Manchester detectives confirm arrest in
major child sex probe
By Peter Magillmajor child sex probe
Business Editor
AN operation into historic sex abuse - demanded by a former Oldham detective chief inspector - has made an arrest.
Police say a man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a child when in a position of trust and misconduct in a public office in relation to Operation Green Jacket.
He was employed by Manchester City Council's child social care team and has been bailed pending further enquiries. He has been suspended from his current post.
Operation Green Jacket was established following the collapse of Operation Augusta, a wide-ranging child sex prove which ended in 2005 without any arrests.
A damning report was issued earlier this year on the aborted probe. I should hope so.
Det Insp Maggie Oliver, who worked on Operation Augusta, has been highly critical of Greater Manchester Police's inaction over the investigation.
The former Oldham officer has established the Maggie Oliver Foundation, which is dedicated to support child sexual exploitation victims.
Police have stressed that - despite the pandemic - the wider operation remains a priority.
Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain, said: “This operation remains a top priority for GMP with officers doing everything they can to provide victims of child sexual exploitation with appropriate support from specialist agencies and continuing to work to bring offenders to justice.
“The landscape of policing is undoubtedly challenging at the moment in light of the global pandemic, Operation Green Jacket has continued during this unprecedented period and remains very active with a team of dedicated detectives within our major incident team working alongside partners every day to identify and support victims."
AFP tip saves Philippines child sex slaves
Philippines authorities make an arrest in Manila
SIMON BENSON
NATIONAL AFFAIRS EDITOR
Federal authorities investigating an Australian man with links to a child sex abuse racket have triggered an international sting in The Philippines that has rescued three children who had been used for live-streaming of child rape.
The Australian understands that the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Federal Police and Britain’s National Crime Agency partnered with anti-child-trafficking officers in Manila for the operation.
The sting was sparked when an Australian man was detained by Australian Border Force officers after returning from The Philippines, following the discovery of child sex abuse images on a number of digital devices.
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre helped identify the man using financial records, leading to an examination of his devices by ABF at the border.
Home Affairs confirmed the international investigation was launched by a tip-off from the AFP to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre after the man returned to Australia late last year. He has been charged with the importation of child abuse material.
The ABF alerted the AFP which then triggered the raid on the house in The Philippines.
A 41-year-old woman from the district of Caloocan was arrested on charges that she had used her three children, a boy aged 13 and two girls aged 13 and five, to live-stream sexual acts via webcam to thousands of paying customers.
Detective Sergeant Graeme Marshall, the AFP liaison officer in Manila, was quoted as saying: “This arrest in The Philippines, resulting from an Australian referral, demonstrates the close working relationships between the Australian Federal Police, Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation, as well as all our international partners who work to ensure the protection of children around the world.”
The bust follows a global exploitation operation triggered by US Homeland Security intelligence last month, which led to the rescue by federal and state police of four Australian children aged as young as two months old being used for the live-streaming of child sexual abuse and rape to pedophile networks around the world.
It was one of the largest joint operations in the country led by the AFP and spread across five states; 16 Australians have been arrested and charged with 728 child exploitation offences following a two-year investigation.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said: “I pay tribute to the ABF, the AFP and Austrac for their continued efforts in hunting down these predators. This arrest demonstrates the close working relationship that our agencies have within the Home Affairs portfolio.
“My primary responsibility is to protect the most vulnerable and the result of this investigation means three kids have been removed from harms way. We will not stop hunting these vile criminals and we will continue to use every power available to us to detect and disrupt this abhorrent trade.
“My message to these sick perpetrators is this: If you’re committing crimes against children, or you’re accessing child abuse material online, we will find you. We are not distracted by the demands of COVID-19.”
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw warned in an interview with The Australian last month that traffic across the dark web was on the rise along with local child-grooming attempts through the internet since the outbreak of coronavirus.
In February, intelligence and law-enforcement agencies identified 256 Australians who they believe have paid more than $1.3m for live-streamed child abuse and rape from The Philippines over a decade, amid claims that current laws and resistance from tech companies were hampering efforts to track down offenders.
Philippines media quoted David Cater, Britain’s NCA regional manager, as saying: “This operation is another great example of inter-agency law-enforcement collaboration in action, despite the quarantine measures in place.”
