HASTINGS PAEDOPHILE DAVID MOULD SENTENCED FOR INTERNATIONAL CHILD SEX ABUSE AND DARK WEB COACHING

In a significant crackdown on online child exploitation, David Mould, a 69-year-old resident of Ivyhouse Lane in Hastings, East Sussex, has been sentenced to a total of 28 years in prison for his heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of children across international borders. The sentencing took place at Lewes Crown Court, where the court heard how Mould’s criminal activities extended beyond the UK, reaching as far as Nepal and the Philippines, where he traveled with the intent to sexually abuse vulnerable minors.

Investigations revealed that Mould was not only a perpetrator but also an influential figure within a dark web community dedicated to child exploitation. The National Crime Agency (NCA) described him as an “influential user” of an international online forum, where he provided support, advice, and encouragement to other paedophiles. His role involved coaching fellow offenders on how to groom children, how to approach potential victims, and how to evade detection through technical means such as encryption and device wiping.

During his travels, Mould engaged in grooming young boys by befriending them, often showering them with money and gifts to manipulate and sexually exploit them. His actions were calculated and methodical, aimed at maximizing his control over vulnerable children. The NCA highlighted that he was responsible for instructing others on where to find children, what to take with them—such as toys and sweets—and how to carry out their abuse without getting caught.

Mould’s criminal record includes a series of serious charges. He pleaded guilty to 24 counts, which encompassed engaging in sexual activities with children as young as 13, encouraging or inciting child exploitation, and possessing explicit materials. Specifically, he was convicted of four counts of possessing paedophile manuals, three counts of creating indecent images of children, one count of distributing such images, and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image.

Authorities also uncovered that Mould possessed four “paedophile manuals,” which contained detailed instructions on how to carry out abuse and avoid detection. He provided technical advice on encrypting devices and wiping data to evade law enforcement efforts. As part of his sentencing, Mould was subjected to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which bans him from traveling to 22 countries, and he was also issued a restraining order. Additionally, he will be required to sign the sex offenders register for the foreseeable future.

Commenting on the case, Jeanette Smith from the Crown Prosecution Service stated, “David Mould traveled to the Philippines and Nepal, where he targeted vulnerable children, exploiting and manipulating them, to sexually abuse them. Not content with satisfying his own sexual desires, he used the dark web to advise and encourage other paedophiles how they might best commit equally horrific crimes.”

Hazel Stewart from the NCA emphasized the severity of Mould’s actions, describing him as a “prolific sexual predator” who dedicated significant time and resources to abusing children and fostering a community of like-minded offenders online. She added, “It was clear that he was respected and admired by other offenders, providing them with a safe environment where their sexual inclinations were validated.”