Saudis flagrantly ignore western laws
Predator Scout Leaders in Ireland
Dating apps putting children at risk
Arrests up to 17 now in recent sex assaults in Finland
Bangor City FC press officer on trial for CSA
77 y/o Scot convicted of historical CSA
6 more men, total 20 arrested as child rape rampant in English town
Saudi officials appear complicit in removing
Saudi citizens from western justice
Saudi suspect Sameer Noorah and the SUV that US Marshals say helped him escape before his trial. © Multnomah County Sheriff's Office/US Marshals
Saudi Arabia appears to have been systematically helping its US-based citizens to evade American justice for serious crimes, possibly by providing fake passports and private planes.
Late last year, the Oregonian reported five cases of suspects successfully fleeing charges in the state of Oregon, which was temporarily home to about 1,000 students from Saudi Arabia. But the same news outlet has now discovered a total of 17 cases across eight states and even Canada (3rd story on link), suggesting the ploy is an established practice.
Most of the cases involve a similar scenario: after an arrest, the Saudi consulate hires a legal team and eventually posts bail, which in two cases constituted $1 million and $500,000. Once the suspect is released, even if they had surrendered their international travel passport, they somehow manage to leave the country, before then appearing back in Saudi Arabia.
Scout leaders sexually abused children
on hikes, in tents, claim victims
Jack Power, Irish Timeson hikes, in tents, claim victims
A report in June concluded there was a ‘deeply rooted dysfunction’ at the top of the organisation, due to a lack of transparency, and a culture of ‘blind loyalty’ to certain senior figures.
Grooming was a common feature of the alleged abuse, with many perpetrators employing similar methods of singling children out for favourable treatment, before going on to molest them, according to the accounts.
“A lot of the time it would have happened in tents, sometimes it would have happened just out in the woods. It could happen in a car, in a minibus, in a scout hall – a lot of the kids were abused on multiple occasions,” according to Daniel O’Connell, a solicitor representing 30 alleged abuse victims.
In some cases, alleged perpetrators would have children who misbehaved sleep in their tent at night, as a cover to molest the child, said Mr O’Connell.
Scouting Ireland is in the midst of a major historic child abuse scandal, and an ongoing internal review led by safeguarding expert Ian Elliott has identified 313 alleged victims, and 237 alleged abusers. The majority of abuse allegations relate to a period between the 1960s and 1990s.
An ongoing internal review of Scouting Ireland led by safeguarding expert Ian Elliott has identified 313 alleged victims, and 237 alleged abusers.
Grooming pattern
A similar pattern of how alleged perpetrators would attempt to groom children emerged from many of the 30 alleged victims’ accounts.
Children would be told “you’ve been very good today, so you get an extra badge ... Everyone else does jobs, you don’t need to do jobs,” Mr O’Connell said. “The child would trust that person, and then they would violate that in the most disgusting way.”
Scouting Ireland formed in 2004, following a merger of two legacy organisations, the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland and the Scout Association of Ireland.
There is major concern inside the youth organisation that a large number of legal cases from alleged abuse victims could force a fire-sale of assets such as scout dens, or potentially collapse the organisation.
Minister for Children Katherine Zappone recently committed to increase the organisation’s State funding to ensure its current child protection office is properly resourced.
UK man jailed for possessing images of child abuse
By Paul Hooperphooper@thekmgroup.co.uk
A man has been given a six-year extended jail sentence after admitting possessing vile images of children.
Judge Simon James told the 43-year-old pervert he had an “entrenched sexual preoccupation with children”.
Burns, who admitted three offences of making and distributing sick sex images, was given a four-year immediate jail term and the judge added an extra two years which he will serve on licence when he is released.
Canterbury Crown Court heard that six years ago Burns was regarded as posing a significant risk to youngsters.
The judge added: “You were sentenced to an extended sentence for similar offending in 2013 when you were also subjected to prohibitions specifically designed to stop you accessing images. Despite that you have gone to considerable lengths to access more indecent images and you have freely admitted you are sexually attracted to children.”
Burns distributed images which reflected his “deep seated distorted views”.
"Burns still hasn’t learnt his lesson
despite previous convictions for similar offences..."
DC Katie Coleman
The judge added: “In my judgement your abject failure to deviate from these distorted views shows you pose a continued risk.”
He ruled that Burns, of Wellington Crescent, Ramsgate, will have to serve two-thirds of the four-year sentence, rather than the usual half, before he can be considered for parole.
Judge James added: “I feel compelled to impose a sentence for public protection.”
Investigating officer Detective Constable Katie Coleman said: "Burns still hasn’t learnt his lesson despite previous convictions for similar offences and ongoing interventions. As such he has now been sent back to prison for his offending.
"People like Burns who are sharing indecent images online forget that behind every image is a child who has been the victim of abuse. We will do everything within our power at Kent Police to ensure those committing these awful crimes are caught and brought to justice."
