Latest news with #LukeTaylor
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Top cop reveals the twisted way paedophiles pick off their victims like wild beasts hunting down dinner - and how being a no-nonsense alpha dad could be key for your child's safety
A top child abuse detective has revealed the chilling way evil paedophile predators handpick young victims, and how alpha parents help keep their kids safe. The warning comes after Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was accused of horrific child abuse at Creative Garden Early Learning Centre Point Cook in west Melbourne, along with a string of other centres where he worked. Brown is now facing more than 70 charges, including the sexual penetration of a child and producing child abuse material, with 1,300 families told to have their kids tested for STDs. The father of one child, who was at the Point Cook centre at the same time as Brown, has revealed how his no-nonsense attitude intimidated the childcare worker. 'I'm a big solid guy and I'm very direct and confident,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'I tried to make conversation with Josh most mornings for a year, and he would turn away or look at the floor.' Former child sexual abuse detective Luke Taylor has told Daily Mail Australia how serial abusers profile victims the way wild animals stalk prey, and target the weakest. 'They weigh up their prey, and only take on those they can predate,' Mr Taylor said. 'They choose the young animals on the outskirts, the vulnerable, those isolated from the pack.' Mr Taylor said predators are drawn to children without strong male figures around them and actively avoid situations where they might be challenged. 'Like the herd, strong males will protect the young and vulnerable,' he said. 'If a child has strong male influences, who are both visible and heard, these men will shy away from them. 'They are opportunists and understand how to survive in the undergrowth. They do not take on larger predators. 'A strong male presence will scare these men. They are incapable of standing up to strong people or other men. They often surround themselves with others like themselves, but usually only one other, in a tight circle.' Mr Taylor said many offenders deliberately target single mothers with young children, using manipulation and deception to gain trust. 'Many men will choose single mothers, appearing as a white knight to work their way into their confidence, grooming both mother and child,' he said. 'They are often financially and psychologically vulnerable, and the offender triangulates one against the other to build alliances and maintain confidentiality. 'The child is led to believe that if they tell, they will be responsible for destroying the family they are becoming.' He explained that these predators often isolate both mother and child from their support networks, making them increasingly dependent on the offender. 'They gaslight them from their friends until they only have 'him' in their life,' Mr Taylor said. 'They are nearly always victims of sexual abuse themselves, by other men, father figures, trusted men in their lives. 'They have accepted this as either normal or a rite of passage. 'It's about power - having had power taken from them and they assert the power back on others, thinking, "No one helped me." 'They convince themselves that because they suffered, it's okay for others to suffer. It is not rational thought.' Brown's charges relate to his employment at the daycare centre where he worked between October 2021 and February 2024. He also worked at more than a dozen other centres across Melbourne between 2017 and 2025. Brown is also charged with recklessly contaminating goods to cause alarm or anxiety, which is understood to refer to the alleged contamination of food with bodily fluids. Police said the alleged victims were between five months and two years old. Last week, the Point Cook father was one of hundreds to receive a text message from Victoria Police and the state health department about the investigation into 'alleged incidents in childcare centres'. 'We understand this may be upsetting, and we want to assure you that help is available,' it read. The text also explained they would receive an email with more information. The Point Cook father-of-one is relieved that his son does not appear to be one of Brown's alleged victims. 'I always tried to make conversation and find out more about him,' he said. 'I'd ask him what he did at the weekend and he wouldn't give much away. 'But my son never changed in temperament during that year. He is a happy and confident kid. He still goes to that daycare and he loves it there.' Three steps to keeping your kids safe Luke Taylor - who spent 14 years in the forces including the Child Protection Sex Crimes Squad- says there are precautions parents can take to keep their children safe. Here's his vital three-step guide every parent needs to read STEP ONE Overall body language and demeanour are things you should look at when meeting new people who are around your children. Ask yourself - Do they avoid confrontations with men? Are they working in a vulnerable industry? Is the industry dominated by women? Do they have authority over others in any capacity? Eye contact is not always a sign something is wrong, and there are a lot of shy people and increasingly poor communicators in our world, but it should be taken into account. STEP TWO Get to know your childcare workers and anyone in regular contact with your children. Have parent-teacher interviews and ask questions about their personal and social life. Let them know you are active in your child's life. Many victims grow up to work in child or animal industries, pouring the love they didn't receive into the vulnerable. They are the providers, carers, but for men who are paedophile predators, they may also have ulterior motives. STEP THREE The key measure to protect against these people is removing opportunity. Criminal proof requires motive, ability and opportunity. With sex offenders, the motive is power, more than sex. I believe it is impossible to remove ability because of their drive, and chemical or actual castration is not enough.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Homes scheme for historic Devon site approved
