Rene Kinzett – Swansea

12 Wednesday Dec 2018

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January 2019

Disgraced Tory candidate watched live child abuse and asked for “pedo mom vids”

A former Swansea councillor has been jailed for 45 months for online child sex abuse offences committed between 2008 and 2017.

Rene Kinzett was sentenced for 14 offences after being caught with hundreds of images of children.

He was busted for sending pictures and videos to other predators via Whatsapp and Kik instant messengers.

Shamed Kinzett also admitted watching child abuse on a video conferencing website called Zoom.

The 43-year-old is the former leader of the Conservative group on Swansea Council, and was a parliamentary candidate for Swansea West in 2010.

The last charge on the indictment relates to encouraging people to stream child abuse on an online chat room in September 2017.

Kinzett’s charges include distributing, making and possessing child pornography of the most serious category.

Richard Hearnden, prosecuting, said: “On September 3, 2014, the National Crime Agency told the Met Police that Mr Kenzitt had been identified as uploading indecent images of children onto Twitter.

“They were mostly of young males between 10 and 16, although there were some images of girls between 10 and 16.

“An address was identified in Leyton.

“There were some Category C images uploaded or distributed on the social media messaging application WhatsApp.

“The images that had been uploaded to WhatsApp were traced to IP addresses on separate dates in February 2015 and back to September 2014.”

Police traced the IP address to Kenzitt’s address and arrested him in September 2015.

Mr Hearnden said: “When the police got hold of the defendant’s iPhone several indecent images of children had been sent from that phone.

“The subscription of these IP addresses was the defendant’s. There were some associated emails addresses ntnworld.com and the other was a Hotmail address, which reads very clearly to be ‘biwelshboy’.

“Mr Kenzitt was arrested.

“Images were found on a Toshiba computer which was found in his house.

“The images included anal penetration of children aged between 10 and 15, naked boys with adult women, and younger girls taking their clothes off.

“He denied making them or distributing them.

“However, there was, in examination of his Toshiba computer, conversations and chats between a user and another user, who has been identified as Mr Kinzett, talking about explicit sexual fantasies involving toddlers and children aged six and eight.

“The conversation focuses on a particular boy who lived in the Leyton area and it’s suggested that Mr Kenzitt offered to babysit the boy.”

Mr Hearnden said in 2013, Kenzitt also used another messaging app, Kik, to send indecent images of children.

He continued: “Count six is possession of an indent video of child on December 3, 2015.

“This offence concerns a video of a child, it concerns penetration of a boy who is only three years old.

“In December 2015, the defendant was arrested and interviewed.”

The prosecutor said the number of indecent images Kenzitt was found with was “in the region of 700”.

The former councillor initially denied the offences but pleaded guilty before his trial.

Then in 2017 he was caught again.

Mr Hearnden said: “Count 10 comes from a separate investigation by South Wales Police.

“It concerns several individuals on a video conferencing site called Zoom.

“One of the users was called UK Cloudy Bi Perv.

“The person who was using the IP address was traced to an address in Brighton.

“The address was linked to Mr Kenzitt with along with another man.

“Videos sent in the chat featured a girl, nine years old, being penetrated orally by an adult man.

“The second involved a nine year old girl being penetrated by a vibrator vaginally and then by a man.

“The third involved women of varying ages being mounted from behind by dogs.

“The defendant then asked ‘anyone got any videos of mums and boys and anyone got paedo mum vids?’.”

Paul Hobson, in mitigation for Kenzitt, said he did not want to speak very much about the offences but said his client had contacted Stop it Now, a charity that provides help and counselling to paedophiles.

Mr Hobson told the court: “He has contacted Stop it Now and the defendant recognises that these are serious offences and that he is in a serious position.

“The indictment spans a number of years and there are distribution offences.”

But he added: “I want to invite credit for the guilty pleas, accepting that it cannot be full credit.

“As to the offences themselves I am going to say very little.

“The defendant’s does differ from many cases the court said will see in that this distribution was not widespread.

“This was shared with a relatively small group of individuals.

“As to the defendant, he’s 43 years of age and these are his first convictions.

“The last of those offences was in late 2017 and there’s not evidence he has reoffended since then.

“There’s evidence he’s sought help with Stop it Now and for drug and alcohol abuse.

“He knows it would be much better if I could say there’s been no offending since 2015.

