September 2017

Teenager who sent naked pictures of himself to underage girl avoids jail

A TEENAGER who sent naked pictures to a 15-year-old girl on Facebook has avoided a jail sentence.

Joshua Luke Caine, 19, spoke to the victim every day on the messaging site before asking her to be his girlfriend and sent her naked pictures of himself below the waist.

He was handed a community order at Hereford Magistrates Court last week and ordered to take part in a community sex offenders programme.

The teenager from Grandison Rise, Tupsley, Hereford, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing a child aged 15 to look at an image of sexual activity between November 1 and December 18 last year.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting at an earlier hearing said the pair became Facebook friends in 2013 after meeting in a public setting.

“They then started talking on Snapchat which allows users to send pictures of anything they want with a caption on it,” added Ms Ashton.

“Not long after she had a naked picture of him sent to her via Facebook with a message asking if that was alright.

“Following messages from him which were suggestive the victim asked him to stop. A short time after this he sent a another naked picture of himself on Skype which was a similar picture.

“Caine also sent her a sexual explicit message. The victim was absolutely horrified and couldn’t read it all but told her mum and showed it to her. The police were then informed.”

On interview Caine admitted sending the messages to her.

Caine was also handed a restraining order against the victim and told to register at Hereford Police Station for five years.

He was also ordered to pay £100 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

September 2017

Hereford man jailed after admitting indecent assault

A man has been jailed for a total of 33 months after admitting two counts of indecent assault.

Adrian Brelsforth, 67, of Penn Grove Road, Aylestone Hill, was told he would serve part of the prison term in custody and part of it on licence.

He was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment in respect of count one and 12 months in prison in respect of count two. He was also issued with a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Brelsforth’s name will also be on the Sex Offender Register for 10 years.

November 2014

Depraved paedophile raped his own daughter numerous times

A depraved paedophile that raped his own daughter numerous times has been jailed.

Unemployed Michael John Hill, 61 of Hereford appeared at Hereford Crown Court where he admitted four counts of rape against a child aged under 13

The court was told that the girl was just four years old when the abuse began and it continued for almost a decade until she reached 13 years old.

It was at this point that he declared to the girl, that he had no further sexual use for her and the abuse stopped.

Hill had denied the offences throughout the police investigation and during the lead up to his trial. However he dramatically pleaded guilty less than an hour before the trial took place. 

His admission to the four counts of child rape were accepted by the prosecution, and a further four counts of indecent assault on a child were allowed to lie on file.

Michael John Hill was sentenced to a total of 13 years and six months imprisonment

Hill was told that he would be on the sex offenders register for life

May 2017

Paedophile sentenced for sexually abusing five young children

A violent paedophile has been sentenced to over 12 years for repeatedly abusing five young children

Stephen Preece, 50 of Hereford appeared at Worcester Crown Court where he admitted a string of sexual offences against children:

• Attempted sexual assault of a child aged under 13 by penetration

• Sexual assault of a child aged under 13

• Three counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity

• Three counts of indecent assault against a child

The court was told that the victims were both male and female children and were aged between nine and 16 years old when the abuse took place.

Predatory paedophile Preece repeatedly abused and molested the children over a number of years – on occasions using violence to control and silence them.

The abuse covered in this case began in 1995 and finally ended last year, after Preece was arrested.

However, the police believe that there could be other victims who have not reported the abuse they also suffered at the hands of Preece

The judge sentenced him to a total of 12 years and six months 

Preece must register as a sex offender for life and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order

May 2016

Man imprisoned for 25 years for sex offences

A pervert who carried out a string of sex attacks on children as young as seven has been jailed for 25 years.

Gordon Preece, 71, from Drakeley Farm, Marden, was found guilty after a trial of 15 sexual offences including rape and buggery.

Preece, pictured, was found guilty by a jury at Hereford Crown Court of four counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 between 1970 and 1971 and 1979 and 1980; and four counts of rape of a female under 16.

He was also found guilty of four counts of buggery with a woman between 1980 and 1984. Other charges included two counts of assault of a girl by penetration and causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity.