CPS News Brief

Four men jailed for supply of drugs and sexual abuse of young girls

Four men jailed for supply of drugs and sexual abuse of young girls

 

Four men have been sentenced to a total of 32 years’ imprisonment for their involvement in the supply of drugs and the sexual abuse of young girls in Newcastle upon Tyne. 

 

The men, aged in their late 20s, were sentenced today (November 3) after being found guilty of 22 separate offences.

 

The offences took place between 2007 and 2014 when the five complainants in the case were aged between 13 and 16. 

 

Victims were targeted because of their young age and vulnerability, befriended by the group and then invited to various properties around Newcastle. 

 

Alcohol and drugs, including cocaine and amphetamines, were then made freely available to them.  

 

The men, Soran Azizi, 28, Palla Pour, 25, Ribas Asad, 29, Saman Faiaq Obaid, 29, were convicted following a trial held at Newcastle Crown Court last month. 

 

Jim Hope, from the CPS, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has successfully prosecuted these four men for their involvement in the supply of drugs and the sexual exploitation of five vulnerable girls. 

 

“I would like to extend my thanks to the five victims in this case, who have bravely assisted us in piecing together all relevant evidence to present the clearest possible case to the jury.

 

“The nature of the offending in this case was predatory, with the offenders selecting targets by virtue of their vulnerability before pretending to develop caring relationships with them. After the men had gained their trust, the girls were supplied with drugs and alcohol and then coerced into performing sexual acts.

 

“If there are any young women or girls who feel that they are being groomed in this way I would encourage them to report this to police, either directly or with the help of a third-party support agency. You will be protected and your actions may well prevent others from becoming victims of serious sexual offending.”

 

Ends

 

Notes to editors

 

·         Jim Hope is the Head of the Complex Casework Unit for CPS North East

 

·         Soran Azizi (dob 11.8.89) was convicted of two charges of trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation’ and sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment

 

·         Palla Pour (dob 22.12.91) was convicted of four charges of sexual activity with a child, one charge of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two charges of supplying a controlled drug, one charge of knowingly permitting his premises to be used for supply of controlled drugs and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment

 

·         Ribas Asad (dob 12.1.88) was convicted of one charge of sexual assault, six charges of supplying a controlled drug, one charge of inciting a child into sexual activity, one charge of sexual activity with a child and was sentenced to 9 ½ years’ imprisonment

 

·         Saman Faiaq Obaid (dob 1.1.88) was convicted of four charges of supplying a controlled drug to another and sentenced to 4 years and nine months’ imprisonment

Man sentenced to life for murder of a two-year-old boy in his care

 

A man who killed his partner’s two-year-son while in his care has been jailed for life after being found guilty of murder. 

Craig Smith, 28, of Merseyside, was convicted of Teddy Tilston’s murder following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court today (2 November).The incident happened in March this year.

His trial heard that Smith, who had been looking after Teddy, claimed to an ambulance crew that he had drowned in the bath. When they arrived, paramedics found him dead but his clothes and hair were dry.

The child’s mother, Ashleigh Willett, 25, was also found guilty of child cruelty. She will be sentenced at a later date.

Smith was given a life sentence and told he must serve a minimum of 17 years before he can be considered for release.

A full post-mortem examination was later carried out on Teddy’s body and additional tests carried out by a Home Office pathologist and other experts. 

The cause of death was revealed as a fatal punch or kick to the child’s stomach. There was evidence that the child had an earlier injury in the same part of his body.

While paramedics were dealing with the death of Teddy, his mother was at Arrowe Park Hospital with Teddy’s twin sister. She had suffered a head injury that day, also while in the sole care of Smith.

But doctors were not satisfied with her explanation that the blow had been caused by the child accidentally hitting a table. They also found other injuries, many that had been inflicted some time before.

Willett and Smith were subsequently charged with offences relating to the two children. 

Richard Riley, for the CPS, said: “This has been a difficult and tragic case involving the use of violence against two very small children, leading to the death of one of them.

“After Teddy Tilston’s death, one of the paediatricians examined his body and found a catalogue of injuries which, in her view, were not reasonably explained by accidental causes. 

“The same paediatrician also examined Teddy’s sister – she too had many injuries which were not explicable by accidental causes – not least a broken wrist which she had suffered sometime between several weeks earlier and three to six months earlier. 

“Neither Craig Smith or Ashleigh Willett could give a satisfactory account for the catalogue of injuries suffered by the twins.  

