Child rapist, puppy farmer and racist Pontins dad all spared jail

A child rapist, a puppy farmer and a racist who spouted vile abuse at Pontins have been spared jail this month.

These are the people who came before the courts but were given a chance by judges and magistrates and weren't sent straight to jail.

Instead these offenders were handed either a suspended sentence or a community sentence, with their punishment managed outside of jail.

When determining sentence, judges and magistrates must adhere to a set of guidelines outlined by the Sentencing Council and take into consideration a number of factors.

These include determining what risk of reoffending the defendant poses, whether there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation and if immediate custody will result in a significant harmful impact on others

In some cases where the custodial threshold is not passed - and neither a suspended sentence nor immediate custody are appropriate - a community order or a conditional discharge may be imposed.

Alistair Frederick

A child rapist walked free from court due to 'exceptional circumstances'.

Alistair Frederick raped a boy when he was a teenager, and claims the abuse was consensual and part of "sexual experimentation", despite the victim being too young to consent to sexual behaviour.

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A court heard the now 31-year-old had sexually touched, raped, and shown pornography to the young victim.

Frederick, from Weston Grove, Halewood, admitted causing a child to watch a sexual act, raping a child under 13 and three counts of causing or engaging a child under 13 to engage in a sexual act.

He was acquitted of other charges following a trial.

He was handed a 20 month sentence suspended for 12 months and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

He must also complete 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.

Judge Stuart Driver, QC, called it a "difficult case" with "exceptional circumstances," adding that although Frederick claimed the abuse between the pair was consensual and it was part of "sexual experimentation," the victim could not consent in the eyes of the law.

He added: "The sentence must be reflected with the reduced culpability of the young person who committed the offence."

Ricky Brettle

A racist dad called a security guard 'diseased' in a vile outburst at Pontins on August 21 last year.

Ricky Brettle was visiting the family holiday camp in Southport with his son, partner and extended family, when he hurled horrific insults at Kieran Ashby.

Among his insults were "diseased monkey", "n*****" and "black c***".

The 41-year-old also picked up one of his young children and began pointing and laughing at Mr Ashby, saying "monkey".

He claimed the abuse began after someone said "shut the kid up" in reference to his son, sparking an outburst and "disturbing the bingo".

When Mr Ashby removed Brettle from the bingo hall he began to spout the vile views, which he claims "is no reflection of him as a person in terms of any beliefs he holds".

Brettle, of Gordon Street, Darwen, in Blackburn, admitted using racial language but denied some of the alleged comments.

Brettle has 19 convictions for 48 offences.

He was handed a 16 week sentence suspended for 12 months and must complete 10 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.

He must also undertake 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £400 in compensation to his victim.

Michael Moon

A man grew £23,000 worth of cannabis in his room after losing his job.

Michael Moon initially said the plants were for personal use before dropping his claims.

Police found high powered lights and powerpacks in the 38-year-old's home during a raid on April 28.

Officers also discovered a line of cocaine, electronic scales, two small bags of cocaine, nine snapbags of cannabis and a mobile phone which gave away his "ounce deals".

A court heard there was potential for £71,000 worth of cannabis to be grown in the Widnes home.

Moon, of Cherry Sutton, Widnes, has previous convictions for 10 offences.

He admitted producing a Class B drug, possession with intent to supply a Class B drug, and simple possession of a Class A drug.

He was handed 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours unpaid work and 25 days on a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Hannah Kellett

A mum was spared jail this month after breaking her friend's skull when she sat on her car bonnet.

Hannah Kellett sat parked up in her Audi S3 when Emma Currie climbed on top of the car on September 17 last year.

A resident of the Warrington street, who said there was 'always drama' when the car was driven, looked on as the Audi driver first revved the engine in warning, before accelerating down the street with Ms Currie clinging to the bonnet.

After stopping suddenly Kellett caused her friend to fall from the bonnet and suffer serious head injuries including a bleed on her brain.

Kellett, who has no previous convictions admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

She was handed a 12 month sentence suspended for two years as well as 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Kellett, of Grasmere Avenue, Warrington, was also disqualified from driving for three years and must take an extended retest and had her licence endorsed.

Andrew Pickup

A drunken man who sexually assaulted a nurse as she treated him in hospital has been spared jail.

Andrew Pickup was admitted to the Royal Liverpool Hospital in July last year after suffering a seizure.

