Latest Offenders

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A MAN who was the face of a shop in the heart of Witney has been spared jail after viewing thousands of sexual pictures of children. Ian Pilcher, 63, who for 30 years worked at Domino Menswear in Corn Street, was yesterday handed a community sentence at Oxford Magistrates Court for making (downloading) indecent images of children. The court heard Pilcher viewed the images to cheer himself up. Pilcher, of Apley Way, Witney, had pleaded guilty to downloading more than 5,000 indecent images of children. The court was told that Pilcher, who has been married for 34 years, had a preference for Category C images of young girls. Police seized a number of electronic devices from Pilchers home and he helped identify where to find material. John Berry, defending, said Pilchers interest in looking at the indecent images came during a difficult period of his life. He said: His son attempted suicide. His sister-in-law committed suicide. Both of these happened just a year before he began looking at these images. His employer had become unwell and Mr Pilcher was having to work very long hours. He was at a very low ebb and found that looking at these images cheered him up, to use his expression. Mr Berry said Pilchers obsession grew over time. He quoted Pilcher as saying: I was at a point I could not stop it. Im glad the police came along because I knew that would cause me to stop it. I knew what I was doing was wrong. Mr Berry said that Pilcher was yet to reach a full understanding of his desire to look at indecent images. He continued: He has some insight into his offending but Im not sure he fully understands why it started. He doesnt fully accept that he must have found the images stimulating. He has been to see a doctor and is receiving counselling. He better understands that, though he has not done anything to harm young girls, that this sort of behaviour has or could result in young girls being harmed. He is willing to work fully with anyone able to help him. District Judge Kamlesh Rana gave Pilcher an 18-month community sentence, which included 100 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation requirement. She said it was regrettable Pilcher was appearing in court after a life of previously good character. The judge added: I have to take into account the number of images and that, by viewing these images, you were condoning the exploitation of young children. District Judge Rana also ordered a sexual harm prevention order that will control how Pilcher accesses various electronic devices. Pilcher appeared in the Oxford Mail in October when he revealed that Domino Menswear, which had sold menswear and school uniforms for 34 years, was moving to Abingdon to escape soaring business rates. Pilcher, who was made redundant after the story was published, said at the time he was immensely sad after serving four generations of customers at the store.

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George Croudace, who had fostered children for 32 years with his wife, has been jailed for sexually assaulting three youngsters. 

To the outside world, George Croudace was a good, kind man who had fostered children for decades - but today he can be unmasked as a paedophile “monster” who was living a lie.

Former trade union leader Croudace and his wife had been taking in youngsters at their home in North Shields for 32 years.

But the 71-year-old’s double life as a secret pervert can now be revealed after he was jailed for sexually assaulting three youngsters and downloading vile child abuse images.

The victims - not children he had fostered - were as young as five when he abused them, with one of them claiming it happened hundreds of times.

When the youngsters revealed to their mums that “every parent’s worst nightmare” had come true, police moved in.

And when they checked his computers they found he had also downloaded hundreds of indecent images of children as young as two.

Now Croudace has been locked up for nine-and-a-half years at Newcastle Crown Court for three counts of sexual assault and three of making indecent pictures of a child.

The mum-of-two of the victims said in a statement read to the court: “Despite having no energy left, wild horses could not stop me being here without shame and making him hear what he has done.

“My daughter had very little confidence. I never knew why this was. She had always been nervous around men. I never knew why this was.

“Then with the words that came out of her mouth, it was every parent’s worst nightmare. She had been sexually abused.”

She added of Croudace: “He was a foster carer of vulnerable children. He was always around children.”

The woman said she is worried about the effect the abuse will have in later life.

She said: “They were stripped of their innocence as young children in a way no-one should ever have to experience.

“My kids are amazing and deserve to be loved and protected. He stripped them of their innocence.

“How do you put into words how something like this affects someone?”

She added: “He suddenly became a monster.”

The woman said the abuse has affected her mental wellbeing and she feels a sense of failure for not protecting the victims.

But the defiant mum added: “He will not destroy our lives. We are good, kind, loving people. We are better than him.”

The mum of another victim said in her victim impact statement: “Since the incident she has been very withdrawn and reluctant to be left with any male adults.

“She refuses to go to the toilet on her own. Talking through it is very traumatic, she becomes very emotional.

“She only knows it was bad and something an adult should not do to a child.”

