The sickening Kent sex offenders jailed so far in 2019
By Ben Ashton, Kent Live
This year has seen some horrific sex offenders finally put behind bars for their crimes in Kent.
While some offences occurred as recently as this year, others have taken decades to see justice done.
The Crown Prosecution Service say domestic abuse, rape, sexual offences, stalking, harassment, so-called ‘honour-based’ violence including forced marriage, female genital mutilation, child abuse, human trafficking focusing on sexual exploitation, prostitution, pornography and obscenity are all forms of sexual offences.
So is gender transition surgery and medication on children and puberty blocking drugs - but they just don't recognize it yet.
These can occur between strangers, friends, acquaintances, current or ex-partners, or family members.
"The passage of time does not prevent the effective prosecution of sexual offences, and an increasing number of cases referred to the CPS by police feature allegations of a non-recent nature," says a spokesman for the CPS.
They have a team of specialist prosecutors who are trained to deal carefully with sexual allegations.
Recent years have seen victims of sexual offences bravely come forward and help to prosecute their attackers in historic cases.
Here are the sickening Kent sex offenders jailed so far this year.
This extensive list can be found on Kent Live.
The 15 depraved predators every Birmingham parent needs to know about
These men and women targeted, abused and groomed children
or downloaded indecent images of youngsters
By Charlotte Paxton, Birmingham Live
Depraved predators who targeted, abused and groomed vulnerable youngsters have shocked and sickened BirminghamLive readers this year.
In the past six months, a range of horrific cases have been brought before our courts.
From a former police officer who pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children, to a minister who abused his position of trust to pounce on two young boys - their crimes have horrified readers.
Youngsters were targeted online or preyed upon in real life.
And an online child abuse activist group even helped snare a paedophile Birmingham couple who arranged to meet a 14-year-old girl, before taking her back to a hotel room.
But one sickening dark web paedophile avoided jail - despite being found with 15,500 images of children - the 'worst some officers had ever seen'.
The impact this kind of abuse can have on its victims is life-long and severe.
To make parents and guardians aware of the ways in which predators can target and groom children - often through social media and online platforms - we have put together a list of some of these men and women and their sickening crimes.
Please find this list on Birmingham Live.
The 43 predators every parent in Stoke-on-Trent
and North Staffordshire needs to know about
These men targeted, abused and groomed children
and every parent should be aware
By Hayley Parker, Stoke on Trent Live
Abusive and exploitative predators who targeted vulnerable children have shocked StokeonTrentLive readers.
A range of horrific cases have brought before our courts, including young children who were preyed upon in real life or targeted online.
From a former Royal Stoke doctor to a driving instructor, their crimes horrified readers when they were first reported.
Many of these men are repeat offenders who have been brought before the courts time and again for their sickening crimes.
The impact this kind of abuse can have on its victims is life long and severe.
To make parents and guardians aware of the ways in which predators can target and groom children - often through social media and online platforms - we have put together a list of some of these men and their crimes.
Apparently, this is a template for 'Live' reporters, nevertheless, it reveals at least some of the child sex abuse that is occurring, and increasing in the UK.
Please go to Stoke-on-Trent Live for this list.
Queensland man accused of historical child sex abuse
By AAP
A man has been extradited from Queensland over historical child sex offences committed on NSW's Central Coast in the 1980s.
The 77-year-old man was arrested in Dalby on Thursday and charged with assaulting a girl and a boy when they were aged between six and 12 from 1980 to 1987.
The charges include assault female and commit act of indecency, eight counts of sexual assault, assault girl under 10 with intent to carnally know, two counts of sexual intercourse with person 10 and under 16 person of authority and buggery.
The man was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Bail Court on Sunday.
Sex predator who killed teen won't be prosecuted
for making her pregnant at 14
By Geraldine McKelvie, Mirror
A Telford sex predator who killed teenager Lucy Lowe in a fire won't be prosecuted for making her pregnant at just 14.