'Manipulative' child rapist jailed for life in UK
A "manipulative" child rapist who shared his abuse images with his uncle has been given a life sentence.
 |
| Delph |
Guy Delph, 29, who abused multiple young girls, sent images to Kieran Burton, 28, who put them "into wider circulation" with paedophiles online.
A judge said the offences would be seen with "shock and utter revulsion".
Delph, of Whittlesey, Peterborough, must serve a minimum of 12 and a half years, and Burton, of Wereham, King's Lynn, at least eight years.
Judge Matthew Lowe told Peterborough Crown Court that both of the defendants, who had no previous convictions, had a "deep-rooted sexual interest in children, and in particular young children".
Cambridgeshire Police said the abuse related to four girls aged between three and 10 over a period of two years, and a fifth for three years.
Delph admitted multiple offences, including one count of rape of a child under 13; four counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration; four counts of sexual assault of a child under 13; and two counts of causing or inciting child sex or the creation of child abuse images.
 |
| Burton |
Judge Lowe said Delph, of Peterborough Road, had "manipulative and deceptive character traits", while he described Burton as an "avid consumer of sexual images of children".
The court was told Burton was found with a manual "containing instructions for paedophiles".
'Degrading and sadistic'
Burton, of Malthouse Row, Church Road, was given an extended 13-year jail term, made up of eight years in custody, with an extension of five years.
He pleaded guilty to causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, distributing indecent photographs of children, possessing an extreme pornographic image, possessing a paedophile manual and five counts of making indecent photographs of a child.
Det Con Sian Thomas, from Cambridgeshire Police, called it "the worst case I have ever worked on in my entire 11-year police career".
"The level of sexual offending is the most degrading and sadistic over a sustained period of time, with several different victims."
Rotherham man facing child sex abuse charges
dies awaiting trial
He was in the Thai 'Sin City' of Pattaya when he was arrested
and sent back to the UK
A pensioner from Rotherham who fled to Thailand before being extradited back to the UK to face child sex abuse charges has died while awaiting trial.
Norman Lunt, of no fixed abode, was being hunted by police in the UK for allegedly raping and abusing teenage girls between 1995 and 2003.
The victims claimed they were children when they were sexually abused before Lunt fled to Thailand, according to the Daily Star.
He was living in the country's “Sin City” coastal resort of Pattaya for several years. However, in August last year, Thai police swooped on his bungalow and arrested Lunt.
Pictures on Thailand's Department of Special Investigations website show Lunt with a computer, which officers said contained pornography, before being led outside and driven away in a police car.
The arrest was carried out after a request from the UK's National Crime Agency.
Lunt, who was 80 at the time of his arrest, was then charged with 16 counts of historical child sexual abuse with all the offences allegedly taking place between April 2, 1995, and April 10, 2003.
Lunt was arrested in Pattaya
The charges included: Nine counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14, two counts of gross indecency with a girl under 14 and five counts of rape of a girl under 16.
He was held in custody at HMP Hull after his extradition and last appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on February 17, 2020.
At that hearing, there was an indication that Lunt would be unfit to plead but a provisional trial date was scheduled for May 4 with this eventually cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “HMP Hull prisoner Norman Lunt died in hospital on May 1, 2020, and our condolences are with his family and friends.
My condolances are with all his victims for him being alive. His death means he faces justice in a higher court. I think it will not go well for him.
Zoom hacker streams child sex abuse footage
to Plymouth children
Steven Morris, Guardian
The security of the Zoom video meeting and chat app has been criticised.
Photograph: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
Devon and Cornwall police believe the hacker gained access to the virtual class after the details of the event were published on online forums. The force is trying to track down the hacker and is working with Plymouth city council’s social care team to identify everyone who saw the footage.
Det Insp Lesley Bulley, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are progressing enquiries to identify the suspect in this distressing offence. We are working closely with Plymouth safeguarding children’s partnership and I request that if you have been affected by this then you come forward so we can provide the necessary advice and support.”
The force has issued advice to people using video conferencing, including ensuring that the host is the only person able to share material and that the meeting is locked to prevent unauthorised access.
Grahame Mace, a cyber-protection officer, said: “Keeping in touch with our friends and family is vital during this period of lockdown. But please ensure when setting up video conferencing sessions that you follow the guidelines on keeping your sessions private.
“First and foremost understand what security settings you have implemented and are available for your software, don’t leave yourself or others vulnerable, lock it down and keep the criminals out.”
