ALAN HESS FROM HASTINGS JAILED FOR ENCOURAGING US MAN TO ABUSE BABY BOY

In a disturbing case that highlights the dangers of online predation, a man from Hastings has been sentenced to prison for his role in inciting a man in the United States to commit sexual offences against a young child. The case came to light through extensive international police cooperation involving UK and US law enforcement agencies, revealing the disturbing extent of Hess's involvement in child exploitation.

Alan Hess, aged 44 and unemployed, residing on Pelham Crescent in Hastings, was formally sentenced to three years and nine months behind bars during a court hearing at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, August 10. This follows his conviction at Hove Crown Court on June 4, after a trial that uncovered his involvement in multiple serious offences. Hess was found guilty on three counts of creating and possessing indecent images of children, as well as three counts related to arranging or facilitating sexual offences against a child under the age of 13.

As part of his sentence, Hess will be registered as a sex offender for life, a designation that imposes strict restrictions on his access to computers and contact with children under 16. Additionally, he was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which severely limits his ability to use digital devices and interact with minors, aiming to prevent any further offending.

Detective Dave Sharpe, a member of the Sussex Police Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT), provided insight into the case, emphasizing the collaborative effort that led to Hess’s arrest and conviction. He stated, “This appalling offending by Hess was uncovered through joint working between ourselves, the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), and the FBI in the United States.”

He explained that authorities received intelligence indicating Hess possessed indecent images of children from the internet. Further investigation revealed that Hess had been in contact with a man in Utah, USA, engaging in online chat sessions over many hours. During these conversations, Hess not only watched but actively encouraged the man to sexually abuse a young boy, demonstrating a disturbing level of involvement and intent.

Sharpe described the emotional toll of the case, saying, “We can only imagine the humiliation inflicted on this helpless child, with Hess’s encouragement purely for his own sexual gratification.”

The American man involved in the case was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison—15 years for the offences committed against the child and an additional ten years for possessing indecent images of children. This case underscores the global nature of online child exploitation and the importance of international cooperation in bringing offenders to justice.