An NSPCC spokesman said: "Burns needs to understand the seriousness of his persistent offending and appropriate treatment, as part of his sentence, will help to lessen the risk he poses in future.
"Children have been subjected to horrific levels of abuse in order for these images to be produced and by making and distributing them Burns is fuelling this vile trade.
"The only way to stop it is for this type of material to be cut off at source, which is why the NSPCC is urging the government and the tech industry to work together to stop indecent images of children being readily available online."
Tinder, Grindr and other dating apps failed to protect children from sexual exploitation, report says
By Christopher Carbone | Fox News
Several popular dating apps, including Tinder and Grindr, have failed to protect children from being sexually exploited on their platforms, a new report charges.
The U.K. Sunday Times obtained documents from ten British police departments that show instances of child grooming and sexual exploitation originating with online dating services.
One of the incidents involved a 16-year-old girl with Down syndrome who was apparently coerced into sending nude photographs, while another involved a 13-year-old boy who was allegedly sexually abused by 21 men through dating apps, including Grindr, according to Gizmodo. The teenage boy is now an adult and reportedly told the British newspaper that he was "brainwashed" by his abusers — and that he accessed the app by using a fake birthdate.
“I will be writing to these companies asking what measures they have in place to keep children safe from harm, including verifying their age,” Jeremy Wright, Conservative Party politician and U.K. Culture Secretary, told the Sunday Times, according to Gizmodo. “If I’m not satisfied with their response, I reserve the right to take further action.”
Tinder and Grindr only permit users 18 years or older. However, most dating apps rely on the honor system, meaning that there's nothing to prevent someone who is underage from lying about their date of birth and simply signing up.
A Tinder spokesperson told Fox News on Tuesday that they use “a network of industry-leading automated and manual moderation and review tools, systems and processes -- and spend millions of dollars annually -- to prevent, monitor and remove minors and other inappropriate behavior from our app.”
The Tinder spokesperson continued: "These tools include, automatic scans of profiles for red-flag language and images, manual reviews of suspicious profiles, activity, and user-generated reports, as well as blocking email addresses, phone numbers and other identifiers associated with underage users trying to circumvent these restrictions. We also depend on our users to report any profiles that may depict a minor, so that we can investigate and remove, accordingly."
“The bottom line is this: we are consistently evaluating and refining our processes to prevent underage access, and will always work with law enforcement, where possible, to protect our users as well,” the spokesperson said. “We don’t want minors on Tinder. Period.”
Two new suspected cases of child sexual abuse in Finland
Oulu police have held one individual in connection with the new allegations
A police patrol in Oulu. Image: Timo Heikkala / Lehtikuva
The suspected cases were first reported by the Oulu regional paper Kaleva and lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Eveliina Karjalainen confirmed to Yle that an investigation had been launched into the alleged offences.
On Monday afternoon, police issued a statement saying that they suspect that two underage girls were sexually assaulted at a private home. One of the victims is under 16 and the other under 18.
The cases are being investigated as aggravated rape and in the case of the younger victim, additionally as aggravated child sexual abuse. Other potential offences under consideration include assault and intimidation.
Police have held one individual in connection with the alleged offences. The suspect has a foreign background and has a Finnish residence permit.
Police said that the individual has lived in Finland for several years. They declined to comment on whether other suspects are involved.
Oulu police have been investigating several reported cases of child sex abuse (7th story on link) since last November.
I suspect that if there were two girls raped, there probably had to be more than one rapist. The one arrest brings to 17 the total number of immigrants arrested for sexual assaults on Finnish girls in recent months.
Former Wales Bangor City FC press officer denies alleged rape and sexual abuse of boy and girl
By Court ReporterA FORMER press officer at Bangor City Football Club is alleged to have sexually abused two young children.
He is also accused of raping a boy over a period during which he was aged six to nine years.
Prosecuting barrister Sion Ap Mihangel told Mold Crown Court that the allegations emerged when the girl told her mother she had been sexually abused.
She was interviewed by police four times and later the boy also complained about Hayes’ behaviour.
“She (the girl) said that she tried to get away. She said that he threatened her and told her if she didn’t do as she was told to that she would be stripped naked,” said the prosecutor.
The girl’s underwear was forensically examined and the prosecutor said: “Significantly, the findings revealed the presence of semen which matched the DNA profile of the defendant.”
The boy told police that Hayes “used to hit him” and when he had sexually abused him he told him “not to tell anyone”.
Hayes denied the offences entirely when he was interviewed by police and said he could give no explanation as to the forensic evidence.
Hayes, 40, of Bridge Street, Llanrwst, denies 13 child sex offences.
He has entered not guilty pleas to two counts of sexually assaulting a girl aged under 13, six counts of raping a girl under 13, two counts of raping a boy under 13 and three counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in a sexual act with all the offences alleged to have been committed between August 29, 2012 and April 24, 2015.
The trial continues.
77 y/o Scottish man convicted of historic sex abuse
of two young boys
A pensioner has been convicted of sexually abusing two boys more than 30 years ago.