The woman said Croudace was aware her daughter had suffered serious health problems.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Muir said the abuse came to light when one girl, aged around eight, said Croudace had done “rude things to her”.

A boy, aged five or six, also said Croudace had been touching him sexually.

Miss Muir said: “He said it happened hundreds of times.”

The third victim said he had touched her sexually on one occasion when she was four or five and it hurt.

After his arrest, police seized four laptops from Croudace.

They found 225 of the most serious, category A, images, 16 category A videos, 194 category B images, eight category B videos, 313 category C images and three category C videos.

Miss Muir said: “The age range of the children in all of the videos and images was two to 14 years old.

“There was evidence of systematic searching for key words linked to indecent images of children. These related to both web searches and peer to peer application searches.

“At least one image dated back to 2007.”

Croudace, of no fixed address, who has no previous convictions, made no reply when interviewed by police.

Jailing Croudace and imposing lifelong sex offender registration and a sexual harm prevention order, recorder Eric Elliott QC told him: “Until August 2016 you presented as a hard-working respectable member of the community, much admired for your work as a trade union leader and a foster carer for many years with your wife in relation to many young children.

“In fact, from about 2007, you were living a lie and presenting a completely false impression to the outside world.”

The judge said he accepted Croudace’s downloading of indecent images between 2007 and 2015 was “relatively sporadic” and most of it took place in 2015 and 2016.

He added: “I accept at the time you were suffering a depressive illness which reached its height in 2015 and 2016.

“But of course those matters were no excuse for what you did, certainly no excuse for what happened in relation to (the children).

“Your conduct has left a trail of devastation.

“These are clearly extremely serious charges which call for a substantial prison sentence, notwithstanding your previous good character, remorse and the content of various medical reports.”

Brian Mark, defending, said: “There’s nothing I can say in mitigation that excuses his conduct.

“The damage that he did is the damage that he did and the victims and their families will have to live with that. Nothing I say can take away from that.”

Regarding the indecent images, Mr Mark added: “They were downloaded but not kept for looking at.

“They were recovered but not available to be viewed. The images were deleted. It was disgraceful that he looked at it but he was not keeping a library of them.

“He was suffering from some depression, he had no previous convictions and he shows remorse.”

Mr Mark referred to reports on Croudace which said he “perceived the molestation of foster children as too risky”, adding: “The report says he never took the opportunity to abuse foster children or wanted to.

“There was an overlay of psychiatric illness and the offences might not have happened without the overlay of psychiatric issues.

“There’s a lot of self-loathing. He chose to make himself homeless.

“He is an isolated individual and has destroyed the relationships he had.”

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A PAEDOPHILE found with more than 70,000 indecent images of children covertly filmed an elderly woman using the toilet, a court heard.

Ronald Dear placed the camera inside the victim's toilet while he was decorating a home in Southampton.

The 60-year-old's four year reign of viewing of illegal and explicit pornography was ended after police received reports he had downloaded an single indecent image of a child, Southampton Crown Court was told.

When police searched his computer equipment they found thousands of moving and still images, including many that prosecutor Martyn Booth described as "depicting the most serious type of images you could imagine".

Also found were two videos of the elderly victim on the toilet, which were made around 10 years ago.

Mr Booth said that some of the images involved children as young as three months old "crying in pain" from the abuse they were subjected to.

After he was arrested on July 2, 2017, Dear gave a no-comment interview but did state he was not attracted to children – a claim labelled "ludicrous" by Mr Booth.

The images were found on a number of devices, which, when examined, revealed he had been downloading images since September 2013.

The court heard that Dear, previously of good character, was also attracted to older women and would use the 'dark web' to access material.

Dear pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images, ranging between categories A to C, and a charge of voyeurism when he appeared for the first time at Southampton Magistrates' Court in April.

Susan Ridge, mitigating, said Dear was at "a low risk of reoffending" and had "suffered with depression after struggling to cope with the arrest and the reality of what he has done".

Judge Christopher Parker QC said that due to the "seriousness" and "huge" amount of images and his acts of voyeurism, he had no option but to send Dear immediately to prison.

Dear, of Wryneck Close, Southampton, was jailed for 44 months imprisonment. He was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order indefinitely and will have to notify the police of any changes to his address for the remainder of his life.