Cabbie Azhar Ali Mehmood torched the Lowe family home in 2000 after subjecting Lucy to three years of abuse.
Her mum Eileen, 49, and sister Sarah, 17, also perished.
Child groomer Mehmood, 45, was convicted of the triple murder but never charged with sex crimes despite Lucy conceiving his daughter Tasnim two years earlier.
Lucy was pregnant again when she died at the age of 16.
The killer is up for parole this month but won’t be forced to sign the sex offenders register if released.
And Tasnim, now 20, has been told by senior officers there will be no fresh probe into his sex offences.
She said: “I think it’s very important that my dad should be prosecuted for all his crimes. Police knew about the sex crimes but didn’t do anything about it. He’s only been charged with murder because they wanted to convict him of the most serious crime."
“I asked the police, ‘Now that we know everything we know, is this going to be changing at all?’ And they said no. We need to acknowledge the problem and they’re not doing that. He should be on the sex offenders list for the safety of others. I’m living proof."
“It’s difficult to come to terms with the fact abuse is why I exist. I was born out of the fact my dad raped my mum.”
The Sunday Mirror can reveal support worker Tasnim met Supt Paul Moxley, from West Mercia Police, to find out why her dad won’t be charged with abuse.
Tasnim Lowe (Image: BBC)
Supt Moxley said had Lucy died in similar circumstances today, Mehmood would likely be tried for sex crimes.
But in comments likely to provoke fury, he claimed the force was reluctant to launch a fresh probe for fear of being criticised for not bringing the crimes to light earlier.
He said: “If I put myself into the words of a defence barrister, I’d say ‘You knew this 19 years ago. Why didn’t it come to the fore then?’ "We could be accused of abuse of process. I think it’s definitely different now, from 20 years ago."
"We would absolutely be looking and saying, ‘How can your mum have been 14 and pregnant? What’s going on there?’ If child exploitation or sex offences had occurred, that would all form part of the evidence bundle going to the Crown Prosecution Service.”
Tasnim’s exchange with the officer features in a BBC documentary she has spent the past year making about the circumstances which led to the deaths of her family.
She survived the fire after Mehmood placed her under an apple tree before torching the house. The only other survivor was her grandad George, 74, who brought her up.
Mehmood was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years for the killings and the attempted murder of George.
The Sunday Mirror told last year how up to 1,000 schoolgirls could have been abused in Telford over 40 years.
We also revealed another girl told the murder inquiry how she was also raped by Mehmood and claimed he was among a group of men targeting schoolgirls in the town.
These would be Pakistani, Muslim men, of course.
But cops took a decade to launch a dedicated child sexual exploitation probe – in which time hundreds more girls were abused and two others died.
Becky Watson, 13, was killed in a car accident described as a “prank” in 2002 after two years of rape and trafficking.
Her friend Vicky Round died at 20 in a drug-related incident in 2009 after sex gangs got her hooked on crack cocaine at 12 and heroin at 14.
And now, the full extent of Lucy’s hellish ordeal at the hands of Mehmood and other child groomers can be revealed for the first time.
She was first preyed on by the killer when she was 13. And heartbreaking diaries and letters salvaged from the fire reveal he wasn’t the only man who violated her.
Lucy wrote that she and other girls were taken to a secluded local beauty spot, The Wrekin hill, and abused by a group of men.
Tasnim said: “She performed sex acts on older men. It makes you think, who were they? What were they doing? There are parts that make you really upset.”
The diaries, returned to Tasnim by officers just months ago, also show how Mehmood pressured Lucy not to tell authorities about the fact they had sex while she was under age.
Tasnim said: “He asked Lucy if she had gone to the police. She said no. If he had to ring her to say, ‘Have you gone to the police about me?’ that clearly indicates the relationship was illegal and it wasn’t right.”
