DEAN HALLAM FROM KIRKBY AND ST ANN'S JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE AND PORNOGRAPHY IN MATLOCK

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Kirkby, Matlock, and St Ann’s, Dean Hallam, a 34-year-old man with ties to these areas, has been sentenced to an indefinite term in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the abuse of young girls and the possession of explicit child pornography.

Hallam's criminal activities spanned several years and involved multiple victims. The youngest girl, who was only 13 at the time, was subjected to grooming and sexual assault over a period of three months. During this time, Hallam used text messages and late-night phone calls to manipulate her, gradually building a relationship that led to physical abuse. He kissed and sexually touched her, inciting her to engage in sexual acts with him. Despite being on bail for the abuse of this young girl, Hallam continued his criminal behavior by downloading disturbing child pornography, which included images and videos of very young children being sexually abused.

Two older victims, Stacey-Jane and Claire, came forward after learning about Hallam’s abuse of the younger girl. Stacey-Jane, who was 14 or 15 at the time, and Claire, who was 16 during the initial incident, had previously waived their right to anonymity as victims of sexual offences. Claire, from Beeston, expressed her disgust, stating, “It is disgusting what he did to us, but it is more disgusting what he did to the other girl. She was much younger than us.”

There were multiple instances of sexual assault involving Hallam. On two separate occasions, Claire awoke to find Hallam touching her sexually under her clothes. Stacey-Jane recounted waking up in Matlock to find Hallam rubbing her sexually over her trousers while she was on holiday. These incidents highlight the predatory nature of Hallam’s actions.

The police investigation uncovered that Hallam had downloaded a total of 461 indecent images between December 2009 and January 2010. Among these images, 60 were classified at level four, and 13 at level five, the most severe categories. The material included videos depicting young girls being sexually abused, some as young as two years old. When questioned by authorities, Hallam initially denied knowledge of the images on his laptop but later admitted to downloading them.

Hallam’s criminal record includes multiple charges. He pleaded guilty to arranging or facilitating child sex offences, grooming a female for sexual purposes, inciting a girl under 16 to engage in sexual activity, and engaging in sexual activity with a girl under 16. He also admitted to three counts of indecent assault on the victims Stacey-Jane and Claire. The crimes took place while Hallam was residing in St Ann’s.

Judge Dudley Bennett sentenced Hallam to an indeterminate sentence for public protection, emphasizing the danger he poses to children. The judge stated, “You are rightly to be described, in my judgment, as a predatory paedophile. You systematically targeted, in particular, this young girl. You groomed her in the most overt way. You are caught, you are bailed, and as soon as you are bailed you are on a computer downloading child porn.”

Furthermore, Hallam is required to serve a minimum of six years before he can apply for parole. Even then, his release will depend on the parole board’s assessment of his safety and rehabilitation. He will also be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

In comments following the sentencing, the mother of the youngest victim expressed her relief and satisfaction with the outcome, saying, “I’m very happy with the sentence because it proves she was telling the truth to everybody that called her a liar. Because of my daughter’s actions other children have been kept safe.”

Claire, now 24, shared her feelings, stating, “I’m happy with the sentence. I think it’s absolutely disgusting what he has done.” Stacey-Jane, now 21, added, “I feel better. I feel believed. I hope he never gets out.” The case has underscored the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable children from predators like Dean Hallam.