“He’s an individual who is very intelligent, has been in good employment with a high salary and with high profile roles.

“He admitted that he had an attraction to this material, that he had a problem exacerbated by drink and drugs.

“In 2017 he relapsed into drink and drugs and reoffended.

“He has faced up to what he did by pleading guilty.”

Judge Neil Sanders said he could only hand out a custodial sentence due to the seriousness of the crimes.

“The defendant was involved in a process which facilitated sharing indecent images,” he said.

“These are children who have had these things done to them.”

Sentencing Kenzitt to 45 months in jail, Judge Neil Sanders said he could only hand out a custodial sentence due to the seriousness of the crimes.

Judge Sanders said: “Due to the serious nature of these offences I can only give a custodial sentence.

“The offending was over a ten year period of time.

“The defendant was involved in a process which facilitated sharing indecent images.

“These are children who have had these things done to them.”

Wearing a grey suit, white shirt and purple tie, Kenzitt of Sketty in Wales, cried as he was sentenced.

The judge also ordered an “indefinite” sexual harm order.

Kenzitt is now prohibited from using an internet enabled device unless a its history can be observed and not deleted.

He was banned from contacting anyone online under the age of 18.

He waved goodbye to three friends, including his brother, as he was led out of the dock to the cells.

He also ordered an “indefinite” sexual harm order, and Kenzitt is now prohibited from using an internet-enabled device unless its history can be observed and not deleted.

He was also banned from contacting anyone online under the age of 18.

December 2018

Ex-Tory candidate Rene Kinzett had hundreds of child abuse images

A disgraced former Tory General election candidate is working as a pizza delivery driver after he was caught with hundreds of images of child abuse of the worst kind showing the rape of young children

Rene Kinzett, 43, had videos of children as young as three years old being sexually abused on his laptop, a court heard.

He was caught after he sent pictures and videos of children being abused to other predators over Whatsapp and the messenger app Kik.

Shamed Kinzett also admitted watching child abuse on a video conferencing website called Zoom.

The disgraced councillor, who stood as a Conservative parliamentary candidate for Swansea West in 2010 and for the Liberal Democrats before that in 2005, was due to be sentenced yesterday at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

He requested it be pushed back because he was dropped by his law firm after failing to pay thousands of pounds of legal fees.

Speaking from the dock, the former Conservative group leader on Swansea council said he was now working in a “terrible job” as a pizza delivery driver.

He added that he had recently found employment at the Cooperative supermarket chain – but was in the process of applying for legal aid after shelling out more than £30,000 to his former law firm in Brighton.

Kinzett has pleaded to 14 different counts relating to child abuse images dating back to 2008 and up until as recently as last year.

The last charge on the indictment relates to encouraging people to screen child abuse on an online chat room in September 2017.

Kinzett said: “For the last three years I have paid back £30,000 to Martin Cray solicitors in Brighton.

“They asked me for another £2,000 after I paid for the psychiatric report then asked for another £2,500 and I couldn’t pay it.

“They threatened to pull out. They said last week they said if you can give us £1,500. I offered £1,000.

After Judge Neil Sanders said the process would be completed in less time if Kinzett was in employment, the former politician responded: “I have recently been employed at the Co-op supermarket.

“I provided ten payslips from a terrible job delivering pizzas which I currently do.”

The court heard that Kinzett is facing a custodial sentence due to the seriousness of the charges – which include distributing, making and possessing child sexual abuse images of the most serious category.

Adjourning sentence until next year and giving Kinzett bail, Judge Sanders said: “I’m containing bail because I have no reason to consider that you will not appear on the 14 January but my granting of bail is no indication as to what the ultimate sentence may be.”

Kinzett, of Sketty in Wales, was bailed to return to Snaresbrook Crown Court on January 14 for sentence.

Paul Middleton – Sunderland

11 Tuesday Dec 2018

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January 2019

Disgraced councillor who asked ’12-year-old girl’ if she wanted ‘naughty fun’ avoids jail

A serving councillor who asked what he thought was a 12-year-old girl in care if she liked “naughty fun” during vile online chat has walked free from court.

Disgraced Paul Middleton contacted the profile of “Maddie” on a chat room, not realising it was a decoy profile set up by police.

A court heard the 44-year-old dad quickly turned the conversation to filth, despite being told the girl was only 12.

When informed she was living at a care home, Middleton made inappropriate comments asking if she’d had sex with any of the boys
there.