The 38-year-old then started asking the nurse suggestive questions and asked if she had a boyfriend.

He then smacked the nurse on the bottom, leaving her "shocked" and "upset", prompting her to confide in a colleague who went on to tell police.

His legal representative says Pickup "remembers very little if anything" not only because he was "intoxicated" but also because "he suffers seizures following a brain injury eight or nine years ago".

He said he was "ashamed" and says it was "out of character".

Pickup, of The Shires, St Helens, admitted one count of sexual assault.

Pickup, who has no relevant previous convictions, was handed a 12 month community order and must complete 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay his victim £500 in compensation and pay prosecution costs of £85 as well as a £95 victim surcharge.

Pickup must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

Chloe Robinson

A woman who would make thousands from an illegal puppy selling operation said she couldn't remember what she spent the money on.

Chloe Robinson was hauled before the courts after selling a pug puppy for £1,200 before it died hours after being collected.

She was reported to charity Animal Protection Services after vets were unable to save the dog. A court heard the 26-year-old stood to make £12,000 from her illegal operation.

She admitted operating a business selling puppies without a licence in Birkenhead.

Robinson, of Mansell Road, Kensington, was handed a 12 month community order, with an electronically monitored curfew lasting eight weeks.

She was also ordered to repay the £1,200 purchase price and the costs of the veterinary treatment and was banned from keeping dogs for three years.

Daniel Rowlands

A man who brandished a fake gun surrendered to armed police 'in the nick of time'.

Daniel Rowlands was seen to seemingly wave a gun in the air on Hoylake Road in February last year.

When armed police vehicles arrived on February 27 he began to reach for the imitation firearm in his waistband as an officer pointed a carbine at him.

The 25-year-old eventually surrendered - but a judge told him he could easily have been shot and killed.

A court heard in 2017 he had also threatened his ex, telling her he would "cut her into pieces".

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, said he has a "number of past convictions including unpleasant violence in relation to family members".

The judge added: "That has to be seen in the context of his diagnosis of mental health."

He was convicted of sending threatening and abusive messages and possession of an imitation firearm.

Judge Menary noted that in addition to a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia Rowlands has "other related issues which no doubt prove a real challenge for you in daily life".

Rowlands, of Lansdowne Road, Birkenhead, was ordered to complete a two year community order with 25 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.

James Fitzpatrick

A man threatened his neighbours with an axe and threw it through their living room window.

The couple had only been living next to James Fitzpatrick for a matter of weeks when he began "ranting and raving" outside their home on September 21 last year.

The couple had made a comment about the way the 51-year-old looks after his dog, prompting him to first kick their front door before going back the next day with an axe and ultimately smashing it through their window.

The court heard Fitzpatrick, of Rumney Place, Kirkdale, has previous convictions, but that it had been a "long time" since he was last before a court.

Fitzpatrick admitted common assault, two counts of criminal damage and possession of a bladed weapon.

He was handed a 12 month sentence suspended for 18 months and must complete 40 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 120 hours of unpaid work.

The judge also imposed an indefinite restraining order preventing Fitzpatrick from contacting the victims and he must pay £600 in compensation.

Magdelana Sraskowska

A woman who threw a bottle of whiskey at her boyfriend's face after 'provocation' was spared an immediate custodial sentence.

Magdelana Sraskowska appeared in court after she was charged with common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm after the incident on December 21 last year.

The court heard that 28-year-old knocked her then partner's teeth after hitting him with the bottle.

She has no previous convictions and was "remorseful", her barrister told the court.

Sentencing Sraskowska, of Kensington, the judge said: "I can't form a judgement as to what went on in your relationship between you and him", adding he had been urged to take the view there was a "background by way of provocation to cause you to react in the way you did".

She was handed a 12 month jail sentence suspended for 18 months and must complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 100 hours of unpaid work. She must also pay her ex £250 in compensation.

Anthony Ellis

A pervert who had upskirt pictures of girls in the uniforms told a '13-year-old' he wanted to 'take her top off'.

Anthony Ellis spoke to what he thought were two underage girls on an online chatroom.

Among the messages the 60-year-old, from Huyton, said he wanted to treat one '13-year-old' like his 'daur', meaning daughter.

He also said that he would buy her a cider if she would kiss him and 'let him feel her legs'.

He spoke to one 'girl' between December 18, 2019 and February 5, 2020 while chatting to another between February 3, 2019 and March 12 last year.

