Stephen Wright – Thornaby/Leeds
09 Saturday Jan 2016
Posted in Stockton-on-Tees, West yorkshire
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Category Archives: Stockton-on-Tees
Stephen Midgley – Stockton
23 Thursday Oct 2014
Posted in N Yorks/Cleveland/Middlesborough, Stockton-on-Tees
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November 2015
‘Depraved’ farm worker jailed for having indecent images of children
A PAEDOPHILE who dodged prison when he was caught with hundreds of indecent images of children is behind bars after he committed similar crimes within months.
Stephen Midgley was said to have a “compulsion” and was told by a judge he has a “gravely concerning lack of empathy”as he was jailed for three years and four months.
The 23-year-old was traced through a website where he chatted with other perverts about child abuse and swapped sick pictures involving girls as young as two.
Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, at Teesside Crown Court, told him there were many worrying parts of a pre-sentence report compiled after an interview with a probation officer.
And Midgley’s own barrister, Nigel Soppitt, admitted his behaviour was “depraved” and said: “It is clearly aggravated by the fact he has committed similar offences previously.”
Midgley, of Mount Pleasant, Stockton, was caught in July – just eight months after he was given a community order wit a treatment programme for almost identical crimes.
The court heard how the former farm worker had not started the sex offenders’ course before his second arrest, but Soppitt said he was keen to get help.
“The facts themselves are alarming, but what is, perhaps, more alarming in this case is the thought-problems mentioned in the pre-sentence report,” he told the court.
“It is a remarkably frank document. It shows what could well be almost a compulsion to offend. The very fact he admits that could be a starting point for reform.
“He is saying ‘I’m sorry, I can’t help myself’ . . . He has done his best to try to get to the root of this evil problem. He understands it’s depraved and wrong.”
Judge Bourne-Arton told him: “You have shown no empathy at all, and limited insight as to the problems and the fact that there are real victims here.
“It is also considerably worrying to read in the pre-sentence report that which you wish to carry out, an act you wish to carry out in respect of young relatives.”
Bespectacled Midgley admitted charges of making and distributing indecent images of children, and inciting their distribution, at an earlier court hearing.
Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said he used a false name on email to communicate with other paedophiles, and said: “I’m up to chat and trade, if you like.”
More than 350 pictures and movies were found of Midgley’s mobile phone – mostly depicting girls aged between two and 11 – and “multiple images of toddlers”, said Mr Hadfield.
November 2014
Farmworker caught with hundreds of child abuse images on his phone – Community order
A farmworker caught with hundreds of child abuse images on his phone has been given a community order by the courts.
Stephen Midgley, 22, admitted 16 counts of making and one of possessing indecent images of children – all pictures downloaded from the internet.
Judge Howard Crowson said: “Most did not involve sexual activity but they were indecent.
“Some involved a degree of greater and more abhorrent indecency.”
Midgley was caught using an internet chatroom being investigated by Cleveland Police.
Officers were concerned over comments he made on a website used by paedophiles to chat and exchange indecent images of children, and arrested him within hours.
But there was no truth in what he said as his stories and claims were found to be invented, Teesside Crown Court was told.
He was examined by three psychiatrists over his possession of illegal photographs and movies of children.
His mobile phone had 780 indecent images of children aged from four to 13, and 22 indecent movies, including some in the most serious categories.
There was no evidence of any distribution or sexual activity by Midgley, of previous good character, and he accepted what he had done.
Yvonne Taylor, defending at a previous hearing, said Midgley was “a very troubled young man” who could not understand why he committed the crimes on February 12.
She said he was not suffering from any form of mental illness but he was found to be emotionally immature, inadequate and easily led.
A psychiatric report described him as having below average intelligence and poor social skills.
His family stood by him and he had been offered a home by his sister and grandmother.
At the sentencing hearing yesterday, the judge said Midgley, formerly of Northbourne Road, Stockton, had made “appalling claims” to others.
“But I’m comforted to know they were entirely false claims, to try and boost your credibility with other like-minded individuals,” he added.
“That part worries me, that you were in contact with people like that.
“It will be important to ensure that you’re not in contact with people like that, and instead seek the good influence of a supportive family.”
He said a pre-sentence reports and medical report spoke positively of Midgley.