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Sentence increased by 4 years for child abuser, Usmaan Ahmad A man who repeatedly sexually assaulted a young girl over a period of years has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred it for being too low. Usmaan Rafiq Ahmad, now 35, repeatedly sexually assaulted his victim over a period of 8 years, while she was between the ages of 3 and 11. Ahmad was between the ages of 14 and 21 at the time. The effect of these crimes has been lasting and severe, causing ongoing psychological struggles. Ahmad was originally sentenced to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment at Harrow Crown Court. Today, after the Solicitor Generals reference, the Court of Appeal increased his sentence to 8 years and 6 months in prison. Commenting on the sentence increase, the Solicitor General said: "I am pleased that the Court of Appeal has agreed that Ahmads sentence should have been higher. He subjected a vulnerable child to consistent and repeated sexual abuse which has had a lasting impact. I hope this decision can bring some comfort to the victim."

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Released from prison. A man with a 'Peter Pan Complex' seduced a schoolgirl and then blocked her on social media after sex. Jordon Randall, now 26, also talked another girl into exchange lewd photographs before blocking her as well. He has now been jailed for five years after admitting having sex with a 13-year-old and encouraging another victim to swap images. Judge Heather Norton told him that under new laws had the victim been a "just a few months older", the sentence would have been "in double figures". Randall, of Charles Drive, wept throughout the hour-long hearing at Canterbury Crown Court - watched by one of his victims. She told the judge, in her impact statement, she had been a virgin at the time and was so traumatised she contemplated suicide. Judge Norton heard the victim had later gone missing and was found standing on Rochester Bridge wanting the pain to end. She said: The past two years has been an horrific journey...because the events of May 2016 play in my head day in and day out. I (later) began to self-harm, struggling to keep my pain under the surface." Canterbury Crown Court heard Randall sent messages to the 13-year-old via Snapchat within days agreed to meet. The two met in a carpark in Gillingham when Randall drove the child to a secluded wood where they had protected sex. Prosecutor Tim Forster said after dropping off his victim, he then blocked her on social media. He added Randall was arrested after police received an anonymous tip-off and discovered that around the same time, he was grooming another 14-year-old schoolgirl. "I began to self-harm, struggling to keep my pain under the surface" - one of Randall's 13-year-old victims". After receiving a topless photograph of her he again blocked her on social media, he added. Detectives examined messages between Randall and his victims in which he admitted he was facing prison if he was caught and swore one of the girls to secrecy. Daniel Stephenson, defending, said Randall was very immature and had a 'Peter Pan Complex' preferring to be around young people. Judge Norton, in sending him to prison, said it had been "systematic grooming" of children "designed to improve your own self-worth" at the expense of the feelings of his victims. She also criticised the fact it had taken two years for the case to get to court which was both unacceptable and cruel to the victims and the defendant. Acting detective sergeant, Paul Edwards, said: "Randall has proven himself to be a manipulative predator, deliberately engaging with children and using their vulnerability to fulfil his sexual gratification. "He presents a very real danger to children and I welcome the sentence he has received. "This behaviour is not acceptable and I would like to commend the victims who helped the investigation and pursue justice." An NSPCC spokesman added: "Randell clearly poses a serious threat to children, systematically abusing his victims despite knowing their ages. "It is right that he has now faced justice and we hope both children are receiving the support they need to recover from their horrific ordeals. "This case demonstrates the risks associated with social media. "Our #WildWestWeb campaign is calling on the Culture Secretary to force social media companies to use technology to flag up grooming behaviour to moderators and warn children before they are at risk of being abused."

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Brave survivor of child sex abuse tells how she overcame her fears and found closure through justice.

When Amanda shared her first kiss she thought she was in love.

Still a child, she thought the man she trusted loved her too.

And when she turned 16 she felt sure Christopher Doyle, fast approaching middle age, would keep his promise and leave his wife.

By that age she was in a different relationship, this time with someone her own age.

Yet the growing up she was forced to endure at the hands of Doyle would taint this new love, as it would her next three decades.

Only now, after bravely standing up in court and reliving how Doyle preyed on her - and watching as a judge announced the sex offender would serve a six year sentence - does she have closure.

It has taken a long time for her to cleanse herself of Doyle’s vile crimes.

Now she has done so, Amanda hopes the justice she has won will inspire others to have the courage and faith to seize control of their lives earlier.

Speaking to the ECHO, she recalled the harrowing impact of her abuser’s crimes and told how, with the support of police, her new-found justice has changed her life.

