Latest Offenders

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

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

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

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

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

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

Description

Sex fantasist Gary Hoyles has been given an extended 22-year jail sentence today for a "campaign of rape" against a child.

The 50-year-old was told he is dangerous and poses a threat to children in the future.

He was given an immediate 18-year sentence and told he will have to serve two-thirds before he can even apply for parole.

And if and when he is released he will serve an extra four years on licence.

Judge Adele Williams told Hoyles, of The Street, Willesborough he had "perverted and distorted" views and had shown no remorse of insight into his crimes.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he had committed the offences between 2011 and 2017.

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Hoyles had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and a further five counts of sexual activity with a child.

In total he has admitted four counts of rape, four counts of raping a child, four counts of sexual activity with a child, one charge of sexual assault on a child and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecutor Chris May told police discovered letters drafted by the twisted fantasist, which read: "It will kill me to lose you. I want to run away with you so we can be truly together in love.

"You are the only true love I have ever had. I love you, love was made for you.

"It took an incredible amount of courage for the victim to not only report this matter to us but face him again in court"

- Mandy Poulter

"Love is not about sex, that is just expressing love.

"Don't let prison win please wait for me."

Mr May added: "He clearly has a deluded view of relationships."

Detective sergeant Mandy Poulter, of Kent Police, said:

"Hoyles is a cruel and depraved offender who subjected a young girl to horrendous sexual abuse.

"It took an incredible amount of courage for the victim to not only report this matter to us but face him again in court.

"While nothing can undo the harm caused to her, I hope she can take some comfort from the fact her bravery has resulted in an extremely dangerous and perverse offender being jailed for a substantial amount of time.

"I also hope that victims of non-recent sexual abuse, who may feel anxious about reporting being offences committed against them, can look at this result and gain confidence about contacting us for support."

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The offence happened in Torquay in May.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Police were called and arrived at the scene soon after.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Description

A 'hard-working' grandad of previous 'impeccable character' who said he downloaded sick images of children being sexually abused because he was 'curious' has avoided jail.

Alan Crabtree, 72, was found to have saved 85 indecent images of children onto his two mobile phones - 13 of these were classed as category A, the worst serverity.

The retired miner, who has lived in Salford all his life, said looking at the disturbing images became a 'compulsion'.

He said he initially used social media to find the pictures out of curiosity.

His family, who described him as a 'loving and supportive father', knew nothing of his shameful secret until cops came knocking at the door of the family home and seized his personal devices.

At Manchester Crown Court, Crabtree admitted three charges of making indecent photographs of children.

But he walked free with a 12-month community order after a judge said he was 'astonished' to see a man of his character commit this type of crime.

The offences - which took place between April 2015 and December 2017 - came to light when police received intelligence from the National Crime Agency.

Prosecutor Juliet Berry said: "After receiving the information, police attended at his address on 8 December 2017 and executed a warrant.

"They seized two laptops and two mobile phones - one Acer phone and one Samsung phone.

"He was interviewed and admitted that the images could be found on the phones."

Crabtree's lawyer, Suzanne Hargreaves, told the sentence hearing how her client was 'deeply ashamed' of what he had done.

She said he made full admissions to his family and has already taken steps towards rehabilitation.

"He was born and bred in Salford and is a hard-working man dedicated to his family", Ms Hargraves added.

"He worked in the mines. He then took up any work that was available and worked his whole life until retirement.

"He and his wife are now retired. He is a carer for her."

Crabtree avoided a custodial sentence with the judge saying his hitherto impeccable character meant he could be rehabilitated in the community.

Passing sentence, Recorder Geoffrey Lowe, said: "It's astonishing to see a man of your background in this situation.

"These are not victimless offences. The children whose photos are taken are abused.

"Some of these images reflect the most serious sexual abuse of these children.

"You regarded this as something that started out as a curiosity then became a compulsion.

"You have shown remorse and sought to seek assistance. This is a blemish on an otherwise exemplary record.

"If these matters are addressed there is no reason why you cannot go back to being the hard-working and respectful man you was."

Crabtree was handed a 12-month community order made up of 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He must sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, which will limit his access to the internet.

