Latest news with #SexualOffencesPreventionOrder
STV News
2 days ago
- General
- STV News
Former children's home manager convicted of historical abuse of ten children
A former children's home manager has been convicted of historical abuse of young people. Edward Stanton preyed on a total of ten victims including raping one girl. Jurors heard how at least one boy tried to raise the alarm what was happening, but that the accusations were 'brushed under the carpet'. The abuse occurred at three different children's homes in Lanarkshire. Stanton, now 73, had been the manager at one and a carer at the other two between 1985 and 1994. He had denied the accusations during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. But, he was found guilty of 11 charges after the jury heard distressing accounts of how the victims had suffered over the years. Following the verdicts, it emerged he was previously jailed for 13 years in 1996 for historical abuse of boys at a children's home in Merseyside. In 2021, he was convicted of attacks on two other youngsters at the same establishment around that time. Stanton has also been jailed for possessing indecent images of children and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. He remains in custody and will be sentenced for these latest crimes at a later date. The trial was told how Stanton was physically abusive to a boy and carried out sex attacks on a teenage girl including at a campsite in Dumfries. Stanton preyed on another victim while she was initially asleep. A victim recalled how he was only young at the time, but knew what was happening was 'not right'. He was left feeling 'scared' of Stanton. One resident was molested while in a tent. This boy had alerted a member of staff at the time, but he was 'not believed'. He said he and others were 'vulnerable children…meant to be in a place of safety'. But, he added reports of such matters appeared to be 'brushed under the carpet'. Another boy was also left terrified of Stanton who gave him money to effectively buy his silence. A further victim remembered speaking to staff, but 'nothing was done'. In his closing speech to jurors, prosecutor Scott McKenzie said one then resident recalled Stanton as initially being 'nice' and that he had never previously had anyone show him any attention. But, the violent bully soon showed his 'true colours' by repeatedly punching and kicking him. One girl was aged around seven when Stanton targeted her and went on to rape her. The final victim on the indictment had only been at the children's home where Stanton was then based for two nights, but he was still able to take advantage of her. She has been left suffering from 'flashbacks'. Stanton was convicted of charges of rape, numerous indecent assaults, lewd and libidinous behaviour as well as physical attacks. Judge Andrew Miller deferred sentencing for reports. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Press and Journal
29-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Moray ‘monster' serial rapist could face life sentence after breaching order
A serial rapist who flouted a strict sex offence order by contacting two women and a girl from behind bars could be facing a life sentence. Edward Moir was jailed for seven years in 2014 for attacking three vulnerable females in Elgin, Moray and Macduff. The 34 year-old – who once claimed to be a 'new kind of monster' – was made subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) in January 2023. He had been locked up again for sending what was described as a 'disgusting' letter to a woman while in jail for the rapes. These latest crimes then occurred while he was in HMP Edinburgh in 2024. Moir today appeared via video-link from prison at the High Court in Glasgow having admitted, at a hearing last month, three charges of breaching the SOPO. Lord Colbeck said a pre-sentencing report had assessed the rapist as remaining at a 'high-risk' of further sexual offending. The judge told Moir's lawyer Simon Gilbride: 'What concerns me is the apparent unwillingness to take part in the necessary courses within prison to address difficulties. 'It almost seems controlling like: 'I am only doing what I want to do'. 'This is a worry in the context of sexual offending.' Mr Gilbride accepted the report was 'concerning' and that he could not oppose a full risk assessment being carried out on Moir. This could eventually lead to a strict Order for Lifelong Restriction being imposed. The case was adjourned and a further hearing is to take place in Inverness on August 26. Prosecutor Vish Kathuria told the court last month how police and prison authorities became aware of phone contact which breached the terms of Moir's SOPO. Moir had been in touch with one woman dozens of times between March and June 2024. He had also been in contact with a five-year-old girl around that time. There had been nearly 30 calls to the number of another woman, which eventually led to her blocking him. Moir raped three women during attacks between 2010 and 2013. He was convicted following a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen. In 2021, Moir was guilty of indecently communicating with a woman who he barely knew. In the letter, he asked her to be his 'secret lover'. Moir also chillingly stated prison had 'turned him into a new kind of monster'. The woman who received the letter was said to be 'absolutely disgusted' and contacted police.
Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Moment paedo arrested after being caught with six-year-old girl on street – before cops make terrifying discovery
THIS IS the moment where two police officers caught a known paedophile using Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology. The sex offender was picked up by officers who made a chilling discovery when they reached him. 5 Met Police used facial recognition technology to catch a registered sex offender Credit: Metropolitan Police 5 Police discovered the criminal with a six-year-old girl Credit: Metropolitan Police 5 The convicted sex offenders was discovered to have a knife hidden under his belt Credit: Metropolitan Police David Cheneler, 76, was found with a six-year-old girl in the shocking footage. The incident occurred on January 10, this year, in the busy Denmark Hill area of London. Officers can be heard telling him to 'keep his voice down' while he shouted and held an arm up to a female police officer. The known sex offender said that he was taking the girl 'from school to her mum' and claimed that they had taken the 'wrong bus'. Read More on UK News TOMMY CHARGED Tommy Robinson charged with harassment hours after judge agreed early release One cop responded by reminding Cheneler that he was banned from being alone with any child below the age of 14, due to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). Cheneler tried bargaining with the officers in the video, captured by a body cam, by offering to show them 'something you won't probably find'. In exchange, he asked the officers to 'undo him' - in a reference to his handcuffs. Following that, the registered sex offender made a chilling admission saying: 'It's a little knife, I've got on me'. Officers retrieved a lock knife from his belt buckle and before arresting him for breaching the order. The cop, who had told Cheneler to keep his voice down, read him his rights before hauling him to the station. The LFR technology had been fitted on a police van in Denmark Hill and was scanning for known offenders in the area. Further enquiries by cops uncovered that Cheneler had picked up the girl as a favour to her mother - something he had done twice before, after building up a relationship with them over a year. However, the unnamed girl's mother was unaware of the sex offender's SOPO. Cheneler was jailed for two years on May 20, after pleading guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and breaking the terms of his SOPO. 5 David Cheneler had previously been convicted of over 20 sex offences Credit: Metropolitan Police The Sexual Offences Prevention Order in 2019, after being convicted of 15 counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16. He had also been convicted of five counts of gross indecency with a child between 1968 and 1993, which led to a nine-year prison term, After Cheneler's arrest in 2025, the Met's lead for Live Facial Recognition said that the operation wouldn't have been possible without facial recognition. Lindsey Chiswick said: 'The Met is committed to making London safer, using data and technology to identify offenders that pose a risk to our communities. 'This is a prime example of the variety of uses for LFR. The tool is not only used to find those wanted, but also to stop people on a watch list who have conditions they must adhere to. 'These interventions are crucial. Without this technology, Cheneler may have had the opportunity to cause further harm.' Detective Constable Adam Pearce, who led the investigation, added: 'This is a prime example of how the Met is using technology to remove dangerous offenders from our streets, and Live Facial Recognition remains an important tool in protecting Londoners. 'Although there were no allegations made towards David Cheneler on this occasion, it's possible if he hadn't been identified using this technology, he could have gone on to abuse this child. 'Her mother was completely unaware of his offending history, and along with her young daughter, were both taken advantage of by Cheneler who abused their trust.'
The Irish Sun
21-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Moment paedo arrested after being caught with six-year-old girl on street – before cops make terrifying discovery
THIS IS the moment where two police officers caught a known paedophile using Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology. The sex offender was 5 Met Police used facial recognition technology to catch a registered sex offender Credit: Metropolitan Police 5 Police discovered the criminal with a six-year-old girl Credit: Metropolitan Police 5 The convicted sex offenders was discovered to have a knife hidden under his belt Credit: Metropolitan Police David Cheneler, 76, was found with a six-year-old girl in the shocking footage. The incident occurred on January 10, this year, in the busy Denmark Hill area of London. Officers can be heard telling him to 'keep his voice down' while he shouted and held an arm up to a female police officer. The known sex offender said that he was taking the girl 'from school to her mum' and claimed that they had taken the 'wrong bus'. Read More on UK News One cop responded by reminding Cheneler that he was banned from being alone with any child below the age of 14, due to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). Cheneler tried bargaining with the officers in the video, captured by a body cam, by offering to show them 'something you won't probably find'. In exchange, he asked the officers to 'undo him' - in a reference to his handcuffs. Following that, the registered sex offender made a chilling admission saying: 'It's a little knife, I've got on me'. Most read in The Sun Officers retrieved a lock knife from his belt buckle and before arresting him for breaching the order. The cop, who had told Cheneler