I HAD TO LIE TO MY MUM AND DOCTOR OVER WHETHER I WAS A VIRGIN

It started with a kiss.

The grooming, the manipulation, the exploitation had already begun, but Amanda is only aware of that now she can look back on her stolen childhood with adult eyes.

At the time she felt special to be the target of an older man. But that feeling quickly turned to pain and panic as she struggled to cope with experiences she was too young to come to terms with.

She said: “I was an average child and I had not even kissed a boy before Mr Doyle.

“Being pushed to be sexually active with him, I had no choice but to learn about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases at such a tender age.

“After the first time Mr Doyle had sex with me I bled down below.

“I was alone and frightened with no-one to speak to.

“A few days after the first time Christopher Doyle had sex with me I contracted thrush. I was very scared and worried about what was wrong with me. I had to visit the doctor with my mother and describe the discomfort and discharge I was suffering from.

“I had to lie to my mother and the doctor when I was asked if I had had intercourse with anyone.

“I felt very uncomfortable and isolated.”

STOLEN INNOCENCE

Doyle, a dad himself, targeted her again and again.

She was too young to understand, too confused to speak out, too scared to stop it.

Over the course of almost two years she remained silent as he kissed her, fondled her and abused her.

The crimes typically took place behind closed doors.

But the consequences played out in public.

And the consequences of Doyle’s sick advances did not stop when she finally ended his exploitation.

They coloured her life for years.

Amanda explained: “What Mr Doyle did to me made me grow up very quickly.

“By the age of 14 I was hitting pubs, bars and clubs.

“I was drinking most Friday and Saturday evenings - I wanted to be a grown-up.

“A few months after I stopped contact with Mr Doyle, I met my first husband. I wanted to be in a relationship, being with someone made me feel safe.

“The only way I thought I could have a relationship was through sex, so a few weeks after we met we were having intercourse.” By the age of 20, she had already become a mum, married and separated.

MY FAITH IN THE WORLD WAS CRUSHED

While Amanda was able to end the physical abuse, conquering the psychological impact was a battle she had to endure far longer.

Post traumatic stress disorder left her moving on and off anti-depressants, addiction left her binge eating, drinking and smoking until she was sick.

Too scared to relax in case her thoughts consume her, Amanda lives her life at 100mph.

At the same time she is hyper-sensitive to the dangers she perceives her own children to be at risk of, and issues with low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and sex acted as catalysts to the break-up of her first two marriages.

She told the ECHO: “The repetitive and intrusive thoughts, the flashbacks, sleeplessness, insomnia, nightmares, difficulties in concentration and hyper-vigilance – are all things I struggle with.

“Sexual assault has robbed me of my confidence and my self-esteem. My dignity, my autonomy and my self-respect have all been compromised as a result of the crimes carried out against me. My faith in myself and my faith and trust in the world has been crushed.”

THE BELIEF OF JURORS HELPED FREE ME FROM HIS CRIMES

The legacy of Doyle’s crimes may endure, but it has not defeated Amanda.

With the help of counselling she now understands she is not to blame for what happened, that “this is Mr Doyle’s wrongdoing and shame - not mine”.

That could not be clearer after Amanda made the brave decision to report Doyle’s offences.

Inspired by watching her daughter reach the age at which she was abused, she decided it was time to reach for justice.

Doyle made her go through the drama of a trial. He denied his crimes, forcing Amanda to take the stand and give evidence.

When she did, her truth conquered his lies.

Jurors at Liverpool Crown Court found Doyle guilty of seven counts of indecent assault against a female under the age of 16. Last month the 66-year-old, of The Dell in Croxteth, was jailed for six years and made to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The experience vindicated Amanda’s decision to go to the police.

And the fact she was believed has freed her from the shackles with which Doyle’s crimes had bound her.

I WAS SCARED, BUT POLICE PROVED TO BE A CRUCIAL PILLAR OF SUPPORT

She now hopes others can take inspiration from what she went through and find their freedom too.

The support of police proved crucial throughout the process.

Amanda said: “I had contact with three officers from Merseyside Police.

“All three acted with considerable empathy, sensitivity and gave me tremendous support throughout. I would not have been so brave without them.

“Words can never describe how my husband, my friend, and I feel about the officers who gave such care and compassion. They were with us when we were scared and didn’t understand what was going to happen next, clearly explaining the process and ‘holding our hands’ every step of the way.

“It’s not just about what the officers did, but how they did it; their actions came from the heart and not just the head.

