Sheffield Crown Court has heard many such highly emotive cases where vulnerable young people – either babies, children, teenagers or young people – have fallen prey to offenders and in some instances have lost their lives.
One Sheffield couple was jailed after an autistic son had been locked up in the attic of their family home, and another Sheffield man in a separate case was recently jailed for injuring a baby who suffered a fractured arm and ribs. In another horrific case, a South Yorkshire child-killer who murdered his partner’s two-year-old son was jailed for life and the child’s mother was sentenced to eight years of custody for allowing the death of the toddler.
Judges continue to impose heavy sentences upon those who sexually abuse children including a child molester who sexually abused three youngsters and received 30 years of custody.
Judges continue to impose heavy sentences upon those who sexually abuse children including a child molester who sexually abused three youngsters and received 30 years of custody.
![Sex offender Reece Greenall, aged 24 when sentenced, who targeted, groomed and sexually abused teenage girls in Sheffield has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Greenall, pictured, formerly of Dyke Vale Avenue, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. A jury found him guilty of seven counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of rape. Greenall committed numerous child sexual offences against three teenage victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons. He would befriend his victims on social media, encouraging them to meet him before he would sexually assault them.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmJiMjEyOWRkLTkzZGQtNGRjYS1hMmIxLWViMWEzMGI1YTA5NzpmYjk3ZjFiNy0yZjk5LTRiMzctOTFmMy0wYTk2MDc4ZTliMzg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Reece Greenall
Sex offender Reece Greenall, aged 24 when sentenced, who targeted, groomed and sexually abused teenage girls in Sheffield has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Greenall, pictured, formerly of Dyke Vale Avenue, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. A jury found him guilty of seven counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of rape. Greenall committed numerous child sexual offences against three teenage victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons. He would befriend his victims on social media, encouraging them to meet him before he would sexually assault them. Photo: SYP
![Child-killer Martin Currie, pictured, who murdered his partner’s two-year-old son has been jailed for life and the child’s mother, Sarah O' Brien, was sentenced to eight years of custody for allowing the death of the toddler. Sheffield Crown Court heard during a trial how Sarah O’Brien, aged 33 when sentenced, of Bosworth Road, Doncaster, and her partner Martin Currie, aged 36 when sentenced, of no fixed abode, had denied murdering Ms O’Brien’s two-year-old son Keigan O’Brien after he died from head injuries. But Currie was found guilty of murder by a jury and although O’Brien was found not guilty of murder she was found guilty of allowing the death of a child. Both were also found guilty of cruelty to a child. Currie must serve a minumum of 22 years before he can be considered for parole.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY5NDEzM2ExLTc4ZTAtNGUwZC1hNGQ3LTVlNzdhYjU4ZTM1NzplMGQ3NjRiNC05ZGMxLTRmNWUtYjU5NC05ZjFmNWNmZDNlYzg=.png?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Martin Currie
Child-killer Martin Currie, pictured, who murdered his partner’s two-year-old son has been jailed for life and the child’s mother, Sarah O' Brien, was sentenced to eight years of custody for allowing the death of the toddler. Sheffield Crown Court heard during a trial how Sarah O’Brien, aged 33 when sentenced, of Bosworth Road, Doncaster, and her partner Martin Currie, aged 36 when sentenced, of no fixed abode, had denied murdering Ms O’Brien’s two-year-old son Keigan O’Brien after he died from head injuries. But Currie was found guilty of murder by a jury and although O’Brien was found not guilty of murder she was found guilty of allowing the death of a child. Both were also found guilty of cruelty to a child. Currie must serve a minumum of 22 years before he can be considered for parole. Photo: SYP
![Child molester John Kelk, pictured, who sexually abused three youngsters between the 1970s and 1980s was sentenced to 30 years of custody. Kelk, aged 68 when sentenced, of Wingfield Road, Athersley South, Barnsley, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court to 30 years of custody after he pleased guilty to 22 counts involving sexually abusing and raping three young girls during the 1970s and 1980s. Judge Sarah Wright said: “The impact on their lives has been devastating. Their adolescence and childhood cannot be reclaimed. Each suffered enormous psychological harm.”](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmNmYjBlODgzLTVmNjEtNGI3ZS04MjBjLWU1ZjcwMDliNGFjNjoxODg1MjY0NS1mMGM1LTQ1NzQtOTU1NC1iZDM4ZTZiYzc2Zjk=.png?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. John Kelk
Child molester John Kelk, pictured, who sexually abused three youngsters between the 1970s and 1980s was sentenced to 30 years of custody. Kelk, aged 68 when sentenced, of Wingfield Road, Athersley South, Barnsley, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court to 30 years of custody after he pleased guilty to 22 counts involving sexually abusing and raping three young girls during the 1970s and 1980s. Judge Sarah Wright said: “The impact on their lives has been devastating. Their adolescence and childhood cannot be reclaimed. Each suffered enormous psychological harm.” Photo: SYP
![Pictured is Sarah O' Brien, who was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court to eight years of custody for allowing the death of her two-year-old son at the hands of her partner Martin Currie who murdered the toddler. Sheffield Crown Court heard during a trial how Sarah O’Brien, aged 33 when sentenced, of Bosworth Road, Doncaster, and her partner Currie, aged 36 when sentenced, of no fixed abode, had denied murdering Ms O’Brien’s two-year-old son Keigan O’Brien after he died from head injuries. But Currie was found guilty of murder by a jury and although O’Brien was found not guilty of murder she was found guilty of allowing the death of a child. Both were also found guilty of cruelty to a child. Currie was sentenced to life imprisonment and he must serve a minimum of 22 years before he can be considered for parole.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjM5YTdlMjVmLTY5MTMtNGI0My1iMmY3LWYwY2Q2OTg2NzEyODo2MTAxODk3ZC1jNzBkLTRjZDQtYmZkOC05MzdlODAwZmM1MGU=.png?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Sarah O'Brien
Pictured is Sarah O' Brien, who was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court to eight years of custody for allowing the death of her two-year-old son at the hands of her partner Martin Currie who murdered the toddler. Sheffield Crown Court heard during a trial how Sarah O’Brien, aged 33 when sentenced, of Bosworth Road, Doncaster, and her partner Currie, aged 36 when sentenced, of no fixed abode, had denied murdering Ms O’Brien’s two-year-old son Keigan O’Brien after he died from head injuries. But Currie was found guilty of murder by a jury and although O’Brien was found not guilty of murder she was found guilty of allowing the death of a child. Both were also found guilty of cruelty to a child. Currie was sentenced to life imprisonment and he must serve a minimum of 22 years before he can be considered for parole. Photo: SYP