'Monster' jailed for 20 years

Deemster tells sex offencer: "I believe the public are in need of protection from you."

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A warning that this story contains information which some readers may find distressing.

Some details have been omitted to protect the anonymity of the victims.

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A man who raped a teenager, covertly filmed girls in a bathroom and possessed thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse has been jailed for more than 20 years. 

John Curtis, 41, formerly from Onchan, was jailed by Deemster Graeme Cook at the Court of General Gaol Delivery today (30 October) after admitting 33 offences. 

They included rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and taking and making indecent photographs of children. 

Prosecutor Sara-Jayne Dodge told the court Curtis had raped the girl in her own bed while she was sleeping in May this year.

He later tried to flee when she rang the police and was arrested carrying a backpack which had several electronic devices in plastic containers inside. 

A memory card that Curtis was carrying showed he had filmed the rape.

5TB

A subsequent search of other items in his possession revealed that Curtis had a 5TB hard drive which possessed thousands of still and moving images of child abuse. 

Ms Dodge told the court that the worst included a video saved under the title 'world record attempt' showing a baby, unknown to Curtis, being sexually abused. 

In sentencing, Deemster Cook said the video was of an unknown infant from anywhere in the world and told Curtis: "Were it not for people like you wanting to view this, things like this wouldn't happen." 

Further examination revealed almost 3,000 still images and more than 1,700 moving images which were judged by police to be Category A, which is the most serious form of images. 

Curtis also had, on his devices, more than 11,000 other images in categories B and C which were stored in arranged folders.

Covert

The court also heard that Curtis had other images of underage girls on his devices, including covert videos filmed on a camera hidden in a bathroom showing girls changing, showering and using the toilet. 

He had also installed a camera in a bedroom which captured sexual activity between one of his victims and their partner. 

In a victim impact statement, read to the court, the girl raped by Curtis said she had felt 'stripped of her dignity' during an examination at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre and was still struggling to sleep. 

She said she was suffering panic attacks and was 'struggling to process all he had done'. 

Victim impact statements were also read from the girls Curtis had filmed.

They said his actions had left them feeling 'fragile', scared to use public toilets, visit friends' homes or trust people outside their families. 

Others referred to Curtis as a 'monster' and said they had felt 'violated' and worried that images taken of them could have been distributed by Curtis worldwide.

Why?

Defence Advocate Stephen Wood admitted it was 'difficult to take to one's feet' after hearing the statements saying: "I don't think this defendant even knows why (he did it)."

Mr Wood said Curtis 'recognises good minded people do not behave in this way' and said that in admitting his guilt he had 'at the very least recognised the harm he has done'. 

Sentencing Curtis Deemster Cook told the court: "This is a case of extreme sexual depravity."

He added: "Some of your victims have called you a monster, I agree."

The deemster added that Curtis had 'traumatised six young ladies'.

Addressing the young woman Curtis raped Deemster Cook told her: "You should not feel embarrassed or guilty in any shape or form. 

"You were entitled to live a young girl's life."

Turning to address Curtis, Deemster Cook told him he is a 'depraved' individual who 'still today cannot through your advocate say why'.

Sentencing Curtis to 20 years and eight months in prison, with 10 years on extended license, Deemster Cook added: "I believe the public are in need of protection from you."

Curtis will also be on the Sex Offenders Register for life. 

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