A plan for up to 100 homes to be built on land near a historic house has been approved. The proposals for Tidcombe Hall in Tiverton were rejected for a second time by Mid Devon District Council's planning committee last year, with the plan attracting some 170 letters of objection. Opponents at the time expressed concern about the impact on the nearby Grand Western Canal, an increased risk of flooding and increased traffic along Tidcombe Lane. The firm behind the scheme, Tidcombe Holdings, lodged an appeal in January and said the council could not meet government planning targets relating to the number of developable sites in the district. The Planning Inspectorate scrutinised the proposal over a two-week period during May and June and has now accepted the appeal, meaning that outline planning permission is approved, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported. Council leader Luke Taylor said: "This devastating decision is a direct consequence of the recent adjustment to housing targets. "We had a five-year housing land supply and robust local plan policies but the 65 percent increase has fundamentally undermined our position." The planning inspector said the potential impact on the character and appearance of the area would not be overly damaging, adding that he felt the proposed development would only have an "overall neutral effect on the significance of Tidcombe Hall" as a heritage asset. The planning inspector said: "124 affordable dwellings are needed per year in Mid Devon but the net delivery has averaged 45 dwellings per year only. "Therefore, significant weight can also be afforded to the delivery of affordable housing as part of this development." The inspector attached 29 conditions to his approval, including a plan for how trees would be protected. The approval is for an outline plan, meaning the developer would need to submit a full application with all details of the scheme. Mid Devon's planning committee will scrutinise it. More news stories for Devon Listen to the latest news for Devon Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Homes scheme for historic Devon site rejected Planning approval granted for Devon country park Plans to build 220 homes in North Devon approved Mid Devon District Council
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Devon homes scheme for historic site approved by council
A plan for up to 100 homes to be built on land near a historic house has been approved. The proposals for Tidcombe Hall in Tiverton were rejected for a second time by Mid Devon District Council's planning committee last year, with the plan attracting some 170 letters of at the time expressed concern about the impact on the nearby Grand Western Canal, an increased risk of flooding and increased traffic along Tidcombe firm behind the scheme, Tidcombe Holdings, lodged an appeal in January and said the council could not meet government planning targets relating to the number of developable sites in the district. 'Devastating decision' The Planning Inspectorate scrutinised the proposal over a two-week period during May and June and has now accepted the appeal, meaning that outline planning permission is approved, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) leader Luke Taylor said: "This devastating decision is a direct consequence of the recent adjustment to housing targets."We had a five-year housing land supply and robust local plan policies but the 65 percent increase has fundamentally undermined our position." The planning inspector said the potential impact on the character and appearance of the area would not be overly damaging, adding that he felt the proposed development would only have an "overall neutral effect on the significance of Tidcombe Hall" as a heritage planning inspector said: "124 affordable dwellings are needed per year in Mid Devon but the net delivery has averaged 45 dwellings per year only."Therefore, significant weight can also be afforded to the delivery of affordable housing as part of this development."The inspector attached 29 conditions to his approval, including a plan for how trees would be approval is for an outline plan, meaning the developer would need to submit a full application with all details of the Devon's planning committee will scrutinise it.
Scottish Sun
21-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Cops smash gang ‘stealing £100,000s of stock from big supermarkets to order to be sold on in corner shops'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds in stock is being stolen from big supermarkets 'to order' to be sold on in corner shops. Thieves are sent to grab booze and household goods from the likes of Waitrose and Co-op and then pass on the loot to the independent stores. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A police officer conducts a staff search during one of the dawn raids Credit: Peter Jordan 3 Cops used invisible blue markers to tag goods in stores before they were stolen Credit: Peter Jordan 3 An officer carrying out a stock check for stolen goods Credit: Peter Jordan The Sun accompanied Met Police cops as they smashed a gang in dawn raids — recovering £150,000 of alleged stolen goods and arresting a suspected kingpin, 48, and his wife, 43, at their plush home in Cheam, South London. Nine stores and a barber's were also targeted by officers. Eleven other people were arrested, mostly shopkeepers. One man, 64, was nicked on suspicion of having a Taser and another, 39, a machete. READ MORE ON SHOPLIFTING PLODDY RIDICULOUS Cops arrest mum for confiscating kids' iPads amid shoplifting epidemic The raids we went on were in South West London, but similar organised crime has been reported in other UK cities. Cops used invisible blue markers to tag goods — such as chocolates and cleaning products — in stores before they were stolen. A haul of marked items was found in one of the raids. PC Luke Taylor, whose idea it was to launch the shop blitz, said: 'This is not just old-fashioned shoplifting. 'It's a lot more organised.'
The Sun
21-04-2025
- The Sun
Cops smash gang ‘stealing £100,000s of stock from big supermarkets to order to be sold on in corner shops'
HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds in stock is being stolen from big supermarkets 'to order' to be sold on in corner shops. Thieves are sent to grab booze and household goods from the likes of Waitrose and Co-op and then pass on the loot to the independent stores. 3 3 3 The Sun accompanied Met Police cops as they smashed a gang in dawn raids — recovering £150,000 of alleged stolen goods and arresting a suspected kingpin, 48, and his wife, 43, at their plush home in Cheam, South London. Nine stores and a barber's were also targeted by officers. Eleven other people were arrested, mostly shopkeepers. One man, 64, was nicked on suspicion of having a Taser and another, 39, a machete. The raids we went on were in South West London, but similar organised crime has been reported in other UK cities. Cops used invisible blue markers to tag goods — such as chocolates and cleaning products — in stores before they were stolen. A haul of marked items was found in one of the raids. PC Luke Taylor, whose idea it was to launch the shop blitz, said: 'This is not just old-fashioned shoplifting. 'It's a lot more organised.'