He noted Midgley had already served on remand the bulk of any prison sentence which could be imposed on him.
If given an immediate jail term, Midgley would be released without the measures suggested by the Probation Service.
The judge gave Midgley a two-year community order with supervision and a sex offender treatment programme.
He added: “The whole purpose of this is to ensure that you don’t re-offend and that people are protected.
“If you don’t cooperate, the only way to protect people is to lock you up.”
October 2014
Farmworker caught with hundreds of child abuse images after police chatroom sting
A young farmworker who was using an internet chatroom being investigated by police was caught with hundreds of child abuse images on his mobile phone.
Stephen Midgley, 22, from Stockton, was arrested within hours by officers from the Cleveland force because of concerns over comments he left on the website which was used by paedophiles to chat and exchange indecent images of children.
But his stories and claims were found to be invented, Teesside Crown Court was told.
He was later examined by three psychiatrists over his possession of photographs and movies of children as young as four.
His lawyer said that he was not suffering from any form of mental illness but he was found to be emotionally immature, inadequate and easily led.
Prosecutor Sue Jacobs told a judge: “He was located by his phone number and police went to his house that day because of the nature of the comments he had been making on the site.
“There was good reason to be worried because of the nature of what was said but there was no truth in it.
“There is no evidence of any distribution or any form of sexual activity by the defendant.”
Midgley’s mobile phone had 780 indecent images of children aged from four to 13 and 22 indecent movies, including some in the most serious three new categories involving penetrative sex.
Mrs Jacobs said that when he was interviewed Midgley, who was of previous good character, accepted what he had done.
Judge Howard Crowson said that in a case where there were moving images it was more serious than one with still images.
The judge said that the sentence after a guilty plea would be 12 months, and Midgley had already served that on remand.
Yvonne Taylor, defending, said Midgley was being supported in court by his sister and by his grandmother, who had offered him a home.
She added that the final psychiatric report also described him as having below average intelligence and with poor social skills.
She said: “It is accepted that he is just a very troubled young man and not able to understand why he committed these offences.
“Even today he is at a loss to understand why he offended in this way.
“What he wants is help in understanding. His family stand by him, they appreciate all the factors, but they are at a loss to understand too.”
He can return to his farm job and his employer has said that she will work with him.
Midgley, of Northbourne Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to possessing 713 indecent photographs and 21 indecent movies of children on February 12 and also to 16 offences of making indecent photographs of children.
He was remanded on bail for a four weeks probation hostel assessment with a 9pm to 7am curfew and he will be sentenced on November 20
Gary Flynn – Norton
19 Saturday Oct 2013
Posted in N Yorks/Cleveland/Middlesborough, Stockton-on-Tees
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October 2013
Judge tells historic sex abuser: ‘It’s water under the bridge’
A MAN who sexually abused a child walked free from court after a controversial judge told him his historic offence was “water under the bridge”.
Judge Peter Bowers was at the centre of a media storm in 2012 after telling a serial burglar it took a huge amount of courage to steal from homes.
Following complaints, his comments were investigated by the judicial watchdog, with Prime Minister David Cameron publicly criticising the remarks.
Yesterday (Friday October 18), Judge Bowers attracted further criticism when he handed 35-year-old Gary Flynn a community order after he admitted indecently assaulting a young girl more than 15 years ago.
Flynn, of Belle Vue Court, Norton, near Stockton, admitted touching the younger girl’s genitals and forcing her to have oral sex when he was aged between 16 and 18.
Judge Bowers praised Flynn – previously cautioned for a similar offence – for pleading guilty and sparing his victim the ordeal of giving evidence before handing him a three year community supervision order.
He told him: “You were a teenager suffering from the effects of a head injury which made your maturity and responsibility less than somebody of your age.
“This is water under the bridge. You have lived 15 or 17 years without other convictions and there is no reason to think you will be committing offences in the future.”
His remarks were criticised by those working with abuse victims.
Dilys Davy, of North-East charity ARCH, said: “It might be water under the bridge for him but not for his victim, she has to live with it for the rest of her life.
“His comments are outrageous. It’s as though he is saying that because it happened a long time ago, no harm done.
