DEAN MOULD OF WINCHESTER AVOIDS PRISON DESPITE SEXUAL OFFENCES

A Winchester man named Dean Mould, who was caught by a paedophile hunter after attempting to obtain explicit photos from a girl he believed was 12 years old, has avoided imprisonment. Just three months following his conviction on multiple sexual offence charges, Mould used the internet to contact a girl claiming she was 12, asking for nude pictures. Unknown to him, he was communicating with a self-styled paedophile hunter who sent the images but then alerted the police. The 35-year-old, of Christchurch Road, was subsequently arrested.

He faced accusations of intentionally causing or inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and violating a sexual harm prevention order, to which he previously pleaded guilty. On Wednesday, Winchester Crown Court was informed that Mould had breached the order by failing to disclose a phone he used to access the internet.

In July of the previous year, Mould was convicted of four counts of sexual communication with a child, eight counts of possessing indecent and extreme images, and one count of distribution. He committed further offences on October 27, though these were only discovered on December 27.

During sentencing, a sexual harm prevention order and a supervision order were imposed. It was also noted that Mould, described as “marred by learning difficulties,” would be given a care plan involving a psychiatric team upon release from custody. However, the court heard that Mould “did not want to engage” with this plan, and it was not carried out.

In his mitigation, lawyer Richard Martin explained that an updated psychiatric report provided several reasons why Mould should not serve prison time. Mr. Martin stated, “For somebody in his position, it is very understandable that they maintain a position that they do not want help. Mr. Mould knows that he has to obey people and attend courses.” He added, “There has been a realisation from Mr. Mould that he doesn’t want to go back to prison, and if he reverts to this sort of behaviour again, it will result in imprisonment. All we can do now is try again. Nothing will help if he is sent to prison.”

Judge Miller remarked during sentencing, “I hoped when I sentenced you in July last year that I wouldn’t see you again. In fact, you survived only about three months before committing offences once more.” Mould was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes 40 days of rehabilitative activities and mandatory attendance at a sexual offending treatment programme.