“The CPS said that, even if we assume that all the injuries were caused by Smith, then such is the number of injuries to both children that Ashleigh Willett must have known that the children were being ill-treated.”

 

++++++

·         Craig Smith (dob 13/11/88) was convicted of murder, actual bodily harm and two counts of child cruelty. 

·         Ashleigh Willett (dob 19/06/92) was convicted of two counts of child cruelty.

 

Man jailed for life for killing homeowner with his car

A burglar who ran over and murdered a man as he tried to stop him stealing a car from his driveway has been jailed for life. 

Mike Samwell was killed when Ryan Gibbons drove over him in his own Audi S3 outside his Manchester home during a burglary in April this year. 

Mr Samwell had gone outside in the early hours to investigate the noise being made during the break-in. As Gibbons tried to drive away he crashed into a gate and reversed over Mr Samwell, and then drove over him again. 

Gibbons was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court this morning and told he must a life sentence with a minimum of 27 years. 

The prosecution case was that Gibbons must have been aware that Mr Samwell was under the car as he twice drove over him, causing fatal injuries.  

Raymond Davies, who was part of the criminal plan to break into the Mr Samwell’s house and steal the car, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for eight years. 

Mark Andrews from the CPS said: 

“Ryan Gibbons claimed what happened was a terrible accident and that he was not aware he had driven over someone. The prosecution proved, however, that it was far from accidental.  

“Through the analysis of forensic evidence, combined with the eyewitness evidence, we have shown that Gibbons must have realised Mr Samwell was under the car as he reversed and then drove forward over him again. He also must have known that doing so would cause serious injury or death. 

“This is a tragic case, and our thoughts and sympathies are with all of Mike Samwell’s family and friends. In particular, I would like to pay tribute to the tremendous courage of Mrs Samwell who witnessed the terrible events but was able to give evidence and help bring those responsible to justice." 

Ends 

• Mark Andrews is a Senior Crown Prosecutor in CPS North-West.

• Ryan Gibbons was found guilty of murder, burglary and aggravated vehicle taking and sentenced to life with a minimum term of 27 years 

• Raymond Davies was found guilty of manslaughter, burglary and taking a vehicle without consent and sentenced to eight years

Woman jailed for manslaughter after man died when he was hit by a tram

 

A woman who pushed a stranger off a station platform causing him to be fatally injured by a tram has been jailed for five years. 

Charissa Brown-Wellington, 31, pushed Philip Carter towards tram tracks following a brief argument at Manchester Victoria train station on 11 June. The pair were not known to each other.

Mr Carter, 30, fell between the platform and the moving tram and died following the collision. 

Brown-Wellington was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court today (31 October) after admitting manslaughter at a hearing on 22 September at the same court.

She was given a three-year extended licence period in addition to the five-year prison sentence.

Nicky Moore of the CPS said: “This is a tragic case where a man lost his life following a brief argument with a complete stranger at a busy train station.

“Charissa Brown-Wellington used unnecessary force to push Mr Carter.  He had no opportunity to defend himself and was crushed between the platform and the tram.

“We originally authorised that she was charged with murder.  We accepted her plea to manslaughter at an earlier hearing as we recognised that she did not intentionally push the victim under a tram, but did so after she lost her temper during the argument. She must now face up to the consequences of her reckless actions as she begins this prison sentence. 

“I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Carter.”

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

 

·         Charissa Brown-Wellington (dob: 19/05/1986) pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter

 

·         Nicky Moore is a Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North-West

 

Company fined after factory worker was crushed to death in machinery

A company and its director have been sentenced today (31 October) for causing the death of a factory worker who fell into a piece of machinery at a recycling yard. 

Safi Qais Khan died at Master Construction Products (Skips) Ltd (MCP) after he became entangled in a machine called a trommel, used to sort waste material. 

MCPS admitted the corporate manslaughter of Mr Khan, after an investigation found there was no safe system of work for the trommel and it was in a dangerous state. Essential guards to prevent entrapment were missing, there was no emergency stop button on the machine and it was surrounded by uneven and waste strewn ground. 

The company also admitted a health and safety breach of a duty owed to its employee in failing to ensure measures were in place  to minimise risks of entrapment, crushing or falls whilst working at the trommel. 

Jagbir Singh, director of MCPS, pleaded guilty to a health a safety offence. He admitted that he was aware of the way in which the company operated the trommel.  

