DENNIS FORSTER FROM STOCKTON SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY ONLINE CRIMES AGAINST TEEN GIRLS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the Stockton community and beyond, Dennis Steven Forster, aged 27, has been sentenced to an indefinite term in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the exploitation of young girls over the internet. The sentencing took place at Teesside Crown Court, where the court heard how Forster, a known resident of Stockton, used social media platforms to target and manipulate more than 200 teenage girls across the country.

Forster’s online activities included creating a false persona, with a profile picture of himself holding a gun, to lure vulnerable girls into his web of deception. Prosecutor Anthony Moore detailed how Forster’s predatory behavior spanned over three years, during which he targeted 11 victims aged between 12 and 15. His tactics involved sending sexually explicit messages, coercing or bullying girls into sending him intimate photographs, and sharing explicit images of himself.

Despite his repeated efforts to meet the girls in person, none of these meetings materialized. However, Forster’s manipulative and threatening behavior extended beyond mere messaging. He expressed love and romantic intentions, even telling one girl, “I can’t wait for you to turn 16. We can be Mr and Mrs Dennis Forster and make a bump together,” while sending her a wedding ring as a gift.

When the victims resisted his advances, Forster’s demeanor turned aggressive and threatening. He threatened to kidnap a girl and sell her for sex if she refused to comply. He also asked another girl to become a prostitute to generate income for him. His threats grew more severe when he targeted a vulnerable girl with disabilities, warning her that he would kill her parents, which forced her to appear on a webcam multiple times under duress. Additionally, he threatened to rape another girl, take her away, and kill her family. His intimidating messages left some victims “petrified,” and he even threatened to burn down or bomb a girl’s mother’s home.

Investigators uncovered a disturbing collection of illegal material on Forster’s computers, including 83 indecent photographs and four videos of children, along with two images depicting extreme adult pornography. His criminal record includes 22 charges, encompassing inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, producing child pornography, inciting child prostitution, intimidation, making indecent images of children, possessing extreme pornography, and possessing a prohibited weapon, specifically a CS gas canister.

Forster, who resides on Corporation Street in Stockton, admitted to all charges. The crimes, committed between 2008 and this year, represent only a fraction of his offending behavior. A psychiatrist evaluated him and concluded that while he was not mentally ill, he posed a significant risk of reoffending.

During the court proceedings, Forster’s defense lawyer, Stephen Constantine, argued that Forster had not physically harmed any of the girls and had not met them in person. He described Forster as a loner with a complex family background, living in a caravan and avoiding social contact. His mother expressed relief at his arrest, stating that if he had not been caught, something “catastrophic” might have happened.

Judge Howard Crowson dismissed Forster’s claims of amnesia and blamed his actions on drug use, emphasizing the predatory nature of his crimes. The judge stated, “It is clear to me you’re a man who preys upon teenage girls. You approach them at a stage in their lives when they are very vulnerable. Some would be flattered by the attention of an older man, then later perhaps embarrassed and frightened to do anything about it. In this case, you have been discovered.”

As part of his sentence, Forster was issued a sexual offences prevention order and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life. Outside the court, a mother of one of the victims from Teesside expressed her satisfaction with the verdict, emphasizing the importance of vigilance among parents regarding their children’s use of social media. She stated, “Justice has been served. The case highlights the need for all parents to remain vigilant concerning their children’s use of social networking sites. It is neither the children nor the sites that are to be blamed, but the predators such as Mr Forster who utilize them for their own depraved purposes. Let us put a stop to this and protect our children from harm.”

Detective Sergeant Jon Tapper, who was involved in the investigation alongside Stockton CID, commented on Forster’s obsession with identifying and pressuring vulnerable victims for his own sexual gratification. He expressed gratitude to the victims for their bravery and honesty in coming forward, which was instrumental in securing the conviction.