The NSPCC children’s charity said there was a worrying pattern of meetings held on Zoom being “bombed” with images of child sexual abuse.
Following similar incidents across the UK and worldwide, the NSPCC is urging parents to supervise their children when using Zoom, and urging conference organisers to take steps to secure meeting details and passwords.
Other Zoom meetings that have been targeted include a wine-tasting event in Manchester. The incident left some participants in tears.
Andy Burrows, the NSPCC’s head of child safety online policy, said: “There appears to be a deeply disturbing trend emerging. While the responsibility for this lies with those uploading this terrible footage, it’s important to take precautions to lessen the risks posed to children and adults, including not sharing full meeting details and passwords on social media and only providing them to people you trust.
“Zoom needs to urgently act to protect their users, while all tech firms providing video conferencing services must immediately set out how they are responding to these very real risks.”
A spokesperson for Zoom said: “This incident is truly devastating and appalling, and our user policies explicitly prohibit any obscene, indecent, illegal or violent activity or content on the platform.
“We are looking into this specific incident to ensure the appropriate action is taken. Zoom strongly condemns such behaviour and recently updated several features to help our users more easily protect their meetings.
“We encourage users to report any incidents of this kind either to Zoom so we can take appropriate action or directly to law enforcement authorities.”
North West ANC Councilor arrested for
raping a minor in South Africa
Author: North West News Online
African National Congress ward councilor appeared briefly in the Klerksdorp Magistrate Court today – Tuesday. Paki Mqikela appeared in court on charges of statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl. According to the statement released by the ANC in the North West this evening, the allegations against Mqikela are abhorrent and antithetical to the values of the ANC.
The statement indicates that consequently the ANC IPC through its officials resolved that these allegations warrants appropriate disciplinary action. The officials of the ANC IPC have in accordance with the ANC Constitution resolved to suspend with immediate effect the membership of Mqikela pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings. Mqikela, inter-alia faces charges of bringing the organization into disrepute.
“The ANC, as a leader of society, expects all its members, particularly its public representatives to be at the forefront of the fight against the culture of rape, gender based violence and patriarchy. We urge women and children who are at the receiving end of abuse to report culprits of these heinous acts to law enforcement agencies. We have utmost confidence in the ability of our courts to dispense justice without fear, favour and prejudice,” read the statement.
Canberra man jailed after watching child sexual abuse and trying to arrange sex with young girls
By Markus Mannheim, ABC
James Stuart Logue, a 29-year-old kitchenhand in the ACT, will spend at least three months in jail.(ABC News)
James Stuart Logue, of Farrer, faced the ACT Supreme Court today after pleading guilty to three child-exploitation offences earlier this year.
The 29-year-old kitchenhand had been charged with preparing or planning to have sex with a child outside Australia, as well as accessing and possessing videos and images of children being sexually abused.
Police raided Logue's home in October last year after a United States-based cyber-safety agency tipped them off about messages he had sent on his smartphone.
In the messages, sent to unknown people in Thailand, South America and Africa, Logue offered to pay to have sex with a girl aged eight to 16.
Logue: I like small skinny girl. The younger she is the more money I pay.
Response: You get horny with lil girl?
Logue: Yes.
The amounts he offered varied, but in one instance he offered up to $US5,000 ($7,650) to a trafficker.
Logue: I want child I want sex with child. Any age.
Response: It's kinda human traffic somehow.
Logue: It's why I pay a lot.
Logue made four overseas trips last year, three of which included some time in Thailand.
Footage of 'highest category of seriousness'
Logue also pleaded guilty to watching 64 videos and images of children being abused. The material included footage of children as young as five involved in sexual acts.
Federal prosecutor Haya Snobar asked Justice Michael Elkaim to view a sample, saying mere descriptions did not adequately convey their depravity.
The judge agreed.
"One of the videos depicts bestiality, placing it in the highest category of seriousness," he said.
"Every child in every video was exploited. Every one of them will be damaged, sometimes physically and always mentally, probably for the rest of their lives."
Logue 'didn't view the children as real'
After his arrest, Logue told police his messages on Tinder had been make-believe, saying "this was more of a fantasy while I was at home, bored".
He later explained to a psychiatrist that, when watching the videos, he "didn't view the children as real".
It would seem that the judge didn't either, IMHO.
Dating app Tinder
"Now I see that someone has hurt them in the process of making this pornography," he said.
