'Vile and predatory' man locked up for
what hotel staff spotted
A man met a 14-year-old girl on social media before beginning a sexual relationship with her which lasted more than a year in a campaign of sexual exploitation. Joel Dever, of Good Shephard Close in Croxteth, engaged in the "vile and predatory" exploitation of the schoolgirl in 2023 at the age of 22.
Police were notified of his behaviour when hotel staff at one venue raised concerns over the girl's age and rang police, with Dever booking hotels across Liverpool and Southport to carry out his crimes. Appearing at Liverpool Crown Court, 25-year-old Dever was sentenced after pleading guilty to a number of child sexual offences, including six counts of sexual activity with a child, arranging or facilitating a child sex offence, and five counts of making indecent images of a child which were category A,B or C videos.Dever was sentenced to five years and three months in prison, and was also issued with a lifelong restraining order. He is required to sign the Sex Offender Register for life.
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Detective Constable Soph Lowe from Sefton Protecting Vulnerable People Unit, said: "We work closely with hotels and bars to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation. Hotel staff in particular have been trained to identify the signs of when a child is being sexual exploited and how to report issues to police.
“In this instance, Dever’s predatory and vile behaviour was found out when hotel staff at one establishment raised concerns about the girl's age and called police.
“The victim and her family have shown immense courage and bravery throughout the investigation to reach this conviction.
“Today’s custodial sentence has removed him from the streets to prevent further harm to anyone else. I hope Dever spends his time in prison reflecting on his wholly unacceptable behaviour."
Det Con Lowe added: “I hope his imprisonment encourages other victims to come forward and report sex offences to us, and demonstrates that they can have confidence in us to take reports seriously. We will ensure offenders are put before the courts so that they can pay for their crimes.
"“Anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence, or is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity, should come forward and speak to us.
“We have a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports, and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.
“Time is no barrier to reporting offences and I would urge anyone who has been victim of a sexual offence at any time to come forward and we will do everything we can to help and support them.”
You can report rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences anonymously here: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences/how-to-report-rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/
There is a lot of support available from specialist officers within Merseyside Police and through the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Victim Care Merseyside service delivered jointly by two registered charities.
In Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral, support is provided by Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (RASA) Merseyside who are available on 0151 558 1801 and, in St Helens and Knowsley, by the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) Cheshire and Merseyside who can be contacted on 01925 221 546 or 0330 363 0063.
Sex offender jailed for more than a decade for abusing a child in Tunbridge Wells
A sex offender has been jailed for more than a decade after subjecting a young child to abuse over the course of two and a half years in Tunbridge Wells.
Investigating officers arrested Edgell on 30 June 2020 and seized his mobile phone and devices.
Forensic analysis of his phone revealed it contained illegal images and a video of the victim.
Edgell, 43, of Longleat Road in Radstock, Somerset, was later charged with four counts of sexual assault of a child and three counts of making indecent images of a child.
Sentenced
He pleaded not guilty but was convicted after a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.
On 11 July 2025, Edgell was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment, of which he must serve at least two thirds before consideration for parole.
Upon his release, he will serve a four year extended licence and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Wendy Thatcher, said:
‘Edgell committed the most vile and heinous acts against a child for his own gratification, without a single thought for their emotional, physical, nor psychological wellbeing. ‘Edgell denied the charges and subjected the victim and their family to a lengthy trial, during which they were forced to relive abhorrent events. I am grateful for their bravery, support, and perseverance in helping to secure a conviction against the offender.‘It is right that Edgell has been handed such a lengthy custodial sentence and I hope it is of some comfort to the victim and their family.’
Man arrested in connection with 'serious
sexual assault' on child in Scots town
A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a serious sexual assault on a 12-year-old girl.
The 38-year-old man attacked the child in Johnstone on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
He is due to appear in court at a later date.
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Detective Inspector David Hardie said: "We know this incident has caused concern in the local community and I would like to thank members of the public for their support during our enquiries."
In an unrelated case, earlier this month, we reported that a convicted paedophile ex-teacher described allegations of abuse at a residential school as a "load of rubbish" during evidence he gave to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.
The inquiry is investigating abuse in residential settings including boarding schools, religious establishments and foster care across the country.
On Tuesday, July 8, an ex-teacher referred to as Evan gave evidence via videolink from prison, where he is serving an eight-year sentence for sex offences.
The twisted rapist was jailed at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2021 for seven offences against five girls aged 12 to 16.
Three of these offences overlapped the period when he was a teacher at Ovenstone Residential School in Pittenweem, Fife, in the 1980s - though the girls were not pupils there. The school was for children with behavioural and emotional problems.
The man was given anonymity by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) and was referred to only as Evan.
Evan was asked about three convictions of rape and sexual assault on the school premises, but denied the crimes had occurred, the inquiry heard.
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