SICK PAEDOPHILE BRAGGED TO FRIENDS ABOUT GROOMING UNDERAGE GIRLS
Ben Dawson, a 34-year-old man from West End, Alfreton, Derbyshire, has been convicted and sentenced to five years in prison for a series of disturbing and persistent predatory behaviours involving underage girls.Despite being on bail for previous similar offenses and being warned by a friend about his inappropriate actions, Dawson continued to target vulnerable minors and attempt to engage them in sexual activities.
Dawson's offending history spans over two years, during which he communicated with three different young girls.
Two of these interactions involved decoy profiles operated by paedophile hunters, who were able to confront him before any contact was made in person.
The evidence presented in court revealed that Dawson persistently asked these girls for nude images and videos, and he also sent them explicit pictures himself.
In addition, he attempted to persuade them to watch pornography, a clear indication of his ongoing sexual interest in minors.
The court heard that Dawson was fully aware of the girls' youth and vulnerabilities but continued his manipulative and illegal conduct.
He explicitly told the girls that he could not have sex with anyone until they were 18, yet his actions suggested his primary intent was sexual gratification.
During his sentencing at Derby Crown Court, which took place at the Mercure Hotel in Nottingham on October 29, Recorder Adrian Reynolds emphasized the seriousness of Dawson's case.
He remarked, "What makes this case particularly serious is, in a nutshell, the determination with which you have continued to offend." The judge highlighted that Dawson had ignored explicit warnings, including one from a social worker advising him to leave a vulnerable girl alone.
His repeated offenses even after his arrest demonstrated a concerning refusal to acknowledge the nature of his Crimes.
Recorder Reynolds described Dawson as being in a state of denial about his sexual attraction to underage girls and noted with concern that he seemed to view himself as a victim of circumstances rather than the perpetrator.
Prosecutor David Outerside detailed the timeline of Dawson's criminal activity, starting in January 2019.
His initial contact was with a 15-year-old girl, despite being warned about her vulnerability and risk of exploitation.
During their messaging, Dawson requested sexually explicit videos, and even involved his nephew in an unsuccessful attempt to persuade her to unblock him on social media when she tried to cease communication.
Dawson’s previous conviction for indecent assault underscored the nature of his predatory tendencies.
In February 2020, Dawson engaged with a fake profile named Ellie Stevens, a self-styled paedophile hunter pretending to be a 13-year-old girl.
Dawson messaged her confessing his age of 32, expressing interest in buying gaming credits, and progressively shifted his conversation to sexual topics, including talking about relationships and masturbation.
He even called her while touching himself and suggested that she do the same, adding to the evidence of his ongoing inappropriate behaviour.
Following this, Dawson was arrested in April 2020.
While on bail, he resumed his activities by contacting yet another decoy profile, this time pretending to be a 14-year-old girl named Danni.
Despite the profile clearly stating her age from the start, Dawson boasted about his previous arrest and claimed the investigation was based on false evidence, asserting that his account had been hacked.
He admitted that he could face charges for meeting a girl under 16.
Despite warnings from a friend about his conduct, Dawson continued to express interest in the girl, describing her as "stunning" and saying he would have asked her out if she had been older.
His behaviour escalated as he sent explicit photographs and arranged to meet at Alfreton bus station.
Before the meeting, he sent links to pornographic material to the girl, intending to give her ideas.
When Dawson arrived to meet what he believed was Danni, he was confronted by the paedophile hunting group and arrested once more.
Defending Dawson, Andrew Fitch-Holland conceded that the case was challenging but argued that Dawson did not pose a serious risk.
He highlighted that Dawson suffers from learning difficulties and dyslexia, describing him as a highly naive and immature individual.
The defence emphasized Dawson’s lack of intent to force himself upon anyone and his reluctance to engage in sexual activity until the victims were 18.
The court, however, recognized the gravity of his actions.
Recorder Reynolds sentenced Dawson to five years in prison, a substantial custodial term reflecting the seriousness of his offenses.
In addition to imprisonment, Dawson was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and placed under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
Dawson had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to meet a girl under 16, inciting sexual activities with girls aged 13-15, and grooming behaviours.
He was also required to pay a victim surcharge.
The sentences and orders imposed reaffirm the authorities' commitment to protecting minors from predatory individuals such as Dawson and addressing the ongoing threats posed by his criminal conduct within Derbyshire.
