December 2012 ‘Dangerous’ Lincoln sex offender jailed over child images A ‘dangerous’ sex offender from Lincoln has been given a six-year jail term with a four-year extension on licence, for taking indecent images of children and uploading them to the internet. 62-year-old David Mellor, of Walford Drive, Lincoln was sentenced for the possession, taking and distribution of indecent images of children and a breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, at Lincoln Crown Court on December 21. Mellor – jailed for paedophile crimes in 2006 – was sentenced to six years by Lincoln crown court after admitting 18 sex offences involving indecent images and also breaking a court prevention order. The new charges relate to Mellor uploading indecent images of children to a hosting website, which were spotted by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre in January this year. CEOP’s Image Analysis and Victim Identification team analysed the images and quickly identified a geographical area in which the images were taken as Lincoln. Officers from Lincolnshire Police’s Internet Child Abuse Team studied the images closely and using their extensive local knowledge, managed to narrow the location to a street in the city. Further research led to a single address being pinpointed and the arrest of Mellor. As a result of this investigation two girls under the age of 13 were safeguarded from contact with Mellor. DI Sean Baxter said: “We hope this investigation and subsequent conviction demonstrates to people in Lincolnshire how effective we and our partners at CEOP are in terms of tackling this type of crime. “The expertise of CEOP staff and the local knowledge and determination of our Lincolnshire Internet Child Abuse Team officers has enabled us to put this dangerous sex offender behind bars. “Perhaps most importantly, it also led to the safeguarding of two young children, who are now living in another part of the country.” Peter Davies, Chief Executive of CEOP and formerly Assistant Chief Constable at Lincolnshire Police said: “This case shows the reach of CEOP through our close work with law enforcement and other partners all over the world. “Offenders may think their activities are anonymous online but this is simply not the case. They can and will be found and have to face the consequences of their actions.”