CRIMINALS jailed in September include sex offenders who groomed children, a drug dealer, and a man who assaulted his friend. 

The list below includes some of the offenders that were put behind bars by judges during September.

Some custody images of the people featured have been released by police forces, while others did not have a custody image or the police force was unable to issue an image. 

The offenders' names and a summary of what led to them appearing in the dock are as follows:

'Predatory' woman groomed 'vulnerable' underage Dorset girl jailed

Bournemouth Echo: Outside Winchester Crown CourtOutside Winchester Crown Court

A controlling woman who ‘took advantage’ of a ‘vulnerable’ underage girl was jailed for five years.

Stephanie Shorney, aged 35, committed multiple sexual offences in West Dorset between January 28, 2017 and January 27, 2019.

The girl, who was aged between 14 and 15 during this time, cannot be named for legal reasons.

Shorney, of Hill View, Maiden Newton, was found guilty of six accounts of sexual offences following a trial that spanned over two weeks at Winchester Crown Court.

The court heard their relationship began after Shorney, who had previously lived in the same area as the victim’s family, moved house in 2017.

The pair met multiple times in summer 2017 and the girl was invited to family trips and frequently visited her home. Shorney previously told the court she ‘took her under my wing’ and treated her like the ‘daughter she never had’ and let her sleep over.

The victim, who often slept at Shorney's home, was seen in the same bed as Shorney by one of Shorney's children in September 2017. Despite being banned from the home by Shorney's husband, the pair continued to see each other in secret.

The court heard details of their sexual relationship, including how the victim lost her virginity to Shorney and how she demanded the victim visited her address for ‘birthday sex’ on August 28, 2018.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the victim said Shorney was initially a woman ‘to look up to’ and made her feel ‘less different’ during a time she was conflicted about her sexuality.

But she felt pressured to remain in the relationship due to Shorney’s comments that she would end her life and would reveal to everyone their relationship.

She said: “She made me feel comfortable in myself and this soon changed. Very quickly she became intense and controlling.

“I felt scared and isolated.”

Shorney also sent a number of ‘highly unpleasant’ messages to the victim in January 2020, stating ‘I will hurt you’ and noted she would ‘wait outside her home’.

Scared by the threatening messages, the ‘broken’ victim spoke to her parents about the relationship and the victim’s mother contacted the police.

Shorney, who was arrested in her car near the victim's address, confirmed she had a sexual relationship with the girl after she turned 16, but denied there was any sexual touching before her 16th birthday.

Recorder Michael Bowes described her as ‘predatory and controlling’ and sought to falsely portray the victim as a liar during the trial.

Recorder Bowes said Shorney has ‘expressed no remorse for this whatsoever’ and noted that she entered the relationship with an underage girl ‘for your own sexual gratification’.

Shorney was sentenced to five years in prison but will serve two-and-a-half years before being released on licence.

She was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, issued a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years and pay a £170 victim surcharge.

Man 'battered' friend on his birthday

Bournemouth Echo: Anthony James Rogers, 32, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and one count of criminal damage.Anthony James Rogers, 32, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and one count of criminal damage.

A man “battered” his long-term friend on his birthday leaving him with a permanent disfigurement in a “prolonged attack”, before throwing a fire extinguisher through a car window.

Anthony James Rogers, 32, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and one count of criminal damage.

Prosecuting, Richard Martin told Bournemouth Crown Court how the victim, James Clarke, had known each other since the age of four.

On September 4, 2019, the victim’s birthday, the pair had spent the day drinking together before heading to Mr Clarke’s address in Parkstone.

Mr Martin said: “The victim described himself as being relaxed drunk, there was a chilled-out mood.

“At about 10 or 11pm things became a daze for the victim. The next thing he remembers was being in the communal hallway of the flats facing the front communal doorway.

“He recalls being hit, hearing a big crack sound, he was hit to the left side of his face. It sounded like he was being punched, that is what is described by one of the neighbours.”

