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Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Paedophile who raped children in Scots care homes caged for 15 years
Edward Stanton, 73, who has a prolific history of committing child sex abuse crimes, has been caged again. A convicted paedophile who abused and raped children as young as six in Scottish care homes has been caged again for 15 years. Edward Stanton, 73, was jailed at the High Court in Aberdeen today. The beast was found guilty of 11 charges, including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault to injury and danger to life, following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. The court heard how Stanton, originally from Liverpool, used his employment in care homes to inflict terror on ten young victims, aged between six and 22, between May 1985 and April 1994. Some of the youths were targeted by the monster while he was employed as a manager at Bellshill Children's Home in North Lanarkshire. Others were abused during his position as a carer at Wooddean Children's Home in Bothwell, and Flemington House in Uddingston. Stanton was found guilty of the crimes in May. In addition to the jail sentence, the beast's name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely. Fiona Kirkby, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: 'Edward Stanton systematically abused children, who should have been safe under his care, for almost a decade. 'He exploited his position of trust and power while inflicting trauma on vulnerable young people, who continue to deal with the consequences today. This prosecution would not have been possible without the victims giving evidence, and I thank them for their help in securing justice. 'The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal service is committed to robustly prosecuting non-recent allegations of abuse of children in care. I would urge anyone who has experienced similar offending to come forward and report it, regardless of how long ago the offences took place.' Stanton has a prolific history of committing child sex abuse crimes. In 1996, he was caged for 13 years for sexual offences committed against seven boys, aged between 10 and 13, in Liverpool. Then, in February 2013, he was jailed for possessing indecent images of children. Three years later, he was put back behind bars after repeating similar offences. He was caged again for two years in January 2018 for breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order and possessing further indecent images. In 2021, the notorious beast was found guilty of two further sex attacks on children at care homes in England. Liverpool Crown Court heard how he raped and molested youngsters in his care at the infamous St Vincent's home in Formby from 1976 to 1995. One victim was attacked by the creep when he returned from a period of home leave. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Stanton pretended to search him for cigarettes, then put his hand down his trousers and touched his genitals. On a second occasion, the victim was in a bathroom at St Vincent's when Stanton came in, touched his thigh, put his hand inside his pyjamas to grab his penis and performed a sex act on him. The impact of the abuse on the victim was so profound that he continues suffers from depression, relationship problems and feelings of shame as an adult. The long-lasting trauma of the "terrifying ordeal" continued to impact his life until he confided in his wife and reported the abuse in 2017, which led to Stanton's arrest in April 2018.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Man who abused children in Lanarkshire jailed for 15 years
Jurors heard how at least one boy tried to raise the alarm as to what was happening, but that the accusations were "brushed under the carpet". The abuse occurred at three different children's homes in Lanarkshire, which cannot be named for legal reasons. Stanton - now 73 - had been the manager at one and a carer at the other two between 1985 and 1994. Read More: 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 the predator was previously jailed for jailed for 13 years in 1996 for historical abuse of boys at a children's home in Merseyside. In 2021, he convicted of attacks on two other youngsters at the same establishment around that time. Stanton has also been jailed possessing indecent images of children and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. He was today/yesterday sentenced for these latest crimes by Judge Andrew Miller at the High Court in Aberdeen. The trial last month was told how Stanton was physically abusive to a boy as he repeatedly unleashed his violent temper. He then 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 then boy 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". The now man said he and others were "vulnerable 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 - he went on to rape this youngster. 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.