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A FATHER who owned a pink stretch-limousine which he hired out and used to drive schoolgirls to their prom party, was exposed today (June 26) as a paedophile with "an unhealthy interest in young children." A judge heard that 38-year-old Robert Westgarth from Priestwood was addicted to pornography when he was arrested by police who found indecent pictures of children aged from six to 16 years on his electronic devices. Westgarth hit Bracknell News headlines several years ago when he offered to take a group of young girls to their school prom in a pink limousine as a 'good deed' after he received a cancellation for his chauffeur services. The Bracknell man will face a 21-month suspended jail sentence and ordered to attend 25 rehabilitation courses after a jury convicted him on charges of making and obtaining indecent images of children, some of which were of the most serious category. The prison term was suspended for two years. Prosecutor Kirsty Allman told the judge: "The four offences relate to the production and possession of 35 indecent images, both still and moving, of children found on Mr Westgarth's devices, aged from six years to 16 years." Sitting at Reading Crown Court, Judge Angela Morris said: "Police visited your home and found indecent images on your storage devices and a video the jury found you had deliberately taken on your mobile phone. This was deliberate and premeditated but you maintained that it was entirely innocent. "On the storage device you were found to have deliberately searched for indecent images of children which were category A, B and C. "You are now 38 years of age and until this came to light, you were a family man. You have admitted in the pre-sentence report and to the jury, that you have an addiction. To put it bluntly, it has been said that you have an unhealthy interest in young children." However, Judge Morris stressed that being addicted to something was not a defence. Defence counsel, Giuseppina Silvio said: "Mr Westgarth has admitted a serious addiction to pornography. He has demonstrated that he has taken serious steps to address his obsession." Judge Morris said: "It seems to me that you are still in that place, there is still a long way to go. You still maintain that story you gave to the jury despite them rejecting it but you have not made much of accepting the reality of the situation. You still have little or no insight into why the jury found you guilty." Westgarth was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which lasts for 10 years and he was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 140 and to pay 500 prosecution costs. Judge Morris added: "Show to your family that you are the man that they had all hoped you were, the man you were before this and the man you want to be."

Description

A paedophile who preyed on a "10-year-old girl" suggesting she slept with him, dress up in leotards and move in with him at his home in Yeovil has escaped jail when he appeared in court to be sentenced.

John Jannikos had no idea at the time that he was engaged in conversation with a decoy profile of a young girl in a trap set up by a paedophile hunter group.

He regularly talked to her over the course of several months, asked if she knew what a condom was and asked her for sex, reassuring her it was ok after she suggested her mum would not allow it.

He also said he had bought her some leotards and sent her photos of a pink and blue one saying he couldn't wait to see her wearing them.

When he was confronted outside his home with evidence of his activities by members of the group the police were called and searched his home.

In his bedroom they discovered the same two leotards in the pictures sent to the 'victim' covered in semen stains along with a sex toy resembling a young girl.

The 31-year-old defendant, of Willow Road, denied a charge that between August 28, and September 25 last year in Somerset he attempted to communicate with a person under the age of 16 who he did not believe was 16 or over, and the communication was sexual, namely talking about sex and asking her if she knew what a condom was, and for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.

However he was convicted of the offence following a trial held before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil.

They sentenced Jannikos to a three year community order with a direction to comply with a sex offenders programme.

He must also carry out a 20 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and complete 150 hours unpaid work.

Costs of £775 and an £85 victim surcharge were also imposed and he was ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for the next four years.

Prosecutor Suzie Butler said that it was a case of internet grooming by the defendant who thought he was speaking to a 10-year-old girl but it was really a decoy profile.

The profile had been set in the name of a "girl" called Amy Beech and a male with Facebook profile of John Jannikos soon contacted her and a number of conversations took place between them between August and September last year.

"During these conversations the defendant offered to buy her a leotard and bikini and asked if she wanted to move in with him," she said.

"He also asked her if she knew what a condom was and said he knew there was an age gap but he would like them to be together.

"He said he loved her and cared about her and then sent the question 'Sex?' followed by a thumbs up sign.

"Jannikos also told the 'girl' he ordered her a leotard and four sets of swimwear and wanted her to try them on and send him pictures.

"He also said he loved her, sent her pictures of a pink and a blue leotard when the order was delivered and said he couldn't wait to see her in them."