A judge rejected the former Washington South councillor’s claims the messages were just “jokey banter” and said it was ridiculous to suggest it was “anything other than you seeking sexual gratification.”

Judge Tim Gittins, at Newcastle Crown Court, told him: “You began a one-sided sexualised conversation which included clear references to you engaging in sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old.

“It transpired, in fact, you were not discussing matters with a 12-year-old but with a police officer doing an operation to catch
paedophiles.

“You maintained it was jokey banter. I refuse to accept that. It’s ridiculous for you to try to suggest or was done for anything other than you seeking sexual gratification.

“You are an intelligent man who is intelligent enough to know what you were doing was wholly wrong.”

Police had set up the decoy profile on Lycos and Middleton made contact with it in August 2017.

Having revealed his true age, he was told by Maddie she would be 13 on her next birthday.

Jonathan Devlin, prosecuting, said: “The conversation quickly turned to being sexually suggestive.

“He asked what kind of fun she liked and asked whether that was naughty fun.”

After asking if she’d had sex and would like to, Middleton ended the chat, which all took place on one day, and although he went on to send a friend request, they’re was no further communication.

When police arrested him in June last year, he said he vaguely remembered the conversation but maintained it was not done for sexual
gratification.

Mr Devlin said: “He said he took a dim view of that sort of behaviour but had lots of problems at home and he described health problems of relatives.

“He continued to deny doing it for sexual gratification and denied having a sexual interest in children.

“He accepted it was an offence to communicate with a child in the way he had.

“He said he was horrified he had engaged in that kind of conversation.”

Middleton, of Sandpiper Close, Ayton, Washington, pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in communication with a child for the purposes of sexual gratification.

He was sentenced to four months suspended for 18 months with a three month curfew. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

December 2018

Disgraced councillor who asked ’12-year-old girl’ if she was into ‘naughty fun’ faces jail

A former Sunderland councillor was snared by police after engaging in an explicit online chat with who he thought was a 12-year-old girl.

Paul Middleton, 44, pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual communication with a child under the age of 16 at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

Middleton, who represented the Washington South ward, was caught as part of a police operation targeting online sexual predators, the court heard on Tuesday.

In December last year, an officer started speaking to Middleton through an online chat forum and identified herself as a 12-year-old girl, the court was told.

The officer told Middleton she would be turning 13 in April, with Middleton saying he was 43.

Prosecutor Rebecca Laverick said there was an online conversation between them that became sexualised, with Middleton asking the girl if she was into “naughty fun”.

Middleton also asked if she’d had sex, Ms Laverick said.

Ms Laverick said this was a serious offence due to Middleton believing the person he was talking to was 12-year-old girl and in a care home, making her particularly vulnerable

District Judge Roger Elsey told Middleton, who wore a black suit and carried a green coat, that he would appear before Newcastle Crown Court on January 10 for sentencing.

Warning Middleton he faced jail time due to the vulnerability of the youngster, Mr Elsey said: “They are likely to consider a lengthy custodial sentence.”

Middleton, who was elected to Sunderland City Council, was suspended by the Labour Party in June, pending a party investigation.

He was then listed as an independent councillor but lost his seat on December 6 after he failed to attend any council meetings for a period of six months.

Daniel Barnes – Thakeham

05 Wednesday Dec 2018

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January 2019

Former Sussex Police officer who downloaded ‘vile’ images is punished with unpaid work

A disgraced former councillor caught with ‘vile’ indecent images of children has been spared jail.

Daniel Barnes – who was a serving Bognor town councillor when police found the pictures – was sentenced today.

The 40-year-old pleaded guilty to six offences earlier in December, including possession of 185 indecent images.

Barnes, of Storrington Road in Thakeham, downloaded the images while a serving police officer, a court heard.

When he appeared at Worthing Magistrates’ Court in December, Barnes pleaded guilty to the following charges:

– Make indecent photograph of a child: one category A image (the most serious category)

– Make indecent photograph of a child: four category B images

– Make indecent photograph of a child: 180 category C images

– Possess a prohibited image of a child: 23 images

– Distribute an indecent image of a child: three category C images

– Possess an extreme pornographic image involving an animal: five images, according to the lists

At that hearing district judge Amanda Kelly said that even though he had viewed images of children, the offences were still very serious.

She said: “Real children have been subjected to the most awful, vile abuse.”

The case was sent to Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing where judges have greater powers.