"At the time I wasn't thinking, but I have come to realise that there is an innocent child in each of these images and videos."
Someone taught him the right things to say. If they were really true, if he really meant them, he would be crushed by the guilt and shame. Unfortunately, it looks like the judge believed him.
Justice Elkaim accepted that Logue, who had little money, "would not and probably could not" have acted on any positive responses to his requests to buy sex with children.
Seriously, what about the trips to Thailand, were they for sight-seeing?
But he said Logue had engaged in "very serious criminal conduct". "I cannot overemphasize how abhorrent I find this conduct," the judge said.
Logue spent the past seven months under strict bail conditions, which his defence had called "a form of house arrest". He had a curfew and was unable to leave his home unless he was with one of his parents.
A psychiatric assessment prepared for the court found he was likely to respond well to treatment for his paedophilic addiction, and that his chance of reoffending was "no higher than 3 to 5 per cent".
Wow! I wonder how they calculated that? I wonder if some little child will pay the price if they are wrong?
In sentencing him, Justice Elkaim took this into account, as well as Logue's lack of criminal history, his apparent remorse and his cooperation with police.
The judge also noted the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the lack of visitors at the jail could impede inmates' rehabilitation.
He gave Logue a sentence of just over 18 months, of which three months must be spent in prison.
Good grief!
Police in Greater Manchester are investigating 49 child sexual exploitation cases involving multiple suspects and victims - on top of new 'top priority' operation
'We will support any victim that comes forward'
Some 271 victims are being supported and more than 300 suspects assessed.
That is in addition to cases being probed as part of Operation Greenjacket, launched in May 2019, aimed at investigating child exploitation in 2014/15.
There are more probes into cases involving single suspects and victims.
Victoria, who was in the care of Manchester council, died after being injected with heroin.
Operation Augusta was wound down, despite police and other agencies amassing colossal evidence against the alleged perpetrators.
Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain, who is leading Operation Greenjacket, said there has been a sea change in the force's approach.
"Our commitment to this is unwavering," he said. "There are no parameters in terms of the time period [of the abuse]. We will support any victim that comes forward.
"We are very much victim-led. We have a full major incident team working on this operation. It may continue for some time, but we are committed to finding the resources.
"We accept it is a challenging piece of work to do, but we are determined to get justice for the victims."
The investigation involves revisiting original victims identified during Operation Augusta and new ones found as a result of fresh inquiries.
ACC Hussain spoke after members of his team arrested a man in his 40s, who works as a support worker in children's social care, on suspicion of sexual activity with a child when in a position of trust; and misconduct in public office.
He has been bailed pending further inquiries and suspended from his duties.
The arrest is not linked to the case of Victoria Agoglia. The man who injected her was later convicted and jailed.
ACC Hussain insisted that additional pressures on policing due to the coronavirus pandemic would not diminish his operation. "We are completely committed to ensuring victims receive the right support as a result of detectives meticulously reviewing historic files and progressing new lines of inquiry," he added.
ACC Mabs Hussain (Image: Colin Horne - Manchester Evening News)
"Whilst we have made an arrest, our investigation is continuing and I would encourage anyone affected by the case, requiring support, or with information to get in touch via the dedicated email address."
A review commissioned by mayor Andy Burnham revealed that by the time it was axed, Operation Augusta had details of nearly 100 ‘persons of interest’.
Mostly Pakistani men
A network of older men, of predominantly Pakistani-heritage, were suspected to have used takeaway premises in south Manchester as a base to abuse young girls in the care system.
In some cases, their so-called ‘boyfriends' - men preying on girls as young as 12 - were even allowed to visit them in their care homes.
The official report published in January 2020, revealed how children were raped and abused. Despite police and social workers knowing what was happening, they weren't stopped.
GMP dropped an operation that identified up to 97 potential suspects and at least 57 potential victims. Eight of the men went on to later assault or rape girls.
Why not. They were untouchable! It's curious that the cop in charge of the investigation is also of Pakistani heritage.
A number of recommendations were made, which police say have been implemented by the new investigation team, to ensure the operation is as ‘robust’ as possible to support victims and bring offenders to justice.
Whangārei, NZ, man jailed for child sex abuse images appeals seizure of storage devices
A Northland man who made himself a key character in a story he wrote about the abduction, rape and trafficking of a young girl before sharing it on social media has applied to the court to have computer storage devices seized by police returned.
