Phil Coleman

Mark Merrick, 63, of Culgaith near Penrith, pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court to five child sexual offences after initially denying the allegations. He received a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, alongside 15 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work. His offending phone will be seized, he will remain on the Sex Offender Register for 10 years, and a strict sexual harm prevention order will restrict contact with children, residence, internet-enabled devices and online accounts.

A man from Bigrigg pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court to creating eight indecent AI-generated images of girls aged seven to eleven using DeepNude software. Police recovered the material from a hidden folder on his Samsung phone after receiving information from an external law enforcement agency. Evidence contradicted his initial denial of responsibility, and the court also noted his use of the software to alter images of adult women from social media. He received a 12‑month community order, 20 rehabilitation days, 100 hours of unpaid work, a five‑year sexual harm prevention order, and placement on the Sex Offender Register for five years.