When the defendant was confronted by members of the paedophile hunter group he said he was ashamed.

The police were called and he was arrested, and when they searched his address a mobile phone, tablet and laptop were found.

They also discovered two leotards, similar to those in the photos, and when stains were found on them the officers asked Jannikos what it was and he said it was semen.

He said he had been "so stupid" but when he was voluntarily interviewed he made no comment to all questions asked of him.

A data extraction report showed evidence that the defendant had purchased the two leotards from an online retailer although no indecent images of children were found on the devices.

Defending solicitor Ray Peters said that his client "still maintained his innocence" despite being found guilty following a trial.

He said that Jannikos lived with his uncle for whom he was a full-time carer.

"He admitted carrying out certain acts to the Probation Service and has confided that he would benefit from some help from them, although denies any inappropriate sexual urges towards young children," he said.

"He would be required to comply with an accredited sexual offending programme which would be a severe restriction on his liberty and a great commitment for quite a lengthy period of time."

Description

A paedophile jailed for sexually assaulting two schoolgirls and other offences lived and worked in Burnham-on-Sea.

Dale Fellows was sentenced to 18 years behind bars at Wolverhampton Crown Court earlier this month (June 3) for 12 offences which included rape, sexual assaults and attempted rape between 2016 and 2017 against one of the girls.

He was also found guilty of three charges against the other victim between 2008 and 2015.

The 34-year-old was caught after the girls - who were both 13 when they were abused - bravely came forward and recalled their experiences to West Midlands Police, who were then able to build up a case.

A source confirmed to Somerset Live that Fellows lived and worked in the seaside town at some point between 2008 and 2017 - when some of the offences were committed.

It is unclear when - and why - he left the area.

Depraved Fellows, whose address was given as Rosehilll Gardens, Willenhall, Walsall, in court, was also made to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Sergeant Vicky Kelleher, from West Midlands Police, said: "Without the courage of the victims in coming forward we would not have been able to bring Fellows to justice.

"Their bravery enabled us to fully investigate and ensure no-one else will have to suffer sexual abuse at his hands in future.

"The force has specialist officers to support victims and work tirelessly to ensure those responsible do not escape the full force of the law."

Description

A man who raped a child was only caught years later because he kept a carefully catalogued library of films showing his abuse, a court has heard.

Matthew Beattie, 47, of Main Road, Langworth, Lincolnshire, filmed himself raping and sexually abusing a young girl between 2007 and 2010.

Police found the films along with more than 2,000 indecent images of children.

He was jailed for 16 years after admitting three counts of rape of a child under 13, among other charges.

Beattie also pleaded guilty to two charges of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and a further charge of sexual assault.

He also admitted two charges of making indecent images of a child, and five charges of possession of indecent images of a child.

Beattie was placed on the sex offenders register for life and given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Mark Watson, prosecuting, said: "The footage was kept by the defendant for a number of years.

"They were not just filmed and kept. He labelled them as to precisely what it was that was captured in the footage."

Laura Pitman, in mitigation, told the court: "He knows he is going to receive a lengthy custodial sentence.

"He recognises that what he did all those years ago was so wrong and he needs to address what caused him to behave in that way."

Description

A pervert who tried to make two young girls engage in vile sexual acts has been jailed for eight years.

Ikea worker Michael Batty, 44, carried out sickening abuse against youngsters and told them to keep quiet about the attacks.

The offences, which took place in North Yorkshire, didn't come to light until several years later when one of the girls plucked up the courage to tell her mother that Batty "had touched her".

She said: "He just made me do stuff that just wasn't right."

Police approached the other affected girl who initially denied that anything had happened, before telling of the abuse, reports Teeside Live

A statement from one of the victims said: "I hope today you feel the guilt that you made me feel."

"You took away my innocence in a way no one ever should."

"You have no control over me anymore and now everyone will see who you really are."

The court heard in mitigation that a report had concluded that Batty had a high probability of having ADHD and has a below average IQ of 74.

The judge was told he has led a "simple and very blameless life" and "he can't even explain why this happened".

Batty, of Milford Lane, Thorverton, Devon, admitted three counts of sexual assault of a child and five counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity at Teesside Crown Court.

