NHS warning of sex risk 'lottery'

Thousands of people will contract a sexually transmitted infection this weekend, campaigners have warned.
Officials behind the NHS 'Sex Lottery' campaign say there will be 1,440 cases of chlamydia, 572 cases of genital warts and 207 cases of gonorrhoea.

They are distributing 50,000 condoms in pubs and clubs this weekend in an effort to encourage people to practise safe sex.

Using a condom can reduce the risks of a range of STIs.

Figures released by the Health Protection Agency in July showed that the number of people being diagnosed with an STI in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is continuing to rise.

Cases of chlamydia - the most common STI - jumped by 9% last year.

The number of people who were told they had syphilis increased by 28%.


Raising more awareness about safe sex and distributing free condoms is great
Spokeswoman, fpa

Overall, 708,083 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were diagnosed with an STI in 2003.
The Sex Lottery campaign, first launched in 2002, aims to increase awareness of the risks of contracting an STI through unsafe sex.

A new series of saucy postcards is being launched this weekend to try to boost awareness further.

The Department of Health said it was keen to get the safe sex message out over the bank holiday weekend.

"With recent statistics showing an increase in STI rates, the Sex Lottery has launched a dedicated summer campaign to help raise awareness of the risks of unprotected sex," said a spokeswoman.

"The message is clear this bank holiday weekend - don't play the Sex Lottery, use a condom."

The fpa, formerly the Family Planning Association, welcomed the move.

"Raising more awareness about safe sex and distributing free condoms is great," a spokeswoman told BBC News Online.

Clinic waits

However, she said the Department of Health should also be doing more to help those who believe they may have contracted an STI.

Many people who suspect they may have an STI can wait weeks to be seen at NHS genito-urinary clinics.

The number of people visiting these clinics has soared in recent years and the NHS is struggling to cope.

A recent survey by the fpa suggested that one of the problems is that the clinics are not open long enough.

It found that over half the 256 clinics across the UK said they were open for less than 21 hours a week.

It also revealed that 16% of clinics had actually cut their opening times compared with two years ago. In addition, just two new clinics had opened across the UK since 2002.

"If someone tries to go to a clinic and doesn't get seen, the chances are they will not be back," the fpa spokeswoman said.

"They carry on having sex and can transmit their infection to others.

"There needs to more investment in these clinics so that people who suspect they have an STI are seen in a timely fashion."

Man admits sex with 15-year-olds

A fairground worker has been jailed for six years after admitting having sex with two 15-year-old girls.
Mikey Paige, 40, previously known as Michael Sidney Clough, went to London with a girl he met in Harrogate, sparking a nationwide hunt.

He met his other victim in south Wales in October 2003.

At York Crown Court, Paige admitted a total of 10 counts of unlawful sex plus two abduction offences. The judge called him a "predatory seducer".

Family distraught

The Honorary Recorder of York, Paul Hoffman, added he had to protect young girls from Paige and the length of the sentence reflected that.

The Harrogate youngster, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, saw her picture in a national newspaper while in London with Paige and eventually made contact with her distraught family.

Paige's barrister, Peter Johnson, said his client was sorry for the distress he had caused the family.

He added: "It is quite clear these young girls were infatuated with an older man."

Rapist gets 14-year jail sentence

A rapist who made children commit sex acts with each other has been jailed for 14 years.
Robert Kerr, 51, preyed on young girls in a catalogue of abuse over a total of seven years.

Kerr was found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh of repeatedly raping two teenage sisters between 1979 and 1983.

He was also convicted of charges of indecent behaviour and indecent assault with three other youngsters.

The offences took place at addresses in Cowdenbeath and Burntisland in Fife.

Kerr, who has a previous conviction for indecency, had denied the charges, claiming his accusers were telling lies about him.

The court heard that one victim, who was aged six or seven at the time, was awakened in the middle of the night when Kerr was staying with her parents.

Victim counselling

He took her downstairs, telling her he was going to show her a cartoon video on television but then assaulted her.

He told the frightened child that if she did not do what he wanted he would hit her.

The girl's brother, now aged 33, told how Kerr made him commit an indecent act with another sister when she was aged three.

Judge Lord Wheatley also heard how Kerr made two teenage girls take off their tops and touch each other.

One rape victim, who now works as a receptionist, said she had undergone six years of counselling as a result of what Kerr did to her.

Police investigation

The victim said: "You gave him what he wanted so he would leave you alone. If you tried to put up a fight he seemed to enjoy it even more."

She said that when she told him to stop there was no reply, adding: "He couldn't care less."

Her 37-year-old sister, a domestic assistant, said she was too frightened to resist when Kerr attacked her in her home or at a caravan.

She kept quiet about the rape even when Kerr was taken to court and fined £150 for an indecency offence with her 20 years ago.

But a police investigation later began that resulted in Kerr, latterly of Pembroke Dock, South Wales, being brought to trial.

Child abuse sentence 'disgusting'

The jail term given to the Queen's former choirmaster for child sex attacks should be increased, says a leading campaigner and abuse victim.
Jonathan Rees-Williams, 55, was jailed for a total of five years and three months on Wednesday.

Shy Keenan, founder of victims' group Phoenix Survivors, and the UK's Children's Champion, has contacted the Attorney General.

She wants the sentence to be referred to the Court of Appeal.

'Disgusting' sentence

The attacks on six children took place over a 14-year period from the mid 1970s to the late 1980s, but were not connected to Rees-Williams' time at Windsor.

Rees-Williams left his post at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, when details of the sex attacks emerged.

Ms Keenan - who won the role of Barnardo's childrens' champion in 2003 after being nominated by the public - described Judge Jonathan Playford QC's sentence as "disgusting".

She said: "He had the ability to give him a more appropriate sentence, but chose not to, chose to show leniency.

Calls 'considered'

"Rees-Williams has not only shown that he was a danger in the 1970s, he has also shown that he is a danger here and now."

Under a process which she described as the "legal service's best-kept secret", members of the public can apply through the Attorney General's office within 28 days for an appeal against the level of the sentence.

Under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, the Attorney General has the power to refer a sentence to the Court of Appeal where it is "unduly lenient".

A spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office confirmed that Phoenix had made an approach which was being considered.