However judge Roger Herthington today declined the option to jail the ex-police officer.

Barnes, who has now moved to the Cambridgeshire area, was given a 12-month community order, the court confirmed.

He was also ordered to carry out unpaid work and attend rehabilitation days.

Barnes was told to sign the sex offenders register for a period of five years.

December 2018

Former Sussex Police officer admits indecent images of children offences

A former Sussex Police officer has pleaded guilty to offences concerning 185 indecent images of children.

Daniel Barnes – a former town councillor – appeared at Worthing Magistrates’ Court today charged with six offences.

Barnes, 40, of Storrington Road in Thakeham, resigned from Bognor Regis Town Council for ‘personal reasons’ in January 2018.

It can now be revealed that his resignation came less than three months after an address in Bognor was raided and he was arrested of suspicion of making indecent images of children.

District judge Amanda Kelly told Barnes that even though he had viewed images of children, the offences were still very serious.

She said: “Real children have been subjected to the most awful, vile abuse.”

Appearing in court today, Barnes pleaded guilty to the following charges:

– Make indecent photograph of a child: one category A image
– Make indecent photograph of a child: four category B images
– Make indecent photograph of a child: 180 category C images
– Possess a prohibited image of a child: 23 images
– Distribute an indecent image of a child: three category C images
– Possess an extreme pornographic image involving an animal: five images, according to the lists

The case was adjourned so that a pre-sentence report could be drafted.

District judge Kelly added: “They are offences to which the requirements of the sex offenders register apply.

“Failing to comply with these requirements is a really serious offence.”

Barnes is due to be sentenced on New Year’s Eve.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Barnes is an ex-Sussex PC but the alleged offending is unconnected with that employment.

“He resigned from the force in 2016 of his own accord, not due to this investigation over which he was arrested in 2017.

“The images are all understood to have come from the internet and there is nothing to suggest that there is any risk to local children.”

Brian Duffin – Toome

30 Friday Nov 2018

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November 2018

Councillor resigns after losing appeal against sexual assault conviction

Former SDLP councillor Brian Duffin from Cargin Road in Toome has resigned after losing his appeal against a conviction for sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

The 73-year-old resigned his seat on Antrim and Newtownabbey Council after refusing to stand down following his original conviction.

Giving evidence against Duffin, the 17-year-old victim described how he stuck his tongue into her mouth when he kissed her, had one hand on her breast and the other on her inner thigh during the sexual assault in June 2016.

Judge Melody McReynolds told Coleraine County Appeal Court on Wednesday that she was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the he was guilty.

Describing his victim’s evidence as “truthful, accurate and reliable,” Judge McReynolds said she was affirming Duffin’s conviction for sexual assault and warned that he was “on the cusp of the custodial threshold”.

When initially sentenced in August, Duffin was handed a four-month jail term.

Duffin, a father of 11 and grandfather of 19, will now be sentenced in the new year.

Antrim and Newtownabbey Council confirmed on Thursday that Duffin had resigned his seat.

He had resigned from the SDLP in February and continued to serve as an independent councillor despite his conviction.

The SDLP will be allowed to nominate Mr Duffin’s replacement on council, despite his resignation from the party.

“Councillor Duffin originally represented SDLP and therefore the party will co-opt a new member in due course,” a council spokesperson said.

David Jackson – Horley

15 Thursday Nov 2018

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November 2018

Ex-Horley councillor jailed for non-recent sexual assault offences

An ex-Horley councillor has been sentenced to six and a half years in jail after being found guilty of non-recent sexual assault offences yesterday (November 14), at Guildford Crown Court.

A Surrey Police statement says that David Jackson, 58, from Horley, was found guilty of four counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by touching, and two counts of indecent assault of a girl under the age of 14, following an eight day trial.

Jackson had previously been found guilty of two counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 by touching and two counts of indecent assault of a girl under the age of 14 following a six day trial in March.

Following the conclusion of the trial, the Crown Prosecution Service made the decision to re-try Jackson for the remaining two offences, which was granted, and he was remanded into prison custody.

The statement adds that the offences took place over a 14 year period, and he preyed on the vulnerability of his victims who were not old enough to understand that what he was doing to them was wrong.

Jackson was made deputy mayor for Horley town while on bail and under investigation.

Charged with sexual crimes in March 2017, he remained a councillor until he resigned upon his first conviction in March this year.