Latest news with #SexualOffencesAct2003
South Wales Argus
08-05-2025
- South Wales Argus
Man arrested for ‘indecent exposure' in Ebbw Vale town
Reports of a man resisting arrest near Church Street were first received May 3. Locals claimed to have saw a police car 'bombing' through the town centre and 'someone kicking off' after being detained in a police van. It was later revealed that the incident took place at a commercial shop address. Man arrested for 'indecent exposure' in Ebbw Vale town (Van on scene) (Image: Callum Morgan) Eyewitnesses said: 'He was out in his boxers on the door.' Gwent Police said: 'At around 9.25am on Saturday 3 May, we received a report of indecent exposure inside a commercial address in Church Street, Ebbw Vale. 'Officers attended and a man was arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure. 'The man was released with no further action taken.' Indecent exposure is a crime under Section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and punishable by up to two years in prison on conviction.
Daily Record
27-04-2025
- Daily Record
Teen pushed away brute when they first met but he took advantage and plied her with drink and drugs
A Scots mum has bravely spoken out about the sex abuse she suffered as a teenager by the beast who plied her with drink and drugs. The woman, who can't be named for legal reasons, spoke out after her abuser, Craig McWilliams, was convicted of preying on her and two other youngsters. The woman lifted the lid on her experience with the 39-year-old, after he was convicted of a number of charges and jailed last year for abusing the trio between 2004 and 2008. She said: "I was 14 when I met him and he was 21. I used to go watch boys play in my year and Craig was watching the game one Saturday. After the game I was going for a drink with my mates when he invited a bunch of us back to his. "There was a big group of us and there were boys we knew coming, so it was safety in numbers. That night he tried to kiss me and I pushed him away. But we kept going up at weekends over winter which then led to going after school. "He introduced us to cannabis and was always getting us drink. I didn't recognise it as grooming at the time. It is funny because when I first met him I wanted him so far away from me, but within months I'd lost my virginity to him." Edinburgh Live reports she added: "I'd never been with anyone before, let alone being 14 and losing your virginity to a 21-year-old. I fell completely in love with him after that." McWilliams, of Armadale, West Lothian, pled guilty on September 30, 2024, to sexually abusing and engaging in sexual intercourse with three females, under the age of 16, between September 2004 and April 2008. He also pled guilty to using 'lewd and libidinous practices and behaviours' against the three youths aged between 14 and 15-years-old at the time. The first charge related to two incidents in September 2004 and July 2005 when Craig was aged 19 and his victim was aged 14. The second charge related to two incidents in June 2005 and June 2006 when Craig was aged 19 and 20 and his victim was aged 15. His third charge related to January 2007 and April 2008 when Craig was 21 and 22 and his victim was 15. He moved to Broxburn and later Livingston, two locations the survivor would often visit alone at the age of 14 and 15. She added: " I was so infatuated with him. I would travel to Broxburn pretending I was staying with a friend and later Deans which I had to take two buses to get to. "He would always send me to go and pick up drugs for him. I'd get sent because I was a child's bus fare and it would be cheaper for him but I started feeling uneasy, it was so uncomfortable being a girl and approaching drug dealers." It took years for her to consider going to police after telling a social worker her story. She was advised to consider legal action which led to her reaching out to other females who had underage interactions with Craig in the past. Craig was sentenced on October 21 2024 to 18 months imprisonment in cumulo across all three charges and was made subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for a period of 10 years. While in court, the judge heard sickening details of his sex crimes. In all three cases he engaged in sexual intercourse with the underage girls. Craig's sentencing took into account the legal guidelines at the time he committed the crimes - meaning he received a far lesser sentence than if he had committed the acts today. While the survivor is grateful Craig received a custodial sentence, she feels let down by the process. She said: "I was glad he got at least a prison sentence considering how soft Scotland is on predators. "But the sentence having six months off for a guilty plea and then giving 18 months but out on nine months with good behaviour is not right. "If this happened now, he would have been given much longer. He should not benefit from what the law was at the time. It feels like he is getting perks when he has inflicted lifelong trauma on people."
RTÉ News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Laurence Fox denies sharing upskirting photo of TV star
Laurence Fox has denied sharing a compromising photo of TV star Narinder Kaur on social media. The actor-turned-politician is alleged to have shared a compromising image in a tweet posted in April 2024 of Kaur, who appears regularly on Good Morning Britain and has previously appeared on GB News. Fox, of Peldon in Essex in the UK, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, charged with two counts under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He is accused of sharing a "photograph or film of person in intimate state intending to cause alarm, distress or humiliation", in the first count, while the second alleges he sent a "photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress or humiliation". The 46-year-old, wearing grey jeans and a light blue shirt, spoke to confirm his identity and enter not guilty pleas to both charges. The police previously said Fox had been "charged with an offence contrary to section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003", which "relates to an image that was posted on a social media platform in April 2024". Section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act relates to "cyber flashing". The charge, introduced in the UK in 2023, makes it an offence to intentionally share a sexual image of someone without consent, with the aim of causing alarm, distress, humiliation or for sexual gratification. Upskirting, taking pictures of people under their clothes without their permission, became a specific criminal offence in 2019. Offenders can face up to two years in jail and be placed on the sex offenders' register. During the brief hearing, Fox elected for a jury trial at the UK Crown Court. He will appear at Woolwich Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing on 23 May. Fox was fired from GB News in October 2023 after an on-air rant about journalist Ava Evans. He previously starred as James Hathaway in ITV's drama series Lewis.
Sky News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Laurence Fox denies sharing upskirting photo of TV star Narinder Kaur
Laurence Fox has denied sharing a compromising photo of TV star Narinder Kaur on social media. The 46-year-old is alleged to have shared a compromising image in a tweet posted in April 2024 of Kaur, who appears regularly on Good Morning Britain and has previously appeared on GB News. Fox, of Peldon in Essex, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, charged with two counts under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. He is accused in the first count of sharing a "photograph or film of the person in an intimate state intending to cause alarm, distress or humiliation". The second alleges he sent a "photograph or film of genitals to cause alarm, distress or humiliation". Kaur has waived her right to anonymity. Fox, who has recently attempted to enter the world of politics, spoke to confirm his identity and enter not guilty pleas to both charges. The police previously said Fox had been "charged with an offence contrary to section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003" which "relates to an image that was posted on a social media platform in April 2024". Section 66A of the Sexual Offences Act relates to "cyber flashing". The charge, introduced in 2023, makes it an offence to intentionally share a sexual image of someone without consent, with the aim of causing alarm, distress, humiliation or for sexual gratification. Upskirting, taking pictures of people under their clothes without their permission, became a specific criminal offence in 2019. Fox elected for a jury trial at crown court and will appear at Woolwich Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing on 23 May. Hailing from the well-known Fox acting family dynasty, Fox is best known for his role in Inspector Morse spin-off, Lewis. Fox was fired from a presenter role at GB News in October 2023 after the channel deemed comments he's made about a female journalist "totally unacceptable".
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Laurence Fox denies sharing upskirting photo
Actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox has denied sharing a compromising photo of former Big Brother contestant Narinder Kaur on social media. The 46-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with two counts under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
