DEAN BIRD SENTENCED IN SWINDON FOR CHILD SEXUAL COMMUNICATIONS AND EXPLICIT PHOTOS
In a case that has shocked the local community of Swindon, Dean Bird, a 40-year-old former soldier, was brought before Swindon Crown Court to face serious allegations related to inappropriate online conduct involving a minor.Bird, who resides in Swindon and works as a scaffolder, pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in sexual communication with a child, following a series of disturbing exchanges that took place over social media platforms.
According to the prosecution, led by Edward Hetherington, Bird had shown a pattern of inappropriate interest in a 14-year-old girl’s Instagram account during late 2020.
He repeatedly liked and commented on her selfies, which raised concerns among her family members.
The situation escalated in January 2021 when Bird sent the girl a flame emoji, a symbol often interpreted as indicating attraction or that someone finds another person 'hot.' Concerned, the girl’s family member intervened, taking over the conversation.
During this exchange, Bird claimed he needed a shower after a hard day and mentioned his military service, attempting to justify his behavior.
The family member verified the girl’s age to Bird, who then proceeded to ask for a photograph, assuring her that he would keep the exchange confidential.
Bird was sent a photograph of the girl’s face, after which he responded with images of his legs and, alarmingly, a photograph of his erect penis.
He then explicitly requested a naked photograph from the girl.
In response, the family member, who knew Bird through a mutual acquaintance, downloaded an adult woman’s nude image from the internet and sent it to him.
Bird responded with an emoji of a smiling face with stars in its eyes, indicating his approval.
Following these events, the family member visited Bird’s address in Swindon, banging on his door and issuing threats.
Police were called to the scene, where they were shown evidence of Bird’s online behavior, including the explicit images and messages.
It was also revealed during the court proceedings that Bird has a history of convictions for dangerous driving and violence.
His background includes serving in the military, where he was shot in the leg by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan and was also injured in another mission.
He was medically discharged from the army over ten years ago.
Bird’s defense attorney, Chris Smyth, argued that his client’s mental state was compromised at the time of the offenses, citing the mental health issues stemming from his military service.
Smyth detailed that Bird’s best friend was killed by the Taliban during a joint mission, and Bird himself was shot in the leg during another operation.
Bird currently works as a scaffolder for various firms and lives alone in a rented two-bedroom flat following the end of a decade-long relationship.
He has a history of playing rugby for Cheltenham until 2021, has an interest in fishing, and previously captained the Swindon Rec Wildcats Ice Hockey Team.
Judge Jason Taylor addressed the court, expressing confidence that Bird would not re-offend.
As part of his sentence, Bird was handed a two-year community order, which includes the requirement to complete 175 hours of unpaid work.
Additionally, he must participate in the Horizon sex offenders’ program and undertake 30 days of rehabilitation activities with the probation service.
Furthermore, Bird was subjected to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which includes eight specific restrictions, notably prohibiting him from communicating with individuals under 18 unless there is a legitimate reason.
