CPS News Brief

Paedophile who encouraged abuse of boy in America jailed

A paedophile who encouraged the abuse of a young boy in America from his computer in Wales has been jailed today (July 12).

Darren Williams, 44, admitted encouraging or assisting the rape of a child and encouraging the distribution of indecent images at an earlier hearing at Cardiff Crown Court and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

The court heard how Williams used online conferencing software to view and discuss images of serious sexual abuse being perpetrated against children, including live abuse.

Transcripts from the chat room during the sexual abuse of a six-year-old boy in the United States showed how Williams encouraged the abuse.

Laura Tams, from the CPS, said:

“Darren Williams clearly took sadistic pleasure in the pain and horrendous sexual abuse being inflicted on very young children.

“The prosecution built a case which showed how by watching and encouraging the abuse from behind his computer screen, Williams was guilty of encouraging the rape thousands of miles away.

“This conviction was made possible through close partnership working with the authorities both in this country and around the world.”

Notes to Editors

• Darren Williams admitted one charge of encouraging rape and six of encouraging the distribution of indecent images of children
• Laura Tams is a Specialist Prosecutor with the CPS Organised Crime Division

Motorcyclists jailed after mass bike ride through city centre

Thirteen motorcyclists have been sentenced today (11 July) for taking part in a mass ride which caused widespread chaos in Leeds city centre.

Around 100 bikers were involved in the Halloween ‘ride-out’ in October 2016, which was arranged on social media. They split into two groups, driving en masse and at speed through red lights, on pavements and through a pedestrian precinct, busy with shoppers. Approximately 60 bikers drove through the Leeds central shopping arcade, a historic covered area, barely 16 feet wide.  

The police received over 160 complaints from members of the public. Emergency road closures were put in place to contain the disruption and a police helicopter was deployed.

The defendants pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance and each received a prison sentence of at least 12 months. David Armitage, 26, who organised the event online, was sentenced to two years in prison.

Another rider, Nicholas Flaherty, 30, was sentenced to 12 months for causing a public nuisance and four months for perverting the course of justice, by encouraging the other participants to dispose of evidence such as their bikes and clothing in the aftermath of the incident.

Michael Quinn from the CPS said:

“These defendants set out to cause what they termed online as, ‘carnage’ and ‘mayhem’ in Leeds that day. Many of the public were extremely frightened by these criminal acts.  It is only by good fortune that no one was seriously injured or killed.

“The CPS worked with police to ensure that those responsible faced charges that reflected the danger and widespread alarm they caused. Today’s sentences should leave them in no doubt of the serious consequences of this type of criminal behaviour. They risk custody and driving bans.”

 

Notes:

Omar Ahmed was sentenced to 12 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

David Ermitage was sentenced to two years in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months 

Ashley Benson was sentenced to 12 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Michael Clough was sentenced to 14 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Ben Colley was sentenced to 18 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Dean Fawcett was sentenced to 12 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Nicholas Flaherty was sentenced to 18 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Rachel Taylor was sentenced to 12 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Joshua Hawley was sentenced to 12 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Dylan Lockwood was sentenced to 12 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Adam Nicholson was sentenced to 12 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Anton Rojas was sentenced to 12 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Jamie Ayres was sentenced to 12 months in prison and disqualified from driving for 18 months

Men jailed for arranging distribution of indecent images via dark web

Two men who assisted the distribution of hundreds of thousands of indecent images of children via the dark web have been jailed today (10 Jul).

David Buckley, 54, and Brett McBain, 51, were sentenced to three years (Buckley) and five years (McBain) in prison at the Central Criminal Court.

McBain, of Balham, London, pleaded guilty to multiple charges relating to the distribution indecent images while Buckley, of Goole, East Yorkshire, admitted a single charge of conspiring to distribute images.

The court heard how McBain posted links to more than 200,000 indecent images on an area of the dark web he created with Buckley, who posted links to more than 30,000 indecent images. The sole purpose of the chat site was to share these images with subscribers.

Punam Chopra, from the CPS, said:

“By facilitating access to thousands of indecent images of children, these men helped to fuel a demand for further abuse on the dark web.

“McBain, helped by Buckley, set up and administrated the website over a two-year period. The CPS built an overwhelming case against both men with the result that both admitted their guilt in the face of the evidence."

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Notes to editors

• Punam Chopra is a Specialist Prosecutor with the CPS International Justice and Organised Crime Division.
• Brett McBain pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute indecent images of children, three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing indecent images of children, three counts of possessing extreme pornography and two counts of possession of prohibited images on 8 March 2017 at the Central Criminal Court.
• David Buckley pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute indecent images of children on 15 May 2017 at the Central Criminal Court.

Golf company director jailed for gross negligence manslaughter

A golf company director has been jailed today (10 July) after a ball collector drowned in a lake on a Welsh course.

Father-of-one Gareth Pugh, 29, died on 11 February 2016 while collecting golf balls at Peterstone Lake Golf Course near Newport.

Dale Pike, of Boss Golf Balls, pleaded guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence at Cardiff Crown Court in May and was sentenced to 32 months in prison today.

The court heard how Pike had agreed to pay Gareth to retrieve balls from the lake but the measures in place to ensure his safety were inadequate.

Iwan Jenkins, from the CPS, said:

“Dale Pike stood by and watched as Gareth entered the water knowing that safety regulations were being breached and which resulted in Gareth losing his life.

“There was clear evidence Pike had made enquiries with legitimate dive operators to cost this activity but he chose not to use them, instead falsely claiming to the golf club that he was a qualified commercial diver with his own equipment.

“Our thoughts are with Gareth’s family and friends and we thank them for their support throughout the legal process.”

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Notes to editors

• Iwan Jenkins is Head of the Complex Casework Unit for CPS Wales