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Pervert pensioner told to attend court or face arrest
'Delusional' Stephen Hutchinson was due to be sentenced in Ballymena Magistrates Court today A judge warned today he was issuing an arrest warrant for a convicted sex offender if he fails to appear in court. 'Delusional' Stephen Ford Hutchinson was due to be sentenced in Ballymena Magistrates Court today after the 70-year-old admitted breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order. Defence counsel Nadine Knight admitted however that Hutchinson had not attended amid claims that he is 'unwell.' 'He contacted the solicitor to say that he is unwell and had been with the GP on Tuesday with a potential diagnosis of vertigo,' she told District Judge Nicole Broderick, adding that despite being asked for a letter to that effect, Hutchinson had not provided anything. Stephen Ford Hutchinson when he was caught by a paedophile hunter group The pensioner, from the Curran Road in Larne, had been due to be sentenced over a SOPO breach in that he had admitted he had accessed social media and communicated with another person on 7 April this year. The SOPO, an order designed to protect the public, was put in place last year after Hutchinson was convicted of of attempting to sexually communicate with a child between 18 July and 1 August 2022. The pensioner, who had also entered guilty plea to three charges of having extreme pornography, had been ensnared by a paedophile hunter group whose decoy had been posing as a 14-year-old girl. During the contest, Hutchinson's testimony was at times bizarre as he claimed that he was a 'digital soldier' helping to combat against 'dark forces' involved in 'molesting children and sexualising children, indoctrinating them in schools and cannibalism.' 'I believe it involves Satanic ritual child abuse and world wide trafficking of children,' the 70-year-old told the court, claiming that at the time of the offending he had been 'tracking what was purported to be the greatest military intelligence operation in the history of the planet.' 'It was an online thing, I'm not a member of it, just tracking that's all and we had been led to believe that there was an emergency alert system imminent whereby a world wide alert had been put out and the military would come in and take over. Stephen Ford Hutchinson News in 90 Seconds - June 26th 'There was something else in that military intelligence operation called White Spall, all through covid and in that particular week the Japanese PM had been shot and it was believed, by my research, that it was faked. 'We had Star Trek in the sky, we had Mount Vesuvius erupting and the Vatican went on fire so I was in a state where I thought this is it, the emergency alert was imminent,' claimed Hutchinson, describing it as 'a very strange mental place to be.' When he sentenced the pensioner to five months, suspended for three years, Judge Broderick said it was clear from Hutchinson's 'presentation at court and from what he has told probation that he is living in a different world - he seems to be delusional.' In court today Judge Broderick adjourned the case for a week but warned that if Hutchinson failed to attend again with no good reason, 'I'm likely to issue a warrant.'
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Wales Online
Paedophile asked decoys he thought were teens if they could do 'naked stuff'
Paedophile asked decoys he thought were teens if they could do 'naked stuff' David Taylor, 43, of Barry, was caught by a paedophile hunting group after having sexual conversations with who he thought were 15 and 14-year-old girls respectively 'Predatory paedophile' David Taylor, 43, sent sexualised messages to decoys he thought were teenage girls (Image: South Wales Police ) A "predatory paedophile" sent sexualised messages to who he thought were teenage girls and asked them if they could do "naked stuff". He was described as having an "appalling" record for paedophilic offences, including indecent assaulting and inciting children into sexual activity. David Taylor, 43, of Barry, was reported to the police by a "vigilante paedophile hunting group" after he had spoken to two decoys who he believed were 15 and 14-year-old girls respectively. As a result of this, he was in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which had been imposed by the courts. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard the first conversation was with a decoy named "Frankie" who told the defendant she was a 14-year-old. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. Taylor did not use his real name, and used a social media tagline of "TheDude123". During the conversation, the defendant attempted to groom "Frankie", asked her about sex and sent her links to pornographic websites. He told "Frankie" he was there to "educate her", gave descriptions of masturbation, told the decoy he was masturbating, and asked her to open her legs and "rub" between them. Article continues below Prosecutor Alex Greenwood said Taylor told the decoy to touch her vagina, asked about her underwear and asked her to send pictures of her "rubbing herself". The defendant began communication with the second decoy on April 27, who he believed to be a 15-year-old girl named "Lily", The conversation was similar in nature to that of the first decoy, with Taylor asked "Lily" if she wanted to "get naked", asked her if she wanted to see him naked and made reference to masturbation He made requests for images and asked "Lily" if she wanted to meet up with him, asking "Do you want to do naked stuff at mine?". The defendant described being "sexually aroused" and said he was masturbating during their conversation.. Taylor, of Thompson Street, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to arranging/facilitating a child sexual offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to cause/incite a child to engage in sexual activity, breaching sex offender notification requirements, and attempting to meet a girl under 16 by grooming. Mr Greenwood said the defendant has a "significant and appalling record" of seven convictions. These include; indecently assaulting a female under 14 and gross indecency with a child under 16 in 2005, breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) in 2007, further breaches of the SOPO in 2010, multiple offences of causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in 2013, breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) in 2018 and further breaches of the SHPO in 2024. In mitigation, Peter Donnison said his client had been making efforts to earn qualifications while in prison, but he was finding it difficult to find employment when released because of his previous convictions. It was also said the defendant suffered a head injury as a child and has been diagnosed with arrested hydrocephalus. Sentencing, the Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said Taylor's sexual attraction to children was so strong he "struggled to pass them in the street". The judge added: "You are a predatory paedophile who uses children on the internet to gratify your own powerful and long standing sexual urges." Taylor was sentenced to seven years imprisonment, with an extended licence period of five years. Article continues below He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely.
