IAN NAUDE FROM MARKET DRAYTON INVOLVED IN SHOCKING CRIMES IN CHESTER AND LIVERPOOL

In December 2018, Ian Naude, a police officer based in Market Drayton, was convicted and sentenced for heinous crimes involving a young girl in Liverpool. The case revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior by Naude, who exploited his position as a police officer to manipulate and assault a 13-year-old girl.

Naude, originally from South Africa and a former soldier who served as a machine gunner in Afghanistan with the Royal Irish Regiment, was called to the girl’s residence in October 2017 following a domestic disturbance. During this initial encounter, Naude’s supervisor warned him that the girl appeared to be 'flirty.' Despite this, Naude took it upon himself to look her up on Facebook, initiating a series of social media exchanges that would lead to a series of criminal acts.

After establishing contact online, Naude engaged in sexual messaging and exchanged explicit photos with the girl. Three days later, he returned to her home in Market Drayton, where he picked her up while her mother was out. He then drove her to a secluded country lane, where he committed the assault. During the attack, Naude recorded some of the incident on his mobile phone. Naude later claimed that the sex was consensual and that the girl seemed to be enjoying it, stating, 'I had one hand free and was using that to take photos and videos as we were making out. She seemed to be enjoying it. She had her arms around me and she told me she loved me.'

Naude’s criminal activities extended beyond this incident. It was discovered that he was already under investigation for other sex offenses when he became a police trainee in April 2017. Evidence revealed that he had targeted multiple girls online by creating a fake Facebook profile under the name 'Jake Green,' a persona he used to persuade victims to undress and perform sexual acts on camera. He also sent them explicit videos of himself masturbating and threatened to share these images with their friends unless they complied with his demands.

During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Naude denied the charges of rape and sexual assault, claiming that the sexual acts with the girl were consensual. However, the evidence presented painted a different picture. The prosecution highlighted Naude’s manipulative tactics, including blackmail and coercion, and his use of social media accounts such as 'Bruce Ian Wayne' and 'King Of The North' to lure victims.

Judge Clement Goldstone QC sentenced Naude to 25 years in prison, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses. The judge pointed out that Naude, who was 30 years old at the time, had abused his authority as a police officer to satisfy his perverted desires. The judge also noted that the victim was just three weeks past her 13th birthday when the assault occurred. Naude’s actions were described as those of a 'committed paedophile' who had been targeting young girls online for a significant period.

Naude’s criminal record includes 31 offenses related to grooming underage girls via social media platforms, as well as attempting to arrange sexual encounters with minors. His behavior was characterized by the court as cold, uncaring, and predatory, with evidence of coercive and threatening conduct towards vulnerable young victims.

In addition to the rape, Naude was convicted of four counts of attempting to arrange child sex offenses and one count of arranging such an offense, involving five complainants aged between 12 and 15. The court heard that he had also caused children to watch sexual acts, incited them to engage in sexual activities, and possessed indecent images of minors. His devices contained hundreds of deleted images, and police later recovered further evidence from a field in Market Drayton after Naude provided a hand-drawn map of the location to a cellmate.

Naude’s actions prompted a police investigation that uncovered a pattern of exploitation and manipulation. His colleagues had previously expressed concern about his behavior, especially after he showed interest in a unit dedicated to vulnerable children. The case underscored the dangers of abuse of authority and the importance of vigilance within law enforcement.

Naude’s sentencing included a requirement for an extended five-year period on license following his release from prison, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the public.