DAVID DUNN FROM DORCHESTER AND SOUTHAMPTON JAILED FOR CHILD EXPLOITATION CASE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Dorchester and Southampton, David Dunn has been sentenced to a total of 30 months in prison after being found guilty of targeting and exploiting a 15-year-old girl. The incident, which took place in Dorchester, involved a series of troubling events that highlighted the dangers posed by predatory adults to vulnerable minors.

David John Christie Dunn, who was residing in Dorchester at the time of the offenses and has since moved to Southampton, admitted to two counts of child abduction during court proceedings held at Dorchester Crown Court. The charges stemmed from separate incidents in January and June of the same year. The court was informed that Dunn had previously been served with a child abduction warning notice in December 2011, specifically related to the same 15-year-old girl, indicating prior concerns about his interactions with minors.

The first incident, which occurred on January 14, involved the girl, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, visiting Dunn’s residence at around 3 a.m. along with two of her friends from school. Prosecutor Erica Foster detailed that Dunn’s actions during this event were under scrutiny, especially given the warning notice he had received earlier. Dunn, however, contested some of the allegations, claiming that he allowed the girls into his home out of concern and because they appeared distressed.

During a Newton hearing, Dunn explained that the girls had asked for help, and he believed they had been drinking alcohol, with one girl appearing quite intoxicated and unwell. He stated that he provided them with water and that they remained downstairs, where one of the girls passed out. Dunn insisted he did not call an ambulance because he thought it was unnecessary at the time. The court heard that later in the evening, two more of the girl’s friends arrived at Dunn’s house. A 16-year-old male friend recounted that he saw Dunn running down the stairs when he arrived, and he later saw the girl come down as well.

Judge Roger Jarvis, presiding over the case, found that the girl had gone upstairs during her visit, and Dunn had supplied alcohol to the minors. The court also noted that Dunn made a suggestive comment to one of the girl’s friends, implying a cover-up of the incident. Evidence further revealed that Dunn sat on his bed with the 15-year-old girl, raising serious concerns about his intentions.

The second charge related to an incident on June 12. According to the prosecution, the girl’s mother contacted police after her daughter was reported missing. Dunn was seen cycling along Great Western Road around 10 p.m. after finishing work. He then engaged in conversation with the girl, and the two went to Salisbury Fields, where they listened to music and talked. The court heard that the interactions between Dunn and the girl were of a nature that suggested an inappropriate relationship, although Dunn’s defense argued that it had not gone beyond kissing or cuddling.

In sentencing, Judge Jarvis emphasized the gravity of Dunn’s actions, stating, “What will remain with the victim is that she has been targeted, exploited and manipulated by someone with an interest in children.” Dunn was sentenced to 18 months for the first offense and an additional 12 months for the second, with the sentences to run consecutively.

Following the sentencing, prominent figures in child protection expressed their concern. Claude Knights, the director of Kidscape, a charity dedicated to safeguarding children from abuse, issued a statement condemning the case. He said, “This is yet another disturbing case of a predatory adult exploiting a vulnerable young girl. In such cases, the responsibility for the incidents must lie wholly with the adult who should be fully aware of the consequences of such actions. It is to be hoped that the custodial sentence will include a robust treatment programme.”

Detective Constable Andrew Marsh of Weymouth CID also commented on the case, stating, “David Dunn took advantage of a vulnerable child. His actions caused great concern for the victim’s family, and the sentence reflects the seriousness of this offence.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and protective measures to prevent such exploitation from occurring in the future.