“This kind of thing can discourage victims from coming forward. A judge’s comments are important and the main reason people say they do not report abuse is the fear that they will not be taken seriously or won’t be believed.”
At Teesside Crown Court, Flynn – who pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault on a child under 16 – was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register.
Gary Haggas – Thornaby
27 Friday Sep 2013
Posted in Stockton-on-Tees
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Mar 2011
Brave daughters of a child abuser speak out
CHILD abuser Gary Haggas starts an 18-year prison term today – still denying the terrible crimes which wrecked his two daughters’ childhoods.
The 67-year-old former ice cream man shows no remorse for the litany of sexual abuse he inflicted on his two daughters decades ago.
He begins his long sentence as his victims bravely waive their right to anonymity and launch a campaign to encourage other abuse victims to speak out.
Judge Peter Armstrong told Haggas yesterday: “You’ve devastated their lives and robbed them effectively of a happy childhood.
“And you’ve now got to pay the price for that behaviour.”
Teesside Crown Court heard how he subjected the girls to systematic abuse for years in the 1970s and 1980s, sexually assaulting and raping them.
He molested them in the family homes in Hemlington and Middlesbrough, his car, one of the ice cream vans he operated in the town and their mum’s shop on Parliament Road.
Judge Armstrong said it was “a catalogue of the most appalling offences” against Janet Haggas and Jean Cookson.
The most serious crime was raping the two girls in each other’s presence – an offence which earned him an 18-year jail sentence on its own.
The judge read moving statements about the impact on the girls, now women in their forties, who had to relive their ordeals in the witness box.
He said: “These offences involved a gross abuse of a position of trust as a father. You should have been protecting these girls, not abusing them.
“They were carried out over a long period of time. They were particularly young and vulnerable when it all started.
“The offences were repeated over and over again.
“You continue to deny these offences and so you’ve shown absolutely no remorse whatsoever for what you’ve done.
“You offered sweets to the girls, told them they were your good girls, a form of bribery in my view, typical of paedophile-type behaviour.
“Your daughters have had to live with these offences and knowledge of them for very many, many years.”
Haggas’ had a previous conviction and nine-month prison sentence from 1996 for gross indecency with a boy.
The judge said this indicated “a distorted and perverted interest in sexual offending against children”.
He said it had to be a long sentence to punish him for the “dreadful” offences and show others that such behaviour “simply cannot be tolerated”.
Haggas, of Whingroves, Thornaby, denied all 25 charges against him and took the case to a long trial earlier this year.
The jury unanimously convicted Haggas of seven charges of rape, seven of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child, and cleared him of two rape charges.
He was accused of indecently assaulting another complainant but he was acquitted on all eight of these charges.
Jurors heard the shocking details of the sexual attacks, which started when each of the girls was about seven and carried on into their teens. The trial was told that Haggas was “a controlling and manipulative abuser”.
In both cases, the abuse started as Haggas touched the girls as they sat on his knee, then escalated to worse assaults and repeated rapes.
He abused Janet regularly for about 10 years, raping her on the day of the Queen’s Jubilee in 1977 when she was just 11.
He raped Jean while she was off sick from school and once kept her home to rape her while the rest of the family were in Albert Park.
He said to her she should “do as she was told”, ignoring her protests and saying no, and once gave her a £5 note to try to ensure her silence.
The allegations emerged decades later as a detective was told of the abuse and formal complaints were made.
Haggas denied the offences in police interviews and claimed the women were lying after getting their heads together.
Defence QC Jamie Hill asked the judge for mercy yesterday.
He told the court: “Mr Haggas has consistently denied these offences and of course continues so to do.”
He said the crimes stopped 28 years ago and Haggas’ risk of re-offending had diminished.
The judge did not reduce the sentence because of Haggas’ “infirmity”.
Standing with a walking stick in the dock, Haggas was said to have high blood pressure, hip problems, awaited surgery and took disability benefits.
The judge said reports indicated Haggas, who did voluntary vehicle and maintenance work for his church, posed a risk to children in the future.
He was given a sexual offences prevention order banning him from unsupervised contact with under-18s.
He will be banned from working with children and will be on the sex offenders’ register – all indefinitely.
Jonathan Pennington – Billingham
18 Tuesday Jun 2013
Posted in Durham, Stockton-on-Tees
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