“They have shown the highest professionalism, the greatest perseverance and most importantly distinguished help and kindness over this long and tiring case. They are all very special individuals and a true credit to Merseyside Police.”

Amanda also wished to praise the support provided by the Court Welfare Service and the Witness Care Officer, which she described as “exceptional”.

WE WILL HELP AND SUPPORT YOU, JUST LIKE WE DID FOR COURAGEOUS AMANDA

Detective Inspector Susan Ennis from Merseyside Police Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said “Throughout this investigation the victim has shown great strength and courage and I hope her bravery will encourage other victims to come forward. She has been through a horrendous ordeal and

I hope the result has released a huge weight from her shoulders. Merseyside Police will provide every help and support to all victims of this type of crime.

“I would like to take this opportunity to reassure anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we will deal with you sensitively and make sure that reports are properly and thoroughly investigated.

“If anybody else is out there suffering in silence I want you to know that there is help and support available to you, both from Merseyside Police, where we have specially trained officers who will listen to you and treat you with sensitivity and compassion, and from reliable and trusted support groups who will support you from your initial report and for as long as you need.”

*The woman’s name was changed to protect her identity.

 

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A FORMER Shetland councillor convicted of the historical sexual abuse of two girls and a woman has been jailed for 18 months. Robert Henderson, 74, a businessman and former independent councillor was convicted of historic sexual abuse on the island of Yell between 1974 and 1993. His defence counsel David Moggach said: This has been for a man of his standing a quite spectacular fall from grace, especially in a small community where everyone knows each other. At the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday judge Lord Kinclaven told Henderson: Your victims said they felt sick, embarrassed, shocked and annoyed. The judge said that the most serious charge of rape, which brought the trial into the High Court, had been found not proven against Henderson, but said the remaining charges were serious and added: Ive given it very careful consideration and Im satisfied that there is no alternative to a custodial sentence. The offences cover a significant period of time and the court requires to mark the seriousness of your offending. Henderson, from Yell, Shetland, was placed on the sex offenders register. The jury in the trial at the High Court in Aberdeen found the rape charge against Henderson not proven by a majority. But, he was convicted of sexually abusing two woman, now aged 56 and 54, when they were children in the 1970s. Hendersons first victim said it began when she was 11 and continued until she was 16. The second said it happened six or eight times at a conservative estimate, when she was aged between 12 and 14. He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting one of his schoolgirl victims when she was an adult. When the woman was aged between 29 and 31, he assaulted her by touching her breasts. Henderson, who continues to maintain his innocence, was elected as a Shetland councillor in 2007 and 2012 as an independent before standing down at the last election. Mr Moggach had urged Lord Kinclaven to impose a non-custodial sentence on Henderson saying he was assessed as a low risk of re-offending. He added: He is a first offender and the last offence he was convicted of was in 1993. One of Mr Hendersons complainers said that this has not really had any effect on her as an adult and there isnt evidence of psychological or traumatic distress. He is married and retired. He was a successful businessman and someone who did a great deal to benefit the local community. His position remains the same, he does not accept he did this. Lord Kinclaven was handed nine testimonials on Hendersons behalf. As Henderson was led away to the cells to begin his sentence he showed no emotion.

