WILLIAM CLOWES JAILED IN NEWCASTLE FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST GIRL

A convicted paedophile who threatened a girl to prevent her from revealing his abuse has been sentenced to over seven years in prison.

William Clowes, aged 66, was apprehended after the girl’s mother recognised his hand tattoos in a graphic image on her daughter’s phone, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Clowes pleaded guilty to multiple sexual offences involving a girl under 13 years old.

Judge Tim Gittins stated that Clowes employed "cynical manipulation" and a "sickening combination of grooming and threats" against the girl.

A restraining order was issued, forbidding Clowes from contacting the girl or her parents.

The judge warned any of Clowes’ supporters who might attempt "intimidation or revenge" against the victim or her family that such actions would be "dealt with most severely by the courts". He added that this loyalty was "completely misplaced".

During their interactions, Clowes called the girl “baby girl”, and would give her sweets, money, and a mobile phone. Prosecutor Glenn Gatland explained that Clowes then coerced her into sending him explicit images and videos of herself, while he also sent her images of his genitals. Clowes described the images as "lovely", but when the girl expressed a desire to tell her mother, he issued a threat: "if she told anyone he would knock her head off".

Police confiscated Clowes’ phone and laptop, discovering 148 indecent images of children, including 24 in the most serious category, some featuring the girl. Clowes admitted to detectives that he had sent the girl nude images of himself but claimed that the images she sent him were "unwanted".

The prosecution noted that Clowes, who had 13 previous convictions for 36 offences (none sexual), used "grooming and threats" to control his victim.

A statement read to the court from the girl revealed the profound impact of the abuse, stating she had felt suicidal, unable to eat, and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Judge Gittins dismissed Clowes’ claim that the girl sent images without his influence, describing it as "preposterous". He said, "You had the gall to suggest an innocent young girl was seeking to corrupt you rather than the other way round." The judge emphasized that the abuse caused "significant psychological damage" to the girl and acknowledged that her parents' discovery of the situation must have been "heart-stopping and stomach-flipping".

Clowes was found guilty of two counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, making indecent photographs of a child, and one count each of having sexual communications with and taking an indecent photograph of a child.

He was sentenced to a total of seven years and two months in prison, placed under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, and ordered to register as a sex offender. The judge concluded by stating that Clowes remains a "danger" to young people, especially females.