A MAN who raped a girl more than 30 years ago, rogue builders who conned pensioners and a man who had sex with a cleaning cone at a train station were among criminals the Star reported on who were sentenced in October.

St Helens Star:

Stuart Magrath (left) and William Greenall

A court heard that Stuart Magrath, 39, ripped off 14 victims, including many pensioners all over the north west including St Helens, over a two year period while self-employed with his co-accused William Greenall in SB Building Services.

Magrath, of Albert Street, Newtown, Wigan, pleaded guilty to two offences of carrying out a business for a fraudulent purpose which spanned May 2016 and April last year, and was jailed for three years.

Magrath's business partner William Greenall, 60, of Irene Avenue, Haresfinch, who admitted one of the two charges, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 140 hours unpaid work.

Read the full story here.

St Helens Star:

Liverpool Crown Court

Meanwhile, a 74-year-old man who raped a teenage girl who he volunteered with at a church more than 30 years ago has been put behind bars.

John Chu, of The Hawthorns, Eccleston met his victim when they were both working as volunteers at Sacred Heart RC Church on Old Liverpool Road, Warrington.

It took the victim more than 30 years to gain the confidence to talk about what had happened to her.

Chu was jailed for nine years and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Read the full story here.

St Helens Star:

A cleaning cone

A 48-year-old man who tried to have sex with a cleaning cone in a train station lift has been spared an immediate jail sentence.

Trevor Smith, of Arrivato Plaza, Hall Street, St Helens was given a 26-week prison sentence suspended for two years today at Bolton Crown Court.

The court heard how Smith committed the bizarre act of indecency at Wigan North Western train station on the night of Sunday, April 14.

Smith must also undertake up to 30 days of rehabilitation activity and be on curfew between the hours of 8pm and 6am for three months.

Read the full story here.