The company was given a fine of £255,000 for corporate manslaughter. Singh was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and 300 hours of community service at Birmingham Crown Court. He was also disqualified as a company director for eight years and ordered to pay £11,500 in prosecution costs.

Michael Gregory, from the CPS, said: “MCPS Ltd let the trommel and the area around it fall into a dilapidated and dangerous state. Little thought was given by the company to the safety of its employees when working at the machine. This failure caused the death of Mr Khan.

“Singh admitted the offence after the CPS successfully showed how senior leaders’ management of the machinery played a substantial part in Mr Khan’s death. Our thoughts are with Mr Khan’s family.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Michael Gregory is a Senior Specialist Prosecutor in the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division.
• Master Construction Products (Skips) Ltd pleaded guilty to corporate manslaughter, contrary to the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007 and to a breach of ensuring the safety of its employees at work, contrary to section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. 
• Jagbir Singh pleaded guilty to consenting to, or conniving at, the company’s breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Seven sentenced over roles in £2million mobile phone fraud

Seven people who carried out a £2million mobile phone fraud have been sentenced.

 

Speaking after the case, Stephen Rowland, from the CPS Specialist Fraud Division, said:

 

“These defendants set out to systematically defraud significant sums of money from mobile phone companies, encouraging students to take out contracts as part of the scheme.

 

“As well as the six-figure sums lost by the companies, their actions caused significant financial hardship to dozens of young people, many of whom were left with severely damaged credit ratings.

 

“The CPS worked closely with the police from an early stage in order to build a strong case, with the result that six defendants pleaded guilty in the face of the evidence against them and two further defendants were convicted at trial.”

 

The CPS will now instigate Proceeds of Crime proceedings against the defendants.

Couple who live streamed the abuse of child jailed

A couple from Plymouth have been jailed for 17 years after live streaming the abuse of a young child over the internet to a woman in America.

Craig Forbes and former partner Sarah Gotham were discovered during an FBI investigation into child abuse which led them to a woman in San Francisco, California. The woman admitted she had been contacting other paedophiles online, including Forbes and Gotham in the UK.

The FBI then alerted Devon and Cornwall Police who started an investigation into the couple.

Plymouth Crown Court heard yesterday (26 October) how Forbes and Gotham carried out the abuse on several occasions between December 2012 and March 2013.

Forbes, 36, was sentenced to eight years in prison with an extended licence of eight years and Gotham, 34, received nine years in prison. Both will be on the sexual offenders register for life.  

Howard Phillips, from the CPS, said: “With the assistance of San Francisco Police Department and the FBI, the CPS was able to secure witness testimony from an American prisoner who later gave evidence in court; that with technical evidence found on devices seized in the USA was used to present a strong case.

“This case shows that wherever online sexual abuse is uncovered, we can work with international law enforcement agencies to pursue offenders and bring them before the courts.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Howard Phillips is a Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS South-West.
• Craig Forbes pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault of a child. Three other counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of rape will lie on file.
• Sarah Gotham denied six counts of sexual assault of a child but was convicted by a jury.

Man jailed for knife and hammer attack which caused the death of a woman

A man who let himself into a couple’s home, slept in their bed and then attacked them with a hammer and knife, killing a woman has been sentenced to 13 years in prison today (9 October).

Keiran Wathan, 24, entered the home of Wayne and Sheila Morgan in Swansea on 11 March whilst Mrs Morgan was watching television downstairs and Mr Morgan was out.

Wathan was found upstairs later in the evening by Mrs Morgan who alerted her husband. Mr Morgan brought a small hammer upstairs as he attempted to pull Wathan from the bed. 

But Wathan, who was thought to be under the influence of drink and drugs, then attacked Mr and Mrs Morgan with the hammer and the knife, causing serious injuries, before fleeing the scene.

Mrs Morgan deteriorated after surgery on her injured arm due to infection and later died in hospital.

Andrew Smith, from the CPS, said: “Wathan callously attacked Mr and Mrs Morgan in their own home after letting himself in and falling asleep in their bed. 

“Both were seriously injured and Mrs Morgan’s wounds eventually caused her death. Before this, Mrs Morgan was able to give an account of the evening and this, along with the other evidence presented by the CPS, saw Wathan plead guilty to manslaughter.

“Our thoughts are with Mrs Morgan’s family.” 

