December 2018 for abusing a 12-year-old boy. But while on bail the former secretary at a junior football club managed to get a shift at the Travelex booth at Tesco in Middleton, near Rochdale on Christmas Eve.

After sending a colleague home early, Aspden, of Preston, Lancashire, filled up Tesco bags for life with cash, then vanished with the money on a flight out of Manchester on Boxing Day.

Aspden spent five months in the US where he squandered the stolen cash before returning to Britain on board a cruise ship. It is believed none of the money he took has been recovered.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Aspden, of Preston, Lancs was jailed for 14 months after he admitted theft by employee. The sentence will run consecutively to a five year stretch imposed in June last year after he admitted inciting a 12 year old boy to to engage in sexual activity with him.

Aspden who was secretary of a junior football club had originally been arrested in 2018 after the lad went to police and told how he had been asked to carry out a sex act on him during a caravan holiday in Cumbria.

He was bailed to face court but in December 2018 he used the opportunity of working alone on Christmas Eve at Travelex booth at Tesco in Middleton, near Rochdale to plot his escape.

Prosecutor Miss Lisa Boocock said: 'The defendant worked as a manager at a Travelex bureau-de-change inside a Tesco store in Middleton.

'He started training in December and took up the post on 7th December 2018, and had a week of training. He was a manager looking after cash in the stores safe. He then started work and indicated he wanted to work on Christmas Eve.

'He sent his co-worker home early and was working alone in the store. There is CCTV footage and the incident happened over a protracted period of time. Over about twenty minutes the defendant filled several bags for life with money from the shop.

'He also went shopping around the store, returned to pick the bags up and then left with them. Around 70,000 was in the bags. He went home and booked a flight for December 26. He flew to the United States and spent just over five months travelling around the country and using the money. The theft was not discovered until December 27 and colleagues asked questions.

'This caused anxiety among staff, which was perhaps exacerbated because it happened over Christmas when the store was closed. The defendant returned to the UK via cruise ship in May 31 2019 and was arrested by police.

'He accepted guilt and said he took the money. He said he had disposed of around 30,000 and spent the rest in the USA. He was in a position of trust and responsibility, and he breached that trust. He was working alone in possession of large amounts of money.'

In mitigation defence lawyer Lucy Wright said: 'The defendant accepts the high degree of trust that he breached but in light of the CCTV evidence, it was not a sophisticated offence. He has in effect videoed himself offending.

'In a sense, he was evading justice by going to the USA but he returned from America when he knew he would be arrested on arrival in the UK and this proves he is genuinely remorseful. If he had simply decided to stay in America, justice would have been delayed.

'He didnt come back because he ran out of money. He came back because he realised he needed to come back to own up and face justice. He was on bail for the other offence at the time of this matter. Since then he has been told he has a diagnosis of psychotic episodes, anxiety and depression- although no written evidence of this has been provided.

'He says the offence happened when he was feeling extremely low and struggling to keep on top of his mental health problems.

'Before his first offence, he was a man of good character who spent much of his time living purposefully and he struggles to reconcile how he has got himself into this position. His father is currently very unwell in hospital and the defendant thinks he may not see him again if he is given a custodial sentence. His mother needs assistance and is self-isolating, and he is unable to support her through this.'

Passing sentence, Judge Mark Savill told Aspden: 'You volunteered to work on Christmas Eve when there was lot of money in the safe. None of your co-workers were working at the time of the offence and you thought you could perhaps remain undetected.

'It was a brazen offence. You helped yourself and filled bags with 70,000 cash and foreign currency. You then left the store and left the country. You took some of that money with you and spent about five months travelling America then returned to the UK on a cruise ship.

'You upset your co-workers and some of them thought they would end up being blamed. But upon arrest, you were interviewed and accepted your guilt. You were subject to police inquiries when you committed this offence and you breached a high degree of trust and responsibility.

'You caused concern among your co-workers and went on the run before returning to the UK in some style. I am willing to accept that prison is unpleasant for you given the current public health crisis and the fact your parents are not in good health.

'However, there is no excuse for what you were doing at all. This is not a similar offence to when a single parent find themselves in in significant debt and steals from their employer to feed their family, This is not that at all. You stole a significant amount of money, went on the run and spent it.'

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A teenager dubbed "paedo Jack" is facing prison after admitting a string of terrifying sex offences against teenage girls.

Jack Walker, 19, has appeared at Hull Crown Court charged with four offences of sexual activity with a child, one offence of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two offences of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

Walker, of Fort Terrace, Bridlington, appeared via video link from Hull Prison where he has been remanded since August, ready for his sentencing hearing - which will take place on Friday.

As his crimes were laid out before the court, Walker regularly shook his head before pleading guilty to all seven charges, which revolved around grooming underage children.

Charlotte Baines, prosecuting, told the court the charges related to a 14-year-old girl, who at one point Walker had asked to move to Bradford with him.

She told the court that Walker had been warned by both his mum and Humberside Police to stay away from the girl.

Throughout his offending, Walker was placed under child abduction warning notices, which are used to disrupt contact between vulnerable children and an adult where there are concerns that the child may be at risk of harm including sexual exploitation.

Miss Baines said: The girl said she had been involved in a group of males for sexual contact and she said she felt sick and disgusted in herself, but felt normal when she did it. She said she felt pressured.

The girl later told officers she had often taken drugs when around Walker.