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A child rapist released early from prison was found working on a children's amusement ride, a court has heard. Stephen Wilson, 60, had served six years of a nine-year sentence for a string of sexual offences against children when he was released from prison on December 6, 2017. Wilson was made the subject of an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which prohibited him from working with anyone under 16, either in a paid or voluntary capacity, without the explicit permission of police. However, on March 29 this year a detective from Humberside Police spotted Wilson operating Wacky Races, a popular amusement ride on Bridlington's promenade. 'He was physically lifting them out' Phillip Evans, prosecuting at Hull Crown Court, said: "The defendant was the operator of that amusement. In that capacity, he was helping children off the ride. He was physically lifting them out." Wilson later claimed the ride was aimed at older children, but Mr Evans said the officer was quite clear about what he saw. "DC Marsh said they were between three and five years of age," said the prosecutor. Officers waited for a "discreet moment" before moving in to arrest Wilson so as not to cause undue alarm to parents. Wilson, of Winston Court, Bridlington, pleaded guilty, at the first opportunity, to breaching the sexual offences prevention order. He had sexually attacked children before Mr Evans gave the court details of the most relevant of Wilson's 22 previous convictions for 67 offences. On December 7, 2010, at Grimsby Crown Court, Wilson was convicted of one count of rape of a child under 16, two counts of gross indecency with a child, and one count of indecent assault on a child under 16. Dale Brook, for Wilson, said his family had disowned him following those convictions, resulting in an "isolated existence". Since his arrest, Wilson has remained in prison, which has he has found "exceptionally difficult", said Mr Brook. "He has been bullied," said the barrister, before admitting a pre-sentence report was "an almost entirely gloomy document". Mr Brook made clear, however, that Wilson's motivation for working on the ride was purely financial. Wilson needed to earn money to furnish his flat, he said. 'You are anything but trustworthy' The barrister appealed to the Recorder Richard Woolfall to hold back from jailing his client, pointing out his poor mental health and a knee complaint that requires surgery. However, Record Woolfall said Wilson must have known working on a children's ride would put him in breach of the order. "It appears to me you did not tell your employer of your history," he told Wilson, referring to the earlier convictions. "It is right that parents would think anyone operating such a ride would be trustworthy. You are anything but trustworthy. "There is compelling evidence that your risk of sexual harm is unmanageable in the community." Wilson was jailed for two years, of which he must serve around half before he is eligible for release on licence. The sexual harm prevention order continues indefinitely.

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A DISGRACED grammar school teacher who secretly photographed girls at school has been struck off for sexual misconduct. Ashley Bakewell had been employed as a computing teacher at South Wilts Grammar School since January 2012, but on December 16, 2016, a sixth former suspected him of photographing female pupils at the school and reported him to the head teacher. "Numerous images" were found on his phone from earlier that day, but Bakewell admitted he had been taking inappropriate pictures of the girls without their knowledge and storing them on his mobile for about a year. The 33-year-old resigned in February 2017, but a spokesman for the school confirmed he had been immediately suspended in December 2016, and did not return to the school site. Last month his case was heard by a panel of the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), who found that his conduct was "sexually motivated" and barred him from teaching indefinitely. Bakewell admitted he "was particularly attracted to the relevant pupils' long hair". An agreed statement of facts says: "[The pictures] were dated December 16, 2016, which was the date that pupils at the school reported Mr Bakewell's inappropriate conduct. "The images were taken from behind and of female pupils." The day in question had been a non-uniform day, and the pictures were of "pupils in various academic years". South Wilts educates girls between ages 11 and 18. The report said: "[Bakewell] breached the trust and confidence placed in him through his position as a teacher by, without their knowledge, taking images of children, repeatedly, over a long period of time." It added: "This case has sexual misconduct at its core, and therefore the panel is of the view that prohibition [from teaching] is both proportionate and appropriate." But Bakewell can apply to have his prohibition order overturned in five years, with the panel ruling that no harm had been caused to the girls who had been photographed, and that the photos "although inappropriate were not indecent". It comes after art teacher Debbie Evans was banned from teaching for life for having a two-year affair with a sixth form pupil in 2015. A statement from South Wilts said a "serious safeguarding matter" was reported by students in December 2016, and that staff "immediately followed the school's safeguarding procedures". It said investigations were undertaken by various agencies including the police and Wiltshire Safeguarding Children Board. It continued: "This is an unusual and rare event, but the school acted promptly when notified of the matter and our policies were effective and robust enough to respond according to regulatory guidance. "As ever, the school ensures that the safety and wellbeing of our students is its highest priority." Wiltshire Police confirmed an investigation had been undertaken, but "no criminal offences were established".

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A married father-of-one was snared by 'paedophile hunters' after attempting to meet a 13-year-old girl - while his daughter and wife were in a hospital just minutes away.

Brian Turnbull was confronted by members of the online vigilante group Dark Justice, after travelling from Cumbria to Newcastle to meet the underage girl.

Turnbull and his wife had made the 80-mile drive with their daughter for an appointment at the skin graft clinic at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

But as the women waited in the hospital he went to the nearby Exhibition Park to meet the underage girl for 'kissing and cuddling'.

The 60-year-old, who described his wife as 'the worst luck', had been chatting to the fake girl on the dating app Whatsapp - telling her she was gorgeous and sending explicit pictures of himself.

He also told the decoy girl his wife was 'a pain in the a**e.

'Winging n wining all the time.' (SIC) But after being accosted by Dark Justice, he told them he 'wouldn't have classed his behaviour as sexual grooming' and said that it was 'just a laugh'.