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Andrew Smith is a prosecutor for CPS Wales.
• Keiran Wathan pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article at Swansea Crown Court.
• He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter and this was accepted.
• He received 13 years for manslaughter with a further five years to be served on licence, six years concurrently for wounding with intent and 12 months concurrently for possession of a bladed article. A count of murder and unlawful wounding will remain on file.

Married police officers sentenced for selling car crash data

Two married constables working for Lancashire Police have been sentenced today (6 October 2017) for stealing police data about car crashes and selling it to claims firms for £363,000.

Nigel Mungur was sentenced to five years in prison and Nicola Mungur received a 12 month conditional discharge at Chester Crown Court. A third person, John Helton, was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

The firms who were sold the data would use it to cold call people who had been in accidents and offer to get them compensation.

The police began an investigation in 2014 after people complained they were getting calls from law firms when they had not given their details to anyone other than the police. One man was even contacted by a claims firm before a police officer had arrived to investigate his report of a collision.

Over seven years Nigel Mungur accessed the personal data of individuals involved in road traffic collisions on 21,802 occasions. He set up a firm called the Personal Injury Company and used it to sell the stolen police data to claims companies. When the company licence was revoked in early 2009, he applied to set up another, paying the registration fee with a cheque signed by his wife to avoid the application being rejected.

John Helton was a contractor for a claims firm who was paid on the basis of cases he referred to the firm. Nigel Mungur passed the personal data onto him and he would sell it to the firm. The pair would then share the money paid out.

Nigel Mungur would upload up to 960 screen shots of confidential information from the police computer at a time to a virtual storage site and share a link to the images with Helton. The information included the time, date and place of collisions and the personal details of people reporting incidents to the police.

The CPS presented evidence that Helton received numerous screen shots and also phone evidence of the two discussing how much money they could make. In one message Mungur tells Helton that the “police systems are down”.

Nigel Mungur also sent text messages to his wife referring to payments received and how much money they would make in the coming year. In one message he complains to her that he is the one “taking all of the risks”.

At an earlier hearing Nigel Mungur pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office and conspiracy to convert criminal property. Nicola Mungur pleaded guilty to obtaining personal data and Helton admitted conspiracy to convert criminal property and conspiracy to commit unauthorised access to a computer.


Richard Riley from the CPS said:

“Nigel Mungur’s greed led him to take the leading role in stealing confidential information held on a police database and sell it for profit.

“Nicola Mungur was clearly aware of her husband's crimes and encouraged, connived and acquiesced in them by turning a blind eye and the pair reaped the financial rewards.

“The public expect a high standard of behaviour from the police but the Mungurs’ conduct fell short of their duty and now they are paying the price.”


Note to Editors

1. Richard Riley is a Senior Crown Prosecutor at the Crown Court Unit of CPS Mersey-Cheshire

2. Nigel Mungur (dob 29/09/1977) pleaded guilty to counts 1, 2, 3 and 4
Nicola Mungur (dob 23/04/1980) pleaded guilty to count 5 on
John Helton (dob 16/10/1979) pleaded guilty to counts 3 and 4

Count 1 - MISCONDUCT IN A JUDICIAL OR PUBLIC OFFICE
Count 2 - CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MISCONDUCT IN A PUBLIC OFFICE, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
Count 3 - CONSPIRACY TO CONVERT CRIMINAL PROPERTY, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
Count 4 - CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, contrary to section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
Count 5 - OBTAINING PERSONAL DATA, contrary to sections 55(1), 55(3) and 60(2) of the Data Protection Act 1998

Fraudster who took life savings of his investors in a gold trading scam is jailed

A serial fraudster who persuaded people to give him their life savings in a gold trading scam has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

Christian Fallon defrauded members of the public by taking their savings and claiming to invest them in various schemes including trading precious metals and property investment.

Isleworth Crown Court heard Fallon persuaded his clients to part with tens of thousands of pounds at a time, using a loan note, a form of IOU, to cover his tracks so that he had a defence to spend the money how he wished.

Whilst he gave reassurances to the people he defrauded that he was making money for them, Fallon was actually spending their savings on himself.

In total he took £1.9 million from his ‘investors’ but left them with a net loss of £885,625. He was sentenced yesterday (5 October).

Nina Montalbano, from the CPS, said: “Many of Fallon’s victims had trusted him with their life savings but he spent them on sending his children to private school, enjoying meals in top London restaurants and going on luxury holidays. 