The shelf stacker denied attempting to rape a child and causing a child to watch a sex act, and the prosecution accepted that these charges should lie on file.

Description

A paedophile groomed and raped a girl who was so vulnerable she was forced to eat ants to survive.

William Bresnahan targeted and exploited the neglected 11-year-old daughter of two heroin addicts. She had to go out to find work to pay for her parents' drug habits, before her dad committed suicide.

Bresnahan, now 75, befriended the abandoned girl and gave her food, money, clothing, trips and treats. The carpenter, whose wife had died, then raped her at least five times at his home in Waddicar Lane, Melling. 

Liverpool Crown Court heard she saw him giving cash to her mum, who knew she was staying at his home. However, despite the horrific abuse, she described how she had seen the pervert as her "rock and saviour". The now adult woman told police: "It was a small price to pay to be fed and clothed."

The brave victim today stared down her unrepentant attacker, as he learned he will likely die in prison. John Wyn Williams, prosecuting, said Bresnahan specifically targeted an "extremely vulnerable" child. He said: "Your honour will recall the evidence of how she had to eat ants to feed herself and find menial work just to survive." 
 
During a trial, a jury heard she would sell flowers at a cemetery and find shopping trolleys to get the pound from them. The woman described how she was "starving and desperate" when she met Bresnahan, who offered her jobs and money. He gave the deprived girl food and clothes, let her stay at his home and took her out to a farm and the seaside.

But she recalled he instructed her to tell anyone that asked he was her uncle, before the vile abuse began. Eventually genuine relatives told him to stop seeing her, but she did not feel able to report what happened until 2017.

Bresnahan claimed his victim was a liar, who held a grudge against him because he broke off contact with her. The ex-labourer accepted handing cash to her mum, but offered no explanation for why he gave money to her. He was unanimously convicted by jurors of three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault last month.

She told the court: "I'm messed in the head. This has messed up my life." The victim, who felt ashamed and embarrassed, suffered panic attacks, headaches and nightmares. She turned to alcohol, suffered from depression and experienced problems forming relationships. 
 
The woman said: "The worst thing has been everything, every day. It has destroyed me." However, she added: "I am so glad I got justice and couldn't thank the courts enough."

Louise McCloskey, defending, said Bresnahan, who has no previous convictions, still maintained his innocence. She said: "While he understands the verdict of the jury, he would not wish me to address the court in respect of the facts, because they are not accepted."

Ms McCloskey said: "This sentence will be tantamount to a life sentence for Mr Bresnahan, who is in the twilight of his years." She added: "This will inevitably be a long and difficult sentence for him, from which he may not ever be released back into the community."

William Bresnahan, 75, of Waddicar Lane, Melling, was found guilty of three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault.  Judge Rachel Smith said the victim, who sobbed throughout the hearing, suffered severe psychological harm.

The judge said she was unsure whether the victim's mum accepted the cash knowing Bresnahan was sexually assaulting her, "turned a blind eye to the situation" when someone who was not a heroin addict would have realised what was going on, or because she was on drugs, was not aware at all. However, she said: "Your motivation in giving her money was to maintain access to her daughter in order to abuse her."

Judge Smith said Bresnahan was "an offender of particular concern" and told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a restraining order for life. She jailed him for 16 years, with an extended year on licence, prompting his tearful victim to clap and cheer, while Bresnahan showed no emotion in the dock. The type of sentence means he will serve at least half of the term – eight years – behind bars, before he is eligible for parole at 83. He will then only be released before the end of the 16-year sentence - at 91 - if he is no longer considered to be a risk to the public.

As he was sent down, his victim shouted "yes, rot!" and "suffer!", while a male friend yelled: "Rat, rat, rat!"

Description

A sexual predator who plied two children with alcohol and drugs before attacking them has been caged for 24 years.

"Dangerous offender" Stephen Allen raped a young girl and also attacked her on other occasions - using the youngster as a "sexual plaything".

Some years later, the 51-year-old also encouraged a teenage boy to engage in sexual acts, before raping him, Teesside Crown Court heard.

As Allen was taken down by guards after being sentenced by judge Deborah Sherwin, the room burst into life as he furiously shouted: "F***ing bulls*** from start to finish, scruffy *****".