Ellis, of Knowsley Lane, Huyton, admitted two counts of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child.

A court heard he is of previous good character.

Ellis was handed a 6 month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months.

He must complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.

Ellis was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years.

David Brimlow

A drunken hoax caller who told police he was fighting a gang of armed men at his home prompted a 12 officers to attend his home.

David Brimlow told a 999 call handler he had stabbed four of the men, but when police arrived they found only the 34-year-old who was drunk.

He was arrested for wasting police time after spending around 23 minutes on the 999 call.

Brimlow, of Porthleven Road, Brookvale, Runcorn, admitted the charge when hauled before the courts.

Brimlow’s previous convictions included drunk and disorderly, drink driving and production of cannabis.

After being caught with 70 plants he received a 20-month suspended sentence - which he was in breach of at the time of his hoax call.

He was handed an 18 month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work, an 8pm-to-6am curfew and 30 days on a rehabilitation requirement with an alcohol treatment requirement.

Joseph McCarthy

A man broke his brother's nose and told him "I'll be back to kill you" after a row sparked by their dad's funeral arrangements.

Joseph McCarthy went to his brother's flat on February 2, 2019, and as soon as he opened the door repeatedly punched him to the face.

As the 50-year-old battered his brother, Geoffrey McCarthy, he claimed "you killed my dad", before being pushed out of the home.

A court heard their father had died two years previously after which the men fell out over funeral payments and how their father's tools were being used.

His legal representative said: "The defendant's father's death affected him in a very adverse way. He bitterly regrets falling out with his brother."

McCarthy, of Walton Park, Walton, has previous convictions for motoring offences in 2009 but hasn't committed relevant offences, the court heard.

He admitted one count of common assault.

McCarthy was given a 12 month community order and must complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 75 hours unpaid work.

A two year restraining order preventing McCarthy from contacting his brother was also imposed.

Robert Billson

A businessman blamed 'work pressure' after he was caught with extreme porn involving dead babies.

Robert Billson was living at The Church Of The Holy Spirit in Dovecot when he downloaded photos so sickening their details cannot be published.

The 63-year-old had files categorised as extreme pornography which included horrifying acts involving dead children.

His "vile" library of pictures included 500 illegal images which a judge branded "seriously extreme".

Billson, now of Draycott Road, Bournemouth, admitted three counts of downloading and one count of possessing indecent images of children, plus possessing prohibited images and extreme porn.

Sentencing Billson, Judge Garrett Byrne said: "It seems to me he's 63-years-old, he's got no previous convictions, he's pleaded guilty, so he must be in the suspended sentence territory."

The judge added: "In the circumstances, taking into account the relevant Sentencing Council guidelines on the imposition of custodial sentences, I'm of the view that I can and must impose a term of imprisonment which can be suspended, and that's what I'm going to do."

Billson was handed 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, a 60-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a two-month home curfew, from 7pm to 6am daily.

Billson must sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.

John Blackwood

A husband held a knife to his wife's throat as he told her he wanted to murder her.

A court heard John Blackwood committed a "catalogue of bullying and psychological abuse" against Elizabeth Blackwood and "broke her spirit".

His brave victim faced him in court as she told a judge about the misery she suffered and how he had "deceived" her into selling her home and giving him £40,000.

On one occasion, on September 21, 2018, after the victim had been out with a friend, they argued in the kitchen and Blackwood "got the biggest knife out of the drawer and was pointing it to the complainant, in her face".

He then "gestured with it across her throat and told her he wanted to murder her", a court heard.

Blackwood, of Stringhey Road, Egremont, Wirral, admitted three counts of violence.

He has one previous conviction for drink driving in 2009.

Blackwood was handed 14 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement, 200 hours of unpaid work, and a seven-year restraining order.

Christopher Wildman

A paedophile threatened to rape and kidnap a 12-year-old girl on Instagram.

Christopher Wildman also asked the schoolgirl for pictures of herself and said he wanted her to dress up in costumes.

The 46-year-old asked the girl to send him a photo, which she refused to do, amid messages sent over two to three months.

In one "alarming" message Wildman wrote "I would rape you".

Wildman, of Windleshaw Road, St Helens, has no previous convictions.

He initially denied engaging in sexual communication with a child, but eventually admitted the offence.

Wildman was given a nine month sentence suspended for 18 months.

He must also complete 60 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and 60 hours of unpaid work.