In a heartbreaking letter to Tasnim, written days after she gave birth, Lucy reveals her fears that her daughter will suffer a similar fate to her. She wrote: “I’ll always be here for you no matter what, just don’t get pregnant at the age of 14.”
Tasnim has also read harrowing court transcripts from the murder trial, which showed Lucy lived in fear of Mehmood’s repeated abuse.
Just a week before the fire, he forced himself on Lucy at the family home and she screamed for help. Her dad broke the door down and a neighbour chased Mehmood out. But no one alerted the authorities.
In an emotional exchange, shown in the documentary, Tasnim asks her grandad why he didn’t call the police.
George tells her: “I heard somebody shout, ‘Rape! Rape! Rape!’ So I went running in, kicked the door down, and next thing you know he was running down the stairs. I blame myself for not doing more.”
Tasnim said: “I just think it’s sad because she was suffering. I think she was ignored and she wasn’t listened to. If people had intervened when they heard about the rape allegation, he could have been in prison. Nobody listened and she was murdered.”
A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: “We understand the concerns raised but we cannot disclose information that would constitute someone’s personal data. Tackling child sexual exploitation is and will remain a priority in Telford and we are fully engaged with the Independent Inquiry into child sexual exploitation commissioned this year.”
Why Dad Killed Mum: My Family’s Secret will be available on BBC Three
on iPlayer at 10am on November 13 and BBC1 at 10.35pm the same day.
Triple murderer Azhar Ali Mehmood could be out of jail before Christmas, the Sunday Mirror can reveal. He is held in low-security HMP Featherstone, Staffs, where offenders are often sent before release.
Mehmood has served 18 years but has refused to admit his guilt for starting the fire which killed Lucy Lowe, her sister and her mum.
A Parole Board hearing will be held next week to rule on his release. But Tasnim, the daughter he fathered while he abused her mother Lucy, believes he should serve longer.
She said: “I hope the Parole Board does what’s best for my family. When you consider the murders and the sex crimes, I don’t think 18 years is long enough. I hope whatever the outcome is, myself and my grandad are happy and feel safe.”
I agree, Tasnim, this monster should never be allowed to walk the streets free again, ever!
The board is expected to deliver its decision by the end of the month. Insiders say the fact Mehmood has not accepted responsibility will not be an automatic barrier to freedom.
The Lowes can appeal any decision to free him – as can the Ministry of Justice.
And a source added: “Even if not judged fit for release, he could be transferred to an open jail, meaning he’d spend time in the community.”
A Parole Board spokesman said: “A panel will consider evidence before making its decision, with great care and with public safety the priority.”
Elderly Carterton woman convicted of
child sex abuse in UK
By Sophie Grubb @OxMailSophieG
AN ELDERLY woman who was branded a 'sexual predator' by prosecutors has been found guilty of molesting young boys.
Delena Wells who now lives in Carterton, has been found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault against two boys.
The 72-year-old was convicted following a trial at Bristol Crown Court, during which jurors heard Wells abused the youngsters after plying them with alcohol and cigarettes.
The court heard that the abuse happened decades ago when Wells was in her 40s, while she was living in a cottage in Clevedon in North Somerset.
Opening the trial last week, prosecutor Donald Tait told jurors: "The crown suggests this lady, born in 1947, in her younger days was a sexual predator."
Wells denied one count of indecently assaulting one boy, and six of indecently assaulting the second, describing him as 'a fantasist.' Both were under the age of 16.
On one occasion, jurors heard how she asked one of the boys to watch a sex video, before leading him to the bedroom. She was also accused of performing a sex act on one of the boys and later simulating oral sex with a horse's lead.
The Bristol Post reports that Wells showed no emotion as the jury returned their verdict, and that her sentencing hearing has been adjourned until December 5 pending a probation report.
The NSPCC has shamed Wells for her 'devastating' abuse.
A statement released by the charity said: "Wells’ devastating actions highlight a clear and unhealthy sexual interest in children, who she abused for her own gratification.
