May 2021

Loner branded child sex abuse victims ‘stupid’ while plotting kidnap and rape of homeless boy in Leeds

A dangerous pervert obsessed with raping children plotted to kidnap a homeless child in Leeds with another paedophile and told police young victims of abuse were “stupid” and “should know better”.

Ryan Wood’s home in Barnsley was searched in February 2019 and child porn was found on his mobile phone and two laptops, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

The 23-year-old was questioned by detectives after they discovered “sexual and disturbing” images and videos as well as horrific search terms.

During his police interview, Wood blamed the children saying they were “stupid” and “should know better”, prosecutor Andrew Bailey said.

It was also revealed that when Wood was arrested, he punched himself and said he needed to be fixed.

He also concocted a story that he had been on chatrooms to catch paedophiles as an online hunter

The judge, Recorder David Preston said Wood’s offending was so serious that he must be sent to prison.

He said Wood, who admitted three counts of making of indecent images, two counts of distributing of indecent images and one count of possession of a prohibited image, had created a “pack of lies” when telling police he was trying to trap paedophiles online.

Mr Preston added: “You obtained those images of young children being raped among other things and used them for your sexual gratification.

“The suggestion in your interview that children were stupid and their parents should look after them better was grossly offensive. You do not blame victims of sexual abuse for their abuse.”

Mr Preston said Wood seemed to “revel” in the disturbing chat and sharing images.

He said: “You were looking forward, in your fantasy world, to teaming up with people and raping children who were homeless or children of drug users.”

Sentencing Wood to 20 months in prison, Mr Preston added: “You were obviously, by your sharing of this material and by the comments in the chatroom, relishing the thought of children being raped. You obviously had and have an obsession with abuse of the most horrific and serious kind.”

Wood, of Jardine Street, Barnsley, was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and will be on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

May 2021

Vile and dangerous’ paedophile jailed

Jessica Brennan, who was Allan Brennan at the time of offending, has been jailed for 22 years

Brennan preyed on the young victims between 1998 and 2016 when they were school-aged children.

The victims bravely came forward to speak to the police and support the investigation that was driven by North Yorkshire Police’s CID.

Brennan, 54, was questioned by detectives but denied any knowledge of the offences, putting the victims through the ordeal of a trial.

Thankfully, the jury saw through her lies and found her guilty of a number of sexual assaults.

This week Brennan was handed a 22-year custodial sentence at York Crown Court after being convicted of:

– Attempted rape of a child under 13;

– Sexual assault of a girl under 13 by penetration;

– Five counts of sexual activity with a child; assault by penetration;

– Two counts of sexual assault; sexual activity with a child;

– Five counts of indecent assault

Brennan of Bowland Close, Harrogate was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Protection Order, which will place strict restrictions on her when she is released from prison.

May 2021

Brighouse man handed five year ban for causing his pet dog to suffer

A man from West Yorkshire has been sentenced for two animal cruelty offences following a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.

April 2021

Pervert jailed for assaulting young child in Barrow

A retired army veteran that sexually abused a six-year-old girl at a house in Barrow has been jailed for 38 months.

Friends and family of Alan Foulkes, 80, believed he was a “good, honest, member of society” but behind closed doors he searched the internet for sickening sex abuse stories to fulfill his sexual fantasies.

April 2021

OAP paedo ‘stole booze and violated order’

A paedophile former UVF man who once performed a lewd act outside a nursery school has been charged with theft and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Former loyalist prisoner Alexander Reynolds is alleged to have stolen a £4.50 bottle of cider from Russell’s Shop 4U on Belfast Botanic Avenue in March 2019.

The 74-year-old, who now lives in a care home in the south of the city, is further alleged to have failed to notify police of a change in his address on September 23 last year.

During a brief hearing at Laganside Magistrates Court, the matter was adjourned until later this month because of an issue over serving Reynolds with legal documents.

The defendant was jailed for seven months last year after exposing his penis in a coffee shop on the Upper Newtownards Road.

A witness said she saw the pensioner put on a condom and “play with himself”.

He admitted exposing himself and breaching the SOPO, which was put in place for sexually assaulting a child.

Before racking up a string of sex convictions, the former Shankill Road man served 15 years in jail after being caught with explosives in 1977.

In 2017, he was jailed for performing a lewd act outside a nursery school.

Laganside Crown Court was told a motorist saw him sitting on a wall outside the building with his trousers around his knees and his penis in his hand.

He initially denied committing a lewd act or knowing he was outside a nursery school but later pleaded guilty.

Reynolds was given a five-month sentence but released due to time already served.

February 2017

Pensioner who committed lewd act outside primary school released

A pensioner who committed a lewd act outside a nursery school on Belfast’s Shankill Road was handed a five-month prison sentence today (Friday).

Alex Reynolds was due to be released from prison today due to time served on remand.

However, Belfast Crown Court heard that he is homeless, penniless and has no accommodation in place for today’s release.

Concerns were raised during today’s sentencing, both about a potential for Reynolds to offend given his homeless status, and also a need to protect the public from his offending.

Judge Patricia Smyth was informed by a social worker from Belfast Trust that when Reynolds is released, his accommodation needs are the responsibility of the Housing Executive.

The social worker also said that is was likely Reynolds will initially be placed in a hostel, and that both the Trust and the Probation Board were working to secure the 70-year-old supported accommocation.

At a previous hearing, Reynolds admitted two charges arising from an incident on the Shankill Road on August 15 last year. He was arrested on the day of the offence and has remained in custody since.

Around 11am on August 15 last year, a motorist was driving citywards along Shankill Road with his partner and two-year old child, when he noticed a man sitting on a wall outside a nursery school with his trousers around his knees and his penis in his hand.

Prosecutor Mark Farrell said that whilst this was happening, some of the youngsters attending the day centre would have been in the outdoor playing area.

Believing the man on the wall was attempting to masturbate, the motorist beeped his horn and remonstrated with him.

He then pulled his car over at a garage, got out of the vehicle and confronted Reynolds.

Reynolds pulled his trousers up and when asked what he was doing, the pensioner told the motorist he was urinating.

The motorist left the area but went to Tennent Street police station, where he reported the matter.

When police investigated the motorist’s complaint, they located Reynolds on the Shankill Road, drinking from a tin of Special Brew beer.

This, the court heard, was in breach of a previously imposed Sexual Offences Prevention Order – just one of 15 breaches he has committed.

Reynolds was arrested and during interview, he admitting drinking but denied committing a lewd act outside the nursery. He said he was not masturbating or sexually aroused, instead claiming he was urinating.

Sentencing Reynolds, he was told by Judge Smyth: “The offence was committed beside a nursery school. Your behaviour was described by a member of the public as shocking and upsetting.

“If any of those young children had observed your behaviour, I have no doubt it would have been extremely distressing for them also.

“You continue to abuse alcohol and your chaotic lifestyle has resulted in difficulties in you obtaining any kind of suitable accommodation.”

Raising concerns about the risk Reynolds poses to the public, particularly when he is homeless, Judge Smyth said every effort was being made to find suitable accommodation for the pensioner.

Telling Reynolds he had to engage with the relevant agencies in a bid to secure accommodation, the Judge told him: “You are hurting people by your behaviour and I want you to think about that.

“The only way in which you can stop hurting people is if you comply with what you are asked to by your social worker and probation officer.”