Wildman will also be required to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years, and an indefinite restraining order preventing him from approaching the school or home of his victim was also imposed.

Paul Carr

Paul Carr was spared jail after blowing the roof off his family home when he accidentally set of fireworks in his bedroom.

The horrific explosion not only destroyed his attic room but also resulted in Carr losing his right hand and his index finger and thumb on his left hand.

The then 25-year-old told a paramedic he unintentionally started the fire while "grinding industrial fireworks to be turned into gunpowder".

Carr later admitted his guilt on the basis he was trying to combine two fireworks.

A court heard his mum and eight-year-old cousin were in the home at the time, on September 12, 2017, and were taken to hospital after suffering smoke inhalation, but suffered no permanent injuries.

Carr's representative in court said: "It's an unusual case in the sense that the defendant is in reality both the defendant and the victim in this case.

"He suffered extremely serious physical injuries in the blast."

The court heard Carr also suffered burns to his chest, arms and legs, which required skin grafts.

The 28-year-old has five previous convictions for nine offences, none of which are relevant to his current offence.

A judge gave Carr 20 months in prison, suspended for two years, with a 20-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

Jack Gilleeney

A dad who was caught dealing ketamine and cannabis was spared jail after lying to a judge.

The judge said he was giving Jack Gilleeney a chance, adding "but I really mean one chance".

The 24-year-old had pretended he was minding the drugs but on the day he was due to face a Newton Hearing - a form of mini trial based on facts - he pleaded guilty to the offences on the full facts.

A court heard how during a police raid officers found up to £2,040 worth of drugs.

Gilleeney, now of Newton-Le-Willows, admitted possession of cocaine, possession with intent to supply ketamine and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

He has 23 previous convictions for 41 offences, which include burglary and possession of drugs.

Gilleeney was handed a sentence of 12 months suspended for 18 months and must complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.

Samuel Heron

A student who secretly filmed himself having sex with a girl shared it in a rugby WhatsApp group.

Samuel Heron took a 16 second clip without the woman's knowledge and shared it with his mates.

After discovering what had happened the woman informed police and 23-year-old Heron was subsequently arrested and charged.

Heron, of Malvern Road, Kensington, previously admitted one count of voyeurism.

He has no previous convictions.

Heron was handed a 20-week sentence suspended for 18 months and must complete five Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and the Horizons Programme.

He must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.

A three-year restraining order preventing Heron from contacting his victim or speaking about her was also imposed.

Peter Chubb

A paedophile who 'photoshopped' a little girl's picture onto a sex abuse image claimed it was 'art'.

A district judge branded Peter Chubb's excuse as 'nonsense' after police found he had saved the image 204 times.

The 68-year-old had superimposed the girl's image onto the picture - and her mum was forced to identify her in it.

The mum said "I was sick to my stomach" after realising how the image had been used.

Chubb, of Cooper Street, St Helens, has no previous convictions.

He admitted one count of possession of 204 category C images of a child.

Chubb was handed a six-month sentence suspended for two years and imposed an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting the child.

He must complete 40 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements and a six week curfew from 7pm to 7am was imposed.

Chubb must also pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £122. He must also sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.

Heather Hannah

Heather Hannah sneaked money from a 90-year-old woman's purse in a "wicked" theft.

The carer was captured on camera stealing £20 from the OAP she was supposed to be helping.

The woman had alerted her sons, two of whom are ex police officers, after becoming suspicious of Hannah's actions.

Her sons noted the serial numbers on the notes in their mum's purse and later set up the camera which would catch Hannah red-handed.

The 53-year-old claimed she "respected" and "admired" the pensioner she worked for, and a court heard she became "fed up of being taken advantage of" after her role expanded and she did not receive any more money.

Hannah, of Queens Road, Southport, admitted one count of theft after stealing the money.

She has no previous convictions.

Hannah was handed a one year community order with a mental health treatment requirement of six months.

She must also comply with a 20 week curfew from 7pm-7am and will pay costs of £85, compensation of £20 and a victim surcharge of £90.

Paige Thomason

A beautician previously convicted of leading police on a high speed chase while high has been given another chance after appearing in the dock again.

Paige Thomason was handed a suspended sentence last March after she reached 120mph on the M58 while high on crack cocaine, heroin and alcohol in June 2019.

But she was back in court for possession of crack cocaine earlier this month - breaching the terms of her suspended sentence.

