DENNIS DAVIES: ILFRACOMBE AND THORNABY SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES AND ONLINE CHAT

In February 2018, a disturbing case involving Dennis Davies, a man with connections to both Ilfracombe and Thornaby, came to light through a series of court proceedings that revealed the extent of his criminal activities involving child exploitation and online misconduct.

Authorities uncovered a deeply troubling collection of illegal images and communications during a police raid on Davies' residence. The investigation revealed that Davies, aged 26, was not only in possession of a significant number of indecent images of children but also served as an administrator in an online chat group dedicated to sharing such material. The court heard that Davies used a pseudonym to communicate with others, openly discussing his extreme sexual interests, which included disturbing references to 'young sex' and the rape of young girls.

In September of the previous year, police executed a search warrant at Davies' home, located on Easton Street in Thornaby. The officers discovered a total of 263 indecent images of children on his mobile device, some depicting children as young as two or three years old, who appeared to be bound and distressed. Among these images, 66 fell into the most severe category under the law, and 45 videos were also recovered. The court was presented with details of some of the most disturbing images, highlighting the severity of the case.

Davies admitted to making these indecent photographs, which included a prohibited cartoon image of children and an extreme pornographic image involving an animal. The police investigation also uncovered an online chat with a 15-year-old boy, whose identity remains unknown, in which Davies exchanged explicit pictures of their private parts. When questioned, Davies claimed ownership of all the material found on his phone, stating, “Whatever you found on my phone is mine.”

Further charges revealed that Davies attempted to incite a 15-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity. The court heard that this communication took place between August 30 and September 2 of the previous year. It was also established that Davies had previously been convicted of a sexual offence and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order. Despite this, he breached the order by attempting to contact the boy and failed to comply with notification requirements by not registering two aliases with police.

Davies' criminal history includes a conviction from 2010, when he was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders’ institution in Exeter for sexual activity with a girl under 13. At that time, he was also under a suspended sentence for breaching a sexual offences prevention order.

During the sentencing hearing, Duncan McReddie, representing Davies, emphasized that his client suffers from a personality disorder, which contributes to distorted thinking. While acknowledging that this does not excuse his offending, McReddie pointed out that Davies has psychiatric support to address his issues. The judge, Recorder Dayfdd Enoch QC, responded with grave concern, describing Davies’ case as extremely worrying. The judge stated, “You are a man with extreme sexual tastes which you are not afraid to indulge. Unfortunately, they involve children. It’s clear to me that you are a danger to children.”

He further criticized Davies’ apparent lack of insight into the harm caused by his actions, noting that such material would not exist without individuals like him who seek to view it. The judge sentenced Davies to 46 and a half months in prison, with a requirement to serve two-thirds of the sentence before being eligible for parole. Additionally, Davies received a five-year extended licence and a new indefinite sexual harm prevention order to restrict future conduct.

In a related case from October 2010, Davies, then 19, was convicted of molesting an 11-year-old girl from Barnstaple. He was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders’ institution after being found guilty of sexual activity with a minor. The court noted that Davies had denied his guilt despite overwhelming evidence, including DNA evidence, and claimed he was only tickling the girl. His defense argued that he was attempting to start anew, citing mental health treatment he was receiving prior to the incident. Nonetheless, Judge Graham Cottle emphasized the seriousness of the offence and the need for detention, especially given Davies’ continued denial.

Throughout these proceedings, Davies’ history of sexual offences and breaches of court orders underscores a pattern of concerning behavior. His case remains a stark reminder of the importance of vigilant law enforcement and judicial oversight in protecting vulnerable children from predatory individuals like Dennis Davies.