He was arrested and admitted inciting a child in sexual activity.

A member of Dark Justice said: 'This was a weird case in total. He was coming to Newcastle with his wife and daughter so she could go to the skin graft clinic at the RVI.

'While she was in there he wanted to meet this child. It baffles your mind, the lengths these people will go to to groom children.

'He was arrested within 10 minutes of the mother and daughter going for their treatment.

'I think afterwards they went back to Cumbria and just left him here.

'He said that he was getting a divorce and that his wife would leave him after this.

'He is one of the older ones we have caught.'

At Carlisle Crown Court, Turnbull, of Aspatria, Wigton, was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete a 30 day rehabilitation requirement and must sign the sex offenders register for seven years

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A man who was jailed for sexual offences against a young girl has been imprisoned again after he was found to be in contact with single mother with young daughters. Stephen Agate, 37, unemployed, of Wordsworth Road, Worthing, was sentenced to three years prison at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday, April 24, having previously pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) severely restricting any unsupervised or agreed access to young children, and to breaching a lifelong requirement to notify his address to police as a Registered Sex Offender. Police found that Agate was associating in Worthing with a single mother who had young daughters within four months of being released from prison on supervision licence. He had previously been sentenced to four years imprisonment in July 2015 after pleading guilty to causing an eight-year old girl known to him to engage in sexual activity. He was then living in Burgess Hill and visited the girl's home nearby in the town, where he knew the family and committed sexual offences against her on several occasions when he contrived to be alone with her. When he was sentenced in In July 2015 he was also given the SHPO to last indefinitely, was made a Registered Sex Offender for life. PC Matt Andrews of the West Sussex VISOR (Violent and Sexual Offender) Unit, said: "Agate was released from prison on licence in July last year and stayed a Probation-approved address in Worthing. "In November he met the mother locally and struck up a relationship with her, resulting in his starting to stay at her address. "But his unexplained absence from his approved address was noticed and swiftly followed up and our enquiries led us to where he was staying within a few days. "He was immediately arrested and returned to prison as well as being charged with these extra offences. "The mother had no idea of his criminal history which involved preying on a young girl he had befriended in very similar circumstances. "This investigation, in which we worked with the National Probation Service, shows how action is taken to supervise sexual offenders in the community and to safeguard the public, especiallly vulnerable adults and children."

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Predatory paedophile Kaylem Lewis has been jailed after he groomed a 12-year-old girl while sending her constant messages.

The 21-year-old had exchanged numbers with the girl whose age he knew and started sending her innocuous texts.

But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the content soon became sexual, and Lewis told the victim he loved her and they would make love soon.

The defendant, of Bellingham Grove, Hanley, was found out after the girl told a friend, who reported it at school.

Prosecutor Sati Ruck said: The exchange of numbers led to them contacting each other by text message. The defendant purchased 10 credit for her phone and he was constantly texting her.

On one occasion he saw he and tried to touch her bottom. On another occasion they went for a walk and he told her he wanted to be with her when she was older, that she was beautiful and he loved her.

He told her not to say anything to anyone because he would get into trouble because of her age. He also invited her to his house on one occasion, but she said no.

The court heard the messages were sent during a two-week period in January and February. The victim confided in her friend, who told a school welfare officer. The police were then called in and Lewis was arrested.

His mobile phone and the victims were examined and revealed the text messages between them.

Miss Ruck said: References were made to him splitting up with his girlfriend to be with her.

He said she was too young to be doing anything but he would not stop her if she wanted to. He also said they would make love soon.

He then asked her to delete the text messages to avoid being detected.

Lewis went on to plead guilty to causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

The court heard he had one previous conviction, for assault.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Lewis had struggled to explain his actions. Mr Muldoon said: He has failed to adequately explain his behaviour to himself. His relationship was going through a sour patch at the time.

He is ashamed, he is disgusted and he is remorseful for his offending behaviour.

Judge David Fletcher sentenced Lewis to 27 months in prison. He said: There is no doubt you knew what her age was, and from almost the outset you knew what you were doing was wrong. This was clear grooming behaviour.

A 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which restricts Lewiss future contact with children, was also imposed.

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Mark Birtles picked up his victim, who was then aged under 18, one evening in April last year and drove to a remote area before raping her.

The 20-year-old, of Laburnum Road, Mexborough, was arrested that month after the girl went to hospital and reported what had happened.