"This case serves as an important reminder that regardless of how long ago crimes may have been committed, survivors of child sexual abuse will be listened to when they speak out.
"It’s why the NSPCC’s schools service offers its free Speak out Stay safe programme to all UK primary schools across, helping children recognise the different types of abuse and giving them the confidence to speak to a trusted adult if they have a worry or concern."
Anyone who is concerned about a child can contact the free NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or nspcc.org.uk.
Children and young people can contact Childline for free 24/7, 365 days a year, or 0800 1111, or get help online via www.childline.org.uk.
Child sex abuse still being hidden
warns Victoria watchdog
Victoria's commission for children fears many cases of abuse are still being kept secret, despite religious groups reporting 88 cases of sexual and physical abuse in the past financial year.
The latest report from the Commission for Children and Young People showed there were almost 2700 reported allegations in the past two years of children being harmed by workers, volunteers and religious leaders entrusted to care for them.
Victorian Children's Commissioner, Liana Buchanan. CREDIT:JUSTIN MCMANUS
The allegations of abuse against children came from schools, out-of-home care, religious groups, disability care and other organisations charged with looking after young people.
A new “reportable conduct scheme” was introduced in Victoria in 2017, requiring any harm or abuse against children be reported to the commission. The scheme is designed to stop organisations concealing child abuse.
Physical abuse made up the greatest proportion of reports at 41 per cent, compared to allegations of sexual misconduct that accounted for 17 per cent since the beginning of the scheme.
In her report, Commissioner for Children and Young People Liana Buchanan said she remained concerned about under-reporting of abuse across sectors, but many organisations had dramatically improved their responses to allegations since the mandatory scheme was introduced.
“Unfortunately, I also see many problematic attitudes and practices, such as a tendency to minimise or disbelieve children’s disclosures, disregard children’s evidence and poor investigations that compromise the quality of the response,” she wrote.
Of the 88 abuse allegations reported by religious groups, 47 were for sexual offences and 13 for sexual misconduct.
In 2017-18 religious bodies reported 24 allegations of abuse.
Ms Buchanan told The Age she worried that complacency had set in among organisations that care for children after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse concluded two years ago.
“It is actually a criminal offence for the head of an organisation not to tell us about an allegation of abuse that has been made against one of their workers or volunteers or religious leaders,” she said.
In out-of-home care, where children are placed if they cannot live with their parents, there were 29 cases of sexual offences and 282 reports of physical violence in 2018-19.
In the past financial year, the commission examined a total of 34 deaths of children who had child protection involvement in the 12 months before they died, including eight from accidents, seven from illnesses and three from suicide. There were six deaths from SIDS.
Schools reported 116 cases of sexual misconduct, 19 sexual offences and 147 reports of physical violence in 2018-19.
This seems like good progress, but remember, the majority of child sexual abuse happens in or near their home and at the hands of a family member of relative or friend. These are not addressed in this report.
Child Protection Minister Luke Donnellan said the government was making "unprecedented investment in getting in early" to keep children safe. He said that included the "biggest expansion" of child protection workers in Victoria's history.
"Our reportable conduct scheme is helping to drive cultural change in organisations across the state to make Victoria safer for all children," he said. "It places a clear onus on both private and public organisations to report allegations of abuse to authorities."
Ms Buchanan said the massive blowout in lock-downs in youth detention - tripling to 49,000 in the past year - risked agitating youths and increasing the likelihood of lashing out against staff. “Many of these children have backgrounds of neglect and abuse. Many have mental health issues when they come into custody," Ms Buchanan said.
Opposition spokesman on youth justice Brad Battin said the report showed Victoria’s youth justice system was in crisis. He said staff were walking off the job because of assaults and riots.
Lancashire pervert had 20,000 sick images of
child sex abuse on his computer
By Jon Macpherson Accrington Reporter
A man has admitted possessing more that 20,000 depraved indecent images of children.