to keep his voice down, read him his rights before hauling him to the station. The LFR technology had been fitted on a police van in Denmark Hill and was scanning for known offenders in the area. Further enquiries by cops uncovered that Cheneler had picked up the girl as a favour to her mother - something he had done twice before, after building up a relationship with them over a year. However, the unnamed girl's mother was unaware of the sex offender's SOPO. Cheneler was jailed for two years on May 20, after pleading guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and breaking the terms of his SOPO. 5 David Cheneler had previously been convicted of over 20 sex offences Credit: Metropolitan Police The Sexual Offences Prevention Order in 2019, after being convicted of 15 counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16. He had also been convicted of five counts of gross indecency with a child between 1968 and 1993, which led to a nine-year prison term, After Cheneler's arrest in 2025, the Met's lead for Live Facial Recognition said that the operation wouldn't have been possible without facial recognition. Lindsey Chiswick said: 'The Met is committed to making London safer, using data and technology to identify offenders that pose a risk to our communities. 'This is a prime example of the variety of uses for LFR. The tool is not only used to find those wanted, but also to stop people on a watch list who have conditions they must adhere to. 'These interventions are crucial. Without this technology, Cheneler may have had the opportunity to cause further harm.' Detective Constable Adam Pearce, who led the investigation, added: 'This is a prime example of how the Met is using technology to remove dangerous offenders from our streets, and Live Facial Recognition remains an important tool in protecting Londoners. 'Although there were no allegations made towards David Cheneler on this occasion, it's possible if he hadn't been identified using this technology, he could have gone on to abuse this child. 'Her mother was completely unaware of his offending history, and along with her young daughter, were both taken advantage of by Cheneler who abused their trust.' 5 Cheneler was sentenced to another two years behind bars Credit: Metropolitan Police
The Sun
21-05-2025
- The Sun
Moment paedo arrested after being caught with six-year-old girl on street – before cops make terrifying discovery
THIS IS the moment where two police officers caught a known paedophile using Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology. The sex offender was picked up by officers who made a chilling discovery when they reached him. 5 5 5 David Cheneler, 76, was found with a six-year-old girl in the shocking footage. The incident occurred on January 10, this year, in the busy Denmark Hill area of London. Officers can be heard telling him to 'keep his voice down' while he shouted and held an arm up to a female police officer. The known sex offender said that he was taking the girl 'from school to her mum' and claimed that they had taken the 'wrong bus'. One cop responded by reminding Cheneler that he was banned from being alone with any child below the age of 14, due to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO). Cheneler tried bargaining with the officers in the video, captured by a body cam, by offering to show them 'something you won't probably find'. In exchange, he asked the officers to 'undo him' - in a reference to his handcuffs. Following that, the registered sex offender made a chilling admission saying: 'It's a little knife, I've got on me'. Officers retrieved a lock knife from his belt buckle and before arresting him for breaching the order. The cop, who had told Cheneler to keep his voice down, read him his rights before hauling him to the station. The LFR technology had been fitted on a police van in Denmark Hill and was scanning for known offenders in the area. Further enquiries by cops uncovered that Cheneler had picked up the girl as a favour to her mother - something he had done twice before, after building up a relationship with them over a year. However, the unnamed girl's mother was unaware of the sex offender's SOPO. Cheneler was jailed for two years on May 20, after pleading guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and breaking the terms of his SOPO. 5 The Sexual Offences Prevention Order in 2019, after being convicted of 15 counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16. He had also been convicted of five counts of gross indecency with a child between 1968 and 1993, which led to a nine-year prison term, After Cheneler's arrest in 2025, the Met's lead for Live Facial Recognition said that the operation wouldn't have been possible without facial recognition. Lindsey Chiswick said: 'The Met is committed to making London safer, using data and technology to identify offenders that pose a risk to our communities. 'This is a prime example of the variety of uses for LFR. The tool is not only used to find those wanted, but also to stop people on a watch list who have conditions they must adhere to. 'These interventions are crucial. Without this technology, Cheneler may have had the opportunity to cause further harm.' Detective Constable Adam Pearce, who led the investigation, added: 'This is a prime example of how the Met is using technology to remove dangerous offenders from our streets, and Live Facial Recognition remains an important tool in protecting Londoners. 'Although there were no allegations made towards David Cheneler on this occasion, it's possible if he hadn't been identified using this technology, he could have gone on to abuse this child. 'Her mother was completely unaware of his offending history, and along with her young daughter, were both taken advantage of by Cheneler who abused their trust.'