Burton, aged 62, pleaded guilty to charges of making an objectionable publication, distributing an objectionable publication and six representative charges of possessing objectionable material involving child sexual abuse and in January was sentenced to three years and nine months' jail.
Burton's electronic devices were seized by police. However, Burton appealed, saying not all his computer storage devices seized by police and subject to the forfeiture order contained objectionable publications.
Justice Brewer said since the appeal was filed, police had examined the computer storage media identified and found three of them contain objectionable images but one does not.
The "clean" device will be returned to Burton.
During his sentencing the court heard how Burton had written a story about the abduction, rape and sexual violation of a young female of primary school age. The story culminated in the trafficking of the girl to a gang for exploitation in the child sex trade.
The graphic story described how Burton and two other men were involved.
Burton then shared the story on Facebook but claimed to have messaged it to the wrong person. But, he made the comment to the recipient: "This is the type of story I sell online and there is some demand."
Following a tip, police searched Burton's home and seized a number of items that were forensically examined. More than 39,000 photos involving abuse of babies through to older children were discovered.
Burton disputed the number of images, saying there were duplications and he only had a few thousand images.
Sydney foster carer charged over sexual abuse
of two children in his care
A foster carer has been charged with child sex offences following an investigation into the alleged indecent and sexual assault of two young girls in his care in south-west of Sydney.
In June 2019, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a man had allegedly indecently and sexually assaulted children in his care in 2017 and 2018.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested a 50-year-old man at a home in the Wollondilly Shire on Saturday 9 May 2020.
He was taken to Penrith Police Station and charged with two counts of aggravated indecent assault (victim under authority of offender), aggravated sexual intercourse (victim aged between 10 and 14 years) and aggravated sexual assault (victim under the age of 16).
Police will allege in court that the man indecently and sexually assaulted the girls – then aged from 11 and 13 – on multiple occasions between 2017 and 2018 while they were in his care.
The man was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Tuesday 12 May 2020).
The children ceased being in the man’s care in June 2018.
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Child porn charges in Quinte West, Ont.
Intelligencer StaffIn a span of five days, seven warrants were executed across Ontario by provincial police and five persons – two from the Quinte area – have been charged with more than 22 criminal code offences.
These warrants were conducted between May 4 and May 8 and represent an example of the ongoing sexual interest in children across Ontario, OPP stated in a media release.
“Although these investigations are not related, they highlight that offenders are of all age groups, employment, and social economical classes,” police stressed in the release.
Among those charged include Tanner Raymond, 22, of Quinte West. Raymond has been charged with possession of child pornography and making child pornography available.
Raymond was held for a bail hearing.
Also in Quinte West, a 42-year-old woman was charged with two counts of possession of child pornography and one count of making child pornography. The woman, whose name cannot be release to protect the identity of the victim, was held for a bail hearing.
In Cobourg, two men have been charged.
Simon Yalkezian, 33, has been been charged with possession of child pornography, accessing child pornography and five counts of making child pornography available. He was held for a bail hearing.
Twenty-five-year-old James Aldworth was charged with transmuting explicit material to a child, indecent exposure to a child and four counts of luring a child. He was held for a bail hearing.
In Haldimand, a 17 year-old boy, has been charged with voyeurism, making child pornography available, possession of child pornography and distributing intimate images without consent. He was released to his parents and cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act provision.
“Child exploitation is everyone’s business. Parents and caregivers must be aware that even during a pandemic, the exploitation of children does not stop. It stands to reason that with more children isolating at home and more offenders also self-isolating there will be increase risk that our children will cross the online path of someone with ill intent,” OPP stated in the media release. “This is a great time to have a conversation with your children about online risks.”
Anyone wanting to make a difference is encouraged to go to www.protectchildren.ca and download the “Child Sexual Abuse-It Is Your Business” brochure from the Canadian Center for Child Protection. This is an important first step that can save a child.
Parents are reminded to take a proactive approach to help protect their children from online sexual exploitation by speaking with their children regarding internet safety. Parents and anyone interested in protecting children can find resources to assist them at . www.cybertip
Police are asking anyone who may have information regarding this investigation or if you have information regarding internet child exploitation, please contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or www.ontariocrimestoppers.ca. Reporting information may also be made on the internet through www.cybertip.ca.
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