David Livesey, 48, of Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors admitted a string of sexual offences spanning more than 11 years during an appearance at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard that police officers had intercepted illegal images and traced the source to computer equipment at Livesey’s address. When officers attended his home in November last year, they confiscated devices on which they found thousands of indecent images of children.
During the hearing, Livesey spoke only to confirm his name, age and date of birth and enter his guilty pleas.
In total he admitted five offences including that between July 2007 and November 2018 he had in his possession of 564 category A indecent images of children, which show the most serious forms of sexual abuse. In addition he admitted possessing 468 category B images and 19,081 category C images.
Livesey, who had no previous convictions, also pleaded guilty to possessing six prohibited images and one image of extreme pornography.
The bench declined jurisdiction in sentencing Livesey and sent his case to Burnley Crown Court on December 2. They granted him unconditional bail until then and ordered probation reports to be undertaken. He was told to register within three days at Burnley police station after which he will be monitored as a convicted sex offender.
10 'live' Child Sexual Exploitation investigations underway in Bradford, UK
Pakistani men way over represented in CSE stats
By Chris Young @ChrisY_TandA
Local Democracy Reporter
There are currently 10 ongoing investigations into historic child sex abuse in Bradford.
Next week Bradford Council’s Executive will receive an update on what is being done to tackle Child Sexual Exploitation across the District.
They will be given an update on Operation Dalesway - a police team set up specifically to investigate claims of historic CSE.
A report to the Executive reveals that there are currently 10 live and 18 completed Operation Dalesway investigations.
Of the live investigations, four are long running investigations, two are approaching the stage where people will be charged by the Crown Prosecution Service, and the others are approaching the “planned arrest” phase.
A report to the Executive adds: “Victims for the other six investigations have only recently engaged with the investigative process and are still at victim disclosure stage.”
Since it was set up in 2014, approximately 150 suspects have been arrested or interviewed through the operation, and Executive members will be told: “A number of the suspects are still being investigated and new suspects continue to be positively identified as victims engage with the investigative process and provide disclosure.”
So far the Dalesway team is made up of a Detective Inspector, two Detective Sergeants, 14 Detective Constables, 15 investigative officers and three social care staff.
In February nine of 10 defendants standing trial for 25 historic sexual offences were found guilty. They were sentenced to a combined total of 132 years imprisonment. Shortly after an independent Serious Case Review into the circumstances that led to this case was announced.
The review will also look at other cases, both recent and historic child sexual exploitation, and will look to speak to victims of abuse.
Although most victims of CSE in Bradford are female, around 20 per cent of victims who experienced or were at risk of CSE in the past year were boys.
Between September 2018 and August 2019 there have been 284 offences linked to CSE in Bradford. Of these, 162 offences were linked to recent incidents and 122 were linked to historic abuse.
This is a decrease from 344 offences reported in the previous year.
As of earlier this year, there were 145 potential offenders linked to CSE flagged in Bradford - meaning they are suspected of “being concerned in CSE.”
Most of these were thought to be involved with historic cases, while 52 are linked to recent offences. Of those concerned in recent crimes the vast majority are men.
38 per cent of those flagged were White British
38 per cent were of Pakistani heritage
The Pakistani population in Bradford is about 20% of the total, yet there are as many involved in CSE as white Brits. That means, Pakistanis are 5 times more likely to get involved in CSE than whites.
A third of the flagged individuals (32 per cent) have been assessed as “High Risk” and 60 per cent assessed a Medium risk.
Referring to the historic CSE cases, all those flagged are male. None have been deemed “high risk,” and 86 per cent are assessed as low risk.
Of the non recent offences, 78 per cent of suspected
perpetrators are of Pakistani heritage
The Executive will be told that analysis of the age of the perpetrators shows that 32 per cent were aged between 16-18 when they are thought to have committed their crimes, and 17 per cent were aged 20-21.