The 28-year-old was given another chance when the judge heard about the positive impact a previous Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR).

The requirement means Thomason will have to undergo regular drug testing, treatment and court reviews to monitor progress.

Thomason, of Chirkdale Street, Walton, has three previous convictions for eight offences.

She admitted one count of possession of crack cocaine, which breached her previous sentence.

Thomason was handed a one year community order with a one year DRR requirement.

She must also complete five Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.

Thomas McClelland

A dad who beat his disabled girlfriend after she walked in on him with a sex worker.

Helen Walker said she went to visit Thomas McClelland after she became concerned about his welfare, but when she went to his flat a woman she believed to be a sex worker walked in.

After the woman left McClelland, 46, lashed out at his girlfriend, who suffers from MS and fibromyalgia.

He "punched her once to the face with a closed fist", a court heard, before pulling her to the ground, kicking her and banging her head against the floor.

McClelland, of Radstock Road, Fairfield, admitted one count of assault by beating.

He has previous convictions for theft of a vehicle, burglary, arson and criminal damage but has no previous convictions for violence, a court heard.

McClelland was handed a two year community order and must complete 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements, a Building Better Relationships course and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He must also pay £185 costs.

Alan Friday

A police officer bombarded his wife and in laws with calls after sharing a photo on a swingers website.

Alan Friday shared photos of a 'private nature' of his wife to a family friend on the website in 2016.

After the couple divorced he said he "wouldn't do it again" but was sent another image to the same family friend on Snapchat.

The 42-year-old Cheshire Police officer was 'called out' by the friend, who said he would call the police, prompting Friday to ring his victim and her family and beg "I'm going to lose my job".

A court heard he called them a total of 52 times as he 'panicked'.

Friday, of Yew Tree Road, Halewood, was found guilty of harassment after a trial.

He has no previous convictions and a court heard he had been an "upstanding" and "impressive" officer.

The district judge handed Friday a two year community order with 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days and 100 hours of unpaid work.

A two restraining order was also imposed, preventing Friday from contacting his Ms Church.

Anthony Pettit

A dad who threatened to kill his wife and hide her body was among those spared an immediate jail sentence.

Anthony Pettit told his victim she would suffer "the most painful of deaths" and threatened to torture his wife of six years.

In an obscene phone call the 33-year-old also called his own daughter "c***".

In one message to his victim he wrote: "I’m going to torture you when I get ya.

"Tie you up in the back of the van and ensure you endure the most painful of deaths. It will last as long as your f***ing me around as…. Oh well, you can’t say you’ve not been warned… time is ticking…. Tick tok."

He also threatened that her body would never be found.

Pettit, of Wordsworth Court, Kirkby, admitted; harassing Mrs Pettit between March 2 and April 4 last year, witness intimidation on June 16, causing alarm or distress on July 3 and harassment on August 15.

He has no previous convictions, the court heard.

Judge Stuart Driver, QC, sentencing, said: "I have no sympathy with you. Your behaviour was disgusting, no matter what your character references say, it shows you have the capacity for cruel, persistent and obscene online communication.

"It is a most unpleasant part of your personality. Nevertheless, your wife has begged the court your children will suffer."

Pettit was handed a 14 month sentence suspended for 18 months and he must also complete 40 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements.

Bryan Kelly

A paedophile who shared "evil" child rape photos couldn't be tracked down by police for three years.

A court heard Bryan Kelly had downloaded 360 indecent images of children, featuring victims of sexual abuse aged as young as four.

After his home in Durban Road, Old Swan, was raided by police on May 11, 2017, the dad-of-one dropped off the radar.

Police had been looking for the 47-year-old to interview him, but he only surrendered on June 25 last year, although a court heard he was not obligated to do so.

After the 2017 raid police seized three laptops, two hard drives and a memory stick.

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An analysis of the devices found three Category A and four Category B files had been distributed by Kelly on Skype using the moniker "Chatterbox Pants" to someone with the username AKelly853 - who had not been traced - on January 14, 2017.

He had also talked with others in chat rooms about his liking for very young girls.

Kelly admitted three counts of downloading, one of possessing and two of distributing indecent images of children.

Kelly, now of Woolfall Crescent, Huyton, is of previous good character.

He was handed 16 months in prison, suspended for two years and was ordered to complete the Horizon sex offenders treatment programme, a 40-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Kelly was also ordered to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years.