Mr Martin said Mr Clarke, who suffers from Asperger’s, was laid on the floor being punched in the head when neighbour Modi Sissoho came out.

At this stage Rogers told Sissoho to “go **** himself” and said he would “**** everyone in the building”.

The defendant then took a fire extinguisher and left the building, damaging Mr Sissoho’s car before throwing the extinguisher through the window.

Mr Sissoso apprehended Rogers until the police arrived and was awarded a Sheriffs’ Award for his bravery.

Mr Clarke suffered a fractured eye socket and cheek bone and a broken nose.

The court heard how he was told he required surgery and had a permanent disfigurement.

Judge Robert Pawson sentenced Rogers to three years and three months imprisonment for the attack, and one week for the criminal damage, to be served concurrently.

A restraining order was also put in place prohibiting Rogers from contacting Mr Clarke for ten years.

Man jailed for serious sexual abuse

Bournemouth Echo:

A man has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of 15 child sexual offences.

Ricky Anthony Mills, 47, was found guilty on Thursday, August 19, following a nine-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court of five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, six counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act.

The offences took place in Dorset between August 2013 and November 2017.

In police interview, Mills most recently of Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea and previously East Dorset, denied the allegations and said that he never acted in a sexually inappropriate way with the victim.

Mills sat motionless in the dock at Bournemouth Crown Court as Judge Jonathan Fuller QC handed down the 16-year prison term.

Detective Constable Leigh Topol, of Dorset Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT), said: “Firstly, I would like to praise the victim for having the bravery to report these offences and support our investigation throughout.

“While no sentence will ever compensate the victim for what they have been through, I hope that now Mills is jailed this will help her to move forward with her life.

“I also hope that the outcome of this case will give other victims of sexual abuse the confidence to speak to Dorset Police.

“We will thoroughly investigate all reports of this nature and have a dedicated team, which is staffed by experienced and committed detectives that investigate instances of child abuse, including child sexual abuse, and work to bring offenders to justice.”

Fraudster conned victims at caravan park and pocketed nearly £70,000

Bournemouth Echo: Sam BeatonSam Beaton

A man fraudulently stole almost £70,000 from victims after he gained their trust to fund his drug and gambling addiction.

Sam Beaton, aged 37, of Southview Road, Weymouth, pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud by making dishonest representations with the intent to make a personal gain from three victims, and was jailed for two years.

Prosecuting, Stuart Elacott, told Bournemouth Crown Court that Beaton was working in Tunstall in Yorkshire at Sand La Mere Holiday Park where he was earning around £100,000 a year when he gained the trust of three of his victims who he dishonestly took a total of £69,500 from, between October 31, 2018 and June 18, 2019.

Mr Elacott said that whilst working at the caravan park Beaton became close to the victims and made a number of promises about how he could obtain accommodation and sell it at a profit for them, but kept money given to him to himself.

One victim who purchased a caravan at the park with her mother was convinced by Beaton to hand over £1,500 after he told her he would purchase a hot tub and decking for the new accommodation.

In a victim personal statement read out to court, she said the money handed over to Beaton was left to her and her sister following her father's death and said she trusted Beaton with it.

Another victim, James McGinty, handed over a total of £19,000 to purchase a caravan and a lodge as well as decking for the properties.

Mr Elacott said that Mr McGinty got to know the defendant and described him as someone he knew well, trusted and formed a friendship with.

Another victim, Michelle Vicker, was convinced to hand over a total of £49,000 to Beaton to purchase two lodges and a caravan.

The court heard how Beaton felt that he deserved a prison sentence. His solicitor said he knows he has caused pain and mental anguish and regrets what he has done.

Beaton was sentenced to two years imprisonment on each count to all be served concurrently.

'Predatory' former teacher groomed boy with drugs and alcohol during 1980s

Bournemouth Echo: Outside Cardiff Crown CourtOutside Cardiff Crown Court

A former teacher has been jailed for historic sex offences after he groomed a ‘vulnerable’ pupil with drugs and alcohol.