“Fallon tried to cover his tracks by using false documents. Evidence from the CPS proved, however, that he had told them they were investing in gold and property with the promise of dividends that he never provided.”

Ends

Notes to editors

• Nina Montalbano is a lawyer in the Specialist Fraud Division.

• He was sentenced to seven years in prison and disqualified from acting as a director for five years.

Members of gang which trafficked women for sex convicted

Members of a gang which trafficked 19 women into prostitution at hotels across southern England and Wales have been convicted of their part in the operation. 

The women, from south-east Asia, advertised their services on a range of adult websites. Phone numbers given in the adverts, if dialled, would go through to a member of the gang who would then make contact with the woman in question. Almost 400 bookings were made at hotels between August 2013 and March 2015, mainly along the south coast, at locations as far afield as Gatwick, Exeter and Cardiff.

The room reservations were made using false details. Customers would pay for services on arrival at the hotel in cash which would then be paid into accounts controlled by members of the gang. In total, the operation generated hundreds of thousands of pounds, with credits of more than £88,000 paid into one bank account and more than £66,000 into another. 

Mobile phones seized from the defendants and sex workers showed hotel bookings, along with messages about the arrival of the women, their work, contact with clients and payment details. 

Three defendants, all from south-east Asia, were convicted of multiple offences yesterday (5 October) following a trial at the Old Bailey in London.

Kevin Thomson, from the CPS, said: 

“This was an organised operation designed to traffic women into prostitution, as shown by the variety of bank accounts used to run it and the sheer amount of funds it generated. These elements helped to provide compelling evidence of what these defendants were doing. 

“The gang exploited vulnerable women, putting them to work in situations which exposed them to serious potential risks. Once the women were caught up in the prostitution ring, it was invariably almost impossible for them to escape the life they had been forced into. 

“All the time, they were then earning what turned out to be huge sums of money for the defendants, who were responsible for running the operation without any regard for the women’s wellbeing.” 

Ends

Notes to Editors 

• The hotels used were located in Brighton, Gatwick, Bournemouth, Exeter, Maidstone, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Guildford, Cardiff, Windsor, Heathrow, Woking and Eastbourne. 
• Kevin Thomson is a lawyer with the CPS South East Complex Casework Unit.
• The members of the gang convicted were:
•     Hong Chin, 45, conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, conspiracy to traffic for sexual exploitation,                         possessing criminal property, using criminal property
•     Li Wei Gao, 44, – conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, conspiracy to traffic for sexual exploitation, possessing criminal property
•     Ting Li Lu, 47, – conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, conspiracy to traffic for sexual exploitation, possessing criminal property 
• They will be sentenced on 26 October.

Members of gang which trafficked women for sex convicted

Members of a gang which trafficked 19 women into prostitution at hotels across southern England and Wales have been convicted of their part in the operation. 

The women, from south-east Asia, advertised their services on a range of adult websites. Phone numbers given in the adverts, if dialled, would go through to a member of the gang who would then make contact with the woman in question. Almost 400 bookings were made at hotels between August 2013 and March 2015, mainly along the south coast, at locations as far afield as Gatwick, Exeter and Cardiff.

The room reservations were made using false details. Customers would pay for services on arrival at the hotel in cash which would then be paid into accounts controlled by members of the gang. In total, the operation generated hundreds of thousands of pounds, with credits of more than £88,000 paid into one bank account and more than £66,000 into another. 

Mobile phones seized from the defendants and sex workers showed hotel bookings, along with messages about the arrival of the women, their work, contact with clients and payment details. 

Three defendants, all from south-east Asia, were convicted of multiple offences yesterday (5 October) following a trial at the Old Bailey in London.

Kevin Thomson, from the CPS, said: 

“This was an organised operation designed to traffic women into prostitution, as shown by the variety of bank accounts used to run it and the sheer amount of funds it generated. These elements helped to provide compelling evidence of what these defendants were doing. 

“The gang exploited vulnerable women, putting them to work in situations which exposed them to serious potential risks. Once the women were caught up in the prostitution ring, it was invariably almost impossible for them to escape the life they had been forced into. 

“All the time, they were then earning what turned out to be huge sums of money for the defendants, who were responsible for running the operation without any regard for the women’s wellbeing.” 