Miss Baines said that one night after smoking together, Walker had sat her on his knee and touched her [the girl]".

She told the court: "He didnt ask if he could, he just did it. He tried getting her to go upstairs with him, saying 'come on, you know you want to do it'.

She told police she had messaged him telling her how old she was and he sent her indecent pictures and asked her to do the same.

"He sent her messages about taking her virginity and making sure it wouldnt hurt. He tried to convince her to have sex with him on two or three occasions.

The court heard that after locking himself and the girl in a beach hut, Walker said her body was perfect before telling her "not to tell anyone about what he said".

Miss Baines added: He said I will get into trouble - you dont want that do you?. One friend of the girl said that everyone knew him as 'paedo Jack'."

Other charges against Walker related to another 14-year-old girl.

Miss Baines told the court that the girl had said many people around the ages of 14 and 15 would often be round at Walkers flat.

She told the court: The girl said she could often hear Walker and his girlfriend having sex and this would make her uncomfortable and she would turn the music up. She was asked to join them a few times and knew what had been meant by that.

She described how she would keep an eye on him as she knew he had ADHD, bipolar and anger issues.

Hull Crown Court heard that Walker had sex with the young girl an estimated ten times, including in a disused building, which was witnessed by a teenage boy who said he felt that he had been coerced into watching.

Miss Baines said the boy knew that it was not right that Walker was having sex with underage girls.

She told the court: He recalled a time when he had seen the defendant and one of the girls and went to speak to them and Walker had said, Im s******* this one now.

He went with them to an abandoned building and the defendant had sex with the girl. The defendant told him to sit down on a log and watch. He said he didnt want to get stabbed as the defendant had a screwdriver in his pocket.

The girl said, Does he have to watch? and the defendant had said Let him stay. He said he was scared of him and by talking to police after he said it felt like a betrayal."

Walker was first interviewed by police in June last year and said there had been no messages between him and the first girl.

The court heard that during his second interview with officers in August last year, Walker said he "did not understand what consent means", although he later pleaded guilty to all seven charges.

Paul Genney, mitigating for Walker, told how he lives with a learning disability and a low IQ and a pre-sentence report and psychological report had been issued.

Mr Genney outlined details of Walkers traumatic childhood which included living in a violent home.

He said: Hes damaged, basically. Whether he is beyond the point of redemption, it is difficult to know. He has been tearful and crying while in prison and misses, in his words his 'mummy and his Lego'.

Hes obviously something of a child himself. Hes damaged by his upbringing."

Mr Genney said Walker was not a manipulative or sophisticated", but instead, someone in need of help and treatment".

He added: Hes got the sophistication of a 14-year-old himself, with very little empathy. We cant penalise him for being unintelligent.

Talking about Walkers time in custody so far, Mr Genney said: He is vulnerable and tearful and is finding it to be the most traumatic experience. Hopefully someone, somewhere can offer him some sort of course or help that could help increase his sense of empathy or sensitivity.

Walker will be sentenced by Judge John Thackray on Friday, April 3.

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A convicted sex offender has been jailed for failing to tell police he had an Amazon Fire TV Stick and a secret Barclays account.

Steven Woodcock also had 47 indecent child images on his laptop and installed special software to delete and 'scrub' the internet history, a court heard.

The 44-year-old, who was being managed in the community under a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), was visited by police last year as part of a routine check.

The SHPO prohibited him from using any internet-capable device unless it had the capacity to display and retain the internet history and had to be made available on request for inspection by police.

Prosecutor Emma Kehoe told Preston Crown Court how Woodcock admitted visiting a library in Morecambe 'up to six times a week' to use the internet.

She said officers were 'concerned about their regular visits' and made enquiries with the library.

The National Crime Agency later confirmed that the defendant's email account had been used to upload two 'indicative images' of seven-year-old girls to Instagram, however the images were 'not in themselves unlawful'.

Police then executed a search warrant at Woodcock's home on Clarendon Road West, Morecambe, and asked him if he had any internet-capable devices.

Ms Kehoe said Woodcock had a Kindle in his bedroom and an Amazon Fire TV Stick in a drawer which breached the SHPO.

Officers also found a Halifax bank card and a Barclays savings account which he had never declared.

His laptop contained one category A indecent image of a child - the most serious - and 46 category C images.

Woodcock pleaded guilty to breaching the SHPO and possessing indecent images.

Defence barrister Chris Evans said there were a 'relatively low number of images' and his client had been 'candid in terms of what he has done'.

He told the court that Woodcock had 'engaged well with the probation service' following his last conviction in 2016, deserved credit for his early guilty plea and 'remains motivated to seek help'.

Judge Simon Medland QC said they were 'deliberate and persistent breaches' of the SHPO and jailed Woodcock for two years.

Sentencing, he said: "You have been dealt with on several previous occasions for the possession of unlawful indecent images of children.

"These are real images of real children who are really being abused and that abuse will almost inevitably stay with them for the rest of their lives.

"The internet being what it is, it's quite easy to imagine that those disgusting images will be more of less forever available to people who view them for satisfaction of a perverted sexual interest.

"You had also loaded a cleaning facility to scrub the internet history and confound any investigation.

"You have, over a significant period of time, quite deliberately breached these orders that were made to try to protect children from your predations.

"Even though there were no contact offences here, these were offences where you were looking at unlawful sexual images of children."