DEAN LUCKHURST FROM DOVER CAUGHT IN SEXUAL GROOMING PLOT NEAR SITTINGBOURNE

In December 2019, a disturbing case unfolded involving Dean Luckhurst, a man from Dover, who was found to have engaged in a sinister scheme targeting a young girl significantly younger than himself. The incident began when Luckhurst befriended the girl on Facebook, where he initiated a grooming process that ultimately led to him arranging a meeting with her for sexual purposes.

Luckhurst, aged 23 at the time, had planned to meet the girl, who was only 13 years old, at a railway station near Sittingbourne. His intentions were revealed to be malicious, as he sought to have sex with her despite knowing her age. Fortunately, his plans were thwarted by a vigilant friend of the teenager, who had learned of the grooming and decided to take action. This friend confronted Luckhurst at the railway station and promptly reported his intentions to the police, thereby preventing what could have been a tragic incident.

The young girl was commended by the judge for her bravery and quick thinking, which played a crucial role in stopping Luckhurst from executing his plan. During the trial at Maidstone Crown Court, Luckhurst attempted to justify his actions by claiming that he had arranged the meeting to "let her down lightly" after discovering her age post-coitus. However, the jury was unconvinced by his explanation and convicted him of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC was unequivocal in his assessment of Luckhurst’s claims. He stated, “I reject his claim, absolutely. He said he was horrified when he discovered she was only 13, but that didn’t stop him from continuing to arrange meetings with her.” The judge further criticized Luckhurst’s behavior, noting that he did not alight from the train in March because he realized he had been caught. The judge dismissed Luckhurst’s assertions that he was horrified, angry, and concerned upon discovering her true age as “preposterous.”

During the court proceedings, Luckhurst’s demeanor and testimony were described as chilling by the judge, who emphasized the danger posed by his use of the internet to contact and groom young girls. It was revealed that Luckhurst had met the girl earlier at Teynham rail station, after which they went to a wooded area where, following the smoking of cannabis, they engaged in sexual intercourse. Luckhurst claimed that he only later realized she was under the legal age of 16.

He faced four charges related to child sex offenses, alleged to have occurred in February and March of that year. The jury acquitted him of two charges involving alleged encounters with paedophile hunters and could not reach a verdict on a third charge concerning his knowledge of her age during their initial sexual encounter. The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to pursue a retrial, leading to Luckhurst’s formal acquittal.

Prosecutor Vivian Walters detailed how Luckhurst had used Facebook to contact and groom the victim, which ultimately led to her speaking with an older friend who was aware of Luckhurst’s intentions. This friend’s intervention prompted police involvement. The judge highlighted that Luckhurst’s use of the internet demonstrated a blatant disregard for the safety of young girls, leading to a conclusion that he posed a significant risk to the community.

As a result of his conviction, Luckhurst was sentenced to an extended prison term of eight years—four years to be served in custody, followed by four years on license upon release. Additionally, he was ordered to comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order that prohibits him from contacting the victim. The girl, who has since become withdrawn and depressed, was identified as a victim deeply affected by the incident, underscoring the serious impact of his actions.