William Quigg, 77, of Bridge of Weir, raped Ian Johnstone when he was aged between 12 and 15 and sexually abused another teenage boy.
The offences took place between 1980 and 1986 at addresses in Glasgow.
Mr Johnstone, who waived his right to anonymity to speak to BBC Scotland news, said he was abused by Quigg on a daily basis.
He said the abuse began after he was placed with a foster family in Clydebank. Quigg was his foster father.
"Basically over the five or six years I was with them sexual abuse was basically a daily occurrence," he said.
"And severe sexual abuse occurred on many occasions."
Mr Johnstone has called for a change in the law on reporting child abuse
He said he was a scout in Quigg's troop.
He believes a number of people suspected he was a paedophile and did nothing.
He wants a change in the law.
"I think if somebody chooses not to report child abuse, in some ways they're almost as guilty because they're allowing it to happen; they're enabling it to happen," he said.
"I think it should be against the law. Certainly it would have stopped a lot quicker if somebody had reported it sooner."
'Distressing' case
Speaking of getting justice more than 30 years on, he said: "There's no victory in this at all for me. There's a release and a moving forward. Can I move on from it? Maybe, with this verdict maybe I can move on."
But the jury did not believe him and convicted him of all the abuse.
Judge Lord Burns described the case as "distressing" and placed Quigg on the sex offenders register.
He was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at the High Court in Livingston next month.
Defence counsel Euan Dow will give his plea in mitigation then.
Man cleared of sex abuse of young Scottish girl
and little brother, 7, after trial
By Rory CassidyA MAN accused of sexually abusing a young Paisley girl has been found not guilty.
The girl, now six, and the boy, ten, were said to have been abused by Steven McNeil, 28.
McNeil was alleged to have interfered with the youngsters, who can't be named for legal reasons, when the boy was aged between seven and eight and the girl was aged between three and five.
McNeil, of Dunn Street, Paisley, denied abusing the children by touching their private parts, at two different flats between June 2016 and November 2017.
When he found out the children's mother had accused him of abusing the children, he began his innocence in the street, shouting about the allegations and insisting he was not guilty.
And today a jury unanimously cleared him over the claims.
Earlier the girl's mother took to the witness stand at Paisley Sheriff Court to give evidence. The 29-year-old, who also can't be named for legal reasons, said she noticed a change in her daughter's behaviour.
She said she was sore when she went to the toilet, couldn't pee properly because of the pain and that neighbours, friends and family noticed a change in her behaviour.
At the end of the trial, defence solicitor Raymond McIlwham asked the jury to acquit McNeil over what he called a "horrible case."
He said: "A thread that runs through this is his sexuality. When accused of this he didn't run away, he didn't move to Ireland or move to England. He stood in the street and shouted, 'she's accusing me of touching [her] weans' - such was his anger, such was his indignation."
And he told the jury if they had any doubt about his guilt he had to be given the benefit of that doubt - and acquitted.
The jury took just 49 minutes to consider their verdict and found McNeil unanimously not guilty of both charges - on in relation to each child.
The children's mother, who was in court watching the trial, left the building in floods of tears after the verdicts were returned.
Six men arrested in connection with 25 sex attacks on children in Greater Manchester parks
Georgia Diebelius Detectives investigating grooming and child sex abuse in Bury have made six more arrests. Police have now also revealed that 25 potential victims – all young children – have so far spoken to investigating officers, with Greater Manchester Police saying the figure was expected to rise.
A total of 20 people have been arrested by GMP under Operation Burgos, initially launched in June, 2017.
The Openshaw Park and Clarence Park (pictured) areas have previously been identified
Police haven’t commented on whether the operation focuses on one gang or a number of individuals. Six men were arrested in raids today, with five of them held on suspicion of rape and one also on suspicion of kidnap.
A 24-year old man was arrested on suspicion of rape of a female under the age of 18, sexual assault, kidnap. An 18-year-old man was held on suspicion of rape of a female under the age of 18, sexual assault and possession of indecent images.
Three men aged 28, 32 and 33, were arrested on suspicion of rape of a female under the age of 18 and a 29-year-old woman was held on suspicion of arranging or facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child.
All six remained in police custody for questioning on Wednesday.
Detective Superintendent Joanne Rawlinson said: ‘This is a complex investigation and today’s action is a result of the extensive work between police, Bury council children’s services and other partners.
‘Our main focus is to protect and support the young people affected by these types of offences and to prevent further abuse from taking place. Detectives have worked tirelessly to recover evidence and will continue to do so. You cannot underestimate how incredibly difficult it is for a young person to speak out about the abuse that they have suffered for a whole host of reasons.’
Bury council’s executive director for children, said: ‘The police and our children’s services teams work tirelessly to support young people to come forward and tell their story. This kind of effective multi-agency working is essential in ensuring that vulnerable young people are protected and that perpetrators of child sexual abuse are brought to justice.’
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