Birtles was found guilty of rape following a three-day trial at Sheffield Crown Court, which ended on Friday, and was jailed for six years.

He was given an additional one year prison sentence for breaching a suspended sentence for harassment, though this will run concurrently with the other sentence.

Detective Constable Cheryl McCorkell, who led the investigation, said: "Birtles had offered the victim a lift one evening last April before he stopped in a remote area near Bolton-upon-Dearne and raped her.

"She has shown immense courage in coming forward and reporting what happened and was forced to endure the trial after Birtles continued to deny his guilt, despite the substantial evidence gathered against him.

"I'd like to thank and praise the girl for showing such strength and bravery as she gave evidence during the trial. The conviction is a testament to that and I hope that knowing Birtles is behind bars for the next six years goes some way in helping her to move forward with her life."

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A rapist who manipulated a girl into having sex with him by pretending to be a ghost has been jailed for 26 years. Liam Clarke knew she was terrified of evil spirits and used that to exploit her, Exeter Crown Court heard. Clarke, 35, of Crediton, Devon, was convicted of four rapes, three assaults by penetration, sexual activity with a child, and eight counts of indecency or indecent assault. Judge David Evans said: "Your offending across the years was monstrous." More stories from Devon The court heard how Clarke's victim was petrified of the occult following a bad experience during an Ouija board game. He made strange noises at night which left the 15-year-old girl terrified and pushed notes under her bedroom door claiming to be from the ghost. Pretending to be the spirit, he then made threats to the teenager and told her the only way of getting rid of the demon was by having sex with him. Sentencing Clarke, Judge Evans said: "She said she did not want to have sex with you but you threatened her repeatedly. "You made deliberate use of her deep fear of ghosts and spirits." Hide and seek The offences took place between 1997 to 2016 in Torquay, Crediton and in Hampshire. Clarke was arrested in July last year and found guilty at trial in March. He also repeatedly abused two young girls in Southampton by putting coins in his underwear and getting them to play hide and seek. Clarke was put on the sex offenders' register for life and made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which restricts his future contact with girls.

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A PROLIFIC paedophile who was snared by vigilantes who posed as children has been jailed for over nine years. Mark Baber, 43, was duped by paedophile hunters after attempting to engage in sexual activity with what he thought were children via online chat rooms before he was brought to justice, Portsmouth Crown Court heard. The conviction comes after it was widely reported earlier this month that evidence gained from paedophile hunters was used to charge suspects in England and Wales on at least 150 occasions last year. Babers predatory attempts in December last year were exposed after he sent crude messages and sexually graphic pictures as he looked to secure encounters with children using his dark high speed grooming tactics. The defendant was then tracked to his Fareham home address where he was nowhere to be found before he was finally hunted down and discovered at his work. Police arrested him the following day. (Baber) was talking to three women posing as children in chat rooms where he made a number of sexual suggestions and sent crude photos of himself before the team found him, prosecutor Timothy Compton said. Baber also downloaded over 20 disturbing images of children aged between two and 14 years of age. When police turned up at his address they found he had deleted his internet history - something he was prohibited from doing under the terms of an order from his previous term of imprisonment for similar offences. The court also heard how Baber befriended a lady with his ulterior motives laid bare when he started texting her daughter. On one occasion, the predator sent the girl a message saying he would get her a sex toy with a bean bag cushion. He also capitalised on an opportunity to spend time alone with the child when the mum fell asleep further putting him in breach of his conditions with him not allowed to be by himself with a child. The mums horror was compounded when she searched Baber on the internet and found out he was a paedophile. The court heard how the child offender had 26 previous convictions and was sentenced to 48 months prison in 2013 for similar offences after downloading a string of vile child images and attempted to incite children into sexual activity. In defence, Daniel Reilly, said Baber was released in October 2017 before finding himself homeless and abandoned by his family who wanted nothing more to do with him which had resulted in him losing out on a significant amount of family inheritance. (Baber) knew he did wrong and wanted to stop, Mr Reilly said. The defence solicitor then told the court of the paedophiles remorse. Im totally ashamed of what I did. I want to make sure this is never repeated, Baber said. Baber, of Riverside Avenue, Warrington, admitted attempting to incite children into sexual activity, deleting his internet history, distributing images of children and for breaching his sexual offences order. After sentencing Baber to nine years and three months in prison, judge Robert Hill said: You did your best to incite sex with children. The only difference was that you were being set up.