Sunday World
16-06-2025
- Sunday World
Former teacher jailed over sex abuse of two boys back in court
With William Maher appearing by video link from prison, defence counsel Michael Boyd confirmed the 38-year-old was entering guilty pleas to each of the eight charges against him A former teacher and youth group leader turned pervert, recently jailed for sex offences against two boys, was back in court to admit multiple breaches of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order With William Maher appearing at Newtownards Magistrates Court by video link from prison, defence counsel Michael Boyd confirmed the 38-year-old was entering guilty pleas to each of the eight charges against him. Maher, currently serving a two year sentence but who has an address at Shaftesbury Drive in Bangor, admitted eight counts of breaching his SOPO in that between 8 June last year and 23 January this year, he used public computers at libraries in Bangor, Holywood and Ballyhackamore in east Belfast. The 'sexual predator' had only been handed the SOPO, along with a three year probation order, in May 2024. Opening the facts of the case, a prosecutor told District Judge Conor Heaney how Maher is a registered sex offender and as such, he is restricted on what devices he can use to access the Internet and any that he does use, have to be registered and approved by his Designated Risk Manager (DRM). Earlier this year, 'a concerned member of the public' contacted police to report they had spotted Maher using a computer at Ballyhackamore library. Officers conducted enquiries and established that Maher 'had attended various libraries and had accessed the computers' but that at no point, had he alerted or sought permission from his DRM. Arrested and interviewed, Maher 'made admissions' but claimed he was using the computers to print off documents relating to his mother selling her house. Mr Boyd conceded that Maher's claims 'might raise slight suspicion' but he submitted there was no evidence to the contrary and further, there was also no evidence that apart from the use of the computers, that he had done anything more sinister. 'His career has been shattered of course,' the barrister highlighted, 'and his whole life has been destroyed by his behaviour.' At the time of the breaches, Maher had just been sentenced in the Crown Court case where he sexually abused two boys. Described by a detective as a 'sexual predator,' Maher had entered guilty pleas to three counts of sexual communication with a child and three counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual offences on dates between 1 Sept 2021 and 24 May 2022. William Maher News in 90 seconds - 16th June 2025 In May last year, Maher was put on probation for three years and also made the subject of a five year SOPO which was deemed 'necessary and proportionate' to protect against further offending. The former teacher and youth group leader, who was also ordered to sign the police sex offenders register for five years, admitted charges of engaging in sexual communication with two young boys, one between 6-25 May 2022 and a further child on dates between 20 August 2018 and 1 July 2019. Last month, he was handed a two year sentence and ordered to serve half in jail and half under supervised licence conditions after two further victims found the bravery to come forward. In court, Judge Heaney told Maher it was 'very significant' that he breached the SOPO, an order put in place 'and designed to protect the public,' within weeks of it being imposed. He imposed two month jail sentences on each of the eight counts and ordered them to be served concurrently to the sentence Maher is already serving so 'that will not affect your release date.'