Commotion could also be heard from the public gallery as one woman shouted "f***ing joke" before the doors were aggressively slammed and banged - with further noise heard outside court five.

Prosecutor Aisha Wadoodi said "the defendant managed to facilitate the offences using alcohol and drugs", adding: "The Crown certainly think that this is a dangerous offender".

An emotional statement from one of the victims read out at the sentencing hearing said: "I cannot think of an aspect of my life that it has not affected."

It added: "I have had mental health issues as a result of this abuse."

The boy victim said: "I was a child and Stephen Allen abused the trust that I put in him."

Paul Abrahams, mitigating, said that his client "still denies the matters".

Allen, of Bamburgh Court, Middlesbrough, appeared to be sentenced for 14 counts including: two counts of rape, sexual assault and sexual activity with a child.

He pleaded not guilty to the offences and made his victims go through the ordeal of a trial where a jury convicted him in May this year.

Judge Deborah Sherwin agreed with the prosecution's assessment, branding Allen a "dangerous offender".

She sentenced him to 24 years in jail, with an extended period of eight years - a total of 32 years.

He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

A serial sex pest is facing jail after being caught perving in the women's toilets in a supermarket.

Brian Melucci startled a woman as she went to flush by leering at her from underneath the cubicle in Tesco Extra on Norham Road in North Shields.

The shocked victim tried to confront the pervert, but the 24-year-old repeatedly ignored her and quickly scuttled to the store's exit.

Melucci denied charges of observing a person doing a private act and breaching a sexual harm prevention order following the unsavoury episode on April 11.

However, he was found guilty on both counts following a trial at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Thursday and has been warned he will likely be sentenced to at least a year behind bars.

The court heard evidence from the victim who confirmed she entered the supermarket toilets at about 7.15am, and noticed the middle cubicle was occupied.

She said: "I knew there was someone in there because the door shut and I could hear shuffling.

"My phone pinged so I got that out and turned to the left to flush the string. As I turned I saw there was a head on the cubicle floor.

“His head was right under, it looked like he was on the floor. He had something in his hand but I could not see what it was.

"I thought it could be a child because you don’t expect to see a man in there."

The woman instinctively kicked her foot out and demand answers from Melucci. She quickly pulled her trousers up and opened her cubicle door to see him making for the exit.

She added: "As he walked past I thought good God, it’s a man."

CCTV footage was played to the court of the woman following Melucci through the supermarket, repeatedly trying to grab his attention.

She finished: "I followed him out and said excuse me, he totally blanked me. He was smug and sauntered out."

The woman insisted she was "100%" sure the face she saw beneath the cubicle was Melucci.

Giving evidence, the 24-year-old admitted he entered the women's toilets but insisted it was by mistake.

Melucci, of Norfolk Gardens, Wallsend, who has previous convictions for exposure, assault and criminal damage, claimed he had not been home that night following a party and was "extremely drunk".

He said: “I had not been home, I was extremely drunk. I didn't realise I had been in [the women's toilets] until I was arrested.

"I know I didn't do it, I was not absolutely mortal."

Jonathan Stirland, defending, insisted his client had been falsely identified as the man spotted peeping underneath the cubicle.

He said: "It's not the defence's case that somebody didn't look, it's the defence's case it was not the defendant.

On the charge of observing a private act for sexual gratification, Mr Stirland added: "You are making a quantum leap to conclude there could be no other reason why a person could find themselves in that situation."

But David Ward, prosecuting, insisted there was no-one else present in the women's toilets and there was only one possible purpose for Melucci to be spotted in the compromising position.

He said: “We have clear CCTV showing he is the person she's following, he accepts that.

"That's the person that had his head underneath the cubicle, that's absolutely clear unless the defence are suggesting there's a mystical person who can disappeared from the cubicle.

"It had to be for sexual gratification, there's no other reason for it.

"To suggest this lady is making it all up and lying, and there's someone else in there, is a flight of fantasy."

Chair of the bench David Dawson found Melucci guilty on both counts, and sent the case to Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing on July 11.

Delivering the verdict, he said: “We're satisfied with all the evidence that only the complainant and the defendant in the toilets.