Ends

Notes to Editors 

• The hotels used were located in Brighton, Gatwick, Bournemouth, Exeter, Maidstone, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Guildford, Cardiff, Windsor, Heathrow, Woking and Eastbourne. 
• Kevin Thomson is a lawyer with the CPS South East Complex Casework Unit.
• The members of the gang convicted were:
•     Hong Chin, 45, conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, conspiracy to traffic for sexual exploitation,                         possessing criminal property, using criminal property
•     Li Wei Gao, 44, – conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, conspiracy to traffic for sexual exploitation, possessing criminal property
•     Ting Li Lu, 47, – conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, conspiracy to traffic for sexual exploitation, possessing criminal property 
• They will be sentenced on 26 October.

Man sentenced for threatening to blow up G4S vans

A 20-year-old has today (29 September) been sent to a young offenders’ institution for two years for blackmailing his employer by threatening to blow up their vans. 

Daniel Garland, from County Durham, admitted to sending an anonymous letter to G4S’s Teesside depot on 11 January this year.

In the letter, Garland threatened to detonate a number of remote-controlled ‘mini-bombs’, which he said were attached to G4S vans and staff vehicles, if a demand for £1 million in cash was not met. He also threatened to cause harm to the partner and new-born baby of a fellow employee. 

Garland was working for G4S at the time. Suspicions were aroused during a police interview while a major hunt for the explosives was under way. His home was searched and a copy of the anonymous letter was found behind a poster. He admitted sending the bomb hoax, but denied it was in an attempt to blackmail G4S. 

Helen Cox from the CPS said: 

“Daniel Garland knowingly caused a huge amount of disruption for his employer, along with untold terror and anxiety for those he threatened. 

“He intended to frighten and distress his employer and colleagues but his actions had far-reaching consequences. They resulted in the deployment of a significant amount of police resources at the public expense, the near shut down of the G4S Teesside depot and subsequent losses of around £15,000 to the company.

“The CPS presented a case to court that made his actions, and the very serious impact they had, abundantly clear and he must now face the consequences of his behaviour.”

Man sentenced after importing childlike sex doll

A man has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years after importing a childlike sex doll he bought online. 

Simon Glerum, 33, admitted to arranging the import of a prohibited indecent or obscene article after purchasing the doll from Hong Kong and attempting to have it delivered to his Essex home. 

The doll was intercepted by Border Force officers at Stansted Airport in January this year and Glerum was arrested by Essex Police officers.   

Glerum also admitted three offences of making, or downloading, indecent images of children between 1 July 2014 and 19 January 2017, and the possession of eight prohibited images of children.

The CPS provided early advice to investigators, as well as specific guidance on how officers could establish - by tracking Glerum’s website use - that he intended to purchase a childlike doll, rather than a smaller adult doll as he originally insisted.  

Sarah Freeman, from the CPS, said: 

“Following the interception of the childlike sex doll, further serious offending was uncovered which was subsequently admitted by Simon Glerum. 

“The close ongoing work between the CPS, the police and other law enforcement agencies is proving crucial to identifying and investigating this type of offending and bringing it before the courts.”

Disability benefits cheat who spent holidays quad biking and scuba diving sentenced

A woman who claimed £65,000 in disability benefit over 21 years but spent holidays scuba diving and riding quad bikes has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years today (25 September).

Linda Hoey, 58, claimed £65,224 in Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from 1995 to 2016 declaring arthritis and back problems meant she could only walk four metres, could not walk unaided, was unable to bend, and would be housebound without the help of her husband.

However an investigation found Hoey had been in full time employment since 1997, performing physical tasks at odds with a person who had a severe disability. 

No walking aids were found at her home and family photos showed her playing pool and sitting on the back of a quad bike. A personalised calendar had images of her scuba diving and Hoey had regularly been playing badminton since 2011.

Hoey also avoided £15,690 in fees from the M6 Toll as she was using a Disability Living Allowance Mobility Exemption Pass Scheme to use the road to travel to and from work.

Ana Coomansingh, from the CPS, said: “Over an extensive period, Linda Hoey lied about her care needs to claim more than £65,000 in disability benefits whilst taking part in activities that people suffering in the way she claimed to be would not be able to do.

“These benefits were for people who were genuinely disabled. The evidence put forward by the CPS showed Hoey was leading a life of physical activity both at work and on holiday.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Linda Hoey denied two counts of cheating the public revenue and evasion of liability by deception but was convicted by a jury on 28 July after a trial at Stafford Crown Court.

• Ana Coomansingh is a Specialist Prosecutor in the Specialist Fraud Division

• Linda Hoey will now face a confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act.