DAVID HINTON FROM FELIXSTOWE AND YOXFORD JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Felixstowe and Yoxford, David Hinton, formerly known as David Hinton-Smith, has been sentenced to a total of three years in prison following his conviction on multiple serious charges related to child exploitation and possession of indecent images. The proceedings took place at Ipswich Crown Court, where the court heard disturbing details about Hinton's actions and the evidence presented against him.

Hinton, aged 34 and previously residing in Felixstowe, is now living in Groveside, Yoxford. His criminal conduct came to light after a 14-year-old girl, whom he had befriended, became the target of a series of increasingly explicit text messages. The messages, which sometimes exceeded twenty in a single day, involved invitations to engage in sexual activities, revealing a disturbing pattern of grooming behavior. Prosecutor Penny Rector described Hinton as developing a habit of sending messages under the guise of a concerned father figure, asking about her well-being. However, the tone of these messages gradually shifted to become overtly sexual, causing distress to the young girl.

It was the girl’s mother who uncovered the inappropriate messages, leading to police intervention. Authorities conducted a search of Hinton’s residence and seized his computer equipment. The investigation uncovered twelve items of child pornography, including still images and short videos. Notably, eight of these items were stored directly on his computer’s hard drive, making them accessible to other online predators. The images depicted children estimated to be between six and fourteen years old, highlighting the severity of the material involved.

During earlier court proceedings, Hinton admitted to multiple charges, including two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of making indecent images of children, and eight counts of possessing indecent images with intent to distribute. The court heard that his actions not only involved the creation and possession of illegal material but also posed a risk of further distribution via the internet.

Hinton’s defense, represented by Charles Wyatt, argued that his client’s actions were driven by curiosity and that the downloading of images was a one-time lapse. Wyatt emphasized the personal consequences Hinton had already suffered, including damage to his reputation, his family life, and his marriage of sixteen years.

Judge John Devaux delivered the sentence, which included nine months imprisonment for each count of making indecent images and twelve months for each possession with intent, all to run concurrently. Additionally, Hinton received a five-year extended sentence for the text messaging offenses, which will be served consecutively to the other sentences. Of this period, two years will be served in custody, with the remaining three years on license. This means that if Hinton re-offends during the license period, he can be recalled to prison immediately and face additional charges.

The court also ordered the destruction of Hinton’s computer and imposed strict restrictions on his future conduct. He is banned from working with children and from associating with any minors under the age of 16, except for members of his own family. The judge’s ruling underscores the seriousness of the crimes committed and the ongoing risk posed by Hinton’s actions, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding children from such predators.