DAVID MILLS FROM HARLOW JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND PREDATORY PLANS AT KINGS CROSS
| Red Rose Database
Harlow Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Harlow, David Mills, aged 43, has been sentenced to prison for his heinous attempts to engage in illegal activities involving minors and for possessing indecent images of children. The court proceedings revealed a series of alarming messages and actions that exposed Mills' disturbing sexual interests and his calculated efforts to meet with underage girls.
It was in 2015 when Mills, a coach driver by profession, initiated contact with what he believed were two teenage girls, aged 13 and 14, through Facebook. These accounts were actually set up by vigilante group Public Justice PHL, aiming to catch predators. Mills engaged in a string of vile and explicit messages with these decoys, discussing unprotected sex and even expressing a willingness to support one girl if she became pregnant. He suggested that if her parents 'kicked her out,' she could live with him, revealing a disturbing level of grooming and manipulation.
The planned meeting was scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2015, at Kings Cross station in London. However, Mills did not follow through with the meeting, instead choosing to take a different job, transporting pensioners to Southend-on-Sea. This deviation from his plans was noted by authorities and contributed to their suspicion.
Police acted swiftly after being alerted, executing a search warrant at Mills' residence on September 15, 2015. During the raid, officers encountered resistance as Mills obstructed their entry and attempted to conceal his phone, a desperate move to hide incriminating evidence. On his bedside table, officers discovered a Nokia phone containing an indecent image of a child and a WhatsApp message sent to a girl under 16. Mills responded to police inquiries with a 'no comment,' later claiming that the evidence was planted by a hacker named 'Barry' with whom he had a prior disagreement.
Further investigation uncovered multiple indecent images stored on Mills' devices, including a Microsoft phone and a Toshiba laptop. These findings, coupled with the explicit messages, painted a clear picture of Mills' sexual interest in minors. The prosecution presented evidence that Mills had a history of indecent exposure, with a previous conviction dating back to 2000.
During the trial, Mills' defense argued that some family members supported him, but others did not, and that his mental state had been affected since his arrest. His lawyer highlighted his isolation, noting that Mills had been confined to his bedsit, avoiding social contact and not answering the door.
The court heard graphic details of Mills' messages, including one where he contemplated the possibility of going to prison if caught, and expressed a willingness to support a girl if she became pregnant. The messages revealed a disturbing pattern of grooming and manipulation, with Mills even discussing abusing a younger child.
Judge David Pugh, presiding over the case at Chelmsford Crown Court, sentenced Mills to more than three years in prison. The judge emphasized the severity of the crimes, noting the significant planning, grooming, and the disparity in ages involved. While acknowledging that Mills' first offense did not involve actual victims, the judge classified the case as high harm, especially given the attempted meeting and possession of indecent images.
Mills was ordered to serve half of his sentence in custody, with the remainder on license. Additionally, he was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, and all devices containing evidence were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed. The court's decision reflects the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to society.
This case underscores the importance of vigilant efforts by law enforcement and community groups to protect children from predators. It also highlights the disturbing reality of online grooming and the need for continued awareness and preventative measures to safeguard vulnerable minors from exploitation.
It was in 2015 when Mills, a coach driver by profession, initiated contact with what he believed were two teenage girls, aged 13 and 14, through Facebook. These accounts were actually set up by vigilante group Public Justice PHL, aiming to catch predators. Mills engaged in a string of vile and explicit messages with these decoys, discussing unprotected sex and even expressing a willingness to support one girl if she became pregnant. He suggested that if her parents 'kicked her out,' she could live with him, revealing a disturbing level of grooming and manipulation.
The planned meeting was scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2015, at Kings Cross station in London. However, Mills did not follow through with the meeting, instead choosing to take a different job, transporting pensioners to Southend-on-Sea. This deviation from his plans was noted by authorities and contributed to their suspicion.
Police acted swiftly after being alerted, executing a search warrant at Mills' residence on September 15, 2015. During the raid, officers encountered resistance as Mills obstructed their entry and attempted to conceal his phone, a desperate move to hide incriminating evidence. On his bedside table, officers discovered a Nokia phone containing an indecent image of a child and a WhatsApp message sent to a girl under 16. Mills responded to police inquiries with a 'no comment,' later claiming that the evidence was planted by a hacker named 'Barry' with whom he had a prior disagreement.
Further investigation uncovered multiple indecent images stored on Mills' devices, including a Microsoft phone and a Toshiba laptop. These findings, coupled with the explicit messages, painted a clear picture of Mills' sexual interest in minors. The prosecution presented evidence that Mills had a history of indecent exposure, with a previous conviction dating back to 2000.
During the trial, Mills' defense argued that some family members supported him, but others did not, and that his mental state had been affected since his arrest. His lawyer highlighted his isolation, noting that Mills had been confined to his bedsit, avoiding social contact and not answering the door.
The court heard graphic details of Mills' messages, including one where he contemplated the possibility of going to prison if caught, and expressed a willingness to support a girl if she became pregnant. The messages revealed a disturbing pattern of grooming and manipulation, with Mills even discussing abusing a younger child.
Judge David Pugh, presiding over the case at Chelmsford Crown Court, sentenced Mills to more than three years in prison. The judge emphasized the severity of the crimes, noting the significant planning, grooming, and the disparity in ages involved. While acknowledging that Mills' first offense did not involve actual victims, the judge classified the case as high harm, especially given the attempted meeting and possession of indecent images.
Mills was ordered to serve half of his sentence in custody, with the remainder on license. Additionally, he was subjected to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, and all devices containing evidence were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed. The court's decision reflects the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to society.
This case underscores the importance of vigilant efforts by law enforcement and community groups to protect children from predators. It also highlights the disturbing reality of online grooming and the need for continued awareness and preventative measures to safeguard vulnerable minors from exploitation.