Anthony Preece, 75, now of Half Acres, Sherborne, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of nine counts of indecent assault and three counts of buggery involving the same boy between 1981 and 1982 in the Caerphilly area of Wales.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, only summoned the courage in recent years to report the abuse following years of personal torment caused by Preece’s ‘devastating’ actions.

Preece used alcohol and drugs to groom the victim, who was aged between 14 and 15, in a bid to ‘dazzle’ him and breach his trust.

Prosecutor, Andrew Davies, referred to the victim impact statement which spoke of the ‘long term psychological damage’ and ‘very dark time’ caused by Preece’s actions.

The victim said: “As a young naive boy, it was very difficult what you had done to me but looking back, I can see it has had a detrimental impact on most aspects of my life.”

He also shared his ‘shame’ about the sexual abuse and how it made ‘normal life very difficult for me and people closest to me’.

He added: “I will never forgive you for what you did to me and the devastating impact it has had on my life.”

At the height of the AIDS epidemic, the victim was 'terrified he may die of AIDS' and Preece transmitted the disease to him. The anxiety led him to miss 'a lot of opportunities to have a family' and build relationships with others.

Sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan, said he was 'moved by the eloquence' of the victim's words.

Preece pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, but was found guilty at the same court in July. The victim thanked the jury for seeing through Preece’s ‘lies and deceit’.

The court heard how the defendant was jailed for three years in 1992 for indecently assaulting another student.

Preece was sentenced to a total of eight-and-a-half years in prison and will serve two-thirds of the sentence in prison. He will register as a sex offender for life.

Man entered woman's home and stole items

Bournemouth Echo: Rodney Gary DonaldRodney Gary Donald

Rodney Gary Donald, aged 52 and of Churchill Road in Bournemouth, was jailed for five years for burglary of a residential home. 

He also had a further four offences taken into consideration at Winchester Crown Court.

At 3.10pm on Friday, February 5 a woman left her address on Heathcote Road to go to a nearby shop.

When she returned at approximately 4pm, she noticed that a parcel in a communal area addressed for a member of her household had been opened. 

It was further discovered that a search of the address had been carried out and a purse had been stolen, as well as two remote controls, a watch and three children’s toys. 

The victims were later informed that one of their bank cards had been used at shops on Palmerston Road at around 4.35pm the same day.

Following CCTV enquiries at the shops, a 34-year-old man of no fixed abode was arrested in connection with the incident in February. He was charged with fraud by false representation and was sentenced at Poole Magistrates’ Court in June. 

Further investigative work revealed that he had been provided with the bank card by Donald. 

Donald was arrested on Wednesday, March 10, and a watch matching the description of the one stolen in the burglary was seized from his possession.

Man with thousands of pounds in his home jailed for drug dealing and money laundering

Bournemouth Echo:

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday, September 8, Kai Chalwell of Gervis Road in Bournemouth was sentenced to 40 months in prison for dealing class A and class B drugs and money laundering. 

The 21 year-old was given a further 11 months in prison for breaching a previous suspended sentence. 

He had previously pleaded guilty to the offences on Thursday, May 6, at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The offences relate to a period of several months between March 2020 and March 2021, during which time he was arrested on four occasions.

During the arrests and related searches at his home address a total of £3,420 of cash and numerous mobile phones were seized. On the most recent arrest in March 2021, whilst he was on crown court bail, a quantity of class A drugs was also located at his address.

The evidence obtained from the devices linked Chalwell to the supply of drugs. Also, conversations were recovered that showed that he was instrumental in the tasking of young people, one just 14 years of age, to assist in his drug dealing activity. 

In one conversation with a 16-year-old boy Chalwell directed the individual to a stash site and then sent him details of customers who would be attending. The use of juveniles in this manner was taken into account as an aggravating feature of his offending.