"We're satisfied it was the defendant peering under the cubicle, and we're also satisfied it was for his personal sexual gratification.

"There's no other reasonable explanation for these actions."

Description

A GIRL of 15 whose mum had thought was at a barbecue had been taken advantage of sexually by a man of 23 after getting drunk at a party in a quarry, a court heard.

Daniel Birch, now 24, of Overton Way, Acton, Wrexham, was jailed for 38 months after he admitted sexual activity with the child.

Judge Huw Rees at Caernarfon crown court said the girl had drunk vodka and wine and was unable to walk or speak properly. Birch took advantage of the strangers vulnerability and had unprotected sex with her.

A sexual harm prevention order was made and he must register as a sex offender.

Prosecuting barrister Mark Connor said the victim had joined a Snapchat group who arranged a party in the Holywell area last summer. Her mother gave her 15, thinking she was going to a barbecue.

But the teenager went to the party and Birch turned up with drink and drugs. Mr Connor said the girl was very drunk and the defendant knew she was only 15.

A school friend who had already left the party was in bed when the victim made a missed call to her and sent several texts suggesting something had happened. The victims mother was then alerted and the police.

Following his arrest, the prosecutor said Birch told police: I am very confident there will be no forensic evidence of me having any sexual contact with her.

But he was wrong.

Robin Boag, defending, said there had been some demonstration of remorse by his client.

He had pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a child on a consensual basis.

Description

A St John Ambulance volunteer from Weston will serve 11 months in prison for grooming underage girls for sex.

David Cardwell, aged 52, of Sunnyside Road, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child at Bristol Crown Court in May.

Cardwell, an NHS agency worker, was caught out by paedophile hunters who were posing as girls aged 12-14.

More than 1,214 explicit cartoon images 'of the very worst kind' involving children and babies were also found on his computer.

Judge Mark Horton, sentencing Cardwell at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, said: "There was grooming and sexualised conversations, including a discussion about meeting in Bristol for a sleepover and about how you would show her how to have sex."

Cardwell made contact with the 'girls' over a dating app before encouraging them to use WhatsApp and Kik so their conversations could be deleted.

Robin Shellard, prosecuting, said the 'decoys' never made first contact and all stated their age in the first communication.

Cardwell told the paedophile hunters he preferred young girls and asked them to send him pictures of themselves.

Police, after his arrest, found images of other unidentified girls of a similar age in his possession.

The court was told Cardwell has lost his family, house and job, and has been suffering from suicidal thoughts since his arrest.

The medic, who has worked in the operating department at Weston and Bristol hospitals, volunteered with St John Ambulance and the Air Training Corps and also ran basic first aid courses for children.

Judge Horton said: "Since these events the internet has taken its revenge on you and your family in a way which society would say is deserved, but is as personally crushing for you as it would be for families if these young girls had really been approached by you in the way you intended.

"There's no substantial remorse one would expect for the gravity of offence and no comprehension of the seriousness of the impact of this offending."

Cardwell was sentenced to 11 months in prison, followed by a 12-month supervision order.

He was ordered to sign the sexual offenders register for 10 years and given a sexual harm prevention order.

Description

William Bushby, 83, of Mongers Lane, Lewes, East Sussex, was convicted of eight counts of indecent assault on a child, said Surrey Police.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court on June 4.

The crimes took place in Woking and Pirbright, Surrey, said police.

A police spokesman said: Surrey Police launched an investigation after the victim came forward in 2017 and made an allegation of historic sexual abuse dating back to the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Speaking after the sentencing, the victim said: I am delighted with the outcome of this case.

Although I am slightly disappointed with the relative leniency of the sentence, it is still a significant result and testimony to the hard work of the Surrey Police Sexual Offences Investigation Team.

I hope my experience has shown that no matter how long ago a crime was committed it is still worth coming forward to report it.

Truth and justice will find its way out. You will be believed.

Temporary Detective Sergeant Guy Hookway, who investigated the offences, said: William Bushby groomed the victim and completely abused the position of trust he was in, in order to commit sustained sexual abuse on a child over a number of years.

I have nothing but praise and respect for the victim who had the courage to give evidence against Bushby in court. I hope that the guilty verdict will allow the victim to put this behind them and finally move on with their life.